T HE FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT S UNDAY, MARCH 11, 2018

Transcription

1 T HE FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT S UNDAY, MARCH 11, 2018 FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 508 WEST DAVIS STREET BURLINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

2 G ATHERING AROUND THE W ORD WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. And also with you. Let us prepare our hearts to worship God. Please join in reading aloud those parts of the service printed in bold. MUSIC FOR PREPARATION (8:30) Jesus, Priceless Treasure Johann Sebastian Bach ( ) Text and tune found at Hymn No. 830 (11:00) Quiescence (Be Still) Michael Mazzatenta (b. 1963) Carillon Choir CALL TO WORSHIP O give thanks to the Lord, who is good; God s steadfast love endures forever. Let us worship God! When this symbol (*) precedes an element of the service, please rise in body or spirit. We lay before God our own sins, the sins and brokenness of our fellow worshipers, the church universal, and the world. *PROCESSIONAL HYMN NO. 826 Lift High the Cross *CALL TO CONFESSION *CORPORATE PRAYER OF CONFESSION Merciful God, we confess the folly of our sin and the hypocrisy of our complaints. We grumble about the evils in our world, even as we commit injustices and profit through deceit. We fret about the scarcity of resources while hoarding earth s goods and cheating the poor. We protest the problems of our world, but we do not actively work to address them. Merciful God, expose our sins before the light of your grace. Heal our sin and free us from our foolish ways that we may know the joy of eternal life in Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. CRUCIFER *SILENT PRAYER OF CONFESSION *CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive DETROIT

3 *ASSURANCE OF PARDON *CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Glory Be to the Father (Gloria Patri) OLD SCOTTISH CHANT The astoundingly good news of our reconciliation to God through Jesus Christ frees our tongues to sing mighty praise to God. *PASSING THE PEACE, LOVE, AND JOY OF CHRIST TO OTHERS The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. And also with you. LISTENING FOR THE WORD A TIME WITH THE CHILDREN (11:00) THIRD GRADE BIBLE PRESENTATION (11:00) Mary Parker Lily Baker William Davis Jack Dooley Sydney Hunter Sophie Seagroves Mason Wellman Greg Wurl We exchange reconciling words among the people of God. During this season, rather than shaking hands we invite you to greet each other with the words, The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION PSALM OF THE DAY: Psalm 107: setting by Wayne Wold We listen for what God is saying to God s people through scripture, song, and sermon. OLD TESTAMENT READING: Numbers 21:4-9 Large Print Pew Bible, pages Pew Bible, page 139 The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

4 ANTHEM (11:00) Jesus, Priceless Treasure arr. Jason Krug (b. 1978) Carillon Choir Text and tune found at Hymn No. 830 GOSPEL READING: John 3:14-21 Large Print Pew Bible, page 114 Pew Bible, page 94 The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, O Christ. SERMON: Hope Lifted Up Dr. Ron Shive Our response to hearing God s Word includes singing and saying what we believe. RESPONDING TO THE WORD *HYMN OF RESPONSE NO. 213 In the Cross of Christ I Glory RATHBUN *AFFIRMATION OF FAITH - from The Confession of 1967 We believe that in Jesus of Nazareth, true humanity was realized once for all. Jesus, a Palestinian Jew, lived among his own people and shared human needs, temptations, joys, and sorrows. He expressed the love of God in word and deed and became a brother to all kinds of sinful people. In giving himself for them, he took upon himself the judgment under which all people stand convicted. We believe that God raised him from the dead, vindicating him as Messiah and Lord. The victim of sin became victor, and won the victory over sin and death for all. MOMENT FOR MISSION Ally Gilliam and John Stanfill (8:30) Garrett Clark and Julieanna McHugh (11:00) PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE LORD S PRAYER Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

5 OFFERING OF TITHES AND GIFTS MUSIC AT THE OFFERTORY God So Loved the World Sir John Stainer ( ) Kenneth Lee, baritone Chancel Choir And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoso believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. - John 3:14-17 *CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow (Doxology) OLD HUNDREDTH *CHARGE AND BENEDICTION BEARING THE WORD INTO THE WORLD *RECESSIONAL HYMN NO. 725 O Jesus, I Have Promised NYLAND Ronald L. Shive, D. Min., Pastor Lindsay Conrad, M. Div., Associate Pastor for Young Adults, Missions, and Congregational Care Taylor Barner, M. Div., Associate Pastor for Student Ministries Norman Whitney, M. Div., Parish Associate for Pastoral Care J. Patrick Murphy, M. Mus., Organist-Choirmaster Charlotte Allbright, C.C.E., Church Educator Don Grady, 8:30 a.m. Liturgist Patti Bates, 11:00 a.m. Liturgist God blesses and sends us in mission to the world. Pennies for Hunger Offering is being received today. The collection is sent to Salem Presbytery where it is then divided and returned to local food ministries.

