Preparing for worship

Transcription

1 Ascension Sunday May 13, 2018

2 Preparing for worship Last week, to mark the 400th anniversary of the Bard s death, the British newspaper The Guardian asked a number of British actors to perform famous monologues from William Shakespeare s plays. As luck would have it, one of these beautifully acted monologues popped up in my Facebook newsfeed recently Damian Lewis (of Band of Brothers and Homeland fame) performing Marc Antony s funeral speech from Act III of Julius Caesar. In scarcely two and a half minutes, Lewis brings the character fully to life, deftly embodying both the heartbreak of a man who has lost his best friend and the scheming genius of a man who is able to turn the entire crowd against Caesar s murderers even as they watch. It is nothing short of thrilling. It struck me at the end of the video that I never had experienced Shakespeare quite like that before. I ve read Julius Caesar, of course. But Shakespeare s beautiful words were never anything more than words on a page to me. In Damian Lewis eyes and on his lips, however, those lifeless words came alive and stirred something in my soul. The Danish philosopher and theologian Søren Kierkegaard once remarked that worship is a lot like good theater. In worship, ancient and powerful words are transformed into more than just words by the vivifying power of re-enactment. When we gather for worship today, we locate ourselves in the ongoing drama of God and God s people, not just repeating the stories of God s salvation, but acting them, finding our place in them and letting them find their place in us. The trick, as Kierkegaard rightly noted, is reminding ourselves that in church the people sitting in long rows in front of an elevated platform do not constitute a passive audience. In worship, the people sitting in long rows in front of the elevated platform are the primary actors. While preachers, musicians and other worship leaders are here to prompt us, in the end it is up to us to respond to their prompting. On Sunday morning, the whole sanctuary becomes a stage and all of us become players on it. Which is not to suggest that what we do in worship is something flippant or frivolous. Quite the opposite. Play is one of the most important things human beings do. Play allows us to try on this story, to begin living its patterns even before we fully understand them. Play frees us from the constraints of seriousness, allowing us to laugh at the holy irony of the gospel. Play is an act of creativity in response to our Creator. Play is a thoroughly transcendent thing. So break a leg, y all. Aaron Coyle-Carr Wilshire Baptist Church 4316 Abrams Road Dallas, Texas (214) Partnered with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Building a Community of Faith Shaped by the Spirit of Jesus Christ ON THE COVER: The Ascension, John Singleton Copley ( ). From Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, in cooperation with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. 2

3 May 13, :30 and 11:00 a.m. Ascension Sunday 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 Assurance Clark Wilshire Winds Shana Gaines, director **Baptism Joseph, Felix and Judith Guthrie Sarah Stafford Opening Sentences Psalm 47 Joan Hammons / Linda Imhoof Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with loud songs of joy. For the Lord, the Most High, is awesome, a great king over all the earth. He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet. He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the king of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm. God is king over the nations; God sits on his holy throne. The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted. +Hymn 313 All You Works of God, Bless the Lord linstead Stanza 1, solo Stanzas 2-5, all Greeting to Worshipers Carolyn Murray / Julie Girards Guests are invited to take a Response Card from the pew rack, 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. *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 +Gospel Reading Luke 24:44 53 Shaeron Moorhead / Mary Kay Jackman Then he said to them, These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled. Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high. Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. A Conversation on Ascension Prayers of the People Aaron Coyle-Carr and Matt Dodrill with Mark Wingfield Kevin Gardner-Sinclair / LeAnn Hampton +Hymn 54 Like a Mother with Her Children unending praise Giving of Tithes and Offerings With summer months and vacations coming, make a plan now to remain faithful in your financial stewardship by signing up for automated withdrawals from your bank account or credit/debit card by following the QR Code here, using the Wilshire app on your smartphone or visiting wilshirebc.org/give. Offertory What a Friend We Have in Jesus arr. Gagliardi Wilshire Winds +Offertory Response lasst uns erfreuen Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise God, all creatures here below. Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise God, the source of all good gifts. Praise Jesus Christ whose power uplifts. Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! 4

5 Epistle Reading Ephesians 1:15 23 Carson Brown / Sam Tinsley I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. *Solo O Love That Will Not Let Me Go Manuel/arr. Zamora Sabrina Goodman, alto O love that will not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee; I give thee back the life I owe, that in thine ocean depths its flow May richer, fuller be. O light that foll west all my way, I yield my flick ring torch to thee; My heart restores its borrowed ray, that in thy sunshine s glow its day May brighter, fairer be. O joy that seekest me through pain, I cannot close my heart to thee; I trace the rainbow through the rain and feel the promise is not vain That morn shall tearless be. O cross that liftest up my head, I dare not ask to hide from thee; I lay in dust life s glory dead, and from the ground there blossoms red Life that shall endless be. **Anthem O Love That Will Not Let Me Go Manuel Sanctuary Choir Ralph Manuel, guest pianist Message Presence: The Church as the Continuing Body of Christ George Mason +Hymn 223 Crown Him with Many Crowns diademata Sharing of Decisions 5

