GREENWOOD FOREST BAPTIST CHURCH The Worship of God Baptism of Our Lord Sunday January 14, 2018 Chiming of the Hour Processional Hymn 255 Welcome to Worship Leader: The Lord be with you People: And also with you. Passing of the Peace We Are God s People Rev. Lauren Efird Rev. Efird Preparation for Worship We Abide in You The Porter s Gate We are the vineyard you have planted, Tend our leaves and wild branches: Fruit growing from our strength and labor, Rain on us with grace and favor: Where can my soul find living water? Apart from you we bear no fruit! O plant my feet down by the river:
Call to Worship (Psalm 29) Leader: Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, People: Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength! Leader: Ascribe to the Lord the glory of God s name. People: Worship the Lord in holy splendor. Leader: The voice of the Lord is over the waters. People: The God of glory thunders over mighty waters. Leader: The voice of the Lord is powerful. People: The voice of the Lord is full of majesty. Leader: The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars. People: The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire. Leader: The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness. People: The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl. Leader: The voice of the Lord strips the forest bare. People: In God s temple, all people say glory! Leader: The Lord sits enthroned over the flood. People: The Lord sits enthroned as king forever. Leader: May the Lord give us strength! People: May the Lord bless us with peace! Invocation Hymn 449 Offertory Prayer Kadeisha Bonsu Kadeisha Bonsu Baptized in Water Amanda Warren Offertory The Living Water Martin Prayers of the People and Lord s Prayer Leader: Lord, in your mercy... People: Hear our prayer. 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. Matthew Greg During the following hymn, children (ages first grade and younger) are invited to go to Children s Time. Parents may pick up their children in the Children s Wing after worship. Hymn 473 Will You Come and Follow Me Scripture Reading Mark 1:4-11 Rev. Wesley Spears-Newsome 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. Presentation of the Offering LASST UNS ERFREUEN 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!
Anthem Lead Me, Lord S. S. Wesley Lead me, Lord, Lead me in thy righteousness, Make thy way plain before my face. For it is thou, Lord, Thou, Lord, only, That makest me dwell in safety. Sermon The Beloved Rev. Efird Reaffirmation of Baptism Hymn 295 Benediction Postlude Please stand as you are able. Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing The flowers are placed in the church today in memory of Bill Whelan by the Whelan Family. Matthew Greg is our pastoral intern. The Deacon of the Day is Amanda Warren, Chair of the Congregational Care Ministry. Today s acolyte is Lucy Beal. Hearing assistance devices are available at the back of the sanctuary. Rev. Efird Prayer Concerns Emma Aeppli, Don Beal, Gilles Bikindou, Ashley Brooks, Wilma Caldwell, Rhonda Correll, Margaret Curl, Jennifer Denning, Don and Laura Hamrick, Sara Martin (Jay and Doris Martin s daughter-in-law), Joann Miller (Randy Palmer s aunt), Denise Morgan (Diane Smith s niece), Pat Murray (Jack Chapman s sister), Mildred Shaver (Sally Shaver s mother), Iris Thomas, and Kathleen Wicker Dot Alexander and Mildred McCray: Oaks at Whitaker Glen We extend our sympathy to Anne Whelan at the death of her husband, Bill Whelan, and to Chuck Beck at the death of his stepmother, Hattie Beck. 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 lease, GFCC receipts, and outside groups) Week 19 of 52 (January 7) Stewardship Giving needed Week 19 YTD to fully subscribe budget $15,828 $ 321,497 Actual Stewardship Giving $10,356 $ 312,674 Over (Under) $(5,472) $ (8,823) Attendance Last Week Praise Assembly 41 Faith Formation 121 Worship 171
Announcements and Upcoming Events Sanctuary Choir Retreat January 20 Next Saturday, January 20, the Sanctuary Choir will head to Butler Chapel at Campbell University to begin learning music for their spring cantata. If you are interested in joining the choir, this would be a great opportunity! Speak with Rev. Stacks for more details. Business Meeting January 21 Please make plans to attend a church-wide business meeting next Sunday, January 21 at 6 pm in the Fellowship Hall. Children s Ministry Indoor Movie Night January 27 Children and families are invited to bring dinner and something to sit on (i.e. blanket, sleeping bag, whatever makes you comfortable) to the Fellowship Hall at 5:30 pm on Saturday, January 27, for Indoor Movie Night! We will be watching Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Popcorn and lemonade will be provided. Mission Assistance Fund - Support for Gilles Bikindou If you would like to help with the costs surrounding Gilles Bikindou's ongoing efforts to avoid deportation, you may do so by making a special offering to the Missions Assistance Fund. The Missions Assistance Fund is a restricted fund established at the most recent church business meeting as a source of financial support for church members and their families in crisis. This fund covers essential costs for a limited period of time that exceed the capacity and/or mandate of the Emergency Assistance line item in the budget. Contact Rev. Wesley Spears- Newsome if you have any questions. Upcoming Sermon Series The Galilee Movement January 21 Recruitment Mark 1:14-20 January 28 Training Mark 1:21-28 February 4 Mission Mark 1:29-39 Tim Conder Visit on Sunday, February 4 On Sunday, February 4 we will welcome Tim Conder to GFBC! Tim is the founding pastor of Emmaus Way Church in Durham and is presently a PhD Candidate in Cultural Studies at UNC-Chapel Hill. Tim is the author of three books: The Church in Transition: The Journey of Existing Churches into the Emerging Culture, Free for All: Rediscovering the Bible in Community (with Dan Rhodes), and Organizing Church: Grassroots Practices for Embodying Change (also with Dan Rhodes). Tim currently serves on the Clergy Caucus and Strategy Team of Durham CAN (Congregations, Associations, and Neighborhoods). He is married to Meredith, and they have two children Keenan and Kendall. On February 4, Tim will lead a church-wide faith formation session for all adult faith formation classes focusing on his most recent book, Organizing Church, which the GFBC Deacon Board read sections of for their retreat this year. Tim will speak on the importance of applying the principles of community organizing to local church life. Tim will then join us for worship where he will preach our sermon.
This Week at GFBC Sunday, January 14 9:30 am Children, Youth, and Adult Faith Formation 10:30 am Coffee in the Narthex 11:00 am Worship Tuesday, January 16 7:00 pm GFCC Committee Meeting Wednesday, January 17 7:00 pm Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal Saturday, January 20 Sanctuary Choir Retreat Sunday, January 21 9:30 am Children, Youth, and Adult Faith Formation 10:30 am Coffee in the Narthex 11:00 am Worship 3:00 pm Youth Alpha and Omega 4:30 pm Youth Choir 6:00 pm Business Meeting Welcome to Our Church Community! Our Vision Our vision is to be a welcoming and diverse community of faith united in Christ. Our purpose is to worship God and to form and equip disciples who selflessly share their resources and provide loving service to all. Our Core Values Centrality of Christ and Scripture Inclusivity and Diversity in Community Women in All Areas of Leadership Ministries for People of All Ages Liturgy and Innovation in Worship Spiritual and Intellectual Formation Showing God s Love through Missional Service Sharing Our Resources with Others Unity in Fellowship and Family Life Historic Baptist Beliefs and Practices For more information about our church, please visit our website at gfbccary.org or contact us at 919-467-0481.