Lift High the Cross The Victory is Won A CELEBRATION OF OUR SHARING THE VICTORY OF JESUS WITH TROUBLE-FREE HEARTS SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER, MAY 13, 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 let us rejoice that we share in that victory with him. Leader: Come, let us worship Jesus, who has promised to us his gift of peace, Unison: and let us rejoice in that peace which the world cannot give us. Leader: Come, let us celebrate with the church on every shore Unison: the love which has surrounded us from our birth. * HYMN OF PRAISE FOR MOTHERS' DAY No. 473 Dix "For the Beauty of the Earth" CALL TO CONFESSION UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION Gracious God, you have given to us the beauty and bounty of the earth, the wondrous gift of life and our time upon this earth, the marvelous nature of our human bodies, the joy of human love, our relationships with family and friends, the loving fellowship of your church, and most the assurance of your loving presence with us at all times and in all places. Forgive us, O God, that often we have failed to appreciate all of your good gifts, and have not always used them as you would desire. Give us, we pray, grateful hearts, and lives that reflect our gratitude in all that we say or in all that we do. PERSONAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION IN SILENCE THE ASSURANCE OF PARDON * THE SUNG RESPONSE OF ASSURANCE FOR EASTER Crucifer Refrain: 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. Refrain TO HEAR AND REFLECT ON GOD'S WORD . . . A TIME WITH OUR CHILDREN Rachel Christopher (Children age 5 and under are excused to go downstairs after Children's Time) PRESENTATION OF THE FOOD PANTRY OFFERING FOR MAY JOHN ASSURES US OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD Revelation 21:1-7 The Response: Leader: This is the Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God! ANTHEM: "Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled" Words based on John 14:1-3. Music by Gordon Young (Children in Kindergarten – 3rd Grade will leave for Children's Church upstairs) JESUS OFFERS US HIS GIFT OF PEACE AND SECURITY John 14:23-29 The Response: Leader: This is the Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God! SERMON "SHARING THE VICTORY OF JESUS WITH TROUBLE-FREE HEARTS"Dr. Christopher TO RESPOND TO GOD'S WORD . . . * AFFIRMATION OF FAITH from Question 1 of the Heidelberg Catechism Leader: What is our only comfort in life and in death? Unison: That I am not my own, but belong, body and soul, in life and in death to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and set me free from the tyranny of evil. He watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven: in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him. * HYMN OF ASSURANCE No. 400 Somos Del Senor "When We Are Living" 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 THANKSGIVING FOR MOTHERS' DAY No. 555 "Now Thank We All Our God" Nun Danket Alle Gott * THE CHARGE AND BENEDICTION * THE CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE FOR EASTER Crucifer Refrain: 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. Refrain * POSTLUDE * All who can do so comfortably will stand Pastor: Huw Christopher Director of Music: Lawrence R. Nelson Elder of the month: Albert Milton 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 Jim and Eileen Drew in memory of Kate Drew and Angela Homer. Our Prayer Calendar: Louise Pumphrey, Charlton Keen, Virginia Schreiber, Guy Green and Nat Lee (father of Vikki Milton). The May offering for our Food Pantry will be received this morning. During the month of April our food pantry on Wednesday mornings served 154 families, which included 443 individuals. 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 next PALS luncheon will be held on Tuesday, at 12 noon in the fellowship hall. Following lunch Rachel Christopher and Lou Wilkinson will present a program of handbell duet music of some familiar and favorite hymns of the church. Reservations for the meal which will cost $5.00 per person should be made by noon on Monday. They may be made by filling out one of the green cards in the baskets in the narthex or on the table in the hallway by the fellowship hall today and placing it on the offering plate, or by calling the church office at 526-2430 or e-mail to firstpresmarianna@earthlink.net. The Progressive Dinner that had been planned for May 19 has been canceled. We did not have enough host families for a successful dinner. This may be rescheduled at a later date. 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, "The New Creation" based on II Corinthians 5:16-17. The adults in the parlor will be study "The Victorious Christ," based on Revelation 19:11-16; 20:11-15. Upstairs in Room 2 the Adult class will be studying the texts to be used in our Worship Service: Acts 1:1-11 and Ephesians 1:15-23. Our Young Adult Class will be meeting in Room 6. On Wednesday, May 23 our M and M children and their families will be preparing supper at 6:30 p.m. Donations received at the supper will be used to help some of these children attend Dogwood Acres Camp this summer. Following the meal the JuBELLees will give a handbell program for part of which they will be joined by our M and M children. Congratulations are extended to Virginia and Jason Watford in the birth of a daughter, Elizabeth Joyce Watford, on Monday, May 7, 2007, in Dothan, and to grandmother, Gretchen Wynn and great-grandmother, Joanne Wynn. This week in the life of the church . . . Monday Ladies Exercise Class 9:00 Tuesday PALS luncheon at 12 noon in the fellowship followed by handbell program Session meets at 6:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall Wednesday Food pantry is open from 9 - 11. Volunteers are Mary Ann Gibbs and Betty Brendemuehl Choir Practice at 5:15 p.m. JuBELLees practice at 6 p.m. Youth Group at 7 p.m. Thursday Newsletter collated at 1 p.m. Friday Ladies Exercise Class 9 a.m. Saturday The Progressive Dinner planned for this evening has been canceled. Sunday (20th) Coffee and Juice in fellowship hall at 9:30 a.m. Sunday School for all ages at 9:45 a.m. A Celebration of our Sharing the Victory of Jesus our Risen and Ascended Lord at 11 a.m. Recognition of High School Graduates JuBELLees will play the offertory Have you remembered the First Presbyterian Church in Your Will?