Our Church Mission Statement Loving God ~ Loving Everyone ~ Following Jesus SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT

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1 Sparta United Methodist Church ~ 190 N. Main Street ~ PO Box 697 ~ Sparta, NC Office: ~ Fax: Church office hours: Mon-Thurs ~ 8:30 am-3:30 pm Office office@umcsparta.com ~ Church Website: Sparta UMC Pastor, Bob Miller: pastor@umcsparta.com ~ Cell Phone: Hope Fellowship Pastor, Ben Gatton: bgatton@wnccumc.net NEED TO KNOW Bulletin announcements should be submitted to the office by 3:30 pm on Tuesdays. Newsletter articles should be submitted to the office by the 15th of each month. Updates ~ Please let the church office know of any changes in your personal information. Children s Church is for ages 3 years thru 3rd grade at the following the Children s Message. Cell Phones ~ Please be respectful during times of communal worship and turn off the sound. Channel 98 & Channel 21 for services: Sunday-11:00 am; Monday and Friday-3:00 pm; Tuesday-8:00 pm. Sunday service videos are available at Choose Sparta UMC and the service date. Inclement weather updates/closings will be announced on TV channels WXII 12 and Fox 8 WGHP, through the Phone Tree, and the church voice mail outgoing message. Prayer request cards can be found in the envelope slots at the ends of the pews or you can get one from an usher or greeter. Return the card to an usher, Pastor Bob, or place in the baskets located on the altar rails. Daily Devotion ~ If you would like to receive the Monday to Friday devotion written by Ben Gatton, please the church office and let us know. The Sanctuary Flower Calendar is located across from the church office to sign up to place flowers in the sanctuary in memory of or in honor of a loved one. Arrangements are one for $20 or two for $40 and may be taken following the 11:00 service. ATTENDANCE/GIVING~MARCH 10, 2019 Worship 26 Worship 80 Sunday School 49 Offering 3/10 $2,348 YTD Cong. Offering $51,060 YTD Other Income $13,401 YTD Expense $53,702 SPARTA UMC STAFF Pastor Rev. Bob Miller Hope Fellowship Pastor Ben Gatton Administrative Assistant Donna Myers Children s Ministries Kyla Gatton Music Director Nancy Jones Interim Choir Director Alan Sears Custodian Allan Joyce Our Church Mission Statement Loving God ~ Loving Everyone ~ Following Jesus SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT MARCH 17, 2019

2 GATHERING OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD THE ORDER OF WORSHIP PRELUDE O, the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus Nancy Jones *WELCOME & PASSING OF THE PEACE Welcome others by saying, The Peace of Christ Be With You. *HYMN No. 328 Surely the Presence of the Lord Congregation CENTERING WORDS Wait for the Lord. Be strong and take heart, for God is our light and our salvation. OPENING PRAYER *CALL TO WORSHIP L: Wait for the Lord. Be strong; take heart. P: We will see the goodness of God in the land of the living. L: The Lord is our light and our salvation. P: Whom shall we fear? L: Though adversaries plot against us, God protects us from harm. P: Sing to the Lord with songs of joy. L: Make melody to the Lord, our God. All: Come, let us worship. Congregation THE ORDER OF WORSHIP *THE APOSTLES CREED Pg. 881 OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Psalm 27:1-4 OT Pg. 503 OFFERING/ANTHEM On Eagle s Wings Choir *DOXOLOGY No. 95 CHILDREN S MESSAGE () A nursery is available for children under 2. Children s Church, ages 3-3rd grade Kyla Gatton GOSPEL LESSON Luke 13:31-35 NT Pg. 77 SERMON In the Arms of Love Rev. Bob Miller RESPONSE TO GOD S WORD *HYMN No. 133 Leaning on the Everlasting Arms Congregation *BENEDICTION DEPARTURE TO SERVE *HYMN No (TFWS) The Spirit Sends Us Forth to Serve vs. 4 Congregation *PRAYER (unison) God of embracing love, gather us under the wings of your love, even as Jesus longed to gather Jerusalem into the arms of his love. Send