First Presbyterian Church Founded 1835 Corner of Jefferson and Clinton Streets Marianna, Florida (850) 5262430 EMail: firstpresmarianna@earthlink.net THE FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT A CELEBRATION OF THE STRANGE CHOICE OF THE CROSS OF JESUS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 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 “Beneath the Cross of Jesus” Words by Elizabeth C. Clephane. Music by Frederick C. Maker * CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: Come, let us begin of our journey of Lent, Unison: that leads us to stand beneath the cross of Jesus. Leader: Come, let us see the One who chose to suffer there for us, Unison: and let us give thanks for this love divine, all loves excelling. Leader: Come, let us stand before the cross of Jesus, Unison: and let us feel God’s love surrounding us. Leader: Come, let us stand before the cross of Jesus, Unison: and let us know the healing power of God’s forgiving grace, Leader: and let us feel God’s peace around us. * HYMN OF THE FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT No. 81 St. Flavian “Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days” CALL TO CONFESSION UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION How strange it is, holy God, that we would want to stand before a cross, this symbol of torture, pain, cruel suffering and death. It is hard so often to see why you would love us so much that you would allow your own Son to suffer and to die for us in this way. The surprising nature of the whole thing has meant that frequently we have failed to appreciate the wonder of your amazing grace, and your love divine, all love excelling. As we love to sing, “and when I think that God his Son not sparing sent him to die, I scarce can take it in.” Forgive us for where the wonder and the amazement of it all has caused us not to accept the great love you have for us, and has meant that we have not given you all the praise and the glory. PERSONAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION IN SILENCE SUNG RESPONSE SEEKING GOD’S FORGIVENESS When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride. Hamburg THE ASSURANCE OF PARDON * THE SUNG RESPONSE OF ASSURANCE See from his head his hands, his feet Sorrow and love flow mingled down; Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown. Hamburg 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) PAUL HELPS US TO THINK ABOUT THE CROSS OF JESUS I Corinthians 1:18-25 The Response: Leader: This is the Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God! ANTHEM: “Come and Kneel at the Cross” Words by Don Besig and Nancy Price. Music by Don Besig (Children in Kindergarten – 3rd Grade will leave for Children’s Church upstairs) JESUS AND PETER HELP US TO THINK ABOUT THE CROSS OF JESUS Matthew 16:13-23 The Response: Leader: This is the Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God SERMON “The Cross of Jesus: The Unexpected Choice” Dr. Christopher TO RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD . . . * AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: The Apostles’ Creed The Presbyterian Hymnal page 14 (traditional) * HYMN OF FAITH AND ADORATION No. 467 O Store Gud “How Great Thou Art” THE FELLOWSHIP OF SILENT PRAYER PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION AND SUPPLICATION THE PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS THE OFFERTORY “God of the Ages” George W. Warren played by the JuBELLees * THE OFFERTORY RESPONSE FOR LENT Hamburg Were the whole realm of nature mine That were an offering far too small; Love so amazing so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all. * PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING * THE LORD’S PRAYER (Presbyterian Hymnal, page 16 traditional, using ‘debts’ and ‘debtors’) TO GO OUT AND SERVE . . . * HYMN OF THE CROSS OF JESUS No. 145 Marion “Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart” * THE CHARGE AND BENEDICTION * THE CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE FOR LENT Crucifer Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim, Till all the world adore His sacred name. Come, Christians follow where the Savior trod, The Lamb victorious, Christ, the Son of God. Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim, Till all the world adore His sacred name. * 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 purple and lavender floral arrangement gracing the sanctuary this morning are given to the Glory of God by Tom and Joan Stadsklev. They represent the liturgical colors for Lent as they signify royalty, repentance, self-denial and self-discipline. 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) This morning the Latin Cross is the form of the cross portrayed on the front of our bulletin as we begin our Lenten reflections on the question, “What Does the Cross of Jesus Mean To Me?” You are invited to use this picture of the cross for quiet contemplation during this week as you think about that question. 