Coffee Hosts:  Ray and Emile Tucker

March 11, 2007                                                                                               10:00 a.m.

*Opportunities to stand

GREETINGS, CONCERNS OF THE CHURCH AND REGISTRY OF ATTENDANCE

PRELUDE          “What A Friend We Have in Jesus”           arr. Robert W. Thygerson

BRINGING THE LIGHT OF CHRIST INTO THIS ROOM

*CALL TO WORSHIP

ALL:  (Hymn 210, verse 1)  Our God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Our  shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home.

ONE:  Let us come and sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation!

ALL:  We come into God’s presence with thanksgiving, singing our songs of praise.

ONE:  O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

ALL:  We are God’s people, the “flock” that God shepherds.  We come, listening for God’s voice.                                                      (From Psalm 95)

*HYMN  244        “Let Us with a Gladsome Mind”

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE OF PARDON

We come to you, O God, asking your forgiveness.  We confess that we are often greedy while others go hungry.  The daily bread you give is not enough – we want more and more.  Our egos need feeding, as well – we crave recognition while we ignore our neighbors.  Show us once more that following Jesus is all we need; in Christ Jesus is our heart’s delight.

*SILENT PRAYER

*ASSURANCE OF GOD’S PARDON

*GLORIA PATRI (Hymn 579)

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be.

World without end! Amen, Amen.

RESPONSIVE READING 193                                                                      Psalm 46

READING FROM THE PROPHETS                                                       Isaiah 55:1-9

READING FROM THE EPISTLE                                             1 Corinthians 10:1-13

TIME WITH THE CHILDREN

Jesus loves me, this I know!  For the Bible tells me so.  Little ones to him belong, They are weak, but he is strong!  Yes, Jesus loves me!  Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so!

(Toddlers may go to the Nursery, older children to Children’s Church)

READING FROM THE GOSPEL                                                             Luke 13:1-5

SERMON             “Death and Dying – When Others Die”            Rev. Ann LaMar

(Click this link to read the sermon)

*HYMN INSERT             “In the Bulb There Is a Flower”

RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERS

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (from A Brief Statement of Faith, 1991)

In life and in death we belong to God.  Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, we trust in the one triune God, the Holy One of Israel, whom alone we worship and serve.  We trust in Jesus Christ, fully human, fully God, [who] proclaimed the reign of God.  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.  We trust in the Holy Spirit, everywhere the giver and renewer of life.  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.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

A table with votive candles has been placed to the right of the pulpit.  During this time of silent prayer, you may come to the table and light a candle representing your prayer for a particular person or situation. Once you have lit the candle, you may return to your seat.

THE LORD’S PRAYER (Page 16, Traditional)

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever.  Amen.

PRESENTATION OF OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY                       “Shall I Crucify Him”                                              Lee Ellis

*DOXOLOGY (Hymn 592) AND PRAYER OF DEDICATION

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

*HYMN  281              “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah”

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE CONGREGATION