your Holy Spirit into our worship this day, that we may be strengthened for the time ahead, as we seek to walk faithfully with Christ all the way to the cross. Be our light and our salvation, that we may live in your presence and walk in your ways all the days of our lives. Amen. *HYMN No (TFWS) We Sing to You, O God Congregation POSTLUDE (*Standing as you are able. ) SANCTUARY FLOWERS The beautiful flowers in the sanctuary today are given by Janet Elaine Bottomley in memory of her parents, Doris Mae and Thomas Donald, her special Mom, Mary Ruth Setzer, and to celebrate Janet s birthday. Nancy Jones

3 IN SERVICE THIS WEEK Liturgist Debbie Edwards Counters February Communion Servers Ushers Greeter Nursery/ Children s Church/SS Jane Wallace Donald Cobb Gray & Jane Sloop Linda Wishon Johnny Wishon Carol Upchurch Ruth Farrington Sarah Nichols Gena Miller UPCOMING IN SERVICE Liturgist 3/24 Linda Wishon Counters April Communion Servers April Ushers 3/24 Ushers 3/24 Greeter Nursery/ Children s Church/SS Debbie Edwards Susan Murphy Barbara Martin Faye Lemmond Donny Lemmond Wayne/Sandy Lovett Linda Wishon Johnny Wishon Fran Lewis 3/24 Ruth Farrington Sarah Nichols Gena Miller Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday REGULAR WEEKLY MINISTRIES 9 :00am 10:00 am 11:00 am 3:00 pm 4:00 pm 10:00 am 4:30 pm 7:00 pm 3:00 pm Sunday Worship Sunday School Sunday Worship Open Gym/FUSION Room NA meeting/mr Girl Scouts Prime Time Volleyball Book of Ephesians Study Ladies Bibles Study Grace Kitchen Meal/POB Choir Practice 3 P s Parenting Class ROCK~Elementary IGNITE~Middle School FUSION~High School Open Gym/FUSION Room DANA Women s Support UPCOMING MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES Sunday 3/17 Wednesday 3/20 Thursday 3/21 Friday 3/22 Monday 3/25 Wednesday 3/27 8:00 am UMM Breakfast 12 noon Lenten Service/Lunch 10:00 am PEGS meeting 4:00 pm Spuds, Salads, & Games 9:00 am Red Cross Blood Drive 12 noon Lenten Service/Lunch PRAISES AND PRAYERS Praise/Prayer Requests Today: Sympathy to the family of Nancy Ridgeway, Delta Peterson s sister THANK YOU TO MY CHURCH FAMILY! Thank you so much for your prayers, the food, cards, calls and visits during my time being shut in at home with health issues. I love my church family more every year. Blessings and Love, Bonnie Vaughan HAPPY BIRTHDAY... Katy Kilmartin March 17 Pratt Davis March 19 Barbara Martin March 19 Betty Latham March 21 Joel Souther March 22 Scott Walker March 22 Charles Rudy March 23 HAPPY ANNIVERSARY... ONGOING PRAYER CONCERNS Our World/Country: Our country; our leaders; God s peace and love to prevail Military: Evan Isner and family Church and Community: Pastor Bob; SUMC ministries; Pastor Ben; Hope Fellowship ministries; community homeless; food insecure families Ongoing Health Concerns: Christi Gobble; George Plane; Wayne and Wanda Cleary; Thelma Davis; George & Betty Latham; Kimberly Parsons, Hank & Jo Henry; Jody Tracy Homebound/Nursing Home/Rehab Center: Ora Brady - Charlotte, NC Paul Church - Grayson Nursing & Rehab, VA Virginia Crouse-home Thomas Myers - Dunmore Plantation, Dobson Tim Myers - Dunmore Plantation, Dobson Mary Wagoner - Genesis Health Care, Sparta Praises/Prayers: Helen Zak-upcoming knee surgery Dora Sue Smith-upcoming hip surgery Shirley Hiatt-cancer Tom Zak-kidney stone Jack Martin-surgery Logan Clark-sepsis Bonnie Vaughan-health Brad Griffin-health Our sympathy to the family of Ruth Dixon Hank & Jo Henry March 17

