METROPOLITAN. BUILDING ON OUR LEGACY OF LOVE Sunday, January 22, 2017 THIRD SUNDAYAFTER EPIPHANY

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1 METROPOLITAN INTERDENOMINATIONAL CHURCH BUILDING ON OUR LEGACY OF LOVE Sunday, January 22, 2017 THIRD SUNDAYAFTER EPIPHANY PREPARATION The pastor s entrance and the beginning of the musical prelude are the calls to silent, personal preparation for the worship of God. THE GATHERING We are standing on Holy ground, And I know that there are angels all around. Let us praise Jesus now, We are standing in God s presence on Holy ground. LITANY Leader: Families of the earth, God has known you. God has dwelled with you in the garden from the moment time began. Sometimes when you have heard the sound of the Lord strolling through the garden in the cool of the day, you have hurried to walk along. But sometimes you have run to hide among the trees. People: Then the Lord would call to us in our hiding place, and we would answer with trembling voice, knowing we had done wrong. Leader: Tremble again this day, says the Lord, for today I leap through the garden as the lion springs after the deer, and my voice roars with the hunt. People: Have we strayed again from the path God blazed for us? Have we betrayed the Lord? Leader: Does a lion roar in the forest when it has no prey? People: We went into the wilderness; we were led into temptation. We rested on the rocks and sold our soul to satisfy our hunger; we sat upon a mountaintop and sold our soul to win the world s kingdoms; we stood before an altar and sold our souls to seize the power of God. Leader: Call upon the Lord and turn back from temptation. But be comforted: no temptation has overtaken you that is not common to human beings. God is faithful; our God shall provide our deliverance. ALL: We repent; the kingdom of heaven is at hand. The lion shall lie down with the lamb, and the roar of heaven shall be silenced by the celebration of the universe.

2 OPENING HYMN O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee 1. O Master, let me walk with Thee In lowly paths of service free; Tell me Thy secret help me bear The strain of toil, the fret of care. 2. Help me the slow of heart to move By some clear, winning word of love; Teach me the wayward feet to stay And guide them in the homeward way. 3. Teach me Thy patience! still with Thee In closer, dearer, company, In work that keeps faith sweet and strong, In trust that triumphs over wrong. 4. In hope that sends a shining ray Far down the future s broad ning way, In peace that only Thou canst give, With Thee, O Master, let me live. WELCOME Visitors standing If you are here for the first time, we are delighted that you came. If you are dropping in for a second or third visit, we are glad you found something you were looking for. We hope you will be challenged by our worship and that you will come back again. If you are looking for a faith community, we would welcome you as a part of our church family. When you are officially welcomed as a visitor, you will receive a Visitor s Information Card. Please fill it out, and return it to the Pastor, or place it in the offering plate. WELCOME! CONCERNS OF CHURCH AND CITY D. Billye Sanders OFFERTORY For all things come from you, and of your own we have given you. 1 Chronicles 29:14 Your tithes and gifts help us: Pay the mortgage, utilities, maintenance, and security for the Metropolitan Meeting House. Provide free pastoral counseling services to members of our congregation; Fund the programs of the First Response Center, where we serve over 700 people living with HIV/AIDS, and other at-risk persons; Pay for the personnel and operating costs of our ministries; Provide educational materials and resources to assist in the spiritual growth and development of our community; Maintain meeting space for ministries, including Girl Scouts, various recovery/support groups, and community events; Fund our annual Anniversary and Homecoming celebrations; Give emergency assistance to members of the congregation and community through our benevolence fund. Every gift of your time, talent and treasure makes a vital difference in the life and ministries of Metropolitan Interdenominational Church. Thank You! CELEBRATION IN SONG The Voices of Metropolitan Reginald Green, Minister of Music DOXOLOGY Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise God all creatures here below Praise God above ye heavenly host; Creator, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

3 PROCLAMATION THE WORD Matthew 4:12-23 CHORAL RESPONSE Grant us wisdom, Grant us courage, For the living of these days, For the living of these days. PREPARATORY PERIOD THE MESSAGE THE SENIOR SERVANT THE DAWNING OF A NEW DAY: BREAKING THROUGH THE SHADOWS 12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15 Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles 16 the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned. 17 From that time Jesus began to proclaim, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near. 18 As he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, Follow me, and I will make you fish for people. 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him. 23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people. Matthew 4:12-23 SERMON NOTES

