Love, Mercy, and Grace

Transcription

1 Sparta United Methodist Church ~ 190 N. Main Street ~ PO Box 697 ~ Sparta, NC Office: ~ Fax: Church office hours: Mon-Thurs ~ 8:30 am-3:30 pm Office office@umcsparta.com ~ Church Website: Sparta UMC Pastor, Bob Miller: pastor@umcsparta.com ~ Cell Phone: Hope Fellowship Pastor, Ben Gatton: bgatton@wnccumc.net NEED TO KNOW Bulletin announcements should be submitted to the office by 3:30 pm on Tuesdays. Newsletter articles should be submitted to the office by the 15th of each month. Updates ~ Please let the church office know of any changes in your personal information. Children s Church is for ages 3 years thru 3rd grade at the following the Children s Message. Cell Phones ~ Please be respectful during times of communal worship and turn off the sound. Channel 98 & Channel 21 for services: Sunday-11:00 am; Monday and Friday-3:00 pm; Tuesday-8:00 pm. Sunday service videos are available at Choose Sparta UMC and the service date. Inclement weather updates/closings will be announced on TV channels WXII 12 and Fox 8 WGHP, through the Phone Tree, and the church voice mail outgoing message. Prayer request cards can be found in the envelope slots at the ends of the pews or you can get one from an usher or greeter. Return the card to an usher, Pastor Bob, or place in the baskets located on the altar rails. Daily Devotion ~ If you would like to receive the Monday to Friday devotion written by Ben Gatton, please the church office and let us know. The Sanctuary Flower Calendar is located across from the church office to sign up to place flowers in the sanctuary in memory of or in honor of a loved one. Arrangements are one for $20 or two for $40 and may be taken following the 11:00 service. ATTENDANCE/GIVING~MARCH 17, 2019 Worship 39 Worship 81 Sunday School 45 Offering 3/17 $4,415 YTD Cong. Offering $55,475 YTD Other Income $13,401 YTD Expense $60,268 SPARTA UMC STAFF Pastor Rev. Bob Miller Hope Fellowship Pastor Ben Gatton Administrative Assistant Donna Myers Children s Ministries Kyla Gatton Music Director Nancy Jones Interim Choir Director Alan Sears Custodian Allan Joyce Love, Mercy, and Grace Our Church Mission Statement Loving God ~ Loving Everyone ~ Following Jesus THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT MARCH 24, 2019

2 GATHERING OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD THE ORDER OF WORSHIP PRELUDE There Is a Balm in Gilead Nancy Jones *WELCOME & PASSING OF THE PEACE Welcome others by saying, The Peace of Christ Be With You. *HYMN No. 328 Surely the Presence of the Lord Congregation CENTERING WORDS God knows your thirst. God senses your hunger. Come, eat and drink. A rich feast awaits you. OPENING PRAYER *CALL TO WORSHIP L: Welcome to the fabulous feast that God has prepared! P: We come hungry, thirsty, and searching for God. L: God is near, full of power and glory. P: We are here to be fed by God s word. L: Lift up your hands in praise! P: We will sing with joy on our lips. L: Bless God, who upholds us with God s strength. P: We will bless God as long as we live! Congregation *PRAYER (unison) Faithful God, our parched spirits thirst for you. Gathered here in your sanctuary, may we witness again your power and glory. Feed our hungry souls with the food that truly satisfies. Quench our dry mouths and fill them with your praise. Be known to us here, as we seek you with our whole being. Amen. *HYMN No. 577 God of Grace and God of Glory Congregation THE ORDER OF WORSHIP *THE APOSTLES CREED Pg. 881 GOSPEL LESSON Luke 13:1-9 NT Pg. 76 OFFERING/ANTHEM If Ever We Needed the Lord Before Choir *DOXOLOGY No. 95 CHILDREN S MESSAGE () A nursery is available for children under 2. Children s Church, ages 3-3rd grade Kyla Gatton OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Isaiah 55:1-9 OT Pg. 685 SERMON Love, Mercy, and Grace Rev. Bob Miller RESPONSE TO GOD S WORD *HYMN No. 378 Amazing Grace vs. 1,2,3,4,6 Congregation *BENEDICTION DEPARTURE TO SERVE *HYMN No (TFWS) The Spirit Sends Us Forth to Serve vs. 4 Congregation POSTLUDE (*Standing as you are able. ) SANCTUARY FLOWERS The beautiful flowers in the sanctuary today are given to celebrate the 159th birthday of the United Methodist Women. Nancy Jones