6 *Benediction **Choral Benediction A Gaelic Blessing Rutter Sanctuary Choir Deep peace of the running wave to you. Deep peace of the flowing air to you. Deep peace of the quiet earth to you. Deep peace of the shining stars to you. Deep peace of the gentle night to you. Moon and stars pour their healing light on you. Deep peace of Christ, of Christ the light of the world to you. Deep peace of Christ to you. Postlude Fantasia on Diademata arr. DeRousse Bill Jernberg, guest organist Meet today s worship leaders Carson Brown is a senior at Lake Highlands High School. He is the son of Allison and Chad Brown. At Wilshire, he is active in the student ministry and sings with Youth Choir and Shekinah. He has been a missions volunteer and served on the lay support team for former Pastoral Resident Timothy Peoples. Sabrina Goodman is one of Wilshire s Choral Scholars and sings in Sanctuary Choir. She is a vocal performance major at SMU and is from Denver. LeAnn Hampton is a past chair of deacons, has served on numerous committees, plays flute in Wilshire Winds and for many years directed a Sunday School class for kindergarteners. A Wilshire member since 1983, she is married to Jeff and retired as director of preschool services for the Region 10 Education Service Center. She was the inaaugural chair of Wilshire s Christian Advocacy Committee and leads the One Starry Night team. Linda Imhoof and her husband, Mike, came to Wilshire in They attend Discovery Class, sing in New Song and serve on the lay support team for Pastoral Resident Matt Dodrill. Linda also serves on the Wilshire Adventurers Committee and as the hymn memory leader for children s choirs. She and Mike have two adult children, David and Karen. 6 Ralph Manuel is a native of Oklahoma City. He holds music degrees from Oklahoma City University, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and B. H. Carroll Theological Institute. From 1975 to 1979 he was on the music faculty at Southern Baptist College (now Williams Baptist College) in Walnut Ridge, Ark. He was a missionary to Brazil from 1979 to While in Brazil, he served as a music professor at the North Brazil Baptist Theological Seminary in Recife, teaching piano, music theory and composition. In February 2004, he became the minister of music at Heritage Baptist Church in Annapolis, Md. Ralph and his wife, Donna, have recently moved to Dallas. He is both the composer and accompanist for today s anthem. Carolyn Murray grew up at Wilshire and is the daughter of Bob and Charlene Law. She and her husband, Mark, now are raising two children Mason attends Pace University in New York City, and Lucy Kate is a seventh grader at Lake Highlands Junior High. Carolyn is a deacon, serves as director of Journey Class and works with 3-year-olds in Globetrekkers. Sam Tinsley has been a Wilshire member since He and his wife, Peggy, are members of Compass Class. Sam is a deacon, serves as chairman of the Wilshire Adventurers Committee and serves on the Personnel Committee. He is retired from teaching mathematics at Richland College. He and Peggy are the parents of two adult sons, Price Tinsley and Steve Tinsley.

