Sermon "When the Only Way Forward Is Reverse" Richard Kremer

Transcription

1 Ann Caldwell, organist; Charlotte Bearden, pianist Vineville Brass, Kelly Graves, director Prelude Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine Hebble Welcome Music for Meditation How Great Thou Art with How Great Is Our God Labenske All are encouraged to use this time as intentional preparation for the worship of God. Invocation Arlette Copeland *Hymn 58 Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise st. denio Children are invited to gather at the front as we sing the final stanza Children's Sermon Russell Honeycutt The Lord's Prayer Scripture Reading Psalm 32 Brianna Pylant Ministry of Music Nothing Holding Me Back Anna Jones Pastoral Prayer *Hymn 171 What Wondrous Love Is This? wondrous love *Offertory Prayer Brianna Pylant Offertory Prelude on rhosymedre Vaughan Williams Scripture Reading Luke 19:1-10 Ministry of Music Gracious Spirit, Dwell With Me arr. K Lee Scott Sermon "When the Only Way Forward Is Reverse" *Hymn of Response 586 Grace Greater Than Our Sin moody *Celebrations and Concerns *Pastoral Benediction *Postlude Partita on st. denio Ashdown

2 Marching Forward Welcome to the first Sunday in Lent. Beginning with our Ash Wednesday on March 1, we have entered a time of spiritual introspection and discipline. We have also entered a time of incessant activity and we will need everyone s help in meeting the challenges ahead. Next week is our Spring Consignment Sale, and we need a host of volunteers to make it happen. We will need workers on Tuesday night, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday of this coming week. This is such a labor-intensive project. Please help us! Of course, we are also hosting the Co-operative Baptist Fellowship s Spring General Assembly on the weekend of March 24 and 25. The CBF is expecting a large group for the CBF s 25th anniversary celebration, and we will need numerous volunteers. The celebration will start on Friday about noon and continue through lunch on Saturday. All events are free, except the Friday night dinner, the Saturday breakfast and Saturday lunch. Childcare is available and free, but you need to make reservations by Friday, March 17. The deadline for reservations for the meal is also Friday, March 17. If you can help serve in any way, contact Melissa Kremer or Norma Thompson. In accordance with our by-laws we will hold our deacon election on the third Sunday in March, March 19. The qualifications for deacons, as set forth in our church by-laws, are as follows: 1)Live a consecrated Christian life, bringing no reproach upon the church. 2)Attend church functions regularly, unless absence is for some compelling reason. 3)Be a consistent, generous, and joyful giver to the financial support of the church. 4)Be evangelistic and missionary in spirit. 5)Cooperate with the Pastor and church leaders. 6)Refrain from destructive criticism of any kind of the church or other members. 7)Be able to keep in confidence those matters as needed. 8)Be willing to actively serve in the Deacon Family Ministry Program. For a full review of all information related to our deacon election, as set out by the church bylaws, you can consult a handout that will be found in the sanctuary anterooms next Sunday. Sunday, March 19th will be a busy Sunday, for during the 10:45 am worship service that day we will also recognize the basketball teams and coaches who participated in our inaugural Macon Church Basketball League. Some of the young people who played in the league will participate in worship. We will also host a banquet for the teams and their families following the service. If you can help in preparing or serving the meal, let Melissa know. Young adults and their families, don t forget that we have a special evening planned for Friday, March 17th. We will be gathering at the Kremer household for a cookout, roasting smores around the camp fire, and watching the NCAA basketball tourney. This is not only a great time to gather together all of our church s young families for a warm time of fellowship, it is also a wonderful opportunity to invite friends and neighbors, particularly those not involved in a church family. Come join the fun! Speaking of the NCAA basketball tournament, don t forget to participate in the 2017 Pastor s Pick-em. You are invited to submit your prognostication of the NCAA men s tournament bracket, and can enter as many brackets as your desire. The cost is $2 per bracket, and all of the money will go toward our Benevolence Fund. The tournament starts on Thursday, March 16th, and you must me your picks or drop them by the church office by noon on the 16th. I will personally buy a $30 gift certificate to Ingleside Pizza for the winner. Jonathan Jones is the defending champion. Finally, don t forget that the Vineville Baptist Men are inviting the ladies of the church to share a meal and program with them on Tuesday, March 14. Tickets are already on sale for what is always a delightful evening. A word from your pastor, Dr. Sympathy We extend Christian sympathy to the following families: Harold and Rochelle McAbee and their family in the death of Harold s niece, Becki Dorr, and in the death of Rochelle s great-nephew, Bryon Leatherwood. Larry and Judy George and their family in the death of Judy s aunt, Hilda Joy Smith. Flowers The flowers in the sanctuary are given in loving memory of Jim Williamson for his birthday on March 8 by his family. Book Study for Young Adults It is not too late to join the book study led by Melissa Kremer which meets each Wednesday at 6:30 pm in Room M-106. The book is Growing Young and includes comprehensive research compiled by Fuller Seminary on reaching the next generation with the Christian message.

