Preparing for worship

Transcription

1 First Sunday in Lent March 5, 2017

2 Preparing for worship What are you giving up for Lent? That s the question you might be asked around the proverbial watercooler by a Catholic colleague. Baptists in days of old would need first to know what Lent is before they knew what to give up for it. More Baptists today see the benefits of following the church year, and we are learning that discipline in the spiritual life is as important as discipline in any other aspect of life. If you decide to run a marathon, you give up sleep and comfort in pursuit of your goal. You invest your time differently. You train your body in ways that make it fit for the service required to finish the race. The spiritual life also requires training for successful service. We learn to see the world through the eyes of God by closely attending to the way of Jesus. We deny ourselves immediate gratification in hopes of meeting the more important goal of being useful to God. If we give up something in our daily routine during the 40 days of Lent an extra hour of sleep, bread, Facebook, smoking, resentment or gossip, just to mention a few the giving up becomes a reminder by the emptiness of our need for God. The best kind of giving up, however, is to match the denial of something with the adding of something better. Fill the emptiness with prayer, devotional reading, a walk without technology in hand, small gifts to charities, or handwritten notes of encouragement. This shifts the giving up from surrender to offering. Giving up as offering modifies our perspective of the Christian life from not doing selfish things to doing selfless things. Character is formed as much by engagement as avoidance. These are two sides of the same coin. If all you do is stop doing something for Lent, your spirituality is rooted in the negative. Adding positive action strengthens the soul and shapes it for service. Giving up something for Lent should be about doing good more than not doing bad. Giving up as offering is the essence of love. And love is the heart of the gospel. George Mason Wilshire Baptist Church 4316 Abrams Road Dallas, Texas (214) Partnered with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship ON THE COVER: Shore Stations: Psalm Virginia Wieringa Eyekons 2

3 March 5, :30 and 11:00 a.m. First Sunday in Lent Chiming of the Hour The people of Wilshire gather this morning to worship God. In order for this service of worship to be focused upon that purpose, please turn off all cell phones, pagers and alarm watches. Prelude Allemande from Partita No. 2, BWV 1004 J.S. Bach Zoe Garrett, violin Call to Worship Esto les digo Lange Shekinah Melinda Thompson, soloist; James Michael Williams, accompanist Esto les digo, si dos de ustedes se ponen, This I say to them, if two of you will put, Se ponen en acuerdo aquíen, en la tierra para pedir, Will put yourselves in agreement, on this earth to ask, Pedir algo en oración, mi padre que está en el cielo To ask for something in prayer, my God in heaven will give it Se lo dará porque donde dos o tres se reúnen en mi nombre, To you because where two or three meet in my name, Allí estoy yo, en medio de ellos. There will I be, in the middle of them. Esto les digo, estoy allí, en medio de ellos, Esto les digo. This I say to you, I am here, in the middle of you all. This I say to you. Opening Sentences Hank Thompson / Judy Ward From the beginning, God has called people out of their safe places into uncomfortable places, revealing paths they never would have chosen on their own. We, too, are called to walk new roads that lead to humility, justice, peace. Today we begin the Lenten journey with Jesus toward Jerusalem and the cross of suffering. Scripture tells us that in the midst of healing the sick and preaching good news to the poor, Jesus set his face toward Jerusalem, knowing this was the road he must travel to bring redemption to humankind. To mark this passage, we extinguish the first in a series of Lenten candles, reminding us that the true light that came into the world through the birth of the baby Jesus now faces the gathering darkness of sin and evil that will nail the Man of Sorrows to a criminal s cross. Will you walk this way with Christ toward Jerusalem? +Hymn 13 All Glory Be to God on High mit freuden zart *8:30 worship service / **11:00 worship service +All congregants who are able are invited to stand. Hearing devices are available in the Narthex and South Atrium. 3

4 Greeting to Worshipers Darren DeMent / Sarah Stafford Guests are invited to tear off the response card on this order of worship, complete it and place it in the offering plate later in the service. We would love to know you were here today. Prayer concerns will be addressed this hour when listed on an intercessory prayer card from the pew rack and placed in the offering plate. Epistle Reading Romans 5:12 19 Rebecca Cole / Gloria Martin Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law. Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man s trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many. And the free gift is not like the effect of the one man s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification. If, because of the one man s trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Therefore just as one man s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all. For just as by the one man s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man s obedience the many will be made righteous. This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Prayers of the People Mark Wingfield +Hymn 184 Beneath the Cross of Jesus st. christopher Giving of Tithes and Offerings When you give to Wilshire s Unified Budget, you support Preemptive Love Coalition, a global movement of peacemakers changing the way we engage the world s most polarizing conflicts by confronting fear with acts of love through life-saving heart surgeries, emergency relief for families victimized by ISIS, grants for small-business owners, educating children and peacemaking. Choral Offertory *Ubi Caritas Snyder Youth Choir Ubi caritas et amore, Deus ibi est. Exsultemus et in ipso jucundemur. Where there is charity and love, God is there. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Simul ergo cum in unum congregamur. Likewise, therefore, when we come together let us be united as one. Et ex corde, diligamus nos sincero. And from a sincere heart let us love one another. 4

