First Presbyterian Church Founded 1835 Corner of Jefferson and Clinton Streets Marianna, Florida (850) 526-2430 E-Mail: firstpresmarianna@earthlink.net THE THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT A CELEBRATION OF OUR BOASTING IN THE CROSS SUNDAY, MARCH 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 "Beneath the Cross of Jesus" Words by Elizabeth C. Clephane. Music by Frederick C. Maker * CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: Come, let us continue our journey of Lent, Unison: that leads us to stand beneath the cross of Jesus. Leader: Come, let us stand before the cross of Jesus, Unison: and let us look at our own lives. Leader: Come, let us stand before the cross of Jesus, Unison: and remember those things in which we glory. Leader: Come, let us stand before the cross of Jesus, Unison: and see here the power and the wisdom of God, Leader: that Word of God made flesh in Jesus Christ that shines on from age to age, Unison: as a lantern to guide our footsteps in God's ways. * HYMN OF GOD'S UNCHANGING TRUTH SEEN IN JESUS CHRIST No. 327 Munich "O Word of God Incarnate" CALL TO CONFESSION UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION Holy God, in Jesus Christ, your Word made flesh, you have shown your wisdom and your power. Yet so often we have felt that we are wiser than you are. We have felt that we know better than you do how we should live our lives. Yet frequently we have ended up confused and perplexed. We have felt no need of your power. We have felt that we could handle our lives far better in our own strength. Yet we know how often we have become weak and powerless. Forgive us for our pride which wants to make us self-sufficient, and which refuses to seek your wisdom and your power. As we stand before the cross of Jesus help us again to get a right perspective on our lives. PERSONAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION IN SILENCE SUNG RESPONSE SEEKING GOD'S FORGIVENESS Hamburg Forbid it. Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ my God; All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to his blood. THE ASSURANCE OF PARDON * THE SUNG RESPONSE OF ASSURANCE Hamburg 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. 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) JESUS IS PUT ON TRIAL BEFORE PILATE, THE ROMAN GOVERNOR Matthew 27:15-31 The Response: Leader: This is the Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God! ANTHEM: "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" Words by Isaac Watts, 1707 Music by Lowell Mason, arranged by Gilbert M. Martin (Children in Kindergarten – 3rd Grade will leave for Children's Church upstairs) PAUL REFLECTS ON HIS OWN PRIDE AND BOASTING Galatians 6:11-18 The Response: Leader: This is the Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God SERMON "The Cross of Jesus: The Source of our Boasting" Dr. Christopher TO RESPOND TO GOD'S WORD . . . * THE AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: from The Declaration of Faith of the Presbyterian Church in the United States We confess that in the execution of Jesus the sin of the human race reached its depths. The only innocent One was condemned and put to death, not by the sinfulness of one nation, but by the sinfulness of us all. In the presence of Jesus, who lived out what God wants us all to be, we were threatened beyond endurance. Blinded by our rebellion against our Creator, we killed his Son when we met him face to face. We believe that in the death of Jesus on the cross God achieved and demonstrated once for all the costly forgiveness of our sins. Jesus Christ is the Reconciler between God and the world. Jesus acted on behalf of sinners as one of us, fulfilling the obedience God demands of us, accepting God's condemnation of our sinfulness. In his lonely agony on the cross Jesus felt forsaken by God and thus experienced hell itself for us. Yet the Son was never more in accord with the Father's will. He was acting on behalf of God, manifesting the Father's love that takes on itself the loneliness, pain and death that result from our waywardness. In Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not holding our sins against us. Each of us beholds on the cross the Savior who died in our place, so that we may no longer live for ourselves, but for him. In him is our only hope of salvation. * HYMN OF RESPONSE No. 84 Rathbun "In the Cross of Christ I Glory" PRESENTATION OF MEMORIAL RESOLUTION FOR ELDER MILTON GERARD WYNN THE FELLOWSHIP OF SILENT PRAYER PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING THE PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS THE OFFERTORY * 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 INTERCESSION AND SUPPLICATION * THE LORD'S PRAYER (Presbyterian Hymnal, page 16 traditional, using ‘debts' and ‘debtors') TO GO OUT AND SERVE . . . * HYMN FOR GOD'S WISDOM AND COURAGE No. 420 Cwm Rhondda "God of Grace and God of Glory" * 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: Peggy Peacock 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 our sanctuary this morning are given to the glory of God and in memory of Althea Stevens by Kathy and