GREENWOOD FOREST BAPTIST CHURCH. Chiming of the Hour. Rev. Stephen Stacks. Leader: Christ is risen! Welcome to Worship. People: He is risen indeed!

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1 GREENWOOD FOREST BAPTIST CHURCH The Worship of God The Sixth Sunday of Easter May 6, 2018 Chiming of the Hour Processional Hymn 205 (v. 1 & 5) Welcome to Worship Christ Is Alive Rev. Stephen Stacks Leader: Christ is risen! People: He is risen indeed! Passing of the Peace Rev. Stacks Preparation for Worship Now All the Vault of Mark Sedio Heaven Resounds Call to Worship (Psalm 98) Kadeisha Bonsu Leader: O sing to the Lord a new song, People: For God has done marvelous things. Leader: God s right hand and holy arm have won the victory. People: God has revealed God s vindication in the sight of the nations. Leader: God has remembered steadfast love to the house of Israel. People: All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God. Leader: Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; People: Break forth into joyous song and sing praises. Leader: Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, People: With the lyre and the sound of melody. Leader: With trumpets and the sound of the horn People: Make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord. Leader: Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; People: The world and those who live in it. Leader: Let the floods clap their hands; People: Let the hills sing together for joy at the presence of the Lord, Leader: For God is coming to judge the earth, People: With righteousness, and with equity. Invocation Kadeisha Bonsu

2 Hymn Let Us Build a House/All Are Welcome Offertory Prayer Rev. Amanda Warren Offertory Andante in D Minor William Walond Presentation of the Offering LASST UNS ERFREUEN As our offering is presented back to God, we will sing the following doxology: Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; O praise God! Alleluia! Praise God above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. O Praise God, O praise God! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

3 Prayers of the People and Lord s Prayer Rev. Wesley Spears-Newsome Anthem All Are Welcome at the Table Mary McDonald We affirm each prayer with the following response: Leader: Lord, in your mercy... People: Hear our prayer. Hymn 275 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 trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. Who Is My Mother, Who Is My Brother Scripture Reading Acts 10 Rick Chappell We affirm the reading of Scripture with the following response: Reader: The word of God for us, the people of God. People: Thanks be to God. I m gonna sit at the welcome table. I m gonna sit at the welcome table one of these days. Alleluia! I m gonna sit at the welcome table; Gonna sit at the welcome table one of these days. All are welcome at the table. All are welcome at the table of the Lord. Alleluia! All are welcome at the table; Gonna sit with my brothers and sisters one of these days. At the table, come and dine; Feast on the bread and drink the wine. Come and meet us at the table of the Lord! All of God s children, come and sit down, And glory in the one who wears the crown! All are welcome at the table of the Lord. Sermon Show No Partiality Rev. Stacks The Celebration of Communion Here at Greenwood Forest, we practice Communion by the ancient method of intinction. All are invited to come down the aisle to receive the elements. During Communion, a Minister or a Lay Leader will serve the elements from one of four stations in the sanctuary, two at the front and two at the back. You will be ushered toward one of the stations depending on where you are seated in the sanctuary. Please come in a mode of reception. You will be given a piece of bread that you dip in the cup and then partake. You may respond to receiving the elements by saying Amen or Thanks be to God. If you are unable to visit one of the stations, a server will bring the elements to you at your seat. If you do not wish to receive the elements, you are encouraged to come receive a blessing simply indicate this desire verbally or by crossing your arms over your chest. A gluten-free bread option is available upon request. We hope you will join us at the table of the Lord where all are welcome.

4 Prayer of Confession Merciful God, we confess that we have not always loved you with our whole heart. We have failed to be obedient disciples. We have failed to be an obedient church. We have not done your will, we have broken your law, we have rebelled against your love, we ve not loved our neighbors, and we ve not heard the cry of the needy. Forgive us for what we have done and for what we ve left undone, and free us for joyful obedience through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Mystery of Faith Leader: Together we proclaim the mystery of faith. People: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. Hymn 457 (v. 1 & 4) Benediction Postlude Please stand as you are able. Come and Feast, for All Are Welcomed Rev. Spears-Newsome The Deacon of the Day is Rev. Amanda Warren, Chair of the Congregational Care Ministry. Today s acolyte is Ivy Nuss. Hearing assistance devices are available at the back of the sanctuary. Prayer Concerns Gilles Bikindou, Margaret Curl, Jim Davis, Jennifer Denning, Corrie Marsh (Susan Beck s cousin), Patsy Painter, Annie Poe, Iris Thomas, Skye Thompson (Mack and Carol Thompson s daughter-in-law), and Carol Wells Our partner church, Ebenezer Baptist, Cuba, and our brothers and sisters of the Oromo Evangelical Lutheran Mission GFBC by the Numbers Focus on Finance 2017/2018 Budget (MDP + MSP) $900,457 Amount of Budget supported through Stewardship Giving $825,216 (excludes cell tower and GFCC receipts) Week 35 of 52 (April 29) Week 35 YTD Total Giving $12,910 $634,398 Less Designated Giving $ 1,431 $ 82,934 Actual Stewardship Giving $11,479 $551,464 Stewardship Giving needed to fully subscribe budget $14,914 $572,727 Over (Under) $(3,435) $(21,263) Attendance Last Week Faith Formation 141 Worship 188

