86th Annual Homecoming
Old Bethesda Church
225th Anniversary
Aberdeen, North Carolina
Sunday, September 29, 2013
* Invocation
Order of Worship
Homecoming
Prelude
11:15
September 29, 2013
THE CALL TO WORSHIP
Bill Caudill, bagpipes
Welcome and Announcements
Davis Clark
Jamie Boles
Neill Caldwell
Introit………...…..…….……….…..Be Still and Know
Nancy Arnold and Tim Wilson
Iona
* Procession of the Beadle with the Bible
“Praise God for the Holy Word”
* Procession of the Beadle with the Ministers
Introduction of the Ministers
* Responsive Call to Worship (All Rise)
Jonathan Wallace
Leader: A pine grove offers sanctuary.
People: Sap courses our veins. Sand, pure as snow, shifts
underfoot.
Leader: God has brought us to this place: Bethesda.
People: We are nurtured, we are cherished, we are loved.
Leader: Thanks be to God!
People: Amen!
*
Processional Hymn for Choir and Banner
Bethesda: House of Mercy - words by Martha MacLeod
(see insert)
Rev. Steven Wicks
Prayer of Confession
Merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word and deed, by what we have done and by
what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our
whole heart and mind and strength. We have not loved our
neighbors as ourselves. In your mercy forgive what we
have been, help us amend what we are, and direct what we
shall be, so that we may delight in your will and walk in
your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.
* Prayer Response….Come Here, Jesus, If You Please
Bethesda Chancel Choir
Carter
Assurance of Pardon (Responsively)
Leader: Hear the good news! Who is a position to condemn?
Only Christ, and Christ lived for us, Christ died for us, Christ
rose for us, Christ reigns in power for us, Christ prays for us.
People: Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. The old
life has gone; a new life has begun.
Leader: Know that you are forgiven and be at peace.
People: Amen.
Special Music………..……..The King of Love My Shepherd Is
Bethesda Carol Choir
First Lesson………………..........……..………Genesis 2:8-10, 15
Lay Reader: Samantha Taylor
Second Lesson (Responsively)………………..Psalm 37:23-28a
Lay Readers: David Keith and Catherine Neill
Leader: Our steps are made firm by the Lord, when the Lord
delights in our way;
People: Though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for
the Lord holds us by the hand.
Leader: I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not
seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.
People: They are ever giving liberally and lending, and
their children become a blessing.
Leader: Depart from evil, and do good; so you shall abide
forever.
People: For the Lord loves justice; the faithful ones of the
Lord will not be forsaken.
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 and the Lord’s Prayer
Rev. Caroline Johnson Inlow
*
Third Lesson……………………………………….John 21:15-19
Anthem……..I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes (Ps. 121)
Sermon
”Cross of Pine”
Pfautsch
Rev. Laurie Ann McNeill
Prayer o
*
Prayer of Dedication (Unison)
For that which has been, we praise you; for that which is,
we give you thanks; for that which shall be, we entrust our
lives to you: O Lord, our Lord; Creator, Redeemer, and
Sustainer. Amen.
*
Recessional Hymn……….…God of the Sparrow (See Insert)
*
Benediction
*
Congregational Response……………… “God Be With You”
Special Music………………………...……The Lone Wild Bird
Bethesda Homecoming Choir
Mary K. McNeill, recorder
Henry Wicker, guitar
*
THE RESPONSE OF THE PEOPLE
The Confession of Faith
From: A Brief Statement of Faith
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. In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit, we
strive to serve Christ in our daily tasks and to live holy and
joyful lives, even as we watch for God's new heaven and
new earth, praying, Come, Lord Jesus! With believers in
Offering and the Offertory………………..The Living Church
Lorraine Nelson Wolf
Nancy Arnold, soloist
Larry Arnold, guitar
Emily Braun, violin
Doxology
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.
God be with you till we meet again;
loving counsels guide, uphold you,
with a Shepherd’s care enfold you;
God be with you till we meet again.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
We welcome visitors who have chosen to worship with us
today. If you are looking for a church home, please check the
Friendship Pad or speak to the pastor for information on how to
join Bethesda. Brochures containing information about some of
the activities at Bethesda are located in the pew racks. Please feel
free to take one home with you and also a bookmark as our
thanks to you for visiting with us today.
Hearing aids are available to anyone who might need one.
Please see one of the ushers if you would like to use one. We
also have a wheelchair for anyone who would need assistance. It
will be located by the side door.
The flowers today are given in loving memory of Chuck
Heffner by Judy Heffner.
We will receive our annual Peacemaking Offering this
morning. “A harvest of justice is sown in peace” James 3:18
The Peacemaking Offering was created to support the efforts
of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to live out a deeper
commitment to peacemaking as part of our faithfulness to
God. As Christians we are called to be agents of reconciliation
for individuals, in families and communities, throughout the
world, and with the whole of creation, building a culture of
peace.
