First Presbyterian Church
154
South McIntosh Street
Elberton,
Georgia
Morning Worship
March 7, 2010
3rd Sunday of Lent
Communion Sunday
The Gathering
Words of Preparation
For my thoughts are not your
thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.
- Isaiah 55:8
Welcome and Concerns of the
Church
Prelude
The Call to
Worship (Psalm 63) Myong Kim
Leader: O Lord, you are the compassionate
God.
People: Your
mercy and steadfast love extend to all peoples of the earth.
Leader: You are the living water and the
bread of life.
People: You
quench the thirst of our souls and satisfy the hunger of our hearts.
All: Let us
praise the Lord!
* Opening Hymn All the Way
My Savior Leads Me WH 474
Pastoral Prayer Rev. Mike Woods
Anthem Choir
Call to Confession
Prayer of Confession (in unison) Myong
Kim
God of mercy, you sent Jesus Christ to
seek and save the lost. We confess that we have strayed from you and turned
aside from your way. We are misled by pride, for we see ourselves pure when we
are stained. We have failed in love, neglected justice, and ignored your truth.
Have mercy, O God, and forgive our sin. Return us to paths of righteousness through
Jesus Christ, our Savior, in whose name we pray. Amen.
Kyrie Eleison (sung in unison) willan
Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy
upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us.
Assurance of Forgiveness
*Response in Song Glory Be to the Father gloria patri
Glory be to
the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in
the beginning, is now and ever shall be.
World without
end. Amen. Amen.
Passing of the Peace
Leader: Since
God has forgiven us in Christ, let us celebrate our forgiveness by exchanging
signs of peace and forgiving one another. The peace of Christ be with you.
People: And also with you.
(Worshippers may greet one another in the
spirit of God’s peace.)
Interlude
The Word
Prayer of Illumination
Reading of the Hebrew Scripture Isaiah 55: 1-9 nrsv
Ho, everyone who thirsts, come
to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine
and milk without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat
what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 3 Incline your ear, and come to
me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
my steadfast, sure love for David. 4
See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the
peoples. 5 See, you shall
call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run
to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has
glorified you. 6 Seek the
LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; 7 let the wicked forsake their
way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the LORD, that he
may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your
thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher
than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your
thoughts.
Moment of Meditation
Reading from the Epistles 1 Cor. 10:1-13 nrsv
I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that
our ancestors were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses
in the cloud and in the sea, 3
and all ate the same spiritual food, 4
and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock
that followed them, and the rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, and
they were struck down in the wilderness. 6 Now these things occurred as examples for us, so that
we might not desire evil as they did. 7
Do not become idolaters as some of them did; as it is written, "The people
sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to play." 8 We must not indulge in sexual
immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single
day. 9 We must not put Christ
to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents. 10 And do not complain as some of
them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 These things happened to them to serve as an example, and
they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have
come. 12 So if you think you
are standing, watch out that you do not fall. 13 No testing has overtaken you that is not common to
everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your
strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may
be able to endure it.
Moment of Meditation
Reading from the Gospel Luke 13:1-9 nrsv
At that very time there were
some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with
their sacrifices. 2 He asked
them, "Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they
were worse sinners than all other Galileans? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish
as they did. 4 Or those
eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them-- do you think
that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you
repent, you will all perish just as they did." 6 Then he told this parable:
"A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for
fruit on it and found none. 7
So he said to the gardener, 'See here! For three years I have come looking for
fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be
wasting the soil?' 8 He
replied, 'Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put
manure on it. 9 If it bears
fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"
Leader: This is the Word of our Lord,
People: Thanks be to God.
Sermon The God of Our Minds Rev.
Mike Woods
Responding To the Word
* Responsive Hymn Just When I
Need Him Most WH 160
Presentation of Tithes & Offerings
The Sacrament of the Lord’s Table
invitation to the lord’s table
prayer of great thanksgiving
Leader: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Leader: It is truly right and our greatest joy …
…who forever sing to
the glory of your name:
All: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power
and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Leader: You
are holy, O God of majesty….
Accept this our
sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving as a living and holy offering of
ourselves, that our lives may proclaim the One crucified and risen. Great is
the mystery of faith.
People: Christ
has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
Leader: Gracious God, pour out your Holy Spirit
upon us…. Amen.
the lord’s prayer
breaking
of the bread
communion
prayer
after communion
Affirmation Of Faith From
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of
heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ his only Son,
our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified dead, and buried; he descended
into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven,
and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall
come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church;
the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body;
and the life everlasting. Amen.
* Closing Hymn God Will Take
Care of You WH 90
* Benediction Rev. Mike Woods
* Choral Response All The Way My
Savior Leads Me (1st verse) WH
474
Postlude
The Church gathered in worship now
scatters to BE THE CHURCH in the world, witnessing and celebrating the
Christian life wherever we are!
