Spruce Pine

United Methodist Church

11090 South Highway 226, Spruce Pine, NC 28777

Church: (828) 765-7446; Pastor: (828) 467-8743

Web: www.sprucepineumc.org; FB: Spruce Pine United Methodist Church

Email: (office); (Pastor)

September 1, 2013 / Early Service / 15th Sunday After Pentecost
Jeremy I. Troxler, Pastor / Kathey Hollifield, Music Director
Kathy Miller, Organist / Steve McKinney, Pianist
WELCOME TO WORSHIP! The word “worship” comes from the old English word for ‘worthy.” When we gather to worship God, we are declaring that God alone is “worthy” of our lives. As we gather for worship this morning, we recall last week’s Gospel reading where Jesus helps a woman with a crooked back to stand up straight. Take a moment to think about how Christ might help you to better stand up for yourself, and to stand up for others.

GATHERING TO WORSHIP AND OFFERING OUR PRAISE

^Greeting / Leader and People
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
And also with you.
Let us worship God together.
Praise the Lord!
^Song of Praise / “Come Sinners to the Gospel Feast” / UMH 616
Invitation to the Lord’s Table / Prayer of Confession and Pardon / UMH 12
^Sharing the Peace of Christ
“The peace of Christ be with you.” “And also with you.”
(Through the gift of Jesus Christ, we have been granted forgiveness and peace with God and with one another. As a sign and celebration of the peace we have been given, we invite you to turn to your neighbors, extend your hand, and greet/bless them with the words, “The Peace of Christ be with you.”)
Sung Chorus from “To God Be the Glory” / UMH 98
“Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the earth hear his voice.
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father through Jesus the Son,
And give him the glory, great things he hath done!”
Offering Our Gifts to God / Offertory
^Doxology / “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” / UMH 95

PROCLAMATION OF GOD’S WORD

^Gospel Lesson / Luke 14: 1, 7-14 / NT Page 73
Proclamation of the Word / “Best Seat in the House” / Rev. Jeremy Troxler

RESPONSE TO THE WORD

Meditation Upon the Word / Steve McKinney
Prayers of the Congregation and Pastoral Prayer
^ The Great Thanksgiving and the Lord’s Prayer / UMH 9 & 10
Sharing of Holy Communion
As is our custom, you are invited to leave an offering on the altar for our Community Assistance Fund. This fund enables us to offer local emergency aid to those in need.
Prayer Following Communion / UMH 11
^Sending Hymn / “Lord, Whose Love Through Humble Service” / UMH 581
^ Benediction

^ If able, please stand

ANNOUNCEMENTS

¨  WE INVITE EACH FAMILY TO BRING AT LEAST ONE CAN OF FOOD EACH WEEK for the Shepherd’s Staff food assistance ministry. There is a box in the Welcome Center…let’s fill it each week! Please check the “Best Used Before” date on the items you donate and make sure it is more than 30 days before expiration. Thank you!

¨  OUR AUGUST CHILDREN’S OFFERINGS will go to the ‘Stop Hunger Now’ event. If you wish to contribute to this special mission, please do so during the children’s offering.

¨  BOY’S NIGHT OUT: Tonight (September 1), 5 PM at Perry’s.

¨  FINANCE COMMITTEE: Thursday, September 12th, at 5:00 PM.

¨  BIBLE STUDY FELLOWSHIP Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) begins this year’s international, interdenominational Bible Study of The Gospel of Matthew on Thursday, September 12th at 5:30 P.M. at Grassy Creek Baptist Church, Hwy 226 in Spruce Pine, NC. More information is available in your bulletin insert and on the table in the welcome center.

¨  MISSIONS COMMITTEE MEETING Next Sunday, September 8th at 5:00 PM in the welcome center. To be discussed will be a possible fall short term mission. See Marvin Walker for more details.

¨  STOP HUNGER NOW EVENT Stop Hunger Now!! There will be a meal packaging event on Saturday September 28, 2013 from 9:00 AM until 12:00 PM at Higgins UMC in Burnsville. Our starting goal is to raise funds for and pack 15,000 meals. That means raising $3,250 and having volunteers to show up to pack meals. We have organized this event by "tables" with ten volunteers per table and $500 for the 2,000 meals they can pack in three hours. Individual donors and volunteers are also welcome. This is a fun event for ages 3-103. There are jobs from working at a funnel to sealing boxes, and don't miss a chance to bang the gong. Just ask any of the SHN veterans, we look forward to this event every year. Meet some good people and fight food insecurity! For more information see Marvin Walker, Glen Devos or Jack Chandler.

OUR COMMUNITY COVENANT

PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS: For all who do not know of the love of God in Christ Jesus the Lord; all who know but have not acknowledged that love. Our community; educators; high school seniors; local; state; national; world leaders; those seeking employment; those struggling with long term illness Nancy Moody; Beth Wyatt; Daren Rodgers; Brian Center staff, residents, and families; Brookside residents and staff; our homebound members; caregivers of the seriously ill; Audrey Davenport; Bob Pariott; Rev. Lynda Briggs; Tim Hollifield; Lorraine Campbell; Faye Graham; InasMuch missioners; Bill Dailey; Bretta Walker; the family of Bill Ball; Fred Hizer; Gabe Russon; Bill Sears; Jack Riley; Marcheta Pendley; Pat Ross and the family of her nephew; Susan Hall; Charlene Greasamar; Larry Curtis; Pauline Jenkins; the family and staff of Dr. Jim Thompson; Paul Ramsey; Wayne Schafer; the family of Bill Henline; Rev. Pete Peterson; Jim Dunn; the family of William Wallace, Rev. Gil Wise and the new UM District Superintendents; the foster children and parents of Mitchell County; for a just end to violence in Egypt.

Birthdays this Week: Marcia Dunn & Neil Brown – August 31st

Anniversary this Week: Jim & Sheila Sockwell – August 25th

PRESENCE: August 25th, 2013: 9:00 Service - 26 11:00 Service - 86

GIFTS: August 25th, 2013: General Fund – $2,937.00

Bill Ball Memorial/Parsonage Renovation – $1,140.00

One Day with God Children’s Offering – $61.03

9 food items donated to Shepherd’s Staff

PARSONAGE RENOVATION REPAYMENT TOTAL: $10,281.00 (30%)

WITNESS:

Today’s lectionary passage from Hebrews reads, “Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without recognizing it.” (Hebrews 13: 1-2) How have you been showing hospitality to strangers? How might you show such hospitality this week?

** Next Week’s Scripture September 8, 2013

Jeremiah 18:1-11, Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18, Philemon 1-21, Luke 14:25-33