First Presbyterian Church
154 South McIntosh Street
Elberton, GA 30635
Morning Worship
June 26, 2011
Second Sunday after Pentecost
The Gathering
Words of Preparation
Non violence is a sign of strength; violence is a sign of desperation and weakness.
- Dalai Lama
Welcome and Concerns of the Church
Prelude
The Call to Worship
Leader: We cry to God, “How long will you hide your face from me?
People: How long must I have sorrow in my heart all day long?”
Leader: Even in sorrow and pain, we trust in God’s steadfast love.
People: We sing to God, who has dealt graciously with us.
* Opening Hymn Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing # 98
Pastoral Prayer Rev. Mike Woods
Special Music
Call to Confession
Prayer of Confession (First in silence, then in unison)
Here we are, O God; we present ourselves to you. But how little we trust you to provide! How we fear the path to which you call us! How wayward we continue to be! We have been slaves to sin, which leads to death. You call us to obedience, which leads to righteousness and life. Lord, forgive our lack of faith and loyalty. Make us obedient from the heart, generous to the people you send our way, and open to your bountiful grace. In Christ’s 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.
Remembering your Baptism/Assurance of Pardon
Leader: There is no place so far away that the love of God cannot touch. There is no emptiness so great that the grace of God cannot fill.
People: God’s arms remain open to us always, ready to embrace us in the wildness of mercy and welcome us home.
Leader: Remember your baptism and be thankful! Know that you are forgiven and be at peace. Amen.
*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: Friends, since we have been reconciled to God, let us also be reconciled to 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
First Reading Jeremiah 28:5-9 nrsv
Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests and all the people who were standing in the house of the LORD; 6 and the prophet Jeremiah said, "Amen! May the LORD do so; may the LORD fulfill the words that you have prophesied, and bring back to this place from Babylon the vessels of the house of the LORD, and all the exiles. 7 But listen now to this word that I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people. 8 The prophets who preceded you and me from ancient times prophesied war, famine, and pestilence against many countries and great kingdoms. 9 As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes true, then it will be known that the LORD has truly sent the prophet."
Moment of Meditation
Second Reading Romans 6:12-23 nrsv
Therefore, do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. 13 No longer present your members to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present your members to God as instruments of righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. 15 What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that you, having once been slaves of sin, have become obedient from the heart to the form of teaching to which you were entrusted, 18 and that you, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness for sanctification. 20 When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 So what advantage did you then get from the things of which you now are ashamed? The end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been freed from sin and enslaved to God, the advantage you get is sanctification. The end is eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Moment of Meditation
Reading from the Gospel Matthew 10:40-42 nrsv
"Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; 42 and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple-- truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward."
Leader: This is the Word of Our Lord,
People: Thanks be to God.
Proclamation of The Word Rev. Mike Woods
Responding To the Word
* Responsive Hymn O Worship the King #24
Presentation of Tithes & Offerings
Affirmation of Faith 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 Amazing Grace # 104
* Charge and Blessing Rev. Mike Woods
* Choral Response Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing (v. 1) # 98
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.
PASTOR WOODS will be on vacation from June 27 through July 5. Rev. Peter Yuh will preach Sunday, July 3.
WE WELCOME CHRIS LEE as our accompanist this morning, while Grace is taking some time off.
HOLY COMMUNION will be served Sunday, July 10.
ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL will not meet next Sunday, July 3. We will resume classes again the following Sunday, July 10. All are invited to join us.
NEXT SESSION MEETING: Monday, July 11, 2011 at noon in the Pastor’s Study.
DO YOU LIKE ELBERTON FIRST PRESBYTERIAN? Then like us on Facebook, as well! First Presbyterian now has a Facebook page. If you are part of the Facebook social networking site then, search for “Elberton First Presbyterian.” When you arrive at our page, click “Like this page” in the left hand column. “Liking” us in this way will help you to keep up with the latest goings on at First Prez. Pictures from last Fifth Sunday’s joint worship and fellowship are available on Facebook for your viewing enjoyment!
SPECIAL PRAYER NEEDS
Please remember the following in your prayers this week: Perry Adams; the family of Chester Almond; Fred and Mary Ann Auld; Caroline Bell; Joyce Bond; Charles and Marna Briggs, relatives of Melody and Andrea Spurlock; Laurie Britt, sister of Martha Jones; Parks Brown, brother of Mary Jo Pleasants; Maybelle Cryder; Corbin Dewberry; Jean Duncan, sister of Joy Brown; Kathy Durkee; Kevin Fendley; Ayden Gailey; Joyce Grimes; Zachary Griffith; John Hancock, nephew of Martha Jones; Alexis Holbert, 11 month old daughter of friend of Melody and Andrea Spurlock; Benson and Bonnie Hunt, friends of Madelyn Harrison; Eleanor Lingle; Will Marion, brother of Joyce Grimes; Mae McInally; Wright Payne Morris, cousin of Joan Brown; Crystal Phillips, sister of April Brown; Mary Jo Pleasants; Jeff Ray, great nephew of Perry Adams; Billy Roberts; Elaine and Jr. Rudder, sister and brother in law of Peggy Joslyn; the family of Lena Sassi; Pete and Dottie Smith; Iola Stone; Kay Wilson, daughter of Joyce Almond; Bess Wyche, daughter of Henry Wyche.
First Presbyterian Church of Elberton
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
The Session
Elders (Term Expiration) Ministry
Joan Brown (2011) Congr. Care
Charlotte Higginbotham (2012) Clerk of Session
Harold Jones, Jr. (2013) Treasurer, Stewardship
Ken Legg (2012) Building and Grounds
Jerri Rucker (2013) Evangelism and Outreach
Mike Woods (Moderator) Pastor, all ministries of the church
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
Email Address: fpce@elberton.net
Website Address: www.elbertonpresbyterian.org