WELCOME TO ALL
WHO WORSHIP. This congregation is part of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and is
actively engaged in worship, education, and mission to enlarge awareness of the
goodness of God and to share in the compassion of God wherever needed. There is
a place for all in the life of this church family.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
FRIENDSHIP PADS: Welcome to First Presbyterian Church. Whether you are a member or a
first time visitor, we would like a record of your attendance. Please take the
time to fill out the maroon attendance pad found at the ends of each pew.
SALVATION ARMY FOOD BANK: We continue to collect dry and
canned foods for The Elbert County Salvation Army’s Food Bank. Please place any
donations in the marked boxes at the front of the sanctuary.
CHOIR PRACTICE: Every Wednesday night at 7:30 pm.
SOUP SUPPERS: Join us every Wednesday night at 6 pm through
Easter, for soup and singing in the Fellowship Hall.
OUR NURSERY IS NOW OPEN and available for your children from
infants to four years of age. Ms. Julia Suk is our nursery attendant.
REVIVAL: Pastor Woods will be preaching at the Easter
revival at Hall Grove Baptist Church, Sunday, April 4, 2010 at 7 PM. The church
is located at 2582 Deep Creek Rd., Bowman, GA.
STATED SESSION MEETING: Monday, March 8, 2010 at 12 noon in
the Fellowship Hall.
COMMUNION WILL BE CELEBRATED during this morning’s worship.
The Lord’s Table is open to all who respond to Christ’s invitation to
discipleship regardless of church membership or denominational affiliation.
219th GENERAL ASSEMBLY will meet July 3-10, 2010
in Minneapolis. This bulletin contains an insert briefly describing the business
that will be discussed and decided at the assembly. One of those matters
pertains to revising the Form of Government in the Book of Order. Information about the proposed changes can be found
at www.pcusa.org/formofgovernment
or a hard copy of the proposed changes is available in the church office.
23rd ANNUAL GATHERING of the Northeast Georgia
Presbyterian Women will be held Saturday, March 20, 2010 at Madison
Presbyterian Church. Please make your reservations for lunch and/or child care
by March 15 with Sally Boardman at 706-342-1776.
HAITI AND CHILE RELIEF: Thanks to all of you who gave to the
Haiti relief efforts of the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA). Thus far we
have raised $240 in Elberton and over $450,000 nationwide. PDA is also
responding to the massive earthquake in Chile which killed hundreds and left
millions homeless. You may give to either effort by making your check payable
to First Presbyterian Church of Elberton, and indicate that it is for relief in
Haiti or Chile.
WORSHIP ATTENDANCE
SUNDAY: 31
BIRTHDAYS THIS
WEEK: _________
SPECIAL PRAYER
NEEDS
Please remember the following in your prayers this week: The People of Haiti and Chile; Perry Adams;
Fred and Mary Ann Auld; Caroline Bell; Alvin Christian; Lawton Daugherty; Corbin
Dewberry; Kathy Durkee; Kevin Fendley; Joyce Grimes; Zachary Griffith, grandson
of Patsy Griffith; John Hancock,
nephew of Martha Jones; Keith
Higgingbotham, nephew of Michael Cooper; Marcia Jenkins; Eleanor Lingle; Will Marion, brother of Joyce
Grimes; Aldine McLeod; Caitlin Peppers;
Crystal Phillips, sister of April
Brown; Matthew Randall; Joe Ray, friend
of Michael Cooper; Billy Roberts; Elaine and Jr. Rudder, sister and
brother in law of Peggy Joslyn; Lena
Sassi; Tabitha Shreeve, a
newborn member of Madelyn Harrison’s family;
Helen Turner.
Ministers: All Members of the Congregation
Pastor: Rev. Mike Woods
Parish Associate: Rev. Peter Yuh
Church Secretary: Charlotte
Higginbotham
Director of Music: Grace Shim
Choir Director: Kay Legg
Nursery Attendants: Julia Suk
The Session
Elders (Term
Expiration) Ministry
Chester Almond (2011) Building
Patsy Griffith (2010) Congregational
Care, Recording Sec.
Charlotte Higginbotham (2012) Clerk
of Session
Harold Jones, Jr. (2010) Treasurer,
Stewardship
Ken Legg (2012) Grounds
Mike Woods (Moderator) Pastor,
Worship
Mailing
Address: P.O. Box 185, Elberton, GA 30635
Street Address: 154 South McIntosh Street
Office Telephone: 706-283-3741
Pastor’s Cell: 404-578-5485
Manse: 706-283-5322
Email Address: fpce@elberton.net
Website Address: www.elbertonpresbyterian.org