4 UPCOMING LENT/EASTER DATES The 12 noon Alleghany Ministerium sponsored Wednesday Lenten Service/Lunch Schedule March 20 - Rev. Brad Wooten, New Hope Missionary Baptist Church March 27- Rev. Stephanie Parker, Christ Episcopal Church April 3 - Rev. Bryan Hovey, Sparta Presbyterian April 10 - Rev. Jack Tookey, Alleghany/Grayson Charge April 14 - Palm Sunday April 14 - UMW Bake Sale in Meeting Room of the Pugh Outreach Center April Maundy Thursday service April Good Friday service April 21 - Easter Sunday Sunrise Service in the Prayer Garden~7:30 am followed by Easter Breakfast in Outreach Center and Worship Services and 10 am Sunday School THE PILGRIM S PROGRESS Saturday, March 30 at There will be a pre-screening of an animated version of the movie, The Pilgrim s Progress, the epic Christian allegory by John Bunyan that will be in theaters at Easter. There will also be a pot-luck supper in the Fellowship Hall prior to the movie. The screening will be in the sanctuary so seating will be limited. Please RSVP to Laura Kennedy at , if you will be attending. RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE Monday, March 25 ~ 9:30 am to 2 pm Come join us in saving lives by giving blood during the cold winter months when there is a greater need. Call Gayle Cobb, , for an appointment or just walk in. UNITED METHODIST WOMEN ANNUAL BAKE SALE ON SUNDAY, APRIL 14 Following both morning services we will have a bake sale in the Meeting Room in the Pugh Outreach Center. Baked Items will be offered for sale and all monies collected will go toward our mission projects this year. If you have a special request for an item, please contact a member of our United Methodist Women ahead of time, so you will be sure to have what you want! Call Margaret at with questions. Plan to come and pick out items to have for your Easter Celebrations! REMEMBER, IT WILL BEGIN FOLLOWING THE EARLY SERVICE, on a first come basis. This has been a very successful fund raiser for us. Thank you for supporting our missions! CAKES ~PIES~COOKIES~CINNAMON BUNS~CUPCAKES~BROWNIES~MUFFINS ASSORTED BREADS~FROZEN CHICKEN PIES~PASTRIES~ROLLS~SCONES Praying from the Pews Holy one, to you forever, let all thanks be sung! Father, may we be glad when it is said to us, "Let us go into the house of the Lord!" Let it be our delight as well as our responsibility to worship you in the fellowship of your church. Prepare us in mind and spirit for our worship and tune our hearts to sing and speak your praise. May we receive all that you have to give to us and offer all that you require from us. May our lives as well as our lips glorify you. Right now, we come to you in silence, yet shouting for joy. Amidst this silence we are overawed by the thoughts of your love for us; for you love us so much that you gave your only son to suffer and die for us. Yet to think that you love us like that, makes us long to break our silence - to shout for joy and sing your praise. You have given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. In him we are loved, ransomed, healed, restored and forgiven. This morning give us a heart to praise you our God and father. Accept our worship and praise both silent, spoken and sung to the glory of your holy name. Amen. Today s Anthem On Eagle s Wings Words and Music by Michael Joncas Refrain And He will raise you up on eagle s wings, bear you on the breath of dawn, make you to shine like the sun, and hold you in the palm of His hand. You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord, who abide in His shadow for life, Say to the Lord: My refuge, my Rock in whom I trust! R The snare of the fowler will never capture you, and famine will bring you no fear. Under His wings your refuge, His faithfulness your shield. R You need not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by, flies by day. Though thousands fall by you, near you it shall not come. R For to His angels He s given a command to guard you in all of your ways. Upon their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash you foot against a stone. R In God s hand. SPUDS, SALADS & GAMES Friday, March 22 at 4:00 pm This is a church-wide get together. We'll have a potato and salad bar, a Guess Who game and a Corn Hole Tournament. The cost is $5.00. Please submit an old photo of yourself, big or small. It will be returned to you safely. Reservations needed by Sunday, March 17. Call Libby Squires with questions.

