Mt. Hope United Church of Christ 2400 Mt. Hope Church Road, Whitsett, NC 27377 Office: 336-697-1561 - Fax: 336-697-1449 Rev. J. Lloyd Spencer, Pastor Phone: 336-420-6030 (cell); 336-447-4169 (home) E-mail: jlspencer1@triad.rr.com Church Email: mthope@triad.rr.com Church Website: www.mthopeucc.com
Mt. Hope United Church of Christ at Worship Sixth Sunday of Easter What Is Unconditional Love? May 1, 2016 Silent Reflection: There s love and then there s unconditional love. One pleases you and the other gives you life. *Prelude Bring In The Light Welcome and Announcements *Choral Call to Worship In Moments Like These *Congregational Call to Worship: Leader: We have come to experience. People: Can we feel real love? Leader: If we put boundaries on love and if we put conditions on love then we may have trouble feeling it. Let us open our hearts and souls to the power of real love as we share this time together. Prayer of Commitment (In Unison): We know how to love. We love our friends and families. We love things that give us pleasure. We know how to love. The world we live in requires so much more. We commit ourselves to learning real and unconditional love. We commit ourselves to showing real and unconditional love in our lives. We commit ourselves to reaching beyond friends and family and pleasure to make love come alive for everyone on this planet. Jesus calls for unconditional love. We commit ourselves to living it. We commit ourselves for the sake of Jesus message and ministry. Amen. *Hymn # 20 Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) (Praise & Worship Notebook) Passing the Peace Children s Moment Prayers of the People A Pastoral Prayer The Lord s Prayer (debts) Dedication of our Gifts, Tithes and Offerings to God Offertory Doxology Give Thanks Prayer of Dedication Reading of the Old Testament I Chronicles 16: 34-36 Carmen Cox Anthem O How He Loves You and Me Reading of the Scripture John 3: 16-17 Gloria Apple Sermon *Hymn # 21 (GH) *Benediction Choral Benediction *Carrying the Light to the World *Postlude Love Divine, All Loves Excelling Benediction from A Chosen People *Indicates please stand for those who are able. Rev. Spencer Acolyte
Welcome to our Visitors: We extend a special welcome to those of you who are visiting with us today. If you are visiting for the first time we would ask you to fill out a visitor s card located in your pew and place it in the offering plate as it passes. If you would like for our pastor to call upon you, do indicate that request as well. Do know that we are blessed by your presence here today! We hope to see you again next Sunday! Altar Flowers: We are in need of flowers to be placed on the altar next Sunday, May 8 th, Mother s Day, and again on Sunday, May 15 th, which is Homecoming/Memorial Sunday. If you would like to place the flowers on the altar in honor or in memory of someone on either of these Sundays, please call Shirley in the church office at 697-1561. Ellis/Phipps Scholarship: Attention High School Seniors! Must be a member of Mt Hope UCC. Will be a first-time freshmen in a college or university, or a full-time transfer from a community college to a 4 year college or university. Get an application from Dallas Belvin, fill it out, attach acceptance letter and return it to Dallas by May 1st. Special Quilt: The Mt. Hope Quilters have made a memory quilt for Rev. and Gussie Spencer. It will be available for everyone to sign on Sundays, May 1, 8, 15, and 22, after Sunday School in the hall and after church in the entryway (Narthex). Make sure you find a moment to sign the quilt. Opportunities for Worship and Service Today, May 1 Collecting for Urban Ministry 9: 45 a.m., Sunday School 11: 00 a.m., Worship Monday, May 2 9: 00 a.m., Quilters meet Tuesday, May 3 6: 30 p.m., Meals4Kids Volunteers 7: 00 p.m., Good Earth Garden Club Wednesday, May 4 6: 45 p.m., Handbell Choir Rehearsal 7: 30 p.m., Choir Rehearsal Thursday, May 5 6: 30 p.m., Creative Worship Team 7: 00 p.m., High Lonesome Strings Jam Session Friday, May 6 7: 00 p.m., May Friendship Day at Pleasant Union UMC Saturday, May 7 Peacehaven - (9:00 AM noon) Mt. Hope Garden Workday Noon 1:00 PM - Mt Hope serving lunch. Additional Notes: Closed toe shoes are required to participate in the workday. Bring a water bottle. Sign an on-line work waiver. 1:30 PM 4:00 PM - Community Conversation for churches and individuals to create a Welcoming and Open Sanctuary for individuals with special needs. Sunday, May 8 Mother s Day Collecting for Urban Ministry 9: 45 a.m., Sunday School, Children s Music 11: 00 a.m., Worship Monday, May 9
