STRETCHING OUR FAITH METROPOLITAN INTERDENOMINATIONAL CHURCH Sunday, April 1, 2018 RESURRECTION DAY 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: O God of Jesus Christ, who welcomed the company of the lowly in his labor for the holy, People: Grant us his spirit, who came into the world not to be served but to serve. Leader: O God of Jesus Christ, who rebuked the praise of the pious in his demand for justice, People: Grant us his spirit, who proclaimed the gospel not only in word but in deed. Leader: O God of Jesus Christ, who braved the wrath of the might in his fidelity to the Almighty, People: Grant us his spirit, who was obedient not only in death but also in life. Leader: O God of Jesus Christ, who forgave the taunts of the scorners in his agony on Calvary, People: Grant us his spirit, who kindled belief not only in his disciples but also in his enemies. Leader: O God of Jesus Christ, who transformed the despair of his followers by his victory on Easter, ALL: Grant us his spirit, who was triumphant not only over death but also over sin.
OPENING HYMN CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia! Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia! Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia! Sing ye heavens and earth reply, Alleluia! Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! Where, O Death is now thy sting? Alleluia! Dying once He all doth save, Alleluia! Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia! Love s redeeming work is done, Alleluia! Fought the fight the battle won, Alleluia! Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia! Christ has opened Paradise, Alleluia! Soar we now where Christ has led, Alleluia! Following our exalted Head, Alleluia! Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia! Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, ALLELUIA! WELCOME 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! Billye Sanders CONCERNS OF CHURCH AND CITY 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 First Response Center programs, serving 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/resources to assist in our community s spiritual growth and development; Maintain meeting space for ministries, including Metropolitan Praise Dancers, Girl Scouts, recovery/support groups, and 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! The Metropolitan Praise Dancers Alexis Marks, Choreographer CELEBRATION IN DANCE 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. PROCLAMATION THE WORD Sunrise Service John 20:1-10 Regular Service John 20:11-18 CHORAL RESPONSE Grant us wisdom, Grant us courage, For the living of these days, For the living of these days. PREPARATORY PERIOD OUR CALLING: 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.
SATURDAY MESSAGE AFTER THE BURIAL THE SENIOR SERVANT 62 The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he was still alive, After three days I will rise again. 64 Therefore command the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell the people, He has been raised from the dead, and the last deception would be worse than the first. 65 Pilate said to them, You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can. Matthew 27:62-65 SUNRISE MESSAGE THE SENIOR SERVANT THEN CAME THE MORNING Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him. 3 Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the cloth that had been on Jesus head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples returned to their homes. John 20:1-10 9:30 MESSAGE THE SENIOR SERVANT STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES 11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; 12 and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13 They said to her, Woman, why are you weeping? She said to them, They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him. 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for? Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away. 16 Jesus said to her, Mary! She turned and said to him in Hebrew, Rabbouni! (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God. 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, I have seen the Lord ; and she told them that he had said these things to her. John 20:11-18 SERMON NOTES
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 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 The Voices of Metropolitan We do not presume 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. THE GLAD SURPRISE There is a deeper meaning in the concept of the glad surprise. This meaning has to do with the very ground and foundation of hope about the nature of life itself. The manifestation of this quality in the world about us can best be witnessed in the coming of spring. It is ever a new thing, a glad surprise, the stirring of life at the end of winter. One day there seems to be no sign of life and then almost overnight, swelling buds, delicate blooms, blades of grass, bugs, insects an entire world of newness everywhere. It is the glad surprise at the end of winter. Often the same experience comes at the end of a long tunnel of tragedy and tribulation. It is as if a man stumbling in the darkness, having lost his way, finds that the spot at which he falls is the foot of a stairway that leads from darkness into light. Such is the glad surprise. This is what Easter means in the experience of the race. This is the resurrection! It is the announcement that life cannot ultimately be conquered by death, that