First Presbyterian Church Founded 1835 Corner of Jefferson and Clinton Streets Marianna, Florida (850) 526-2430 E-Mail: firstpresmarianna@earthlink.net THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT A CELEBRATION OF OUR HOPE BECAUSE OF THE CROSS OF JESUS SUNDAY, MARCH 18, 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 celebrate the wonder of God’s glorious love, Unison: seen in the beauty and bounty of our Father’s world. Leader: Come, let us celebrate God’s wondrous love, Unison: seen in Jesus Christ who bore the cruel cross for us. Leader: Come, let us rest in the wonder of God’s glorious love, Unison: and rejoice in all the hope that love brings to our lives. * HYMN OF HOPE AS WE LIVE IN OUR FATHER’S WORLD No. 293 Terra Beata “This is My Father’s World” CALL TO CONFESSION UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION Gracious God, you have given us all of the beauty and bounty of this world as a sign of your love for us. Merciful God, you have shown your wondrous love for us in Jesus Christ your Son. Through faith and trust in Jesus Christ we can know that there is nothing in life and in death than can separate us from your great love. Yet so often we allow doubt and fear and worry to dominate much of our lives, and to determine so many of thoughts and actions. We are not always ready to trust your never failing love and to rest in the hope and the assurance of your wondrous love for us. Forgive us, we pray. Bring us again to stand beneath the cross of Jesus. Enable us there to survey your love so amazing and so divine. 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) THE FOOD PANTRY OFFERING FOR MARCH IS PRESENTED JESUS SHOWS HIS LOVE AND CONCERN FOR HIS MOTHER John 19:16b-30 The Response: Leader: This is the Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God! ANTHEM: “What Wondrous Love Is This?” Words from an Appalachian Folk Hymn Music from Walker’s Southern Harmony, 1835, arranged by Jack Schrader (Children in Kindergarten – 3rd Grade will leave for Children’s Church upstairs) WE ARE REMINDED OF OUR HOPE IN JESUS CHRIST Hebrews 6:13-20 The Response: Leader: This is the Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God SERMON “The Cross of Jesus: The Anchor of Our Hope” Dr. Christopher TO RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD . . . * THE AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: from The Brief Statement of Faith of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) We trust in God, whom Jesus called Abba, Father. In sovereign love God created the world good and makes everyone equally in God's image male and female, of every race and people, to live as one community. But we rebel against God; we hide from our Creator. Ignoring God's commandments, we violate the image of God in others and ourselves, accept lies as truth, exploit neighbor and nature, and threaten death to the planet entrusted to our care. We deserve God's condemnation. Yet God acts with justice and mercy to redeem creation. In everlasting love, the God of Abraham and Sarah chose a covenant people to bless all families of the earth. Hearing their cry, God delivered the children of Israel from the house of bondage. Loving us still, God makes us heirs with Christ of the covenant. Like a mother who will not forsake her nursing child, like a father who runs to welcome the prodigal home, God is faithful still. With believers in every time and place, we rejoice that nothing in life or in death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. * HYMN OF ASSURANCE IN GOD’S LOVE No. 384 St. Margaret “O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go” THE FELLOWSHIP OF SILENT PRAYER PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION AND SUPPLICATION 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 THANKSGIVING * THE LORD’S PRAYER (Presbyterian Hymnal, page 16 traditional, using ‘debts’ and ‘debtors’) TOGOOUTANDSERVE . . . * HYMN OF ADORATION FOR GOD’S LOVE IN JESUS CHRIST No. 417 Regent Square “Christ is Made the Sure Foundation” * 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 our 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 by Joy Hinton to the glory of God and in memory of her husband, Edward Hinton, and in memory of her mother, Magdalene Land. Our Prayer Calendar: Mary Larkin (Jesse Olive’s sister, requested by Bud Wierman), Michelle and Kristen (friends of Amanda Morgan), and Nell Martin (Jackie Spivey’s aunt). Our Food Pantry Offering for March will be received this morning. During the month of February through our food pantry we served 167 families which consisted of 478 individuals. In addition to our financial contributions plastic bags are also needed for our food pantry distribution each week. 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. Lenten Celebrations This Week The Anchor 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 Circle 1. Huw Christopher will lead our reflections on the history and meaning of the Anchor 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 reflections will be a guided lectio divina of the John 19:25b-30, which is part of our Gospel lesson this morning. “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 (March 11) a blue card containing the words, “Come to the Foot of the Cross,” and a grey card containing the words of the hymn, “Will Your Anchor Hold in the Storms of Life.” 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 Procter Chambless. 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 Golden Rule, based on Matthew 7:1-12. The adults in the parlor will be studying “The Way to Love” based on I John 5:1-12. Upstairs in Room 2 the Adult class will be studying the texts to be used in our Worship Service: Luke 23:32-43 and I Peter 2:18-25. In Room 6 Upstairs the Young Adult Class will be continuing their study of “Faith, Politics and Citizenship” with the theme, “Reneighboring: Loving the City and the Poor” based on Isaiah 65:17-25. Appreciation is extended to all who already have provided supplies for the children in Enterprise, Alabama as they have returned to school following the tornado damage. Kip Blighton has delivered some of these supplies, and will transport any additional ones. We will continue to collect them through next Sunday, March 25. They are particularly in need of backpacks, pencil bags, small boxes of crayons, Kleenex, wet wipes, paper towels. These items may be brought to the church office or left on the pew in the hallway outside the fellowship hall. 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.” 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. Appreciation is extended to all who provided snacks for the college students who spent their Spring Break this week working as volunteers with Habitat for Humanity building a house here in Marianna. Special thanks also to those who delivered the snacks to the worksit, and to LuAnne Law’s Sunday School class for preparing “trail mix” packets for all of the workers. Our celebration of Maundy Thursday on Thursday, April 5 will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a prepared meal typical of that which would have been shared by Jesus and his disciples using Cod, Bitter Greens, Fruit, Root Vegetables and Unleavened Bread. The celebration will begin the sanctuary and move to the supper tables in the fellowship hall. As the meal concludes we will then celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper around the tables, and share in a Tenebrae Service of increasing darkness as we trace the events from that Last Supper to the death of Jesus. Reservations for the meal are requested. They may be made by filling out the reservation card in the pew rack and placing it on the offering plate or by calling the church office or e-mail to firstpresmarianna@earthlink.net by noon on Tuesday, April 3. Donation baskets to cover the cost of the supper will be available with any additional funds being donated to the One Great Hour of Sharing Easter Offering. The whole celebration will be designed for families of children first grade and above to share in together. Childcare will be made available for children kindergarten and below if this is requested when making your reservations for the meal. This week in the life of the church . . . 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. Session at 6:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall Wednesday Food pantry is open from 9:00 -11:00. Volunteers are Jeff Allen and Bob Pitman Choir Practice at 5:15 p.m. JuBELLees practice at 6 p.m. Because of Spring Break our M and Ms and Youth Group will not meet this week. Friday Ladies Exercise Class 9 a.m. Sunday (25th) 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 Assurance of Our Forgiveness Have you remembered the First Presbyterian Church in Your Will?