The Future of The Local Church:

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Morning Session: Gathering, Saturday, October 6, 2018 A Note About Today s Worship: Throughout today s gathering there will be oents of worship in the sharing of our inistries, in the breaking of

1 Morning Session: Gathering, Saturday, October 6, 2018 A Note About Today s Worship: Throughout today s gathering there will be oents of worship in the sharing of our inistries, in the breaking of bread around lunch tables, and in the coissioning of newly elected officers. There will be a choir and soe hyn singing, devotions and anointing. Today s worship will not be shared in a traditional set aside tie, but rather interwoven throughout the eeting as one often experiences on retreat. May you find oents of blessing to feed our shared inistry in the year ahead. Hyn Sing, 9:15 AM Join for a hyn sing led by Mt. Hope. Hyn packets can be found on the various tables. Opening Words Opening Responses Creator of the world, eternal God, Many: We have coe fro any places for a little while. Redeeer of huanity, God-with-us, Many: We have coe with all our differences, seeking coon ground. Spirit of unity, go-between God, Many: We have coe on journeys of our own, to a place where journeys eet. So here, in this teporary dwelling, in this circle of worship, let us take tie together. For when paths cross and pilgris gather, there is uch to share and celebrate, Many: In your nae, three-in-one God, pattern of counity. Open our eyes Many: to behold your presence. Open our ears Many: to hear your voice Open our hearts Many: to receive your love. Open our lips, Many: And our ouths shall proclai your praise. Aen. 1

Morning Session: Closing Worship, Saturday, October 6, 2018 Call to Worship Gather us in, The lost and the lonely, the broken and the breaking, The tired and the aching, who long for the nourishent

2 Morning Session: Closing Worship, Saturday, October 6, 2018 Call to Worship Gather us in, The lost and the lonely, the broken and the breaking, The tired and the aching, who long for the nourishent The done and the doubting, the wishing and the wondering, The puzzled and pondering, who long for the copany The proud and pretentious, the sure and superior, The never inferior who long for the leveling The bright and the bustling, the stirrers, the shakers, The kind laughter akers, who long for the deeper joys Fro corner or lielight, fro ansion or capsite, Fro fears and obsession, fro tears and depression, Fro untold excesses, fro treasured successes, To eet, to greet, to be offered a seat, Be joined to the vine, be offered new wine, To becoe like the least to be found at the feast. All: Gather us in! Hearing The Story, Acts 10:9-16 Coon English Bible 9 At noon on the following day, as their journey brought the close to the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He becae hungry and wanted to eat. While others were preparing the eal, he had a visionary experience. 11 He saw heaven opened up and soething like a large linen sheet being lowered to the earth by its four corners. 12 Inside the sheet were all kinds of four-legged anials, reptiles, and wild birds. 13 A voice told hi, Get up, Peter! Kill and eat! 14 Peter exclaied, Absolutely not, Lord! I have never eaten anything ipure or unclean. 15 The voice spoke a second tie, Never consider unclean what God has ade pure. 16 This happened three ties, then the object was suddenly pulled back into heaven. 2

3 Devotion The Rev. Willia Vanderburg Offertory One of the ways we share the gifts of God with our neighbors, is through the giving and sending of our financial gifts into the world. Today s offering will go to Florence disaster recovery in the Southern Conference. The Invitation This is the table, not of the church, but of Jesus. It is to be ade ready for those who love hi and those who want to love hi ore. Many: And so we coe, we who have uch faith, and we who have little; we who have been here often and we who have not been here for a while; we who have tried to follow, and we who have failed. Coe, not because it is I who invites you: It is Christ. It is his will that those who want hi should eet hi here. Approaching the Table As we approach sharing counion with Jesus the Christ, let us express our gratitude to God for the blessings given to us at this tie, whether it be ordinary or special. For this tie and for this place, and for those around us, thank you God. Many: Thank you, God. For our freedo to worship and nae you, thank you God. Many: Thank you, God. Please add your own petitions, to which all respond: Thank you, God. So now, in gratitude, we join our voices with those of the Church on earth and in heaven: Many: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord, God of power and ight, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is the One who coes in the nae of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest! 3