5 Announcements and Upcoming Events Second Wednesday Meal and Program May 9 For our final Second Wednesday program of the year, we are bringing back a GFBC fan favorite ask the pastors! Stephen and Wes will be fielding whatever burning questions you have about the Bible, God, church, spirituality, or life in general. Come ready to write down a question (anonymous or not), and we will have a great conversation together doing our best to answer whatever you come up with. Make plans to join us on May 9! Thank You from the Children s Ministry Thank you to those who gave to help send children to camp this summer. Your generosity helped us meet and even exceed our goal! Cary Youth Voices Spring Concert May 11 Everyone is invited to attend the annual spring concert entitled Poetry in Song of the Cary Youth Voices this Friday, May 11 at 7 pm in the GFBC Sanctuary. The concert will feature texts from prominent poets set to music. Admission is free. Nominating Committee Survey If you have not already done so, please complete the Nominating Committee Survey. Blank surveys are available outside the church office. Upon completion, please return your survey in the offering plate, to a member of the Nominating Committee, or in the box outside the church office. Current Sermon Series The First Inclusive Community of Faith April 8 Be of One Heart and Soul Acts 4:32-35 April 15 Make People Wonder Acts 3 April 22 Stand with the Rejected Acts 4:1-14 April 29 Baptize Eunuchs Acts 8:26-40 May 6 Show No Partiality Acts 10 May 13 Ordinary Acts 1:15-17, May 20 Deeds of Power Acts 2:1-21

6 On Ministry Mondays, all committees meet in the Fellowship Hall at round tables. Ministry Mondays is fostering a team mentality and is providing a sustainable and energetic way to do the work of ministry together! It is helping us to work towards a common vision and communicate across ministries. If you are serving on a ministry team this year, save this date: May 21 Team A Children Congregational Care Missions Outreach Stewardship Worship Our Next Ministry Monday! Schedule 6:00-7:00 pm Team A 7:00-7:30 pm Dinner 7:30-8:30 pm Team B Team B Discipleship Fellowship Finance Personnel Properties Youth This Week at GFBC Sunday, May 6 Family Promise Week Ends 9:00 am Praise Assembly 9:30 am Children, Youth, and Adult Faith Formation 10:30 am Coffee in the Narthex 11:00 am Worship 12:15 pm VBS Planning Team Meeting Monday, May 7 7:00 pm Board of Deacons Meeting Wednesday, May 9 5:30 pm Second Wednesday Meal and Program 7:00 pm Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal Friday, May 11 6:00 pm Senior Adult Dinner Sunday, May 13 9:30 am Children, Youth, and Adult Faith Formation 10:30 am Coffee in the Narthex 11:00 am Worship Dinner will be provided. Bring $7 for a sub, chips, and drink. Please contact Doug Black at black_douglas@bellsouth.net with any dietary restrictions. GFBC: Making Committee Meetings Fun Since 2017

7 Our Upcoming Guest Preachers We have an exciting lineup of guest preachers to fill the pulpit during Pastor Efird's maternity leave. As you will see, some of these talented proclaimers are from within our congregation and some are friends of GFBC from the wider community. See the list below for information about each week and the person who will bring God's Word to us! Matthew Greg is preaching on April 22. He is our Pastoral Intern from Duke Divinity School and will graduate with his Masters of Divinity in May and then begin a yearlong Clinical Pastoral Education residency at UNC Hospitals. Kadeisha Bonsu will preach on May 27. She is our Director of Children s Ministry and is working towards a dual Masters of Divinity and Masters of Social Work at Duke Divinity School and UNC-Chapel Hill. Rev. Amanda Warren will preach on June 10. She is a member of Greenwood Forest and is currently serving as our Congregational Care Deacon. She received a Masters of Divinity from McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University. Rev. Wesley Spears-Newsome is preaching on April 29 and June 3. He is our Associate Pastor of Community and Youth Ministry. Rev. Dr. Mack Thompson will preach on June 17. He is a member of Greenwood Forest and served as our Interim Pastor in Before his retirement in 2008, Mack served a number of churches across North Carolina including a more than 20 year tenure at Ridge Road Baptist in Raleigh. Rev. Stephen Stacks is preaching on May 6 and May 20. He is our Associate Pastor of Worship and Faith Formation. Rev. Dr. Rose Cornelius will preach on June 24. She is the Development Director for Dorcas Ministries in Cary. Rose holds a Master of Science in Business from Florida Institute of Technology and a Masters of Divinity from North Park Theological Seminary. Dr. Lydia Hoyle is preaching on May 13. She is an Associate Professor of Church History and Baptist Heritage at Campbell Divinity School. Lydia is also a member of Greenwood Forest and serves in various capacities including co-chairing our current Nominating Committee. Rev. Paula Clayton Dempsey will preach on July 1. She is the Director of Partnership Relations with the Alliance of Baptists. She has more than 25 years of ministry experience as a pastor, campus minister, Hospice chaplain, and Director of Advent Spirituality Center.

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