Hello Everyone,
We are worshipping in person and online at 11 a.m. these days. If you would like to worship with us via Zoom, the information is as follows:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86016159653?pwd=UzVTdmZmS0ZUaDNEa0lXVVFRZGJLdz09
Meeting ID: 860 1615 9653
Passcode: 523039
The Service bulletin is below (my apologies in advance for any weird formatting). We hope to see you in person or online tomorrow!
Pastor Melissa
Marshall Presbyterian Church
April 3, 2022 5th Sunday in Lent
Carol Ann West, Pianist
Rev. Melissa Upchurch, Pastor
Broadly, deeply, joyously sharing the good news of Christ
with Marshall and Madison County!
ASSEMBLING IN GOD’S NAME
Prelude
wELCOME AND aNNOUNCEMENTS
* CALL TO WORSHIP
One: You know those things that God has done in the past? The future will be that much better!
All: We will not stop looking for the newness God has for us!
One: We have accomplished many things to this point, but we have not completed our journey.
All: We will pick up our pace to follow Jesus wherever he leads.
One: Sometimes we put obstacles in the path, but God will make a way to our hearts.
All: We will move onward through our doubts and fears. Let us worship God!
* Opening Prayer
* HYMN Red Hymnal #526 The Solid Rock
CALL TO CONFESSION
UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of grace, you are always in the business of surprising us with new lives, new dreams, and new hopes. But we are so busy looking down instead of up and out that we do not always recognize what you are doing. Help us let go of that which hold us back from faithful living. Help us bend our lives toward your own life of self-giving and sacrifice. Fill us, our homes, and churches, and communities with the abundant love of Christ until all are made new…silent prayers of confession…Amen.
* ASSURANCE OF PARDON
One: The apostle Paul reminds us that we do not make ourselves righteous. Our righteousness comes through faith in Christ, who has made us his own. Hear the good news! In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. The old life has passed away – and a new life has begun.
All: Thanks be to God; Amen.
* Gloria Patri
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.
* PASSING THE PEACE
HEARING AND RESPONDING TO GOD’S WORD
Special MUSIC
prayer for illumination
THE Scriptures
Old Testament: Isaiah 43:16-21 See bulletin
Psalm Psalm 126 “
Epistle: Philippians 3:4b-14 “
Gospel: John 12:1-8 “
One: The Word of God for the people of God!
All: Thanks be to God!
Time with young disciples
Message Rev. Melissa Upchurch
* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
(From the Heidelberg Catechism, 1563)
One: What is your only comfort, in life and in death?
All: That I belong – body and soul, in life and in death – not to myself but to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ, who at the cost of his own blood has fully paid for all my sins and has completely freed me from the dominion of the devil; that he protects me so well that without the will of my Father in heaven not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, that everything must fit his purpose for my salvation. Therefore, by his Holy Spirit, he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.
* HYMN Red Hymnal #324
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
SHARING JOYS AND CONCERNS (See bulletin insert)
Prayers of the People (We pray to you O God / Hear our prayer…)
SHARING the Gifts of God
Offertory MUSIC
*Doxology
*Prayer of dedication
God, we praise you with these gifts and offer them with good cheer. Bless our offerings; multiply them and use them to equip the saints and build the body of Christ. Amen.
GOING FORTH IN GOD’S NAME
* HYMN Red Hymnal #237
Lord, Dismiss Us with Thy Blessing
* INVITATION
CHARGE
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
* = Please rise in body or in spirit
WHAT’S GOING ON AT MPC?
Sundays, 10 a.m. Gentle Faith class Fellowship Hall
Today Communion
April 10, Palm Sunday with communion
April 14, Maundy Thursday: Service to be combined
with Palm Sunday
April 15, Good Friday
April 17 Easter
April 21, 6:30 p.m. Session
Tuesdays, 1-3 p.m. Neighbors in Need
6:30 p.m. NA
Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. Scouts
Fridays, 7 p.m. AA
The One Great Hour of Sharing offering will be received on Easter Sunday.
The Session at Work:
· Heard and discussed a report from treasurer Sidney Mashburn that we are running a bit of a deficit. We’ve had to pay insurance, which is always a big bill; nevertheless,
Elders will keep a close eye on our financials.
· Heard and discussed a report on the manse
from Sandy Melton.
· Heard from Rev. Melissa that there were no baptisms
or memorial services in February.
· Heard from Rev. Upchurch about how ill and shut-in members are doing.
· Heard and discussed a report about some upcoming
Mission possibilities from Cathy Seiler.
· Heard about progress on outdoor lighting of the mural
from Rev. Melissa and Sandy Melton.
· Approved a request from Rev. Melissa to use a paid
musician for the Easter service this year.