4 Holy One, As we coe to share in the richness of your table, We cannot forget the rawness of the earth and the fragility of your people. We cannot take bread and forget those who are hungry. We cannot take the cup and forget those who are thirsty. A oent of silence to reeber those who are hungering and thirsting for bread, for justice, for love, for grace and healing. You ay nae the aloud if you wish. Many: Gracious God, put our fullness at the service of those who are epty. Throughout generations, people have gathered together at table to celebrate what is extraordinary about the ordinary -- Matzo and wine of the Passover eal, turkey, sweet potatoes and dressing/stuffing of Thanksgiving, three dates eaten at the conclusion of Raadan. Since the beginning of tie, counities have prepared and eaten eals together to reind theselves of the power of food and drink to bring together failies and friends to transcend divisions in a Spirit of love, peace and joy. In an age when we see to be ore divided than ever, we pray that the power of this siple eal ay unite us into a counity of neighbors. Though the scent, taste and textures of the bread and drink first invoke our eories, the stories shared around table are truly what bring us together. We invite you to share our eal around your tables. Break bread by joining one of the any conversations and tables listed in your agendas. Receive this invitation to iagine what it ight look like as a local church to follow Christ in this ever changing world. Let this be our lunch conversation, let this be our breaking bread and sharing of cup. Many: Breathe life in us, Holy Spirit of God let these everyday gifts of bread and cup becoe for us soul-sustaining eal. As we share this eal, bring us together Make us one loving counity of neighbors. Aen! Friends, the tables are ready! This eal is first and foreost a Gift fro God. All are welcoe without exception. Please share the gifts of God with your neighbor! The Gift Of Music Let Your Light Shine, by Mary McDonald Receive this gift of usic fro our Association Choir. Following the song, please collect your lunch, and join one of the working lunch breakouts. Go now to break bread and share cup in conversation and fellowship. 4

5 Afternoon Session: Gathering Worship, Saturday, October 6, 2018 Blessing: Roans 12 Selected Verses Please read a line aloud as you feel called. The Message So here s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life and place it before God as an offering. Ebracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for God. Don t becoe so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You ll be changed fro the inside out. Don t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflae. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don t quit in hard ties; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality. Bless your eneies; no cursing under your breath. Don t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you ve got it in you, get along with everybody. Don t insist on getting even; that s not for you to do. I ll do the judging, says God. I ll take care of it. Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your eney hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he s thirsty, get hi a drink. Your generosity will surprise hi with goodness. Don t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing Good. Love fro the center of who you are; don t fake it. Run for dear life fro evil; hold on for dear life to good. Spirit of the Living God Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on e, Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on e, Melt us, old us, fill us, use us. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on e. 5

6 Afternoon Session: Closing Worship, Saturday, October 6, 2018 Coissioning: WNCA Elected Leader Affiration of Ministry Leader: These people have been called by God, in accordance with the faith and order of this Association, to serve aong us. They have accepted their call, and are before us in witness to their willingness to serve. Board: I a. Sisters and Brothers in Christ, it is an honor to be entrusted with responsibility for particular service in the inistry of the Western North Carolina Association, whether gathered or scattered. Serving as elected leaders is a sacred and holy task. You are charged with the governance of this Association. Having prayerfully considered the duties and responsibilities, are you prepared to serve with the help of God in Christ s nae and for the glory of God? Leader: Do you proise to exercise your role diligently and faithfully, showing forth the love of Christ? Board: I do, relying on God s grace. Leader: Mebers of this great Association, you have heard the proises of our Brothers and Sisters in Christ who have answered God s call to service. Let us affir our intention to live in covenant with the. Will those who are able rise and witness to the covenant we now ake? *Gathering: We gather in celebration of the joy that is ours to be partners with you in the service of Jesus Christ. We proise to love you, honor your leadership, and assist you that together we ay be a faithful body of Jesus Christ. Leader: Let us pray. Eternal God, You have called these people to serve you in this Association and in the world, which you have entrusted to our care and keeping. Send your Holy Spirit on the that they ay serve aong us with honor and faithfulness. Help the to be diligent in their duties that your church ay prosper in the ission you place before her. May their exaple prove worthy for all of us to follow as we are united in Christ s inistry for the glory of your nae. Aen. Devotion The Rev. Angela Roberson Anointing & Sending Worshippers will be anointed for service as they depart into the world. 6

TIMOTHY CLUB K1 TO P3 NOV/DEC HOLIDAY PROGRAMME CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN

TIMOTHY CLUB K1 TO P3 NOV/DEC HOLIDAY PROGRAMME CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN Date: 12/13 Deceber 2015 Prograe: Christas Sharing CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN OVERVIEW Over these two weeks, we will be helping the children