Lift High the Cross The Victory is Won A CELEBRATION OF OUR SHARING THE VICTORY OF JESUS THROUGH GOD CENTERED LIVES SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER, APRIL 15, 2007 11:00 A.M. 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 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 "Hail Thee, Festival Day" Original Latin Words by Venantius Honorius Fortunatus Music by Ralph Vaughan Williams * CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The Lord is Risen! Unison: He is Risen Indeed! Leader: Come, let us celebrate the victory of Jesus, Unison: and rejoice that we share in that victory with him. Leader: Come, let us celebrate that Christ is alive, Unison: and that the cross stands empty to the sky. Leader: Come, let us celebrate the love of God, Unison: seen in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Leader: and let us rejoice that God's love, though drowned in death, shall never die. * HYMN OF PRAISE FOR THE EASTER SEASON No. 108 Truro "Christ is Alive!" CALL TO CONFESSION UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION Gracious God, in love you have sent Jesus Christ your Son that we might know the true meaning of life in him. In his death on the cross you have shown the depth of your love for us. In his glorious resurrection you have shown us that nothing is more powerful than your love. Still, though, we turn from you. We often doubt whether your ways are the right ways. We look to other people, or to our work, or to our possessions to bring true contentment with our lives. Yet in love you keep calling us back to hear your good news, and to claim it for our own lives. Assure again of the gift of true life which you give to us as we trust in your never failing love, from which not even death can separate us. PERSONAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION IN SILENCE THE ASSURANCE OF PARDON * THE SUNG RESPONSE OF ASSURANCE FOR EASTER Crucifer Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim, Till all the world adore His sacred name. O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree Your death has brought us life eternally. Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim, Till all the world adore His sacred name 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) PRESENTATION OF THE FOOD PANTRY OFFERING FOR APRIL JESUS PRONOUNCES HIS BLESSING ON US THROUGH THOMAS John 20:24-31 The Response: Leader: This is the Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God! ANTHEM: "And Can It Be?" Words by Charles Wesley, Music by Thomas Campbell arranged by Camp Kirkland (Children in Kindergarten 3rd Grade will leave for Children's Church upstairs) PETER WITNESSES TO THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS Acts 5:27-32 The Response: Leader: This is the Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God! SERMON "SHARING THE VICTORY OF JESUS THROUGH LIVES CENTERED ON GOD" Dr. Christopher TO RESPOND TO GOD'S WORD . . . * AFFIRMATION OF FAITH based on I Corinthians 15:1-6 This is the good news which we have received, in which we stand, and by which we find life, if we hold it fast: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day; and that he appeared to the women, then to Peter, and to the other disciples, and to many faithful witnesses. We believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Jesus Christ is the first and the last, the beginning and the end; he is our Lord and our God. * HYMN OF ASSURANCE Ackley THE FELLOWSHIP OF SILENT PRAYER PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION AND SUPPLICATION THE PRESENTATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS THE OFFERTORY * THE OFFERTORY RESPONSE FOR EASTER Lasst uns erfreuen Praise God from whom all blessings come, Praise Jesus Christ, the Risen One, Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise God the source of all our gifts; Praise Jesus Christ, here with us now; Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit, Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! * PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING * THE LORD'S PRAYER (Hymnal, page 16 traditional, using 'debts' and 'debtors') TO GO OUT AND SERVE . . . * HYMN OF THE ENDLESS VICTORY OF JESUS No. 122 Judas Maccabeus "Thine is the Glory" * THE CHARGE AND BENEDICTION * THE CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE FOR EASTER Crucifer Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim, Till all the world adore His sacred name. So shall our song of triumph ever be: Praise to the Crucified for victory. 