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. Today at 5 p.m. the Evangelism and Fellowship Committee will present “Our Church,” a multi-media presentation focused towards New Members and regular visitors. “Our Church” presents the dynamics of “Our Church” at First Presbyterian Church of Marianna. Our first Lenten Luncheon for this year will be held on Tuesday from 12 noon until 12:50 p.m. A soup, sandwich and dessert luncheon will be provided this week by Circle 1. Huw Christopher will lead our Lenten studies on the theme, “What Does the Cross of Jesus Mean to Me?” This week our thoughts will be centered on the history and meaning of the Latin Cross which is portrayed on the front of our bulletin this morning. Please consider inviting friends from the community to share in these Lenten luncheons with you. A time of guided quiet reflection on the meaning of the cross this will be available in the parlor each Tuesday from 1 until 1:45 p.m. This week’s reflection will be a lectio divina of Matthew 16:21-23 which is part of our Gospel lesson this morning. Do you have favorite pieces of jewelry, wall hanging, picture, or plaque that help you to remember the death of Jesus on the cross for you? If you do, please plan to bring them to our covered dish supper this Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. to share with others why they are so meaningful to you. A time of guided quiet reflection on the meaning of the cross this will be available in the parlor on Wednesday from 7:30 p.m. until 8:15 p.m. This week’s reflection will be a lectio divina of Matthew 16:21-23 which is part of our Gospel lesson this morning. This Wednesday evening group will determine this week when and how often they would like to meet during Lent. 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 Trust in God the Holy Spirit” based on lines 52-74 of the Brief Statement of Faith of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Breakfast will be served in the fellowship hall from 9 until 9:30 a.m. next Sunday. The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper will be celebrated at our Worship Service next Sunday. 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 what it means to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, based on Matthew 5:13-26. The adults in the parlor will be studying “The Light of Love” based on I John 2:7-11, 15-17. Upstairs in Room 2 the Adult class will be studying the texts to be used in our Worship Service: Matthew 16:24-26 and Galatians 2:15-21. In Room 6 Upstairs the Young Adult Class will be continuing their study of “Faith, Politics and Citizenship” with the theme, “Party Wars: Would Jesus Ride and Elephant or a Donkey,” based on Matthew 13:24-30. Enclosed in the bulletin this morning is a list of hymns about the Cross, the Suffering or the Death of Jesus. Please indicate on the sheet any of your favorite hymns. Please feel free to add additional ones that are not listed. These hymns will be used at our Lenten luncheons, at our covered dish supper on Wednesday, March 14, and also at some our worship services during Lent. Please complete the sheet and place it on the offering plate, or bring it to the Lenten luncheon on Tuesday, the covered dish supper on Wednesday, or to the church office during the week. “What does the Cross of Jesus mean to me?” In order to help everyone to think about this question during Lent small crosses which can be placed in pockets or purses are provided for everyone. Along with the cross is a copy of the poem, “The Cross in my Pocket.” These crosses can be picked up from the baskets in the narthex or on the table in the hallway outside the fellowship hall. Each week during Lent we will be featuring the ministry of one of our former pastors or interim pastors by adding information they have shared with us about their ministry here and, if available pictures of he and his family, to the sheets in the fellowship hall. This week information and pictures will be added by the time of our Lenten luncheon about Buran Phillips. As of last Sunday we had received 158 cans of soup or other foods, (including a generous donation from the Chipola Board of Realtors) and $616.80 for the national SouperBowl of Caring. The food and the money will all be used for our own church’s food pantry but the results have been 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 $7,381,277.50 had been contributed by 13,219 churches and youth groups from the United States and Canada. The increase in demand for food from our Food Pantry each week means that we are in need of plastic bags in which to bag the food and bread which is distributed. These may be brought to the church office or left in the food baskets in the narthex or in the hallway outside the fellowship hall. Do you like to bake cookies? Our church will be providing the afternoon snacks for a group of college students that will be spending their Spring Break working as volunteers with Habitat for Humanity building a house in Marianna. The week of March 12-16 we need cookies and drinks for this group. For more information please contact the church office at 526-2430 or by e-mail at firstpresmarianna@earthlink.net. This week in the life of the church . . . Today Confirmation Class meets in the fellowship hall from 12:30 until 2:00 p.m. Introduction to First Presbyterian Church 5:00 Monday Ladies Exercise Class 9:00 Tuesday Lenten Luncheon from 12 noon until 12:50 p.m. in the fellowship hall Lenten Time of Quiet Reflection from 1 until 1:45 p.m. in the parlor. Newsletter collated at 1 p.m. Wednesday Food pantry is open from 9:00 -11:00. Volunteers are Betty Brendemuehl and Hazel Nelson Choir Practice at 5:15 p.m. JuBELLees practice at 5:45 p.m. Covered Dish Supper and Lenten program at 6:30 p.m. Youth Group at 7 p.m. Lenten Quiet Reflection Time 7:30 p.m. until 8:15 p.m. in the parlor Thursday Men’s Bible Study at Kip Blighton’s at 6:30 p.m. Friday Ladies Exercise Class 9 a.m. Sunday (4th) Breakfast in the fellowship hall from 9:00 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. Sunday School for all ages at 9:45 a.m. Celebration of the Cross of Jesus as Not Just Being About Jesus but also About Us and the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper at 11 a.m. Confirmation Class 12:30 p.m.-2 p.m. Have you remembered the First Presbyterian Church in Your Will?