In making a commitment to peacemaking,
congregations work toward healing the brokenness in the
world. Offering distribution:
•
25% : Congregational peacemaking ministries
•
25% : Presbytery and Synod peacemaking efforts
•
50% : Presbyterian Peacemaking ministries of the
General Assembly Council
The youth auction will be held November 9th but we are
already collecting items. If you are “cleaning out” please
remember us. Call Jim Ransdell (944-7727) or the church office
(944-1319). We will pick up!
Looking Ahead
October 6 World Communion / Peacemaking Offering
October 13 Board of Deacons 5:00 p.m.
October 18 Faith Weaving Friends 6:00 p.m.
October 20 Session 7:00 p.m.
October 23 Men of the Church 6:00 p.m.
October 26 Trunk or Treat at Old Bethesda
October 28 Christian Education Committee 6:30 p.m.
November 3 All Saints Sunday
November 9 Youth Auction
November 10 Board of Deacons 5:00 p.m.
November 15 Faith Weaving Friends 6:00 p.m.
November 17 Session 7:00 p.m.
November 20 Men of the Church 6:00 p.m.
November 24 Community Thanksgiving Service
(at Page Memorial United Methodist Church 7:00
p.m.)
November 28 Thanksgiving Day
Staff
Minister – Rev. Jonathan Wallace Music Director – Nancy Arnold
Organist – Ruth Sinclair Accompanist – Larry Arnold
Secretary – Lisa Keith Youth Director – Samantha Taylor
Custodian – Jamie Watson Grounds – Lloyd Harris
Bethesda Presbyterian Church
1002 N. Sandhills Blvd. Aberdeen, NC 28315
Telephone: 910-944-1319Web Page: http://www.bethesdapres.net
email: bethesdapres@ncrrbiz.com
Prayer List
The Family of Marcie McKeithen
Our Armed Forces
The leaders of our nation
Lt. Col. Chris Goff - USAF - active duty
Brian Hester – serving in Korea
LCpl Bob Crumpton
Walter Dworak – serving in Afghanistan
Beverly Taylor – friend of Carol Prevatte
Tommy and Carole Douglas – Lisa Noyes’ parents
Nancy Reichner – friend of Sarah O’Brien
Betty Froehlich – Lynn Dworak’s mother
Joel Turner – Jim’s son
Cooper Ellington – friend of LoJuanna Pages
Craig Lawrence – Evelyn Miller’s nephew
John Loeser – friend of Lynn Dworak
Ray Lozano – Pam McElreath’s brother
Helen Hill – Jeff’s mother
Michael Shaheen – Michelle Jackson’s father
Harold Hogan – Henry’s father
Karole Jeanne Knapp – friend of Alice Demastus
Bob and Vickie Pinkston
Blaise McNair – step-grandson of Jim and Kay Mack
Jo Ann Stokes – friend of Peggy Jacobs
Patricia Winn – Bruce Winn’s sister-in-law
Jon Rittger – friend of Connie Atwell
Kim Tew – friend of Ann Frank
Ruth Smith – Carolyn Burns’ mother
Liz Caulk – friend of Marion Wiltjer
Geraldine Williams – Harold’s sister-in-law
John Storey – Mary Lynn Sutphen’s father
Jane Jameson – Patti Andersen’s sister
Fallie Andrews – Bev Cunningham’s grandmother
Tamara Ptaschinski and her children, Trenton and Piper –
half-sister of Don and Jean McGiffin’s son-in-law
Frank Maroon – friend of Katie Mashburn Godin
Jan Fogleman – Craig’s brother
Darrin Ostmann – friend of Nancy Arnold
Andy Gwaltney's great nephew-Baby Dunn
Mary Stewart - friend of J. David Keith
Jay Greer – friend of many Bethesda members
Van Ritch – friend of Brian and Samantha Taylor
Brittney Williams – friend of the Jackson family
Joshua Copeland – friend of Christian Crumpton
Steve MacFarland – friend of Lynn Dworak
Sally Audie- friend of Gail Cunningham and Samantha Taylor
Jose Cabrera
Jeanette Roller – friend of Maxine Gibson
William Taylor
Marion Wiltjer
Scott Allen
Wanda Taylor
Gladys Harris
Leslie Watts
Elvina Garner
Gene Morgan
Bob Page
Devin Goodwin
Catherine Taylor
Jennifer Pinkston
Elliott Frank
Emma Newberry
Andy Auman
Ginger Wilson
Martha MacLeod
Roger Schoonover
Robin Curlee
Virginia Wilson
Members in Nursing Facilities:
Ella Ruth Clark
Katie Caddell
Catherine Burns