3 Youth Today: No regularly scheduled youth activities this afternoon. Wednesday: God-talk Bible Study, Why can t the Christian life be easy?, 6:30 pm. March Mission Madness: This weekend, March 10-12, in Macon. Youth will be worshipping and serving in our community. Youth will meet at the church at 6:15 pm on Friday afternoon. Please make sure you turn in your permission form and $45.00 for the event. There will no regularly scheduled activities next Sunday afternoon. Ladies Night at Men s Fellowship Men's Fellowship Ladies Night will be Tuesday, March 14 at 6:30 pm. The program will feature singers from Mercer's Townsend School of Music and their repertoire of romantic songs and show tunes. All single ladies and widows will be admitted free. Tickets are $5. Peter Schultz is a Junior at Mercer University from Minnesota working on a B.A in Music and a B.S in Psychology. A singer, tap dancer, piano and saxophone player, Peter has been involved in two musical shows at the Grand Opera House, and three operas with Mercer University Opera. These shows include: 42nd Street (Billy Lawlor), Oklahoma! (Will Parker), The Gondoliers (Maro), Muskrat Lullaby (Miles the Muskrat), and Alcina. Adele Bauman, sophomore from Blairsville, Georgia, has participated in Mercer s Oklahoma! as part of the ensemble, and has also sung in the chorus with the Peach State Opera company in their modern rendition on Elixir of Love. This past fall she played the part of Tessa in Mercer s production of The Gondoliers. With an intended major in Music Education, Adele also takes part in Mercer Singers. She would like to thank her family for sparking her musical career with the creation of the Bauman Family Band. Calvin Langman is a Freshman at The Robert McDuffie Center for Strings. He is majoring in a Bachelor s Degrees in Cello Performance. His hobbies include playing with his cat Goober, songwriting, and playing with his band, The Happy Fits. Summer Mission Opportunity We are looking to take a team on a short term (weekend) missionary training trip to Clarkston, GA through Global Frontier Missions, June 30 through July 2. This weekend would provide evangelism and outreach training, focusing on reaching out to cultures and religions different from our own. Please contact Angela Blizzard if you or members of your family may be interested in learning and serving! Adults of all ages and youth ages 16 and up are welcome! Kids can go with a participating parent/ guardian. daylight Saving Time Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday, March 12. Set your clocks forward one hour on Saturday night. Upcoming Events March 9-11 Children s Consignment Sale March 14 Men s Fellowship 6:30 pm Ladies Night Out March 17 Young Adult Cookout 6:00 pm at the Kremers March CBF Spring Assembly at VBC April 9 Palm Sunday

4 April 12 Holy Wednesday 6:45 pm in the Sanctuary April 13 Maundy Thursday 7:00 pm in the Sanctuary April 14 Tenebrae Service 7:00 pm in the Sanctuary April 15 Children s Easter Egg Hunt April 16 Easter Sunday This Week at Vineville Sunday, March 5 8:30 am Early Service 9:15 am Media Library 9:35 am Bible Study 10:45 am Worship Monday, March 6 No Activities Tuesday, March 7 10:00 am Leadership Team Meeting 10:30 am Exercise/Stretching Class Wednesday, March 8 9:00 am Media Library 5:30 pm Vineville Brass 5:30 pm Family Supper 6:00 pm Children s Choirs 6:15 pm Media Library 6:45 pm Family Worship Lower Auditorium 6:45 pm Mission Friends 6:45 pm Kingdom Kids 7:30 pm Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal Thursday, March 9 9:00 am Consignment Sale 10:30 am Exercise/Stretching Class 12:00 pm Ladies Bible Study Friday, March 10 12:00 pm Consignment Sale Saturday, March 11 8:00 am Consignment Sale Daylight Saving Time Begins Set your clocks forward one hour Sunday, March 12 8:30 am Early Service 9:15 am Media Library 9:35 am Bible Study 10:45 am Worship 6:30 pm Missions Team Meeting

5 Deacon of the Week The Deacon of the Week is Brenton Easom. Next week is John Fry, Jr. Report as of February 26 ATTENDANCE Bible Study 188 8:30 Worship 40 10:45 Worship 187 STEWARDSHIP Budget Gifts $10,860 Budget Gifts (ytd) $126,256 Budget Required (ytd) $157,140 YTD% Budget Giving 80.3% Following Christ 2 (ytd) $1,855 Our Staff Angela Blizzard Angela Blizzard Brianna Pylant Peggy Jones Jody Thornton Ginny Ferguson Sandra Head Tonia Boyd Rhea Patrick & Sherry Williams Pastor Minister of Music Minister to Youth Music and Youth Intern Financial Administrator Administrative Assistant Receptionist Music Ministry Coordinator Weekday Morning School Co-Teachers of Higher Life Our Lay Leadership Church Council John Fry, Jr Deacon Ministry Mark Wood Grief Ministry Nell Jones Homebound Betty Jones Media Center Carol Lincoln Men s Ministry Todd Smith Missions Jim Jones Preschool Bobbie Scarbrough Senior Adults-XYZ Jackie Odom Sunday School Jeane Easom WMU Betty Jones Women s Ministry Susan Milam