5 **Ave Verum Corpus Mozart Sanctuary Choir Ave, verum corpus natum de Maria Virgine, Hail, true body born of the Virgin Mary, Vere passum immolatum in Cruce pro homine, who truly suffered, sacrificed on the cross for man, Cujus latus perforatum unda fluxit et sanguine, whose pierced side overflowed with water and blood, Esto nobis praegustatum in mortis examine. be for us a foretaste in the trial of death. +Offertory Response hendon Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold; take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise, let them flow in ceaseless praise. Old Testament Reading Genesis 2:15 17, 3:1 7 Gina Biddle / Andy Brookshire The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die. Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, Did God say, You shall not eat from any tree in the garden? The woman said to the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; but God said, You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die. But the serpent said to the woman, You will not die; for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves. Psalm Response Psalm 32 arr. Hopson & b 4 3 Refrain œ œ. œ œ œ œ œ.. God is kind and gra - cious. God heals the bro - ken spir - it. Refrain text: Hal H. Hopson, and copyright 2008 Birnamwood/MorningStar Music Publishers. Music: Hal H. Hopson, and copyright 2008 Birnamwood/MorningStar Music Publishers. 5

6 Message A Way Other than Our Own George Mason Celebration of the Lord s Supper Jakob Topper / Timothy Peoples 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 sins, As we forgive those who sin against us; And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen. The Bread We Are One in Christ arr. Blackwell The Cup Beautiful Savior arr. Ashdown All followers of Christ are invited to partake of the Lord s Supper, whether you are a Wilshire member or not. The bread used this morning is gluten-free. +The Passing of the Peace May the peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you. +Hymn of Commitment 490 Take My Life, and Let It Be hendon Sharing of Decisions Benediction Postlude The Glory of These Forty Days arr. Sedio All guests are invited to a coffee reception in James Gallery immediately after the 11:00 service. Welcome to Wilshire today. If you are a guest with us today, we welcome you warmly to our congregation. We would like to get to know you and tell you more about our church. Please take a Response Card from the pew rack, fill it out and place it in the offering plate when it comes by. Someone to talk with. If you are facing a life challenge and would like to have a spiritual friend to walk alongside you for a season of healing, perhaps you would benefit from a Stephen Minister. Learn more at wilshirebc.org or contact Tiffany Wright at (214)

7 Meet today s worship leaders Gina Biddle joined Wilshire in She attends Discovery Class and works as a chaplain in the UT Southwestern Medical Center system. Andy Brookshire grew up at Wilshire and returned here after earning degrees from Vanderbilt Univeristy and George Washington University. He now works for Pegasus Ablon and at Wilshire serves on the Committee on Committees and attends Ithaka Class. His parents are Gail and Steve Brookshire. Rebecca Cole and her husband, David, joined Wilshire in They are the parents of Crosby, who is 5, and Wilson, who is 2. Rebecca and David are members of Labyrinth Class, and she teaches in pre-k choir. Rebecca is founder and president of Slant Partners, a design-driven marketing firm. Zoe Garrett is a high school senior and the daughter of Linda and John Garrett. She is active in Wilshire s student ministry and sings in Youth Choir and Shekinah. Gloria Martin and her husband, Phill, have been Wilshire members since 2000, except for a three-year tenure at Wilshire s former mission congregation in Rockwall, Christ Church. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist and licensed professional counselor in private practice. She and Phill are the parents of two adult daughters. Hank Thompson and his wife, Shellie, came to Wilshire in They are the parents of Megan, a recent graduate of the University of Oklahoma now teaching in Dallas, and Melinda, a senior at Lake Highlands High School. Hank is an usher, a deacon, teaches second grade Sunday School and serves on the Children s Education Committee. He works for the Environmental Protection Agency. Judy Ward and her husband, Jimmy, joined Wilshire in She recently served on the Missions Committee and has been an active missions volunteer, including work with the Prison Entrepreneurship Program. Staff contacts George A. Mason, Ph.D. Senior Pastor (214) Mark Wingfield Associate Pastor (214) Doug Haney Minister of Music (214) Sarah Stafford Associate Minister of Music (214) Jeff Brummel Music Associate/Organist (214) Tiffany Wright Minister for Care Ministries (214) Jessica Capps Minister to Senior Adults (214) Darren DeMent Minister to Students (214) Julie Girards Minister to Children (214) Joan Hammons Minister to Preschoolers (214) Heather Mustain Minister of Missions (214) Katie Murray Christian Advocacy Specialist (214) Timothy Peoples Pastoral Resident (214) Kevin Sinclair Pastoral Resident (214) Jakob Topper Pastoral Resident (214) David Nabors Director of Business Admin. (214) Dale Pride Facilities Manager (214) J. Preston Bright Associate Pastor Emeritus To any staff member, use the first letter of the first name combined with the full last name and 7

