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 Bob Miller: pastor@umcsparta.com ~ Assistant Pastor: benjamingatton@gmail.com Director of Children s Ministry: kellydrewcannon58@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~MARCH 18, 2018 Worship 29 Worship 98 Sunday School 48 Last Week s Offering $2,607 YTD Giving $50,445 YTD Expense $66,009 SPARTA UMC STAFF Pastor Rev. Bob Miller Administrative Assistant Donna Myers Assistant Pastor Ben Gatton Children s Ministries Music Director Nancy Jones Interim Choir Director Alan Sears Custodian Allan Joyce Our Church Mission Statement Loving God ~ Loving Everyone ~ Following Jesus PALM SUNDAY March 25, 2018
THE ORDER OF WORSHIP THE ORDER OF WORSHIP 9:00 am March 25, 2018 11:00 am Palm Sunday CHILDREN S MESSAGE () A nursery is available for children under 2. Children s Church, ages 3-3rd grade. PASTORAL PRAYER PRELUDE O Sacred Head Now Wounded 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. 2088 (TFWS) Lord, I Lift Your Name on High Congregation *CALL TO WORSHIP L: This is the Lord s gate; those who are righteous enter through it. P: Enter the gates of righteousness with shouts of thanksgiving. Hosanna! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest! L: The stone the builders rejected is now the foundation stone. P: This is the Lord s doing; it is marvelous in our sight! L: The Lord is God, and God has given us light as a lamp to our feet. P: The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it! Congregation *HYMN No. 278 Hosanna, Loud Hosanna Congregation *THE APOSTLES CREED Pg. 881 OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Isaiah 50:4-9a OT Pg. 681 OFFERING/ANTHEM The King Is Coming Today! Choir 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. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. NEW TESTAMENT LESSON Philippians 2:5-11 NT Pg. SERMON The Imitation of Christ Rev. Bob Miller RESPONSE TO GOD S WORD *HYMN No. 298 When I Survey the Wondrous Cross Congregation *BENEDICTION DEPARTURE TO SERVE *HYMN No. 617 I Come with Joy vs. 5 Congregation Together met, together bound, we ll go our different ways, and as his people in the world, we ll live and speak his praise, we ll live and speak his praise. POSTLUDE (*Standing as you are able. ) SANCTUARY FLOWERS The beautiful flowers in the sanctuary today are given by the Staff Parish Relations Committee to honor and her dedication to the children of Sparta UMC. Nancy Jones *DOXOLOGY No. 95
IN SERVICE THIS WEEK Liturgist Ken Lewis Children s Church Counters March Communion Servers Ushers Greeter Nursery Brenda Irwin Ken Lewis Beth Lyon-Smith Faye Lemmond Tommy Thompson Fran Lewis UPCOMING IN SERVICE Gayle Cobb Sarah Nichols Liturgist 4/1 Larry Prince Counters April Communion Servers April 8 Ushers 4/1 Ushers 4/1 Greeter 4/1 Jane Wallace Donald Cobb Barbara Martin Tara Walker Wayne & Sandy Lovett Donny Lemmond Tommy Thompson Martha Thompson 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 UPCOMING MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES Sunday 3/25 Monday 3/26 -noon UMW Bake Sale -2 pm Red Cross Blood Drive Wednesday 3/28 6:30 pm Fellowship Supper Thursday 3/29 6:00 pm Maundy Thursday service Friday 3/30 6:00 pm Good Friday service Today: PRAISES AND PRAYERS HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO... Lewis Bobbitt March 25 Jo Henry March 25 Tommy Thompson, Sr. March 25 Mack Murphy March 26 Sam Walker March 29 Martha Thompson March 30 Jane Wallace March 30 Ben Calhoun March 31 Bobby Calhoun March 31 Rick Squires March 31 HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO... John & Wrenn Kilmartin March 28 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, Lewis Bobbitt, George Plane; Wayne and Wanda Cleary, Leslie Carswell, Nancy Ridgeway Homebound/Nursing Home/Rehab Center: Lewis Bobbitt - Genesis Health Care, Sparta 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: Praise-Esther Davis, Larry Prince s, mother-in-law, on her 100th birthday Paul Blizzard-heart surgery Our sympathy to the family of Hunter Brown Nursery 4/1 Fran Lewis Gayle Cobb Kyla Gatton Sunday 4/1 7:30 am 8:00 am Sunrise Service Easter Sunrise Breakfast Monday 4/2 10:00 am Sharon Sewing Circle/FH
HOLY WEEK SERVICES March 29-6:00 pm - Maundy Thursday service March 30-6:00 pm - Good Friday service April 1 - Easter Sunday Easter Sunrise Service in the Prayer Garden at 7:30 am Breakfast prepared by the United Methodist Men following the Easter Sunrise Service at 8:00 am and Worship Services and 10 am Sunday School MARCH FELLOWSHIP SUPPER Wednesday, March 28 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! RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE Monday, March 26 from 9:00 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 Faye Reeves, 336-372-8469, for an appointment or just walk in. EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE WITH GOD Mondays from 6-7 pm beginning April 16 in the Woodruff SS Room Rev. Tom Miller will lead this new six-week Bible study by Rick Warren. Lesson discussions include: How God Builds Your Faith; God's Dream for Your Life; How to Make Wise Decisions; Delayed by Design; How to Deal with Difficulty; From Dead End to Deliverance. SAFE SANCTUARIES RENEWAL TRAINING Today at 12 noon in the Meeting Room In order to work with our children and youth ministries, you must attend a Safe Sanctuaries Renewal Training annually. Please plan on attending! THE SHARON SEWING CIRCLE Monday, April 2 at 10:00 