Lift High the Cross The Victory is Won A CELEBRATION OF OUR SHARING THE VICTORY OF JESUS WHO APPEARED TO HIS DISCIPLES BY THE SEA THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER, APRIL 22, 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: Sing praises to God, O you, saints of God. Give thanks to God's holy name. Unison: Praise God for the joyous gift of a new day. Thank God for healing and ever-present help. Leader: Extol the one who lifts us up from defeat. Praise the one who upholds us when we are discouraged. Unison: God sees and hears our weeping. God lifts our souls from the pit of despair. Leader: Give thanks to God who turns mourning into dancing. Praise God who hears our cries and answers our prayers. Unison: We have cried to you in our need, O God. We believe you are working to make us whole. Leader: Praise God! Unison: God's name be praised! * HYMN OF PRAISE FOR THE EASTER SEASON No. 113 Llanfair "Christ the Lord is Risen Today" CALL TO CONFESSION UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION Loving God, we admit to attitudes that exclude rather than embrace. We prefer to associate with others who think and act as we do. We turn away from those who are different from us. We identify some as enemies to be avoided or even destroyed. Forgive us, O God, for seeking to limit your family. Awaken us to the limits of our understanding and the narrowness of our dealings. Show us the better ways you intend, and make us bold to respond. 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) SAUL'S CONVERSION Acts 9:1-20 The Response: Leader: This is the Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God! ANTHEM: "Anthem for Resurrection" Words of John of Damascus, circa 750 Translation by John Mason Neale, 1862 Music by Henry Thomas Smart, 1835, arranged by Jay Althouse (Children in Kindergarten 3rd Grade will leave for Children's Church upstairs) JESUS APPEARS TO SEVEN DISCIPLES John 21:1-19 The Response: Leader: This is the Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God! SERMON "Fish on the Fire" Jack Homoney TO RESPOND TO GOD'S WORD . . . * AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: The Apostles' Creed (Presbyterian Hymnal,, page 14, traditional) * HYMN BASED ON JOHN 21 Sung to the tune, Hyfrydol, No. 376, Love Divine 1. Peter said, "I'm going fishing," so his friends went out with him. Through the night, they labored, watching, hauling empty nets back in. In the gray of early morning, Jesus, you came walking by. From the beach you called a greeting, "Cast out on the other side!" 2. Soon their nets were filled to brimming; Peter cried, "It is the Lord! Jumping in, he started swimming; Christ, you met him on the shore. Guiding them to better waters, eating fish, and sharing bread -- You showed Peter and the others: You were risen from the dead! 3. Risen Christ, you send us fishing! God's great sea is everywhere. You have guided us in mission, You have given love to share. Through the years, our church has heard you, We have answered your great call: "Cast your nets where I have told you. Bring my word of love to all!" 4. Lord, be with our congregation; By your Spirit, send us forth! May we care for your creation; May we work for peace on earth. In our worship, in our giving, in our serving those in need May we know, Lord: you are living, guiding us in ministry. 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 (Presbyterian Hymnal, page 16 traditional, using 'debts' and 'debtors') TO GO OUT AND SERVE . . . * HYMN OF CHRISTIAN LOVE AND FELLOWSHIP No. 438 Dennis "Blest Be the Tie That Binds Our Hearts in Christian Love" * 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. Our Prayer Calendar: Charlton Keen and Nell Martin (Jackie Spivey's aunt). Today we are happy to welcome back to our pulpit 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. He appreciates the permission given by the Rev. Keith Broyles to use excerpts from a sermon he wrote in 2001. 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 words of the hymn, "Peter said, "I'm Going Fishing" based on John 21: 1-19 were commissioned for the 50th Anniversary of the Little Chapel on the Boardwalk, Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina while Huw Christopher was the pastor there. They were written by the Rev. Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, copyright 2003. All Women of the Church are invited to a wedding shower this afternoon 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. At our covered dish supper on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. the Evangelism and Fellowship Committee will be presenting a program on our church website at www.firstpresmarianna.org. People associated with the church who have birthdays during the month of April will be recognized at this supper. The annual Day for Fun Loving Adults at Dogwood Acres will be held this Thursday, April 26 from 9:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. Those who are registered to attend will meet at the church at 8:30 a.m. to car pool. The deadline for reservations has been extended to Monday, April 23 so if you wish to attend please contact the church office by noon tomorrow. 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. A new study will begin this Thursday. Game Night will be this Saturday, April 28, 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). Huw and Rachel Christopher are away today for a week of continuing education which will includes a course of gathering and writing local church histories at Montreat, North Carolina. He will be back in the office on Wednesday afternoon, and then will be attending the Day for Fun Loving Adults at Dogwood Acres on Thursday. 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, "Different Gifts" based on I Corinthians 12:1-11. The adults in the parlor will be studying "Good News, Bad News" based on Revelation 3:7-10,15-21. Upstairs in Room 2 the Adult class will be studying the texts for our Worship Service: Psalm 23, John 10:22-30 and Revelation 7:9-17. Our Young Adult Class will be meeting in Room 6. The sympathy of the church is extended to the family of Florence Adelaide McCaskill, a member of our Church who died on April 14 at Chipola Pavilion. A graveside service for the interment of her cremated remains will be held on Saturday, April 28 at 2:00 p.m. at Magnolia Cemetery in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. The family have requested that any memorials for Adelaide be made to the First Presbyterian Church, Marianna or to Covenant Hospice. Her nieces Meg Garraway Brown and Macky Gortemoller are members of our church. Our sympathy is also extended to Meg Garraway Brown in the death of her brother-in-law Michael Lee Higgins (husband of Catherine McCaskill Garraway Higgins), in Roswell, Georgia on April 16. A memorial service for Mike will be held on Saturday, April 28 at 10:00 a.m. at Pinecrest Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Marianna. Copies of the yellow Evaluation Sheets for our Lenten program are available on the table in the narthex and on the table in the hallway near the fellowship hall. These should be completed and returned to Frankie Stewart, the chairperson of our Christian Education Committee by next Sunday. Appreciation is extended to our Evangelism and Fellowship Committee and all who worked with them to make our church picnic and fish fry so enjoyable last Sunday despite the windy conditions. This week in the life of the church . . . Today Bridal Shower in the fellowship from 2 until 4 p.m. Monday Ladies Exercise Class 9:00 Tuesday Evangelism and Fellowship Committee at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday Food pantry is open from 9 - 11. Volunteers are Hazel Nelson and Betty Brendemuehl Choir Practice at 5:15 p.m. JuBELLees practice at 5:45 p.m. Covered Dish Supper and Program about the Church Website at 6:30 p.m. Youth Group at 7 p.m. Thursday Day at Dogwood Acres, Car pool at the church at 8:30 a.m. Men's Bible Study at Kip Blighton at 6:30 p.m. Worship Committee meets in the church office at 6:30 p.m. Friday Ladies Exercise Class 9 a.m. Saturday Games Night at 6:30 p.m. Sunday (29th) Coffee and Juice at 9:30 a.m. Sunday School for all ages at 9:45 a.m. A Celebration of Our Security in the Hands of Jesus at 11 a.m. Have you remembered the First Presbyterian Church in Your Will?