Sparta United Methodist Church ~ 190 N. Main Street ~ PO Box 697 ~ Sparta, NC 28675 Office: 336-372-4441 ~ Parsonage: 276-579-2280 ~ Fax: 336-372-1534 Church office hours: Mon-Thurs ~ 8:30 am-3:30 pm Office Email: office@umcsparta.com ~ Church Website: www.umcsparta.com Pastor Bob Miller: pastor@umcsparta.com ~ Assistant Pastor Ben Gatton: benjamingatton@gmail.com 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 www.actv.me. 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. Sparta UMC Blog ~ Words For The Journey blog offers weekly devotional posts related to the Sunday sermon at www.sumcblog.com. 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~APRIL 15, 2018 Worship 28 Worship 80 Sunday School 51 Offering 4/15 $3,917 YTD Cong. Offering $58,207 YTD Other Income $17,967 YTD Expense $95,426 SPARTA UMC STAFF Pastor Rev. Bob Miller Administrative Assistant Donna Myers Assistant Pastor Ben Gatton 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 FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER April 22, 2018
THE ORDER OF WORSHIP 9:00 am April 22, 2018 11:00 am Fourth Sunday of Easter PRELUDE It Is Well With My Soul Nancy Jones GATHERING OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD *WELCOME & PASSING OF THE PEACE Welcome others by saying, The Peace of Christ Be With You. *HYMN No. 174 His Name Is Wonderful Congregation THE ORDER OF WORSHIP OFFERING/ANTHEM Look At The World Choir *DOXOLOGY No. 95 CHILDREN S MESSAGE () A nursery is available for children under 2. Children s Church, ages 3-3rd grade. PASTORAL PRAYER Kyla Gatton NEW TESTAMENT LESSON 1 John 3:16-24 NT Pg. 240 SERMON What Does Love Mean? Rev. Bob Miller *CALL TO WORSHIP Congregation RESPONSE TO GOD S WORD L: Good shepherd, guide and guardian, you call us to live the love you have shown us, P: not with words or speech, but with action and truth; you call us to show your love in our deeds. L: As sheep of your pasture, may we be a flock known for our love and gratitude. P: Called to be your church, my we be shepherds of your mercy and agents of your grace. Amen. *HYMN No. 408 The Gift of Love Congregation *THE APOSTLES CREED Pg. 881 NEW TESTAMENT LESSON 1 Corinthians 13 NT Pg. 175 *HYMN No. 2223 (TFWS) They ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love Congregation *BENEDICTION DEPARTURE TO SERVE *HYMN No. 2241 (TFWS) The Spirit Sends Us Forth to Serve vs. 4 Congregation POSTLUDE (*Standing as you are able. ) Then let us go to serve in peace, the gospel to proclaim. God s Spirit has empowered us; we go in Jesus name. SANCTUARY FLOWERS The beautiful flowers in the sanctuary today are given by Faye Reeves and Sylvia Truitt in memory of Cleo Reeves. Nancy Jones
IN SERVICE THIS WEEK Liturgist Ken Lewis Children s Church Counters April Communion Servers Ushers Greeter Nursery UPCOMING IN SERVICE Gayle Cobb Jane Wallace Donald Cobb Theresa March Linda Wishon Johnny Wishon Fran Lewis Sarah Nichols Gayle Cobb Liturgist 4/29 Ben Gatton Counters May Communion Servers May Ushers 4/29 Ushers 4/29 Greeter 4/29 Brenda Irwin Ken Lewis Carol Perdue Larry Myers Jim Saintsing Linda Wishon Johnny Wishon Fran Lewis SUNDAY MONDAY REGULAR WEEKLY MINISTRIES 9 :00am 10:00 am 11:00 am 6:00 pm 6:00 pm 3:00 pm Sunday Worship Sunday School Sunday Worship NA meeting/mr Girl Scouts Basketball/FUSION Room TUESDAY 5:00 PM Prime Time Volleyball/MPR WEDNESDAY 10:00 am 3:00 pm 4:30 pm 6:30 pm Ladies Bible Study Basketball/FUSION Room Grace Kitchen Meal/MPR Choir Practice ROCK Elementary Kids IGNITE Middle School Youth FUSION High School Youth THURSDAY DANA Women s Support FRIDAY Today UPCOMING MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES Earth Day Wednesday 4/25 6:30 pm Fellowship Supper/FH Saturday 4/28 9:00 am Guatemala Mission Pancake Fundraiser/POB Saturday 5/5 8:30 am Women s Retreat/POB Today: PRAISES AND PRAYERS THANK YOU! Beth, Pam, and Everyone at SUMC, Thanks so much for the card and the Walmart gift card. Ya ll always make me feel loved throughout the year by sending me something during the holidays. Hope ya ll are doing well! Thanks again, Smith Hart HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO... Joel Souther March 22 Scott Walker March 22 Charles Rudy March 23 Jo Henry March 25 Tommy Thompson, Sr. March 25 Mack Murphy March 26 ONGOING PRAYER CONCERNS Our World/Country: Our country; our leaders; God s peace and love to prevail Military: Evan Isner and his family in Fayetteville, NC Church and Community: Pastor Bob; SUMC ministries; community homeless; food insecure families Ongoing Health Concerns: Karen Miller; Ora Brady; Kimberly Parsons; Sarah Dillinger; Christi Gobble; Thomas Howland; George Plane; Nancy Ridgeway; Wayne and Wanda Cleary; Leslie Carswell Homebound/Nursing Home/Rehab Center: John Boyer - Grayson Nursing & Rehab, VA Ora Brady - Charlotte, NC Paul Church - Grayson Nursing & Rehab, VA Watana Marion - Carillon AL, Clemmons, NC Thomas Myers - Dunmore Plantation, Dobson Tim Myers - Dunmore Plantation, Dobson Arnold Wagoner - Genesis Health Care, Sparta Mary Wagoner - Genesis Health Care, Sparta Praises/Prayers: David & Dora Sue Smith-new great-grandchild Mary Setzer-health David Moose-health Linda Young-health Nursery Children s Church 4/29 Fran Lewis Sarah Nichols Debbie Edwards Monday 5/7 10:00 am Sharon Sewing Circle Tuesday 5/8 all day Voting/POB Tuesday 5/15 8:00 am Billy Graham Museum trip