3 IN SERVICE THIS WEEK Liturgist Linda Wishon Counters March Communion Servers Ushers Greeter Nursery/ Children s Church/SS Jane Wallace Donald Cobb Wayne/Sandy Lovett Linda Wishon Johnny Wishon Fran Lewis Ruth Farrington Sarah Nichols Gena Miller UPCOMING IN SERVICE Liturgist 3/31 Vanessa Jones Counters April Communion Servers April Ushers 3/31 Ushers 3/31 Greeter Nursery/ Children s Church/SS Debbie Edwards Susan Murphy Barbara Martin Faye Lemmond Donny Lemmond Theresa March Linda Wishon Johnny Wishon Fran Lewis 3/31 Ruth Farrington Sarah Nichols Gena Miller Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday REGULAR WEEKLY MINISTRIES 9 :00am 11:00 am 3:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:30 pm 7:00 pm 3:00 pm Sunday Worship Sunday School Sunday Worship Open Gym/FUSION Room NA meeting/mr Girl Scouts Prime Time Volleyball Book of Ephesians Study Ladies Bibles Study Grace Kitchen Meal/POB Choir Practice 3 P s Parenting Class ROCK~Elementary IGNITE~Middle School FUSION~High School Open Gym/FUSION Room DANA Women s Support UPCOMING MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES Monday 3/25 Wednesday 3/27 Saturday 3/30 Monday 4/1 Wednesday 4/3 9:00 am 12 noon 6:30 pm Red Cross Blood Drive Gideon Dinner/POB Lenten Service/Lunch Fellowship Supper Pilgrim s Progress event Sharon Sewing Circle Staff Parish meeting 12 noon Lenten Service/Lunch PRAISES AND PRAYERS Praise/Prayer Requests Today: Wayne & Sandy Lovett s daughter, Michelle Stanley-health HAPPY BIRTHDAY... Jo Henry March 25 Tommy Thompson, Sr. March 25 Mack Murphy March 26 Sam Walker March 29 Martha Thompson March 30 Jane Wallace March 30 HAPPY ANNIVERSARY... John & Wrenn Kilmartin March 28 ONGOING PRAYER CONCERNS Our World/Country: Our country; our leaders; God s peace and love to prevail Military: Evan Isner and family Church and Community: Pastor Bob; SUMC ministries; Pastor Ben; Hope Fellowship ministries; community homeless; food insecure families Ongoing Health Concerns: Christi Gobble; George Plane; Wayne and Wanda Cleary; Thelma Davis; George & Betty Latham; Kimberly Parsons, Hank & Jo Henry; Jody Tracy; Shirley Hiatt Homebound/Nursing Home/Rehab Center: Ora Brady - Charlotte, NC Paul Church - Grayson Nursing & Rehab, VA Virginia Crouse-home Thomas Myers - Dunmore Plantation, Dobson Tim Myers - Dunmore Plantation, Dobson Mary Wagoner - Genesis Health Care, Sparta Praises/Prayers: Tom & Helen Zak-health Dora Sue Smith-recovering hip surgery Jo Henry-recovering surgery Bonnie Vaughan-health Donny Lemmond-recovering shoulder surgery Bev Pruitt s brother, Terry-heart issues Glenna Atwood-health Sympathy to the family of Marshall Clifton Monday 4/8 Empty Bowl event

4 UPCOMING LENT/EASTER DATES The 12 noon Alleghany Ministerium sponsored Wednesday Lenten Service/Lunch Schedule March 27- Rev. Stephanie Parker, Christ Episcopal Church April 3 - Rev. Bryan Hovey, Sparta Presbyterian April 10 - Rev. Jack Tookey, Alleghany/Grayson Charge April 14 - Palm Sunday April 14 - UMW Bake Sale in Meeting Room of the Pugh Outreach Center April Maundy Thursday service April Good Friday service April 21 - Easter Sunday Sunrise Service in the Prayer Garden~7:30 am followed by Easter Breakfast in Outreach Center and Worship Services and 10 am Sunday School RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE Monday, March 25 ~ 9:30 am to 2 pm Call Gayle Cobb, , for an appointment or just walk in. WOMEN S RETREAT COMING SOON! Saturday, May 4 The Women s Retreat is a great day to be pampered, sing, and hear great talks on how God works in our lives. Registration forms are now available on the table outside the church office and in the Narthex. SAVE THE DATE~CHURCH DIRECTORY PICTURES We are planning a new church directory. Pictures will be taken Monday, May 13 and Tuesday, May 14. Please put those dates on your calendars and more information will be coming on how to sign up. UNITED METHODIST WOMEN ANNUAL BAKE SALE ON SUNDAY, APRIL 14 Following both morning services we will have a bake sale in the Meeting Room in the Pugh Outreach Center. Baked Items will be offered for sale and all monies collected will go toward our mission projects this year. If you have a special request for an item, please contact a member of our United Methodist Women ahead of time, so you will be sure to have what you want! Call Margaret at with questions. Plan to come and pick out items to have for your Easter Celebrations! REMEMBER, IT WILL BEGIN FOLLOWING THE EARLY SERVICE, on a first come basis. This has been a very successful fund raiser for us. Thank you for supporting our missions! CAKES ~PIES~COOKIES~CINNAMON BUNS~CUPCAKES~BROWNIES~MUFFINS ASSORTED BREADS~FROZEN CHICKEN PIES~PASTRIES~ROLLS~SCONES Praying from the Pews O God, our resurrection and life, the promise of Your new life in Christ is like a breath of fresh air in a dry and thirsty land. We have gathered as believers, and as those who are honestly seeking the truth. Guide our worship this hour. O God who makes all things new, speak to us as whole people today. May Your truth touch not just our intellects, but also our deeper yearnings of heart and soul. We bring with us our daily concerns, as well as our more eternal questions. May Your new creation in us shed light upon our everyday walk. O God who fed the multitudes with but a few loaves and some fish, feed us now with the abundance of what You freely offer, that we might overflow with Your goodness right where we live. All this we pray in the name of, and because of, Jesus our Christ. Amen. THE PILGRIM S PROGRESS Saturday, March 30 at There will be a pre-screening of an animated version of the movie, The Pilgrim s Progress, the epic Christian allegory by John Bunyan that will be in theaters at Easter. There will also be a pot-luck supper in the Fellowship Hall prior to the movie. The screening will be in the sanctuary so seating will be limited. Please RSVP to Laura Kennedy at , if you will be attending. Today s Anthem If We Ever Needed the Lord Before Words and Music by Thomas A. Dorsey yes, you know Cause we need Him in the morning. And we need Him in the night. How we need Him in the noon day, when the sun is shining bright. We sure do need Him now. you know For we need Him when we re happy. And we need Him when we re sad. How we need Him when we re burdened just to make our hearts feel glad. yes, you know We need Him every day, for He will light the way. You know we sure do need the Lord.