5 LET US JOIN TOGETHER AND PRAY CONSISTENTLY FOR 30 DAYS FOR OUR PASTORS. A UMC.org Feature by Joe Iovino. The life of a United Methodist pastor is filled with a variety of responsibilities. They preach, teach, visit, counsel, lead, consult, communicate, budget, clean, and so much more. Pastoring a church is not a job that can be done well under the pastor s power alone. Every pastor relies heavily on God s guidance, strength and peace as they live into their call. One of the best ways we can support our pastors and show them our appreciation is to regularly pray for them. DAYS 16-22: PRAYING FOR YOUR PASTORS 16. Congregational Support Pray that as a congregation and as individuals that we would be sensitive to the impossible time demands we can place upon our pastors. May we graciously grant them the ability and freedom to say no to things that diminish their ability to minister. 17. Emotional Strength Pray that God would give the pastoral staff the emotional strength to offer compassion and care to others, while remaining in the joy of the Lord as their strength. 18. Love Pray that our pastors would feel and comprehend the great love of God for them. Pray Ephesians 3:18-19 that they may have power, together with all the Lord s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge- that they may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 19. Unity Pray that Bob and Ben would be strengthened in their partnership and support of one another and that their churches would be engaged in ministry together. 20. Empowering Others Pray that our pastors would have the ability to recognize the giftedness of others and be able to empower them to serve in ministry through the church. 21. Recognizing Giftedness Pray that our pastors would realize the full extent of their giftedness, but also be self-aware of their limitations. Pray that our pastors would be open to others taking on aspects of ministry. 22. Sabbath Rest Pray that our pastors would set aside time for their own personal growth and rest and to enjoy abundant life in Christ. Pray that as a congregation we can be sensitive to and respect Sabbath times of rest for our pastors. LET US JOIN TOGETHER AND PRAY CONSISTENTLY FOR 30 DAYS FOR OUR PASTORS. A UMC.org Feature by Joe Iovino. The life of a United Methodist pastor is filled with a variety of responsibilities. They preach, teach, visit, counsel, lead, consult, communicate, budget, clean, and so much more. Pastoring a church is not a job that can be done well under the pastor s power alone. Every pastor relies heavily on God s guidance, strength and peace as they live into their call. One of the best ways we can support our pastors and show them our appreciation is to regularly pray for them. DAYS 16-22: PRAYING FOR YOUR PASTORS 16. Congregational Support Pray that as a congregation and as individuals that we would be sensitive to the impossible time demands we can place upon our pastors. May we graciously grant them the ability and freedom to say no to things that diminish their ability to minister. 17. Emotional Strength Pray that God would give the pastoral staff the emotional strength to offer compassion and care to others, while remaining in the joy of the Lord as their strength. 18. Love Pray that our pastors would feel and comprehend the great love of God for them. Pray Ephesians 3:18-19 that they may have power, together with all the Lord s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge- that they may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 19. Unity Pray that Bob and Ben would be strengthened in their partnership and support of one another and that their churches would be engaged in ministry together. 20. Empowering Others Pray that our pastors would have the ability to recognize the giftedness of others and be able to empower them to serve in ministry through the church. 21. Recognizing Giftedness Pray that our pastors would realize the full extent of their giftedness, but also be self-aware of their limitations. Pray that our pastors would be open to others taking on aspects of ministry. 22. Sabbath Rest Pray that our pastors would set aside time for their own personal growth and rest and to enjoy abundant life in Christ. Pray that as a congregation we can be sensitive to and respect Sabbath times of rest for our pastors.