Albert Milton. Our Prayer Calendar: Michelle and Kristen (friends of Amanda Morgan), Bobby Christmas (requested by Julien Cumming), and Nell Martin (Jackie Spivey's aunt) The Montreat Youth and their parents will be hosting a luncheon today. This will be the last luncheon for this school year. All contributions received at the luncheon will be used toward expenses for the trip associated with the group attending the Youth Conference at Montreat, North Carolina this summer. This week our church will be providing the afternoon snacks of cookies and drinks 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. Cookies may be brought to the church office each morning. If you can help with the delivery of the snacks please contact the church office at 526-2430 or Tom Stadsklev at 482-7365. Lenten Celebrations This Week The Jerusalem Cross is the form of the cross portrayed on the front of our bulletin today as we continue 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. On Tuesday from 12 noon until 12:50 p.m. we will hold our Lenten Luncheon. A soup, sandwich and dessert luncheon will be provided this week by Good News Women's Circle. Huw Christopher will lead our reflections on the history and meaning of the Jerusalem Cross. The guided reflection time using silence to think about the meaning of the cross will be held on Tuesday from 1 until 1:45 p.m. This week's reflection will be on the music and words of the hymn, "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" which is being used in our service this morning. Various arrangements of the music for these familiar words will be used during this reflection time. If you have a favorite recording of these words on cd or cassette tape, please bring it with you. (This reflection time will be repeated on Wednesday from 7:30 p.m. until 8:15 p.m.) On Wednesday following our covered dish supper at 6:30 p.m. we will sing parts of some of the favorite hymns about the cross and death of Jesus as chosen by members of our congregation over the past few weeks. "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. In separate baskets in both locations are yellow cards containing the words of the anthems, "Come and Kneel at the Cross" (February 25) and "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" (this morning) and a new blue card containing the words, "Come to the Foot of the Cross." These may also be used for personal reflections during the week. 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 Preston Shealy. 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.) Game Night will be this Saturday, March 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). Next Sunday in Sunday School the children and young people 2 year old through 12th grade will be studying what it means to be the second part of the Lord's Prayer, based on Matthew 6:9-15. The adults in the parlor will be studying "The Source of Love" based on I John 4:7-21. Upstairs in Room 2 the Adult class will be studying the texts to be used in our Worship Service: Luke 23:26-38 and Hebrews 6:13-20. In Room 6 Upstairs the Young Adult Class will be continuing their study of "Faith, Politics and Citizenship" with the theme, "What Does God Require of Us and What Can We Possibly Do?" based on Job 29 and Matthew 25:31-46. Plan now to help with the clean-up, painting and repairing of our playgound area on Saturday, March 31 beginning at 9 a.m. For more information please contact Jennifer Stafford at 482-5025. Our Food Pantry Offering for March will be received next Sunday. Plastic bags are also needed for our food pantry distribution each week. The sympathy of the church is extended to Dot Carpenter on the death of her brother, Donald Lee, on Friday, March 2, 2007, in Alabama, and to the family of Shelley Anne Daffin, who died on Tuesday, March 6, 2007 in Marianna. In working in Enterprise, Alabama Kip Blighton has become aware of the following needs in that community following the tornadoes: backpacks, pencil bags, small boxes of crayons, kleenex, wet wipes, paper towels. Any of these items may be brought to the church by Wednesday evening and Kip will deliver them on Thursday. If you would prefer to give money to be used to purchase some of these items please make checks to the church, and designate them, "Disaster Relief." This week in the life of the church . . . Today Montreat Luncheon at 12 noon Confirmation Class meets upstairs from 12:45 until 2:15 p.m. 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. Administration Committee at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday Food pantry is open from 9:00 - 11:00. Volunteers are Hazel Nelson and Marsha Rodgers. Choir Practice at 5:15 p.m. JuBELLees practice at 5:45 p.m. Spivey House Review Committee at 6 p.m. in the church office. 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 Newsletter is 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 in the fellowship hall at 6:30 p.m. Sunday (18th) Coffee and Juice in the fellowship hall at 9:30 a.m. Sunday School for all ages at 9:45 a.m. Celebration of the Cross of Jesus as the Anchor of our Hope Have you remembered the First Presbyterian Church in Your Will?