5 LET US JOIN TOGETHER AND PRAY CONSISTENTLY FOR 30 DAYS FOR OUR PASTORS. A UMC.org Feature by Joe Iovino. The life of a United Methodist pastor is filled with a variety of responsibilities. They preach, teach, visit, counsel, lead, consult, communicate, budget, clean, and so much more. Pastoring a church is not a job that can be done well under the pastor s power alone. Every pastor relies heavily on God s guidance, strength and peace as they live into their call. One of the best ways we can support our pastors and show them our appreciation is to regularly pray for them. DAYS 23-30: PRAYING FOR YOUR PASTORS 23. Relationships Pray for close, life-giving relationships that will encourage and uplift our pastors. 24. Self-care Pray our pastors to find restful outlets to be refreshed and renewed, guilt-free. 25. Travel Pray for safety for our pastors as they travel to and from visitations, hospital visits, classes, conferences, and other time spent on the road. 26. Steadfastness Pray Galatians 6:9 for our pastors that they would not grow weary in doing good, and that in their faithfulness, they would reap a harvest. 27. Assurance Pray that Bob and Ben would feel God s presence with them personally and in the various aspects of their ministry. 28. Spiritual Growth Pray that our pastors would continue to grow in their relationship with God and their faith in him. Pray that they would discover ways that they can be fed and filled personally. 29. Hope Pray Romans 15:13 for our pastors that the God of hope would fill them with joy and peace as they trust in him, and that they would overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. 30. Congregational Support Pray that as a congregation we would recognize the need to lift our pastors up in prayer commit to pray regularly on their behalf. LET US JOIN TOGETHER AND PRAY CONSISTENTLY FOR 30 DAYS FOR OUR PASTORS. A UMC.org Feature by Joe Iovino. The life of a United Methodist pastor is filled with a variety of responsibilities. They preach, teach, visit, counsel, lead, consult, communicate, budget, clean, and so much more. Pastoring a church is not a job that can be done well under the pastor s power alone. Every pastor relies heavily on God s guidance, strength and peace as they live into their call. One of the best ways we can support our pastors and show them our appreciation is to regularly pray for them. DAYS 23-30: PRAYING FOR YOUR PASTORS 23. Relationships Pray for close, life-giving relationships that will encourage and uplift our pastors. 24. Self-care Pray our pastors to find restful outlets to be refreshed and renewed, guilt-free. 25. Travel Pray for safety for our pastors as they travel to and from visitations, hospital visits, classes, conferences, and other time spent on the road. 26. Steadfastness Pray Galatians 6:9 for our pastors that they would not grow weary in doing good, and that in their faithfulness, they would reap a harvest. 27. Assurance Pray that Bob and Ben would feel God s presence with them personally and in the various aspects of their ministry. 28. Spiritual Growth Pray that our pastors would continue to grow in their relationship with God and their faith in him. Pray that they would discover ways that they can be fed and filled personally. 29. Hope Pray Romans 15:13 for our pastors that the God of hope would fill them with joy and peace as they trust in him, and that they would overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. 30. Congregational Support Pray that as a congregation we would recognize the need to lift our pastors up in prayer commit to pray regularly on their behalf.