am If you sew, cut, iron or just enjoy fellowship and fun in mission with friends, please join us! THANK YOU!, our Director of Children's Ministries, has decided to be a stay at home mom after the birth of Baby Girl Krans. We thank Kelly for her service to Sparta UMC, and her devotion to our children. Please be in prayer as we seek her replacement. UMW MISSION FUNDRAISER ANNUAL BAKE SALE Today after the 9:00 am & 11:00 am services The UMW will have their annual bake sale in the Fellowship Hall following both morning services on Palm Sunday. Baked Items will be offered for sale and all monies collected will go toward UMW mission projects this year. If you have a special request for an item, contact Margaret Connor at 657-8811 prior to next Sunday so you will be sure to get the baked goods what you want! Plan to come and buy items to have for your Easter celebrations! Thank you for your continued support of our United Methodist Women s mission projects! NURSERY WORKER NEEDED We are looking for someone to work as a paid Nursery Worker on Sundays. Please contact, our Director of Children's Ministries, if you know someone or if you are interested. COMMUNION SERVERS AND USHERS NEEDED Prayerfully consider signing up to serve communion or be an usher in 2018. There are signup sheets on the bulletin board by the church library. Today s Anthem The King Is Coming Today Words & Music by Lloyd Larson Refrain: Let the rocks cry out, let the people shout, He comes in the name of the Lord! Praise the King of kings, lift your voice and sing, He comes in the name of the Lord! The King is coming today! With palms prepare Him the way. The King is coming today! R All glory, laud, and honor to Thee, Redeemer, King, to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring. Thou art the King of Israel, thou David s royal Son, who in the Lord s name comest, the King and blessed One! The King is coming today! With palms prepare Him the way. The King is coming today, today, today!
PRAYER VIGIL ~ MONDAY, APRIL 9 ~ 10 AM TO 2 PM PRAYING FROM THE PEWS My Father s house will be called a house of prayer. Matthew 21:13 1 John Wesley believed that God does nothing except in answer to prayer, so if we are to accomplish anything of eternal value, we must do it from our knees. Please be in prayer for Ben, who will be meeting with the District Committee on Ordained Ministry (DCOM) on Monday, April 9 to begin the long process of becoming licensed. As his church family, it is our privilege and responsibility to support him throughout this process by praying for him and his family. Please keep this insert in your Bible and pray daily. We will have a prayer vigil on Monday, April 9 from 10 am until 2 pm for Ben in the sanctuary. Please sign up for a time to pray in the sanctuary or at home at the Welcome Center. Suggested scripture for prayer: Ps. 31:23 Father, thank you that Ben is faithful and that You preserve him. Phil. 1:6 Thank you Father, that You who began a good work in him will perfect it. Eph. 2:10 Thank you Father, that Ben is created in Christ Jesus Heb. 13:21 and equipped in every good thing to do your will. Please work in him that which is well-pleasing in Your sight. 2 Cor. 3:6 I pray that Ben continually triumph in Christ diffusing the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. Ps 32:8 Father, please instruct him and teach him in the way he should go; 1 Cor 2:10 and reveal the deeper things of God to him by Your Spirit. Luke 1:45 Birth the things that You have spoken to him in his heart Acts 6:4 as he continually gives himself to prayer and the ministry of the Word. Ps. 2:12 Bless the DCOM who will be questioning Ben with protection, wisdom and holiness. 1 Pray the Price by Dr. Terry Teykl PRAYER VIGIL ~ MONDAY, APRIL 9 ~ 10 AM TO 2 PM PRAYING FROM THE PEWS My Father s house will be called a house of prayer. Matthew 21:13 1 John Wesley believed that God does nothing except in answer to prayer, so if we are to accomplish anything of eternal value, we must do it from our knees. Please be in prayer for Ben, who will be meeting with the District Committee on Ordained Ministry (DCOM) on Monday, April 9 to begin the long process of becoming licensed. As his church family, it is our privilege and responsibility to support him throughout this process by praying for him and his family. Please keep this insert in your Bible and pray daily. We will have a prayer vigil on Monday, April 9 from 10 am until 2 pm for Ben in the sanctuary. Please sign up for a time to pray in the sanctuary or at home at the Welcome Center. Suggested scripture for prayer: Ps. 31:23 Father, thank you that Ben is faithful and that You preserve him. Phil. 1:6 Thank you Father, that You who began a good work in him will perfect it. Eph. 2:10 Thank you Father, that Ben is created in Christ Jesus Heb. 13:21 and equipped in every good thing to do your will. Please work in him that which is well-pleasing in Your sight. 2 Cor. 3:6 I pray that Ben continually triumph in Christ diffusing the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. Ps 32:8 Father, please instruct him and teach him in the way he should go; 1 Cor 2:10 and reveal the deeper things of God to him by Your Spirit. Luke 1:45 Birth the things that You have spoken to him in his heart Acts 6:4 as he continually gives himself to prayer and the ministry of the Word. Ps. 2:12 Bless the DCOM who will be questioning Ben with protection, wisdom and holiness. 1 Pray the Price by Dr. Terry Teykl