First Presbyterian Church Founded 1835 Corner of Jefferson and Clinton Streets Marianna, Florida (850) 526-2430 E-Mail: firstpresmarianna@earthlink.net THE SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME A CELEBRATION OF GOD'S BLESSINGS IN OUR LIVES SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2007 11:00 A.M. THE CHURCH GATHERS . . . PRELUDE With the first notes of the organ please silently prepare yourself for worship. CHIMING THE HOUR WELCOME AND SHARING OF COMMUNITY LIFE INTROIT "Holy is the Lord" Franz Schubert * CALL TO WORSHIP from The Brief Statement of Faith of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Leader: Come, let us worship the God whom Jesus called, "Abba, Father," Unison: and let us remember all of the blessings which God brings to our lives. Leader: In sovereign love God created the world good Unison: and makes everyone equally in God's image, Leader: male and female, of every race and people, Unison: to live as one community. Leader: Come, let us sing praise God that morning has broken once again, Unison: and gift thanks to God for the gift of this new day for us and for all people. * HYMN OF PRAISE No. 469 Bunessan "Morning Has Broken" CALL TO CONFESSION AND LITANY OF CONFESSION from The Brief Statement of Faith of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Leader: We rebel against God; we hide from our Creator. Unison: Ignoring God's commandments we violate the image of God in others and ourselves, Leader: accept lies as truth, exploit neighbor and nature, Unison: and threaten death to the planet entrusted to our care. Leader: We deserve God's condemnation, Unison: but come to seek God's mercy and forgiveness. Leader: Gracious God, for the times when we laugh at another's misfortune, Unison: we ask for your forgiveness. Leader: For the times we rejoice at another's bad luck, Unison: we ask for your forgiveness. Leader: For the times we benefit from another's poverty, Unison: we ask for your forgiveness. Leader: For the times make fun of another person's faith and trust in you, Unison: we ask for your forgiveness. Leader: For all the times and all of the ways in which we live as curses rather than as blessings to the lives other people, Unison: we ask for your forgiveness. Leader: Help us to weep in the depths of our beings for the pain we bring to other people and to your good creation, Unison: and by the living waters of your love wash away our sin. PERSONAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION IN SILENCE THE ASSURANCE OF PARDON Leader: Despite our sin and wrongdoing, God acts with justice and mercy to redeem creation. People: In everlasting love, the God of Abraham and Sarah chose a covenant people, to bless all the families of the earth. Leader: Hearing their cry, God delivered the people of Israel from the house of bondage. People: Loving us still, God makes us heirs with Christ of the covenant. Leader: Like a mother who will not forsake her nursing child, People: like a father who runs to welcome the prodigal home, Leader: Our awesome God is faithful still. * THE RESPONSE OF PRAISE AND ASSURANCE Awesome God Our God is an awesome God, He reigns from heaven above with wisdom, power and love. Our God is an awesome God (sung three times) (reprinted under OneLicense.net A-708810) TO HEAR AND REFLECT ON GOD'S WORD . . . A TIME WITH OUR CHILDREN Suzanne Owens (Children age 5 and under are excused to go downstairs after Children's Time) THE PROMISE OF GOD'S BLESSING Psalm 1 Leader: Blessed are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, People: or take the path that sinners tread, Leader: or sit in the seat of scoffers; People: but their delight is in the law of the Lord, Leader: and on God's law they meditate day and night. People: They are like trees planted by streams of water, Leader: which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. People: In all that they do, they prosper. Leader: The wicked are not so, People: but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Leader: Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, People: nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; Leader: for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, People: but the way of the wicked will perish. JEREMIAH REMINDS US OF GOD'S BLESSINGS Jeremiah 17:5-10 The Response: Leader: This is the Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God! ANTHEM: "Be Thou My Vision" Words