8 This week at Wilshire Youth Choir auction and luncheon today. Stay after worship and Sunday School today for the annual Wilshire Youth Choir silent auction and spaghetti luncheon in Community Hall from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Everyone is invited. Lunch is free, but all donations will go toward the Youth Choir s summer mission trip to New Orleans. Also, bid on a variety of goods and services. Burgers for Grief and Loss Center. Tomorrow, March 6, from 4 to 9 p.m., Liberty Burger in Lakewood will donate 10 percent of sales to the Grief and Loss Center of North Texas. Diners must bring printed copies of the event flier, available in the church office or on Wilshire s website. Inherit the Wind this week. Scenes from the classic American play will be presented during the annual Faith in 3-D event in Community Hall this Thursday and Friday, March 9 and 10. The hourlong dramatic event will be followed by dessert and a panel dialogue both nights. The event is free. The play will begin at 7:30 both nights, but attendees are encouraged to arrive 15 to 20 minutes early for a surprise pre-show event. Child care is available. Lenten devotional book. Wilshire s 2017 Lenten theme is A Way Other than Our Own, drawn from a daily devotional book of the same title written by Walter Brueggemann. Copies of this book are available for $5 in the church office. Weekly Witness. This week s Weekly Witness legislative briefing from Texas Impact will focus on state policy around health care. Join the dialogue in Room 3301 at noon tomorrow or contact Katie Murray (kmurray@wilshirebc.org) for a link to watch the briefing from work or home. Beginnings Class. A new session of Wilshire s Beginnings Class for nearly and newly married couples will be offered on six Sunday mornings beginning today. For information, contact Tiffany Wright at twright@wilshirebc.org or (214) Koinonia Café March 8: Chicken and shrimp etouffee, smoked sausage with peppers, rice and red beans with ham, okra with tomatoes, cauliflower and peas, spinach, sliced baguettes, apple pie a la mode. Wednesday night studies. This Wednesday evening, choose from two adult study options at 6 p.m. Timothy Peoples will lead a study on suffering and hope, based on 2 Corinthians 4:7-18, in Room 1205-G. Mark Wingfield will lead a discussion of the current Lenten devotional book, A Way Other than Our Own, in Room 1205-L. Survey coming. Beginning Sunday, March 19, everyone in the Wilshire community will be invited to participate in an online survey administered by the Gallup Organization. The Gallup Member Engagement process will provide guidance for our Vision 20/20 strategic plan, as we seek to identify where Wilshire members believe they are doing well in their spiritual lives and where they need help in their spiritual lives. The goal of participation in the confidential Gallup survey is to help church leaders understand how best to help all of us become spiritually healthy. Spring break schedule. Due to spring break, there will be no Wednesday evening activities on March 15. All daytime activities will continue. New members: Vic Henry, Candy McComb, Theresa Wilson. Brown Bag Book Club. The next Brown Bag Book Club will be Thursday, April 6, discussing the book Whistler by John Grisham. Bring a lunch and come join the conversation at noon in Room 1205-L. No reservation is required, and guests are always welcome. UT choir concert. The 50-voice University of Texas Concert Chorale will appear in a free concert at Wilshire on Thursday, March 30, at 7 p.m. The concert will be a celebration of creation with works by Whitacre, Hindemith and featuring the masterwork In the Beginning by Aaron Copland. Keep up with all the Wilshire news at wilshirebc.org or by using our Wilshire app or via social media. Worship is live streamed every Sunday at 11:00. 8