6 ANNOUNCEMENTS A WARM AND CORDIAL WELCOME is extended to all who worship with us this Sunday. We hope in this service you will encounter the living Christ and experience the warmth of our caring family of faith. Please take a moment to sign our friendship register when it is passed to you. If you are visiting with us and in search of a church home, we invite you to become a part of our church family here at First Presbyterian Church. Please let us know of your interest by way of the friendship register, or by speaking to one of our ministers. LARGE PRINT HYMNS: Copies of today s hymns are available in the Narthex. HEARING ASSISTANCE: If you need hearing assistance, units with headphones are available in the narthex from the ushers. LIVE VIDEO STREAMING: The Sunday morning worship service can be seen live from anywhere you have an internet connection. Click on the Live Streaming box at the bottom of the website home page ( WORSHIP SERVICE CDS AVAILABLE EACH WEEK: Each Sunday, the Scripture readings, anthem, and sermon will be recorded on CD and a limited number of copies will be available immediately after worship in the narthex. Additional copies can be requested by calling the church office. This same recording will be posted on the website. BULLETIN COVER: Michel Keck, Cross IN THIS SEASON OF LENT, YOU MAY NOTE THESE: The musical response to the confession, Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive, is taken from Hymn No During this season, it is our practice to remove alleluias from worship (they will reappear on Easter Sunday). The Doxology (response to the offering) will be sung to the tune OLD HUNDREDTH. In addition, a Psalm appointed for the day will be sung. These psalm settings may be responsorial, that is between a cantor and the congregation, choral (sung only by the choir), or metrical, as in the form of a hymn. Also, no closing voluntaries will be offered. Finally, it will be noticed that floral arrangements will not be used in the Chancel during Lent, but rather arrangements of bare branches, which offer us a stark reminder that Lent is a season of penitence and reflection. NURSERY CARE PROVIDED: Each Sunday nursery services are available from 8:30 a.m. until noon for children from birth through Pre-K age. Children are welcomed to Room 101. Children Kindergarten age and older are invited to worship. Nursey is staffed by childcare professionals with extensive child care experience, background checks and Child and Infant CPR training. Pagers are given to all guardians for immediate access during worship or Sunday School as needed. Please ask an usher or Church Educator for more information. WELCOME-TO-WORSHIP ACTIVITY TOTE BAGS containing worship bulletins, pencils, crayons, children s Bibles, and other activities for preschoolers and elementary children are available on the tree in the narthex located at the main Davis Street entrance. Blue bags are for children 2 nd grade and younger. Red bags are for children 3 rd grade and older. The worship bulletins found in the blue and red tote bags have been specially prepared for each age group. Please return the tote bags to the tree following worship. LENTEN PRAYER CENTER: The Lenten Prayer Center is open in Room 201 through March 29. Take a moment to visit the room explore the different centers during work hours Monday-Friday and on Sunday from 8:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Allow yourself a few minutes of quiet time with God while you explore the hands on spiritual practices. The stations are intentionally designed for people of all ages to engage. Stop. Breathe. Pray. CONGREGATIONAL MEETING: The Session has called a congregational meeting immediately following the 11:00 a.m. worship service today. There are two purposes for the meeting: 1. Elect four members of the congregation to serve on the 2018 Nominating Committee; 2. Consider a 3% annual cost-of-living raise for our Associate Pastors and Pastor. AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOODMOBILE: Please save the date! The American Red Cross is planning to hold the Harold Lloyd Memorial Bloodmobile on March 20, 2018 from 2:30-7:00 p.m. in Calvin Hall. When available you may schedule an appointment on-line at redcross.org and use the sponsor code FPC Burlington. If you need assistance or information you may contact Lucy Kernodle, site coordinator, at lkernodle@ bellsouth.net. The site, redcrossblood.org, also gives guidelines about who may donate and what to expect as a blood donor. Put the power of faith into action and help save a life!!