Please Remember in Prayer:
- Those who have no-one to pray for them
- Cindy – health concern
- Glenda Anderson – health concern
- Don Scully (Scout leader) – health concerns
- Jim’s cousin Matthew – health concerns,
upcoming procedure
- Mike Storey (Sandy’s friend) – health concern
- Sandy Melton – recovering from procedure
- Sandy’s friend Rick Murray – hospice care; pray for
courage, continued good attitude in the face of cancer
- Sidney Mashburn – recovering from procedure
- Ukraine – courage for its people and president
- Paige Morris – lingering health concerns
- Zach Strittmatter – recovering at home
- Byron Wade (General Presbyter) – recovering
from procedure
- Tim Brown, Justine Brown – health concerns
- Our seniors: Mary Lib Sprinkle, Nan Earley, Judy Chandley, Verna and Harry Baldwin, Ruth Deal, Madge McClain,
Ruby Stanton, Rose Burns, and Jim Wilson
- Jim, Nancy’s goddaughter Ella – health concern
- Carol Ann, others feeling overworked b/c pandemic
- Barbie (Carol Ann’s friend) – health concern
- Sandra Tolley – health concern
- Bob Pike – health concerns
- Tyler’s friend’s father Steve Ashe – health concern
- Our missional identity
- The Chavez family (manse); resolution
- Homeless people and animals
- La Esperanza
- Our nation
- Those affected by natural disaster or violent weather
- Victims of violence
- Christians under persecution in other parts of the world
- Those who are traveling
- People, creatures affected by human irresponsibility, abuse
- Those in the military and their families
- Clients, volunteers, and boards of assisting organizations
- Black Mountain Home for Children, Youth, and Families
- Glory Ridge Camp
- Those who receive a devastating diagnosis, incl. COVID-19
- Prodigal Sons Prison Praise Singers
- The House of Hope International Peace Center
- Frank and Nancy Dimmock
- Cathy Chang and Juan Lopez - Philippines
- Hamish and Molly Taylor – New Zealand
- Those seeking employment, those seeking employees
- Those preparing for ministry
- Our Presbytery staff and the Presbytery’s ministries
Isaiah 43:16-21 - New Revised Standard Version
16Thus says the Lord,
who makes a way in the sea,
a path in the mighty waters,
17who brings out chariot and horse,
army and warrior;
they lie down, they cannot rise,
they are extinguished, quenched like a wick:
18Do not remember the former things,
or consider the things of old.
19I am about to do a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.
20The wild animals will honor me,
the jackals and the ostriches;
for I give water in the wilderness,
rivers in the desert,
to give drink to my chosen people,
21 the people whom I formed for myself
so that they might declare my praise.
Psalm 126 – New Revised Standard Version
A Harvest of Joy
A Song of Ascents.
1When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,[a]
we were like those who dream.
2Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then it was said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
3The Lord has done great things for us,
and we rejoiced.
4Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
like the watercourses in the Negeb.
5May those who sow in tears
reap with shouts of joy.
6Those who go out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
carrying their sheaves.
Philippians 3:4b-14 - Common English Bible (CEB)
4If anyone else has reason to put their confidence in physical advantages, I have even more:
5I was circumcised on the eighth day.
I am from the people of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin.
I am a Hebrew of the Hebrews.
With respect to observing the Law, I’m a Pharisee.
6With respect to devotion to the faith, I harassed the church.
With respect to righteousness under the Law, I’m blameless.
7These things were my assets, but I wrote them off as a loss for the sake of Christ. 8But even beyond that, I consider everything a loss in comparison with the superior value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have lost everything for him, but what I lost I think of as sewer trash, so that I might gain Christ 9and be found in him. In Christ I have a righteousness that is not my own and that does not come from the Law but rather from the faithfulness of Christ. It is the righteousness of God that is based on faith. 10The righteousness that I have comes from knowing Christ, the power of his resurrection, and the participation in his sufferings. It includes being conformed to his death 11so that I may perhaps reach the goal of the resurrection of the dead.
12It’s not that I have already reached this goal or have already been perfected, but I pursue it, so that I may grab hold of it because Christ grabbed hold of me for just this purpose. 13Brothers and sisters, I myself don’t think I’ve reached it, but I do this one thing: I forget about the things behind me and reach out for the things ahead of me. 14The goal I pursue is the prize of God’s upward call in Christ Jesus.
John 12:1-8 - New Revised Standard Version
Mary Anoints Jesus
121Six days before the Passover Jesus came to
Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised
from the dead. 2There they gave a dinner for him.
Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at
the table with him. 3Mary took a pound of costly
perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet,
and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled
with the fragrance of the perfume. 4But Judas Iscariot,
one of his disciples (the one who was about to
betray him), said, 5“Why was this perfume not sold
for three hundred denarii and the money given
to the poor?” 6(He said this not because he cared
about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept
the common purse and used to steal what was
put into it.) 7Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought
it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial.
8You always have the poor with you, but you do not
always have me.”
