First Presbyterian Church Founded 1835 Corner of Jefferson and Clinton Streets Marianna, Florida (850) 526-2430 Website: www.firstpresmarianna.org E-Mail: firstpresmarianna@earthlink.net THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD A CELEBRATION OF AMAZING GRACE SUNDAY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2007 at 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 AHoly Is the Lord@ Franz Schubert * CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: Come, let us sing praise to the Lord who is holy, Unison: The holy God, the maker of heaven and earth. Leader: Come, let us sing praise to the Lord who is holy, Unison: The holy God made known to us in Jesus Christ. Leader: Come, let us sing praise to the Lord who is holy, Unison: The holy God present with us now and always through the Holy Spirit. Leader: Praise the Lord! Unison: The Lord=s name be praised! * HYMN OF PRAISE No. 142 Coronation AAll Hail the Power of Jesus= Name!@ CALL TO CONFESSION UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION By your amazing grace, O God, you have offered to all of us the good news of your love and salvation in Jesus Christ. Yet so often we want to flee from the radiance of that grace. The amazing nature of your grace frightens us. It threatens our image of ourselves. It challenges us to live differently. We confess that so often we veil the radiance of your grace in our own lives. We are afraid to act with such grace in case people may take advantage of us, or think we are rather strange. God of amazing grace, set us aflame with confidence in you. Turn our eyes towards the light of your gracious and loving presence, and away from the shadows of our doubts and fears. PERSONAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION IN SILENCE THE ASSURANCE OF PARDON * THE RESPONSE OF PRAISE AND GRATITUDE No. 579 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. TO HEAR AND REFLECT ON GOD=S WORD . . . A TIME FOR OUR CHILDREN Suzanne Owens (Children age 5 and under go downstairs to the nursery after Children=s Time) MOSES REFLECTS THE GLORY OF GOD Exodus 34:29-35 The Response: Leader: This is the Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God! ANTHEM AAmazing Grace@ Words by John Newton. Music: AWhite Spiritual@ arranged by Joyce Barthelson JESUS REFLECTS THE GLORY OF GOD Luke 9: 28-43a The Response: Leader: This is the Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God! SERMON AREFLECTING THE GLORY OF GOD IN OUR LIVES@ Dr. Christopher TO RESPOND TO GOD=S WORD . . . * AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: THE NICENE CREED The Presbyterian Hymnal, page 15 Ecumenical * HYMN OF RESPONSE No. 462 Ratisbon AChrist Whose Glory Fills the Skies@ THE FELLOWSHIP OF SILENT PRAYER 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, 8 1990, The Pilgrim Press) PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING * THE LORD=S PRAYER (Presbyterian Hymnal, page 16 traditional, using >debts= and >debtors=) TO GO OUT AND SERVE . . . * HYMN OF THE GLORY OF GOD No. 263 St. Denio AImmortal, Invisible, God Only Wise@ * 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 B 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 to the glory of God by Jim and Mary Ann Gibbs. Our Prayer Calendar: Bobby Christmas (requested by Julien Cumming), Alex Christopher, Elizabeth Kent (requested by JoAnn Rountree), Donald Lee (Dot Carpenter=s brother), and Nell Martin (Jackie Spivey=s aunt) Today we will be joining Christians around the world in celebrating Amazing Grace Sunday. The anthem this morning is an arrangement of the familiar hymn of John Newton. Newton himself was the mentor of William Wilberforce the leader of the abolition of slavery movement in the British Empire. More information concerning this Sunday and the movie entitled, AAmazing Grace,@ based on the life and work of William Wilberforce, which will be in theaters this week, is at www.amazinggracesunday.com 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 sympathy of the church is extended to Larry and Jackie Spivey on the death of Larry=s brother, Paul Spivey on Tuesday, February 13, 2007. Sympathy is also extended to Kip Blighton and his family on the death of his uncle, Roy Blighton, on Wednesday, February 14. Congratulations are extended to Britt and Meredith Keen in the birth of a son, Aiden Thomas Keen, born on February 14, 2007. The proud grandparents are Lynn Keen and Charlton and Elaine Keen. 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 the Beatitudes, based on Matthew 5:1-12. The adults in the parlor will be studying AJesus as the True Vine@ based on John 15:1-17. Upstairs in Room 2 the Adult class will be studying the texts to be used in our Worship Service: Matthew 16:13-23 and I Corinthians 1:18-25. In Room 6 Upstairs the Young Adult Class will be starting a new study of AMix It Up: Faith, Politics, and Citizenship@. Next week=s topic will be ADoes God Care About Politics?@ based on John 18:28-38, Amos 5:24, Micah 6:8. New Members and Visitors are invited to attend a presentation of AOur Church@. This multi- media presentation is designed to present the dynamics of our church and First Presbyterian Church of Marianna, Florida. The event will be on February 25, 2007 at 5:00 p.m. in the fellowship hall. Childcare is available and a meal will be provided. As of last Sunday as part of the national Souper Bowl of Caring Celebration 104 cans of soup or other foods, and $616.80 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 Friday morning $6,836,584.22 had been reported for this program from 11,886 group in the United States and Canada. 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, AWhat 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 Confirmation Class meets in the fellowship hall from 12:30 until 2 p.m. Monday Ladies Exercise Class 9:00 Tuesday Session meets at 6:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall Wednesday Food pantry is open from 9:00 - 11:00. Volunteers are Jeff and Ruthanne Allen M and M Program for Kindergarten - 5th. Grade from 3 until 5 p.m. Choir Practice at 5:15 p.m. JuBELLees practice at 6 p.m. Youth Group at 7 p.m. Friday Ladies Exercise Class 9 a.m. Sunday (25th) 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 Cross as the Expected Choice for the First Sunday in Lent. Confirmation Class 12:30 p.m.- 2 p.m. AOur Church@ Presentation at 5 p.m. in the fellowship hall Have you remembered the First Presbyterian Church in Your Will?