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: Chuck Morgan 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 to the glory of God by Jeff and Ruthanne Allen in memory of their parents Mr. and Mrs. Frank Reynolds, and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Dana Allen. Our Prayer Calendar: Adelaide McCaskill, Louise Pumphrey, Charlton Keen, Sarah Morgan, and Nell Martin (Jackie Spivey's aunt). Our Food Pantry Offering for April will be received this morning. During the month of March we served 179 families comprising 474 individuals through our Food Pantry on Wednesday mornings. A church picnic will be held this afternoon at Daffin Lake at 3:30 p.m. The Evangelism and Fellowship Committee will provide fried fish, hushpuppies and chicken fingers. Everyone is asked to bring a side dish. To get to Daffin Lake: Highway 90 east to Davenport Road (4.6 miles east of Hopkins Pontiac) and turn right (this is a dirt road), then take the first right and then a left. There will be signs directing you from Hwy 90. Our April PALS Luncheon will be held this Tuesday, at 12 noon in the fellowship hall. The cost of the luncheon will be $5.00. Reservations should be made by noon on Monday. Reservation cards are available in the baskets in the narthex or on the table in the hallway by the fellowship hall. These may be filled out and placed on the offering plate today or you may call or e-mail the church office. The program will be First Presbyterian Church History Trivia based on the history boards in the fellowship hall. The annual Day for Fun Loving Adults at Dogwood Acres will be held on Thursday, April 26 from 9:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. The program will include music and worship, "Generation Bingo," and a presentation on "Understanding Generations." Lunch will be served and there will be an opportunity to tour our Presbytery Camp. The cost is $9.00 per person. More information is available from the church office, and from the pink brochures with the PALS luncheon cards. Reservations should be made through the church office so that car pooling can be arranged. The reservation deadline is Tuesday. Huw and Rachel Christopher will be leaving on Wednesday evening for a week of continuing education which will include a course of gathering and writing local church histories at Montreat, North Carolina. He will be back in the office on Thursday, April 26 following the Day for Fun Loving Adults at Dogwood Acres. The children in LuAnne Law's Sunday School Class will be having a campout this Friday, April 20 beginning at 6 p.m. at The Farm on Highway 73. If your child will be attending this event please RSVP to LuAnne at 526-3989. The Session will meet this Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall. Next Sunday the following themes will be studied in our Sunday School beginning at 9:45 a.m. Children and young people 2 year old through 12th grade will be studying, "One Lord," based on Ephesians 4:1-6. The adults in the parlor will be studying "Hold to Sound Teaching" based on Revelation 2:18-29. Upstairs in Room 2 the Adult class will be studying John 21:1-19. Our Young Adult Class will be meeting in Room 6. In the absence of Huw Christopher, our pastor, we will be happy to welcome back to our pulpit next Sunday, Jack Homoney. Jack and his family are members of our church. He has recently been endorsed by our Session and approved by the Committee on Ministry as a Lay Preacher in the Presbytery of Florida. We appreciate Jack's willingness to lead worship for us once again. The service will be based on the resurrection appearance recorded in John 21:1-19. Last Sunday we were happy to welcome into the membership of our church: By profession of faith: Erin Christopher, Emily Fuqua and Connor Ward. By Profession of Faith and Baptism; Branham Skipper. By transfer from the John Calvin Presbyterian Church in Tampa, Florida, Tony Golden. Tony lives at 3246 Springhill Road, P.O. Box 107, Pansey, Alabama, telephone 334-522-3076. By transfer from the St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Panama City, Mary Bevis-Schmidt. Mary, a former member here lives at 4910 Flynt Drive, telephone 526-0092. By transfer from the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Panama City, Jose and Syntha Alvarez. Jose and Syntha and their sons, Adrian and Benjamin, live with her mother at 4910 Flynt Drive. All Women of the Church are invited to a wedding shower next Sunday, April 22, for Amanda Barber, bride-elect of Jeff Hinson. The shower is being hosted by Circle II and will be held in the fellowship hall from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m. This week in the life of the church . . . Today Church Picnic and Fish Fry at Daffin Lake at 3:30 Monday Ladies Exercise Class 9:00 Tuesday Session at 6:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall Wednesday Food pantry is open from 9 - 11. Volunteers are Jeff and Ruthanne Allen M and Ms for children 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 School Class Campout Sunday (22nd) Coffee and Juice at 9:30 a.m.; Sunday School for all ages at 9:45 a.m. Worship Service led by Jack Homoney at 11 a.m. Wedding Shower for Amanda Barber 2:00 in the fellowship hall