The Service for the Lord s Day The 21 st Sunday after Pentecost October 21, 2012 PRAISE AND WORSHIP SINGING The asterisk ( * ) is an invitation to stand if able. ASSEMBLE IN GOD S NAME I ll Fly Away We ll Understand it Better By and By O Come Let Us Adore Him WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST CALL TO CONFESSION Leader: In Charles Albert Tindley s hymn, We ll Understand it Better By and By, the last verse starts: Temptations, hidden snares often take us unawares, and our hearts are made to bleed for a thoughtless word or deed Together now, let s give honestly to God what we have done or failed to do which has left others wounded and our own hearts bleeding. PRAYER OF CONFESSION (In unison) Gracious God, whose love is even more forgiving than it is demanding, pardon us for failing to savor your good gifts while we are experiencing them; for resisting life s transitions as though there were no grace in them; Muskegon, Michigan Page 2
for the acts of unkindness that we have done before we thought twice; for the acts of caring that we have left undone until the opportunity was gone; for allowing our vision to be narrowed to now and ours; for reticence about expressing faith, hope, and love; for readiness to give sway and voice to mistrust, despair, and apathy; for avoiding the silence faced in solitude; for avoiding the commitments required in community; for ever acting as though we are ultimately alone. We pray not only for pardon because of what we are and are not and because of what we do and do not; we pray for power the power of your Spirit so that we shall be enabled to be different and so that tomorrow need not be a repetition of yesterday; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS (Responsively) Leader: People: While we are a people with incomplete love, a people with selective compassion, Christ is always ready to take the fragments of our love and use them to make the world whole. Christ does not call us to be perfect in our love, only willing willing to grow in love for God and others. The message of the gospel is that when we come to Christ with willing hearts, they are transformed into God s heart. Thanks be to the God of grace! PROCLAIM GOD S WORD A TIME WITH THE YOUNGER CHURCH This Little Light of Mine Jackie Fisher *SCRIPTURE PRAYER OF ANOINTING AND ILLUMINATION Mark 5:25-29 (KJV) Pastor David Rucks SERMON Where Is Your Faith? Pastor Delphia Rucks Muskegon, Michigan Page 3
RESPONDING TO GOD S WORD ANTHEM Thou Art God Combined Choirs PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE The Lord s Prayer GO IN GOD S NAME FINAL WORDS AND DISMISSAL WITH A BLESSING *CLOSING SONG (#42 Glory to God Hymn Sampler) Leaning on the Everlasting Arms Muskegon, Michigan Page 4
CHURCH SCHOOL OCTOBER 21, 2012 Children 6 11: Your teacher this week is Chris Rausch. She ll meet you down in Creation Station. This week s story is about James and John (Mark 10:35-45): James & John thought they were really important and should get special spots when they went to heaven. They thought they deserved more than the other followers of Jesus. Jesus told them that no one was more special than anyone else in the kingdom of heaven. Today we are going to play "Sit Right, Sit Left" to remember that Christ gave his life for us. Youth 12 18: Adults: YOUTH GROUPS Middle School: High School Jill will see all the young adults in the youth room with the couches today. Today s passage says that the woman with the hemorrhage grew not better, but worse, after seeing many doctors. Why do you think that is? If you are visiting this morning, we would love to see you in class! Your teacher this week is Ruth Clark. Adult class is held in the library. James and John became angry when Jesus told them they could not sit at his right and his left, for those seats were left for those for whom they had been prepared. If you were James and John, what sort of conclusion would you draw from that statement? Why do you think James and John asked Jesus what they did? Middle school youth group will be held on Wednesday, October 24 at 6:30pm at church. There will be food, friends, and another conflictual lesson. (Is that a word?) Confirmation class will be held in place of high school youth group this Sunday, at 4:00pm. We will meet in the fellowship hall at church. Please remember to have two of your five objectives chosen. Muskegon, Michigan Page 5
ASSISTING WITH WORSHIP LAY LEADER: Jeanne devette GREETERS: Sherman Entrance Dave & Norma Reynolds Wickham Entrance Mary Seieroe USHERS: Rodger Kroes & Carol Giblin Larry & Barbara Foster AFTER WORSHIP HOSPITALITY: Ron & Mary Rop COUNTERS: Mervin & Katherine Young ANNOUNCEMENTS OCTOBER 21, 2012 Remember Our Friends in Care Centers: Nan Weatter, Lorraine Priefer, Harold Hines, Kathleen Joy, Mickey Paulsen Welcome Pastors David and Delphia Rucks and the Congregation of Mt. Sinai Church. We re so glad you joined our church family in worship today. Please join us in the chapel for coffee and a time of fellowship following the worship service. *Note: We will not pass offering plates this morning, but will instead place baskets near the entrance. Gifts and offerings intended specifically for either congregation should be clearly marked. Envelopes will be available to designate FPC or Mt. Sinai (checks payable to David Rucks). All loose offerings will be divided evenly between the two congregations. The sanctuary flowers this morning have been provided by Vella Caruso. CROP Walk Envelopes: Hester Newton will be at the CROP Walk table on Sunday mornings for collection of CROP envelopes containing all pledges. If you come in during the week, please give your envelope directly to Joan Bengston or Kathy DeCormier. DO NOT leave your envelope in one of the mail boxes. All envelopes must be returned by Sunday, October 28 th. Come join a 2-session book study of Rev. Brewster Willcox s book, The Power of Paradox Monday evenings, November 5 th & 12 th from 6:30 8:00 p.m. Books are available here for $14, and Brewster is donating $6 of each sale to FPC. Sign up in the hallway by the church library. Muskegon, Michigan Page 6
The deadline for the next issue of the Highland Herald is today. Please email your articles to office@fpcmuskegon.org or leave them in the file folder marked Newsletter in the office mailboxes. All materials must be in the office by the deadline in order to be published within the next issue. Men s Breakfast: This is a reminder to all men of the church that our regular meeting is next Wednesday, October 24 th. As usual, we re meeting at 8:00 a.m. at the Cherokee, for good food, good fellowship, good discussion, and a laugh or two. Charles Nash will be our presenter, explaining the mentoring program he has helped develop in Muskegon. You can now enter the Cherokee parking lot via westbound Sherman or the back way off of Lindbergh Street. Hope to see many of you there on Wednesday. Muskegon Rescue Mission s Annual Fall Dinner is Saturday, October 27 th at 6:00 p.m. at Olivet Evangelical Free Church, 6790 Harvey Street. Tickets are $10 each. Please call 231.727.6090 by Monday to reserve your seat. Fun events for children and youth. See Jill for details! Muskegon, Michigan Page 7
CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 21, 2012 10/21 10:00 am Worship Sun 11:00 am Hospitality 11:15 am Church School 4:00 pm Confirmation Class 10/22 1:00 pm Kerygma Class Mon 3:00 pm Kerygma Class 6:30 pm Leadership Class 10/23 10:00 am Staff Meeting Tue 10/24 8:00 am Men s Breakfast Wed 5:30 pm Joyful Ringers 6:45 pm Faith Development Council Meeting 10/25 Thu 10/26 Fri 10/27 9:30 am Youth Fall Fun Day Sat 10/28 10:00 am Worship Sun 11:00 am Hospitality 11:15 am Church School 2:00 pm Combined Youth Group Muskegon, Michigan Page 8