WELCOME! The Staff Parish Committee welcomes Kyla Gatton as our new Director of Children's Ministry. Kyla will begin her new position in June. Please congratulate Kyla as she becomes a member of the Sparta UMC Staff. APRIL FELLOWSHIP SUPPER Wednesday, April 25 at 6:30 pm Come out and enjoy a great meal and fellowship! Bring a dish to share, such as a casserole, salad, or dessert and invite someone new to come with you! GUATEMALA MISSION FUNDRAISER ~ Pancake Breakfast Saturday, April 28 ~ 8:30 am-10:30 am Your donations will go to help fund travel expenses for our mission team going to Guatemala this October. If you have questions, call Wrenn Kilmartin at 919-616-4119. COOKING FOR A CROWD with Carmen Long Thursday, May 3 at 4:00 pm Are you planning to cook and serve food to a group of people as part of an event at the church or at any other location? Carmen Long of the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service in Alleghany County will be presenting a two hour workshop to help recognize the hazards to food safety that can arise when volunteers prepare and serve large amounts of food. This workshop will be especially helpful to individuals who usually cook for a family find themselves cooking and serving larger quantities of food. We encourage anyone at the church who is involved in preparing and serving meals to attend. COME JOIN US FOR A DAY APART! Saturday, May 5 from 8:30 am-2:30 pm This is a wonderful women s retreat that will be held at our church. Our guest speaker is Tami Carr, former Women s Ministry Director at Life Community Church in Jamestown, NC and a published author. She will speak on Choosing Joy. Lunch and child-care will be provided! More information is provided in the brochures located in the Narthex and outside the church office. There are scholarships available. MISSION COMMITTEE PLANNING-COVERED DISH MEETING Sunday, May 6 at 12:00 noon in the Multi-purpose Room If you have a heart for missions, please plan on attending our Mission Committee planning session. Today s Anthem Look At The World Words & Music by John Rutter Refrain: Praise to thee, O Lord, for all creation. Give us thankful hearts that we may see; All the gifts we share, and every blessing, all things come of thee. Look at the world, everything all around us, look at the world, and marvel every day. Look at the world, so many joys and wonders, so many miracles along our way. R Look at the earth bringing forth fruit and flower; look at the sky, the sunshine and the rain; Look at the hill, look at the trees and mountains, valley and flowing river, field and plain. R Think of the spring, think of the warmth of summer, bringing the harvest before the winter s cold. Everything grows, everything has a season, till it is gathered to the Father s fold. R Every good gift, all that we need and cherish comes from the Lord in token of his love. We are His hands, stewards of all His bounty, His is the earth, and His the heavens above. R PRAYING FROM THE PEWS "My Father's house will be called a house of prayer." Matthew 21:13 And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart...acts 4:32 *Lord, we pray our faith fellowship will be bound with one heart - a heart that seeks You, is passionate for You, longs for You alone. As we grow in one heart for You, fill us with great love and compassion for one another as well. Cause us to lay down our own agendas, plans, and desires. Let them be replaced with humility and love that places others ahead of ourselves. May we be so consumed with loving and serving that people know it can only be explained by you. Amen *Prayers from the Pews, The Power of Praying for Your Church by: Teri Lynne Underwood EDUCATIONAL FUND We are so thankful for Ben Gatton s approval to become a licensed Local Pastor and for the many gifts and talents he shares with our congregation and the community. He will be required to attend training schools and annual classes during this educational process that will be an added expense for him. Church Council approved setting up a fund in our church accounting for those who would like to make donations beyond their normal tithing to help offset these costs. If you would like to contribute to the Ben Gatton Education Fund, please indicate Education Fund in the memo section of your check or envelope. Thank you in advance!
To have the name of a special woman in your life remembered in our special Mother s Day bulletin insert, please complete the form below and return it along with $2.00 per name to the church office or place in the offering plate by May 6, 2018. Monies will be go to Arbor Acres (a United Methodist Retirement Community). To have the name of a special woman in your life remembered in our special Mother s Day bulletin insert, please complete the form below and return it along with $2.00 per name to the church office or place in the offering plate by May 6, 2018. Monies will be go to Arbor Acres (a United Methodist Retirement Community). Person s name In Honor In Memory Person s name In Honor In Memory Please return to the office by May 6, 2018. Please return to the office by May 6, 2018.