7 All guests are invited to a coffee reception in the James Gallery immediately after the service. The flowers on the chancel today are given in memory of Chuck and Kathy Cabaniss by their son, Kevin and his family, Carol, Peyton, Tanner and Trace, and their daughter, Kristin. 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) Staff contacts George A. Mason 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) Heather Mustain Minister of Missions & Advocacy (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) Kevin Gardner-Sinclair Pastoral Resident (214) Jakob Topper Pastoral Resident (214) Aaron Coyle-Carr Pastoral Resident (214) Matt Dodrill 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 The Wilshire Tapestry Join Summer Choir Don t have time to sing in Sanctuary Choir all year but would like to sing part-time? Did you sing in a choir in high school or college and would like to take another swing at it? Here s your chance. All interested singers are invited to participate in Summer Choir, which will sing at the 11:00 service on Sunday mornings through September 2. That s seven Wednesday night rehearsals, from May 23 through July 11, skipping July 4. Summer Choir has shorter rehearsals, from 7 to 8:15 p.m., and easier music. Show up for rehearsal in Choral Hall or contact Doug Haney for more information. Sarah Stafford retirement Washington Post and Christianity Today. Jonathan is author of several critically-acclaimed books, including the forthcoming Learning to Speak God from Scratch, Jesus is Better Than You Imagined, and A Faith of Our Own: Following Jesus Beyond the Culture Wars. A native of Atlanta, where he grew up the son of a prominent Southern Baptist pastor, he currently lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. Summer speaker series The summer Wednesday noon testimony series, This Is My Story, begins this week, May 16, with a presentation by Bob Bozeman. Come enjoy lunch in Community Hall from 11 a.m. to noon and then stay for the inspirational talk at noon. On May 23, the speaker will be Barbara Peterson, talking about her current return trip to South Korea, where she previously served as a missionary. Sarah Stafford, associate minister of music, has announced plans to retire from her full-time position and transition to a part-time position as director of the New Song senior adult choir. The change will occur effective Aug. 1, after she has completed leadership of the summer MusiCamp. Last Wednesday night, she was recognized at the conclusion of the year-end children s choir program for 40 years of leadership in church children s choirs. A celebration of her retirement from full-time work will be scheduled this summer. Jonathan Merritt at Wilshire Author and religion blogger Jonathan Merritt will preach in both morning services on Sunday, June 10, and then will speak at a luncheon in Community Hall at noon. He writes on religion, culture and politics. He currently serves as a contributing writer for The Atlantic, contributing editor for The Week, and senior columnist for Religion News Service. Jonathan has published more than 3,000 articles in respected outlets such as the New York Times, USA Today, Buzzfeed, the Faces of Beloved Community Wilshire is the first stop for a new photographic exhibit illustrating the power of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Global Missions. The show, Faces of Beloved Community, will debut at the CBF General Assembly in Dallas in June and then will be shared with CBF congregations across the country. Stop by the South Lobby between now and June 10 to learn more about how our Unified Budget gifts to the CBF Offering for Global Missions make a difference around the world. Free computer classes A new semester of Wilshire s free computer and smartphone classes will begin on Tuesday, May 15, with registration for PC, iphone/ipad and Android classes. A special class will be offered for Mac 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

9 computers. If you are interested in attending these free classes, please attend one of the registration sessions, either 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. or 6 to 8 p.m. The sessions will be held in Room 3103, on the south end of the third floor. Classes will begin the following week and run for six weeks. For more information, contact Max Post at (214) Baptist Women in Ministry Baptist Women in Ministry will hold its annual meeting at Wilshire on Wednesday morning, June 13. Learn more at bwim.info/2018-annualgathering. The worship theme, Dare to be Brave, is drawn from a poem by womanist theologian Renita Weems from her book Showing Mary: How Women Can Share Prayers, Wisdom, and the Blessings of God, and the artwork is a creation of Suzanne Vinson. The preacher for the service will be Raquel Contreras, general director of the Baptist Spanish Publishing House in El Paso. Lunch will be served following the worship service, which is open to anyone, but advance reservations are required for the lunch. Urgent: Help needed for CBF Assembly The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship s annual General Assembly will be held at the Dallas Hyatt Regency complex downtown June 13-15, and Wilshire volunteers are urgently needed in many capacities. The event includes fellowship, inspiration, education and worship for clergy and laity alike. Volunteers are needed for registration, hospitality and ushering, among other roles. If you are willing to give a few hours or an entire day, follow the sign-up links with one click from wilshirebc.org/registration. Interfaith Ramadan Dinner Share a meal with friends from the Dialogue Institute Dallas in observance of Ramadan on Thursday, June 7, at 7:15 p.m. in James Gallery. Participants will break fast together at dusk after a time of discussion. Strengthen your own faith by learning about another faith and forming friendships at the table. Event is limited to 70 guests, and advance registration is required at wilshirebc.org/registration. Contact Heather Mustain for more information. 9 Adventurers June program Join Wilshire Adventurers on Tuesday, June 19, for a program on a theology of food (with maybe a little music included too) led by Leanna Coyle-Carr, who is married to Pastoral Resident Aaron Coyle-Carr and is a recent graduate of Wake Forest Divinity School. The free program starts at 10:30 and will be followed by lunch for $7 and then table games. No reservations required. Holy Land trip George Mason and Rabbi Nancy Kasten will lead an interfaith tour to the Holy Land Oct. 28 through Nov. 8, with an optional add-on that extends the trip to Nov. 11. Find information and registration at wilshirebc.org/registration. Room in the Inn this summer Join other Wilshire volunteers in welcoming homeless women to spend a cool night in Community Hall during the heat of the summer on June 15, July 20 and Aug. 17. Sign up at wilshirebc.org/registration or contact Heather Mustain for more information. Food on the Move this summer Wilshire s annual Food on the Move summer missions project will run June 11 through Aug. 3 and volunteers are needed each week to donate goods, help pack and deliver weekend food bags, eat lunch and play games with the kids and host and run science and reading camps during two specified weeks. All ages are welcome to volunteer. Sign up at wilshirebc.org/registration. Condolences to: Friends and family on the death of Joy Baugh, March 15; Kelly and Charles Secker on the death of Kelly s brother-in-law, Glenn Hastings, April 30. Koinonia Café May 16: Rosemary pork roast, lemon chicken, squash casserole, broccoli, Ricea-Roni pilaf, red potatoes and carrots, salad bar, dessert bar. (Lunch only for summer Wednesdays.) New member: Christie Grothe.