there is no road that is at last swallowed up in an ultimate darkness, that there is strength added when the labors increase, that multiplied, peace matches multiplied trials, that life is bottomed by the glad surprise. Take courage, therefore: When we have exhausted our store of endurance, When our strength has failed ere the day is half done, When we reach the end of our hoarded resources, Our Father s full giving is only begun. (from Moments of Celebration, in For the Inward Journey, pp.266-67) CORE VALUES HOWARD THURMAN Our core values define the framework within which we live out the ideals of Our Calling based upon the word of God as reflected in Jesus Christ. Loving, Giving, Serving, Inclusive, Reconciling, Fellowship, Liberating LOVING: Worshiping, Comforting, Caring GIVING: Sharing, Supporting, Volunteering SERVING: Helping, Ministering, Providing INCLUSIVE: Embracing, Welcoming, Accepting RECONCILING: Forgiving, Restoring, Affirming FELLOWSHIP: Celebrating, Belonging, Participating LIBERATING: Teaching, Nurturing, Advocating METROPOLITAN INTERDENOMINATIONAL CHURCH 2128 11 th Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37208; Mailing Address: P.O. Box 280779, Nashville, TN 37228 Phone: (615) 72METRO (726-3876) ~ Fax: (615) 259-9210 ~ website: www.micwhosoever.org Rev. Edwin C. Sanders, II, 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
STRETCHING OUR FAITH METROPOLITAN INTERDENOMINATIONAL CHURCH Sunday, April 1, 2018 RESURRECTION DAY 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. SPECIAL EMPHASIS SPECIAL EMPHASIS is placed on Peter s name in Mark 16:7 when the message of the young man sitting in the tomb is conveyed to the three women who show up at the graveyard on Resurrection morning. Today s English Version of the Bible says: Go and give this message to his (Jesus ) disciples, including Peter. In spite of his denial, his lies and his moment of weakness, Jesus wanted to make sure Peter knew he was still in the circle of God s love. I get happy when I think about what this means for me, because there are a lot of in spite ofs in my life. We can all rejoice in the awareness that Our Lord s gift of grace is not limited by the short comings reflected in our behavior. In Christ, all of our lives are given SPECIAL EMPHASIS. (Reprinted from 04/12/2009) --Senior Servant BIBLE READINGS Read Pray Sacrifice April 2-8, 2018 Second Sunday of Easter Acts 4:32-35 Psalm 133 1 John 1:1-2:2 John 20:19-31 ~ Sick, Shut In, and Recovering Members ~ Alma Bumpers 3100 Richmond Hill Drive; Nashville, TN 37207 615-227-2826 Leon McKinley Corder 1902 Elliott Avenue; Nashville, TN 37204-2004 Send prayers. No visitors, please. Christopher Davis 202 Emmitt Avenue; Madison, TN 37115 615-939-9454 Malinda Haynie-Bailey 1002 Stockell Street; Nashville, TN 37207 615-227-6812 Evelyn Martin 3253 Spears Road; Nashville, TN 37207 615-227-0095 Connie Ryans 1703 Pecan Street; Nashville, TN 37208 615-310-7855 Emmilye Wilson-Walton P.O. Box 78795; Nashville, TN 37207 615-262-9375
UPCOMING EVENTS MIDWEEK FELLOWSHIP: Wednesday, April 4, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. Dinner by Circle 5; Bible Study 7:00 8:00, Classes for Adults and Children Financial Freedom/Entrepreneurship Seminar Series ~ Please join us on Saturday mornings, 9:00-11:00 a.m. at the First Response Center, 1219 9 th Ave N, Nashville 37208 1st Vacation Bible School Planning Meeting Wednesday, April 4 th, 6:00-7:00 p.m. 3 rd Annual Family Wellness Event Saturday, April 14 th, 8:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. Family Movie Night ~ Disney/Pixar s COCO Friday, May 11 th, 5:30 8:30 p.m. Thank you for Supporting Metropolitan while you shop! Between December 1 st, 2017 and February 28 th, 2018, the 34 households who have Kroger Plus cards registered to earn Community Rewards for Metropolitan Interdenominational Church earned $214.45 for the First Response Center! United Way Employee Giving Campaign: Please designate #3255 to support the First Response Center. For the United Federal Campaign, Write In Metropolitan Interdenominational Church First Response Center. Support Metropolitan while you shop: Enroll in the Kroger Community Rewards Program: Login to Kroger.com, enroll your Kroger Plus card, select Community Rewards, and select Metropolitan Interdenominational Church FRC; it s that easy! When shopping online, register your support for Metropolitan Interdenominational Church FRC with Smile.Amazon and always shop through the Smile.Amazon site. Opportunity Now: Youth Employment Initiative Visit: https://app-opportunitynow.workbay.net Friday evening Dancercise, 7p.m. Voices of Metropolitan Rehearsal, Saturday 12 2p.m. Saturday Worship, 6 7 p.m.; The Voices of Metropolitan appear January 13 th Centering Prayer, Sundays 8:30-8:50 a.m.; Wednesdays 6:40-7:00 p.m. ~ Giving Summary ~ Date Offering Budgeted Offering Actual Offering (Un)Realized Summary 2017 Year End $305,710.00 $294,948.21 ($10,761.79) January, 2018 $23,080.00 $19,402.73 ($3,677.27) ($3,677.27) February, 2018 $23,080.00 $22,347.27 ($732.73) ($4,410.00) March 4, 2018 $5,770.00 $5,156.00 ($614.00) March 11, 2018 $5,770.00 $4,384.38 ($1,385.62) March 18, 2018 $5,770.00 $4,811.00 ($959.00) March 25, 2018 $5,770.00 $4,300.00 ($1,470.00) February, 2018 $23,080.00 $18,651.38 ($4,428.62) 2018 Year to Date $69,240.00 $60,405.38 ($8,834.62) ~ Midweek Fellowship Meal Schedule ~ April 11 Circle 6 May 2 Circle 2 April 18 Circle 7 May 9 Circle 3 April 25 Circle 1 May 16 Circle 4