4 RESPONSE Please do not leave the sanctuary or in any other manner create a distraction during the invitational period. This is a moment of unparalleled importance. MOMENTS OF REFLECTION The Voices of Metropolitan INVITATION TO LIFE IN CHRIST This church will welcome into its membership any persons who love and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and who promise to live according to His laws of Love, recognizing all people as brothers and sisters for whom He gave His life. THE LORD S SUPPER Communion Prayer We do not resume to come to this, Thy table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in Thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs from under Thy table. But thou art the same Lord whose property is always to have mercy. Grant us, therefore, gracious Lord, so to partake of this sacrament of Thy Son, Jesus Christ, that we may walk in newness of life and grow to reflect Thy Spirit in all things forevermore, Amen. (We will eat and drink together after all have been served.) FELLOWSHIP CIRCLE We ve come too far to turn back now; By the grace of God we re gonna make it somehow. Nobody knows the trouble we ve seen; We ve come too far to turn back now. Give me the strength to be free. Often to be free means the ability to deal with the realities of one s situation so as not to be overcome by them. It is the manifestation of a quality of being and living that results not only from understanding of one s situation but also from wisdom in dealing with it. It takes no strength to give up, to accept shackles of circumstance so that they become shackles of soul, to shrug the shoulders in bland acquiescence. This is easy. But do not congratulate yourself that you have solved anything. In simple language, you have sold out, surrendered, given up. It takes strength to affirm the high prerogative of your spirit. And you will find that if you do, a host of invisible angels will wing to your defense, and the glory of the living God will envelop your surroundings because in you He has come into His own. (from Strength to Be Free, in For the Inward Journey, p.26) HOWARD THURMAN METROPOLITAN INTERDENOMINATIONAL CHURCH th Avenue North, Nashville, TN 3720 Mailing Address: P.O. Box , Nashville, TN Phone: (615) 72METRO ( ) ~ Fax: (615) ~ website: Rev. Edwin C. Sanders, II, The Senior Servant Rev. John Cross, Senior Pastoral Assistant Pastoral Staff: Rev. Marcella Lockhart, Rev. Clifford Smith, Rev. Christopher Davis, Rev. Terry Terrell, Rev. Regina McCrary, Rev. Neely Williams, Rev. Stephanie Thompson, Rev. Cherie Booker, Rev. Christopher Goodwin

5 METROPOLITAN INTERDENOMINATIONAL CHURCH BUILDING ON OUR LEGACY OF LOVE SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 2017 THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY Metropolitan Interdenominational Church is a community of believers inclusive of all and alienating to none, leading the way to spiritual growth by sharing God s love with the world. EXPLORING NEW TERRITORY EXPLORING NEW TERRITORY brings to mind a sense of excitement about the abundant possibilities of life. Whether we use a date (chronology), a place (geography) or an experience (psychology) as the point of reference to the place from which we start, there always seems to be something within us that awakens new energy for the journey. When looking at the beginning of Jesus ministry in the fourth chapter of Matthew, we can learn a lot about how to deal with life when it requires EXPLORING NEW TERRITORY. The date when John the Baptist was arrested marked a moment in time when Jesus knew that the atmosphere of hostility had risen to a point where voices of truth were under attack. John s message was but the preamble to the words Jesus would have to speak to the powers of his day, so he knew that they would be no less ruthless in dealing with him than they had been with John. He knew that it was already prescribed for him to go to a different place to lay the foundation for his work and assemble the disciples who would accompany him on his mission. Jesus knew that he was going to be EXPLORING NEW TERRITORY, but he had no doubt that he was going where God was leading him, to engage the people God would have to follow him and do the work God had sent him to do on earth. His message to the world was to repent, follow him and proclaim the good news. As we begin this New Year, Jesus social justice mandate for us has not changed as our congregation goes forward in 2017 EXPLORING NEW TERRITORY. In memory of Rev. Kelly Miller Smith, Sr. who encouraged and supported me in birthing Metropolitan Interdenominational Church thirty-six years ago. (Modified from Sunday, January 23, 2011) ~ Sick, Shut In, and Recovering Members ~ --Senior Servant Leon McKinley Corder 1902 Elliott Avenue; Nashville, TN Send prayers. No visitors, please. Evelyn Martin 3253 Spears Road; Nashville, TN Connie Ryans 1703 Pecan Street; Nashville, TN Emmilye Wilson-Walton P.O. Box 78795; Nashville, TN

6 UPCOMING EVENTS MIDWEEK FELLOWSHIP: Wednesday, January 25, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. Dinner by Circle 1; Bible Study 7:00 8:00, Classes for Adults and Children Financial Freedom/Entrepreneurship Seminar Series Join us Saturday mornings, 9:00 11:00 a.m., at the First Response Center, th Ave. North, Nashville Sunday, January 29, 2017 Ecclesiastical Council Meeting Meets following worship service. All members are asked to attend. Sunday, February 5, 2017 Metropolitan 36 th Anniversary Join us for something new and life-transforming Centering Prayer Beginning Sunday, February 12, 2017, 8:30 8:50 a.m. in the South Wing Sunday, February 26, 2017 Founder s Day Brunch Friday evening Dancercise, 7 p.m. Voices of Metropolitan Rehearsal, Saturday, 12 2 p.m. Saturday Worship, 6 7 p.m. The Voices of Metropolitan sing the 2 nd Saturday each month. Date Offering Budgeted ~ Giving Summary ~ Offering Actual Offering (Un)Realized Summary (Un)Realized Year 2016 $305, $290, ($15,485.09) January 1, 2017 $5, $12, $6, January 8, 2017 $5, $ 2, ($3,621.00) January 15, 2017 $5, $ 5, ($196.29) January, 2017 $17, $20, $2, Year to Date $17, $20, $2, ~ Midweek Fellowship Meal Schedule ~ February 1 Circle 2 February 22 Circle 5 February 8 Circle 3 March 1 Circle 6 February 15 Circle 4 March 8 Circle 7 ~ Bible Readings ~ Read Pray Sacrifice January 23-29, th Sunday after the Epiphany Micah 6:1-8 Psalm 15 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 Matthew 5:1-12 United Way Employee Giving Campaign: Please designate #3255 to support the First Response Center. For the Combined Federal Campaign, Write In Metropolitan Interdenominational Church First Response Center. Support Metropolitan Interdenominational Church First Response Center whenever you use your Kroger Plus card. If you have not done so yet Please RENEW your enrollment through Kroger Community Rewards. Online: Not online? No problem! Call , option 3, for assistance.