from an Ancient Irish Text Music from the Traditional Irish Melody, "Slane," arranged by Douglas E. Wagner (Children in Kindergarten – 3rd Grade will leave for Children's Church upstairs) JESUS REMINDS US OF GOD'S BLESSINGS Luke 6:17-26 The Response: Leader: This is the Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God SERMON "Have a Blessed Day!" Dr. Christopher TO RESPOND TO GOD'S WORD . . . * AFFIRMATION OF FAITH from A Declaration of Faith of the Presbyterian Church in the United States We declare that Christ has freed us from trying to save ourselves by obeying the law. He restores to us God's law as a gift and delight. God's law describes concretely the shape of our freedom. When we accept its discipline, it keeps our lives from being chaotic, and increases our effectiveness in living the Christian life, and in the mission of the Church of Jesus Christ. * HYMN OF RESPONSE No. 372 I Want to be a Christian "Lord, I Want to be a Christian" INTRODUCTION TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CONFIRMATION CLASS PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION AND SUPPLICATION THE PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS THE OFFERTORY * THE OFFERTORY RESPONSE Aurelia Refreshed by living waters, renewed by living bread, May we, your sons and daughters, by your own hand be led. Accept the gifts we offer; receive the lives we owe. Unite us in your service; may seeds of justice grow. (from Touch Holiness, ed. Ruth C. Duck and Marian C. Tirabassi © 1990, The Pilgrim Press) * PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING * THE LORD'S PRAYER (Presbyterian Hymnal, page 16 traditional, using ‘debts' and ‘debtors') TO GO OUT AND SERVE . . . * HYMN FOR THE SAINTS WHO HAVE KNOWN GOD'S BLESSINGS No. 364 Grand Isle "I Sing a Song of the Saints of God" * THE CHARGE AND BENEDICTION * THE CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE No. 322 (Stanza One only) Living God Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me; Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me, Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me. Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me. * POSTLUDE * All who can do so comfortably will stand Pastor: Huw Christopher Director of Music: Lawrence R. Nelson Elder of the month: Bill Long Organist: Stanley Littleton Nursery Attendant: Susie Barber To Our Guests – Welcome to First Presbyterian Church of Marianna. We are glad to have you worship with us today and invite you to join us each Sunday as we worship and study God's word. If you would like more information concerning our church you may fill out one of the pew cards, talk to the ushers or the pastor, or call the church office, 526-2430. Nursery is available for infants and pre-kindergarten children during Sunday morning activities. The flowers gracing the sanctuary today are given by Bill and Susie Stevens in memory of their mothers, Nadine Stone and Althea Stevens. The camellia in the narthex are given by Jason, LuAnne and Ryan Law in memory of W.O. and Mary Helen Bell. Our Response of Praise and Assurance this morning has been shared with us by our young people attending the Montreat Youth Conference as a song to which they were introduced there. The words and music are by Rich Mullins, and are included in Sing the Faith, a supplement to The Presbyterian Hymnal, which was published in 2003. This morning we will be recognizing the members of our Confirmation Class and their Covenant Partners: Erin Christopher with Elder Johnny Milton; Emily Fuqua with Elder Jennifer Stafford; Branham Skipper with Elder Betty Blighton and Connor Ward with Elder LuAnne Law. Our Prayer Calendar: Henry Stevens (father of Bill Stevens and Kathy Milton), Alex Christopher, Elizabeth Kent (requested by JoAnn Rountree), Donald Lee (Dot Carpenter's brother), and Nell Martin (Jackie Spivey's aunt) A Children's Church program for children Kindergarten through 3rd grade will be held this morning. Following the anthem the children will leave for a special program to be held upstairs in the M and Ms room. Children below Kindergarten age will move to the nursery downstairs following the Time with the Children. The Montreat Youth will be hosting a luncheon today. All monies contributed at this luncheon will be used for transportation, food and lodging expenses associated with the group attending the Youth Conference in Montreat, North Carolina this