7 MARCH FRIENDSHIP GROUP: No snow and second time is the charm! Magician Jeff Case will be entertaining us March 15th in the John Knox Room at 11:00 a.m.! We hope you'll join us for some phenomenal magic tricks and also for the best $5 lunch in town afterwards! See you there! FEED THE HUNGRY ITEMS IN MARCH: We re collecting soups and coffee for the month of March in the food pantry! SPRING SERVICE OF MUSIC: MELODIOUS ACCORD A SERVICE OF HYMNS Sunday, March 18 at both worship services (sanctuary). Hymns touch our lives in countless and often unknown ways. Our worship service will bring a series of hymns found in the first five editions of Genuine Church Music, published in Harrisonburg, Virginia beginning in These hymns have been arranged by Alice Parker for Choir, Soloists, Brass and Harp into a collection entitled Melodious Accord: A Concert of Praise. This work is divided into four movements: Welcome, Old Testament, New Testament, and Farewells. It is hoped that the congregation will experience God s presence through music and poetry and in enthusiastic and intimate ways. You, most certainly, will leave worship humming new (actually old!) tunes! An offering to support the Music Fund will be taken. RECONCILING RACE AND OUR CALL AS CHRISTIANS: Led by the Social Justice Committee Sundays, March 11-25, :45 a.m. in the Witherspoon Room Differences abound among humankind, and yet all are created in the image of God. Throughout scripture and in everyday life, our eyes witness sinner and saint, equity and injustice, privilege and hindrance, pain and pleasure. Reconciling dualities, really the pluralities, across the spectrum of human belief, behavior and culture pose some of the greatest challenges to living as a person of faith. When we combine the beauty of faith and the vision of the gospel, what comes into focus, particularly in the context of an unjust world, where inequity persists? How do you see and respond to the varied colors and calls of God's beloved people? Come join us as we begin exploration of what it means to undertake a socially compassionate response to the greatest commandment: to love God and our neighbor. CHILDREN'S SPRING MUSICAL, SUNDAY, MARCH 25: Our Carol and Covenant Choirs will present their Spring Musical Sunday, March 25 at 5:30 p.m. in Calvin Hall. Table for Five Thousand, by Allen Pote and Tom Long, tells the inspiring account of Jesus feeding the five thousand. This story reveals how one young boy with five loaves of bread and two fish, along with his apparent willingness to share, led to an event so startling that members of the crowd wanted to proclaim Jesus as King. Through this musical our children remind us that the most humble among us can do great things with God s help. Join us for this great story! REGISTER NOW FOR VBS: Vacation Bible School (VBS) will be held June 18-21, 2018 from 6:00-8:10 p.m. with 5:30 p.m. dinner each night ($3 per person, RSVP). PreK (3 years old) through 3rd grade are invited on an adventure to experience the ride of a lifetime with God through Cokesbury's "Rolling River Rampage"! Children will discover that life with God is an adventure full of wonder and surprise, and that they can trust God to be with them through anything. Current 4th and 5th graders will participate in Mission Mania, where they'll complete local mission projects and learn new ways to live out God s amazing love. Mark your calendar now for the VBS Preview Party at 9:45 a.m. on Sunday, May 6 and the VBS Kick-off Event at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 17. Sign up online today EASTER LILIES Easter lilies for use in the sanctuary may be ordered as memorial or honorary flowers ($25 each). Make checks payable to First Presbyterian Church and mark "Easter Lilies". The deadline to order is March 21, Please fill in the order form below and include with your payment. Please contact the church ( ) if you have questions. EASTER LILIES ORDER FORM In Memory of Donor In Honor of Donor

8 THIS WEEK AT FPC March Sunday, March 11 8:30 a.m. Worship Service Williams Chapel 9:15 a.m. Welcome Center Opens 9:45 a.m. Sunday School for All Ages 9:45 a.m. Learning to Use My Bible Room 401 9:45 a.m. Selected Poetry of Emily Dickinson Room 122 9:45 a.m. Reconciling Race and Our Call as Christians Witherspoon Room 10:00 a.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal 10:45 a.m. Session meets for prayer Board Room 11:00 a.m. Worship Service Sanctuary Noon Partners in Mission Committee Meeting Room 203 4:00 p.m. Confirmation Class Room 406 4:00 p.m. Young Adult Circle Garrison Joyner Activities Building 4:30 p.m. Carol and Covenant Choirs Rehearse 5:00 p.m. Middle School Youth Group 6:00 p.m. Youth Dinner Calvin Hall 6:00 p.m. PW Circle #1 John Knox Room 6:30 p.m. High School Youth Group Monday, March 12 10:00 a.m. PW Circle #2 The home of Martha Demaree 10:00 a.m. PW Circle #3 John Knox Room 5:30 p.m. Visioning Committee Meeting Resource Center Tuesday, March 13 6:45 a.m. Tuesday Morning Men s Bible Study Witherspoon Room 8:00 a.m. High School Dough Devotions Biscuitville (S. Church St.) 10:00 a.m. Staff Meeting Noon Book Club Room 122 5:30 p.m. Carillon Choir Rehearsal 7:00 p.m. PW Circle #4 John Knox Room 7:00 p.m. BSA Troop #17 Meets Garrison Joyner Activities Building Wednesday, March 14 7:00 a.m. High School Dough Devotions Skid s in Elon 8:00 a.m. Meditation Group Room :00 a.m. Wednesday Morning Bible Study Witherspoon Room 5:15 p.m. CDC Board Meeting Room 122 6:45 p.m. Chancel Choir Rehearsal Thursday, March 15 6:45 a.m. Thursday Morning Women s Bible Study Witherspoon Room 9:00 a.m. Andrews Snack Pack Assembly Witherspoon Room 10:00 a.m. Prayer Shawl Ministry Meets Resource Center 11:00 a.m. Friendship Group John Knox Room Saturday, March 17 11:00 a.m. A Service of Witness to the Resurrection of Karen Paul Williams Chapel 12:30 p.m. Groundwater Presentation Calvin Hall Minister on Call: March 9-11 Taylor Barner ( ) March Ron Shive ( )