9: 00 a.m., Quilters meet Tuesday, May 10 1: 30 p.m., Willing Workers Circle Meeting 7: 00 p.m., Mary/Martha Circle Meeting Wednesday, May 11 6: 45 p.m., Handbell Choir Rehearsal 7: 30 p.m., Choir Rehearsal Thursday, May 12 7: 00 p.m., Consistory Coming Events: Sunday, May15 Homecoming / Memorial Sunday Saturday, May 21 Youth BINGO Night - $1 Bingo Night with popcorn & beverage Sponsored by Youth Program (6:00-7:00 PM) Sunday, May 22 Reception for Rev. Spencer 3:00 p.m. Saturday, June 4 Andy Open Tournament May Friendship Day: Ladies, you are invited to celebrate May Friendship Day at Pleasant Union UMC on Friday evening, May 6, 2016, at 7:00 p.m. Church Women United has written a program entitled, Finding Grace at the Table. Rev. Kristin Gerner Vaughn will be the guest speaker. An offering will be taken for the Fellowship of the Lease Coin. Bring canned food that will be sent to Greensboro Urban Ministry or used in the Backpack program for Nathanael Green School. It will be discussed as to where it is most needed. Nazareth Child & Family Connection: Each year our Church Women participate in the celebrations at Nazareth. This year, on Saturday, June 4 th, they will be celebrating their 110 th year of serving children and families in need throughout North Carolina. As they did last year, they will be drawing for six prizes at 4:00 p.m. You do not have to be present to win. The grand prize is a 2016 Honda Civic 4-door LX Sedan. Tickets are available for a donation of $5.00 per ticket. Linda Miller will be handling the tickets so see her soon for your tickets as they are going quickly. The other prizes being offered are listed on the tickets. Crossnore Trip: There is a sign-up sheet in the Breezeway for those who are interested in going to visit Crossnore to deliver the items that were collected for them. The date will be determined when we find out who all wants to go. Please sign-up immediately if you are interested in attending. Condolences: Our Christian sympathies go out to the family of Barry Kluttz who passed away on Sunday, April 24 th. Barry was the brother-in-law of Bill & Peggy Welker. Please keep the family in your prayers at this time. High Lonesome Strings: High Lonesome Strings presents the 19 th Annual Pickin In the Park at Hagan Stone Park in Pleasant Garden. The event will take place on Saturday, May 14 th from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Admission is free.
Health Care Center Ashton Place Evelyn Neese Brookdale (Burlington) Jean Greeson Brookdale (Burlington) Helen Whitesell Clapps Nursing Center Coy Amick (# 703) Clapps Nursing Center Robert Ingold Clapps Nursing Center Larry Moore Golden Living Center Melvin May Greensboro Retirement Center Denny Ingold Murdoch Center Dreama Greeson Ralph Scott Home Betty Kim Settlemyre Mt. Hope Military Connections Scott Amick Kyle Gerner Christopher Bahleda Grant Harden David Blakesley, Jr. Jenny Hartney Jason Cherry Richard Hartney Michael Clapp Clint Moore Timothy Coble Megan Moore Blake Craft Lance Rettinger Dr. Charles Ellis Chris Shepherd Josh Ellis Ken Thompson Members Dottie Deeter Harden Phipps Lana Patterson Dunevant Diz & Doris Reece Cindy Hamlett Tammy Reece (surg.) Ruth Harris (home) Carol Sawyer J.W. Johnson Irene Sharpe Betty Kime J.R. Soffner Priscilla Lowe Jim & Nancy Wimbish Robert Mellinger Friends & Relatives Tina Amick cancer- cousin of Dora Moore Kristen Bullock-cancer-niece of Shirley Connor Carol Frank caner friend of the Spencers Lynn Hale mother of Kate Craft Kirby Hart MCH- stroke husband of Bertie Kim Loftis cancer friend of Bob & Dottie Deeter Bill & Billy McDonald friend of the Spencers Mary Simmons cancer friend Becky Stafford Bill Swaim brother of Pat Levens Harrel Swain Bruce Tanner lymphoma friend of Bill & Elizabeth Craft Evelyn Thomas wife of Joe Thomas Jeff Tucker cancer son of Betty Tucker Lyndy Welker daughter of Bill & Peggy Welker Ray Neese, Sr. (surg.) ARMC ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Choir Director / Organist Tim Hucks Sound Bennie Gerner/Byron Greeson