summer. Also at this luncheon we will be honoring all the following people February birthdays: Isabel Keaton, Lottie Fite, Lou Wilkinson, Julien Cumming, Sam Andreu, Branham Skipper, Judith Lonsinger, Bud Strength, Ruth Hinson, Steve Taylor, Bette Giese, Sara Jean Hargis, Sarah Hunt Oswald, Matt Johnson, Ray Brendemuehl, Olivia McDaniel, Philip Knight, Chuck Morgan, Amy Rehberg, Ashley Green, Laura Lonsinger, Charles LaFontaine, Carolyn Wilson. Everyone is invited to celebrate Valentine's Day at our covered dish supper at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The Evangelism and Fellowship Committee will be providing a Valentine cake and our M and M group will be leading everyone in LOVE bingo! All men are invited to the Men's Bible Study at the home of Kip Blighton, 4590 Forest Park Drive, at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. The theme will be, "We Sinners Trust in God," based on lines 33-39 of the Brief Statement of Faith of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Game Night will be next Saturday, February 17, in the fellowship hall at 6:30. Bring a snack to share and a game to play (or just participate in the games that others bring). Everyone is invited to share in Sunday School with us each Sunday. Next Sunday the children and young people 2 year old through 12th grade will be studying God's Love for the World the based on John 3:16. The adults in the parlor will be studying "Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life" based on John 14:1-14. Upstairs in Room 2 the Adult class will be studying the texts to be used in our Worship Service: Exodus 34:39-35 and Luke 9:28-43a. In Room 6 Upstairs the Young Adult Class will be reflecting on Discerning God's Call, "From Mainstream to Marginalized," based on Luke 1:26-38. Next Sunday we will be joining Christians around the world in celebrating Amazing Grace Sunday. We will be reflecting on both the Transfiguration of our Lord, and the familiar hymn of John Newton, and upon Newton's influence on William Wilberforce and the abolition of slavery movement. The anthem next Sunday will be an arrangement of "Amazing Grace." More information is available at www.amazinggracesunday.com Last Sunday as part of the national Souper Bowl of Caring Celebration 104 cans of soup or other foods, and $591.80 were received. The food and the money will all be used for our own church's food pantry but the results reported to the national program. All gifts of cans of food and of money given during the month of February will be reported to this national program. As of Thursday evening $4,052,597.53 had been contributed by 9,338 churches and youth groups from the United States and Canada. Congratulations are extended to Lamar and Melissa Myers Monroe in the birth of a son, Wallace Fletcher Monroe, on January 26, 2007. The proud grandparents are Ronnie and Kitty Myers. Make plans now to attend our Lenten Luncheons which will be held from 12 noon until 12:50 p.m. on each Tuesday of Lent, beginning February 27. A soup, sandwich and dessert luncheon will be provided each week. Huw Christopher will lead our Lenten studies on the theme, "What Does the Cross of Jesus Mean to You." For those who would like to participate in a time of guided quiet reflection on the meaning of the cross this will be available in the parlor each Tuesday following the luncheon. Please consider inviting friends from other churches or the community to share in these Lenten celebrations with you. This week in the life of the church . . . Today Montreat Luncheon and February Birthdays Celebration at 12 noon Confirmation Class meets upstairs from 12:45 until 2:15 p.m. Monday Ladies Exercise Class 9:00 Tuesday Administration Committee at 5:15 p.m. in the church office. Wednesday Food pantry is open from 9:00 - 11:00. Volunteers are Hazel Nelson and Bob Pitman Choir Practice at 5:15 p.m. JuBELLees practice at 5:45 p.m. Covered Dish Supper and Valentine program at 6:30 p.m. Youth Group at 7 p.m. Thursday Newsletter collated at 1 p.m. Men's Bible Study at Kip Blighton's at 6:30 p.m. Friday Ladies Exercise Class 9 a.m. Saturday Games Night at 6:30 p.m. Sunday (18th) Coffee and Juice in fellowship hall from 9:30 a.m. until 9:45 a.m. Sunday School for all ages at 9:45 a.m. Celebration of the Transfiguration of Jesus and Amazing Grace Sunday Confirmation Class 12:30 p.m.- 2 p.m. Have you remembered the First Presbyterian Church in Your Will?