10 Five reasons to register for VBS now 1. It s going to be cool. Imagine Community Hall turned into a biblical marketplace filled with shops, artisans, food and crafts that give kids hands-on understanding of Bible stories as they come to life. 2. Everyone can participate. Because this year s VBS is at night, it s accessible to preschoolers and children with two working parents as well as children of single parents and all households. 3. It s only three days. Rather than taking up an entire week and competing with other summer day camps, this year s VBS runs Sunday night through Tuesday night only. 4. You ll want to bring a friend. Wilshire s VBS is the ideal event for your children to bring their friends along, because there s room for everyone. 5. Kids will have fun learning Bible truths. Children will join their tribe as they visit the marketplace, worship and learn about turning tough times into opportunities to trust God and live courageously. Register today online at wilshirebc.org/registration. VBS is open to preschool children who will have completed a 3-year-old preschool class by June 10 through children who will have just completed sixth grade. Sunday, June 10 Monday, June 11 Tuesday, June 12 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. nightly 10

11 Wilshire calendar Sunday, May 13 Morning worship 8:30 a.m. Sunday School 9:40 a.m. Wilshire Welcome 9:40 a.m. Morning worship 11:00 a.m. Monday, May 14 Game of 42 10:00 a.m. Senior women s exercise class 2:00 p.m. Wilshire Winds 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 15 Computer Class orientation and registration 9:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Yoga class 12:15 p.m. Building and Grounds Committee 6:00 p.m. Stephen Ministry supervision 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 16 New Song 9:30 a.m. Koinonia Café 11:00 a.m. This Is My Story noon Stephen Ministry supervision 1:30 p.m. New member fellowship 6:00 p.m. Yoga class 6:15 p.m. Watershed 6:30 p.m. Sanctuary Choir 7:00 p.m. Thursday, May 17 Knit Unto Others 1:30 p.m. Senior women s exercise class 2:00 p.m. Sunday, May 20 Morning worship 8:30 a.m. Sunday School 9:40 a.m. Coffee and Conversation with George 9:40 a.m. Morning worship 11:00 a.m. Finance Committee noon Carillon Ringers 12:15 p.m. Youth Choir lunch noon Youth Choir 12:30 p.m. Shekinah 1:30 p.m. Nova 1:00 p.m. Wilshire at the Lake 5:00 p.m. Monday, May 21 Game of 42 10:00 a.m. Senior women s exercise class 2:00 p.m. Deacons meal and meeting 6:30 p.m. Wilshire Winds 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 22 Yoga class 12:15 p.m. New Song Spring Fling 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 23 New Song 9:30 a.m. Koinonia Café 11:00 a.m. This Is My Story noon Yoga class 6:15 p.m. Watershed 6:30 p.m. Sanctuary Choir 7:00 p.m. Thursday, May 24 Wilshire Adventurers tour of Fair Park 10:00 a.m. Knit Unto Others 1:30 p.m. Senior women s exercise class 2:00 p.m. Friday, May 25 Friday Friends 10:00 a.m. Sunday, May 27 Morning worship 8:30 a.m. Wilshire Welcome 9:40 a.m. Sunday School 9:40 a.m. Morning worship 11:00 a.m. Youth Choir 4:00 p.m. Paradiso 5:00 p.m. Shekinah 5:30 p.m. 11

12 All-church picnic Wilshire at the Lake Sunday, May 20 5 to 7 p.m. Winfrey Point at White Rock Lake A family-friendly event with live music, bounce house, face painting and outdoor activities. All ages are invited. Air-conditioned seating inside as well as picnic space outside. The church will provide fried chicken, vegetarian pasta salad, rolls and beverages. The rest of the meal is potluck. Last names A-H, bring salads and fruits; last names I-P, bring vegetables; last names Q-Z, bring desserts. New this year: An old-fashioned Hymn Sing-a-Long led by Darren DeMent and friends. Also new this year: A Pie Contest. To participate bring one homemade pie and the recipe. Pies must be made entirely from scratch to be considered. Official pie judges will award a variety of prizes. 12