Welcome Back!

 

Though I know that our Pastors Dave Burgess and MP Panco, Session, church staff, and a couple of committees have been working toward and planning this day for a long time, I do believe, in light of the very recent events on the public health front, that the selection of May 16th, 2021 as the time to resume worship in the sanctuary at St. Mark is an excellent example of following Divine guidance- and the Northrips are all thankful, grateful, and excited about the path ahead!

John Northrip

Photos by John Northrip, Dale Weir, Victoria Sherman and Sherry Naylor

Food Panty Needs

 CANCELLED: May 16 Drive Through Collection for Circle of Concern and Isaiah 58

BUT you can still drop off donations when church is open!!!

Due to the severe weather forecast the collection was cancelled. You may still drop off donations in the bins/boxes in the foyer when the office is open. Cash donations may also be made via check to St. Mark Presbyterian Church with “Circle of Concern” and/or “Isaiah 58” on the memo line.

Worship May 16, 2021

May 16, 2021 10:00 am 

Sunday Worship Service 

ORDER OF WORSHIP

 CENTERING PRAYER

 

Holy One, we thank you for open doors, open pews, and open minds. Open to us the possibility we are called and chosen to be new disciples with new ministries. We pray this in the name of the One who opens tombs, conquers death, and invites us to live abundant lives. Amen.

 

PRELUDE      Psalm 19      Marcello 

WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS 

 

CALL TO WORSHIP

 

I was glad when they said to me,

“Let us go to the house of the Lord!”

God welcomes us here to worship again.

We will delight in the law of the Lord.

God is good. All the time.

All the time. God is good.

 

† HYMN     “Come, Christians, Join to Sing”      Hymnal #267
 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

 

God, though you call us to delight in your teachings, we become cynical and full of doubt. Do not judge us, we pray, but heal us and restore us to you. Guard us and protect us from all evil, and sanctify us in truth. We pray this is in Jesus’ name. (Silent Confession)

ASSURANCE OF GRACE 

† SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST 

The peace of Christ be with you. And also with you.

† GLORIA PATRI 

TIME WITH CHILDREN (Children may remain seated in their pew.) 

SCRIPTURE Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 

SERMON      “What Next?”      Rev. Dr. Dave Burgess

 

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – Westminster Confession of Faith, Shorter Catechism, Question One

 

Q. What is our chief end?

A. Our chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy God forever.

 

OFFERING

 

God invites us to give the testimony of our hearts in practical offerings of money and time. Therefore, let us testify to God’s love by bringing our gifts. Let us pray.

 

Jesus makes God known to us. We already belong to God, and we dedicate these gifts to God’s service and to the glory of God’s name. Amen.

SPECIAL MUSIC      Morning Praise      Sanborn 

Marsha Medley, Soloist 

† THE DOXOLOGY 

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER 

† HYMN      “Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine”      Hymnal #839

 † CHARGE AND BLESSING

 † BENEDICTION RESPONSE      “Be Joyful”      Kaiser 

POSTLUDE      March Pontifical      Gounod 

†You are invited to stand, as you are able. 

Scripture for May 16

Saint Matthias

Acts 1:15-17

New International Version

15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16 and said, “Brothers and sisters,[a] the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. 17 He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.”

Acts 1:21-26

New International Version

21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22 beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”

23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

Daily Prayer May 14

 The sacrifice acceptable to God is a humble spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Daily Readings for Friday, May 14, 2021

• Morning Psalms 96; 148
• First Reading Ezekiel 1:28-3:3
• Second Reading Hebrews 4:14-5:6
• Gospel Reading Luke 9:28-36
• Evening Psalms 49; 138

Eternal God, you draw near to us in Christ and make yourself our guest. Amid the cares of our daily lives, make us attentive to your voice and alert to your presence, that we may treasure your word above all else. O God, you are infinite, eternal and unchangeable, glorious in holiness, full of love and compassion, abundant in grace and truth. Your works everywhere praise you, and your glory is revealed in Jesus Christ our Savior. Therefore we praise you, blessed and holy Trinity, one God, forever and ever.

Eternal God, send your Holy Spirit into our hearts, to direct and rule us according to your will, to comfort us in all our afflictions, to defend us from all error, and to lead us into all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Add your prayers.) Amen.

Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God through him.

(Opening sentences, prayers, and blessings are from the Book of Common Worship. Readings are from the daily lectionary in Daily Prayer. Both are published by Westminster/John Knox Press.)

 

To Everything a Season

In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree; In cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free! In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be, Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see. —Hymn of Promise

 To everything there is a season...the season of faith

 In anticipation we hope. In expectation, we envision. In faith we, trust. 

We are about to arrive at the first step of our long awaited goal...in-person worship! There won’t be lemonade and it won’t be on Saturday afternoon. It won’t be the same as when we were last there. No sweat! That’s the small stuff! This is the time for trust. 

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 

It has been more than a year since we worshipped together in our beautiful sanctuary. We’ve had Saturday church in the sanctuary at times as well as in Fellowship Hall. It’s not so much the place that matters as the coming together to worship our God, to praise and give thanks for his good works in our lives, and to remember that we are never alone. With beginnings come endings (or change is a better word). 

This note (sent on Saturdays) started out as a “keep in touch” for the few weeks until we were back together. We have had faith, courage, resilience, hope and God’s love to sustain us in challenging times. For me personally this has been a way to be connected to you. I have developed an even greater admiration for ministers and others who have the gift to do this as a life’s calling. You have figured out my favorite Bible passages since they may have appeared more than once. 

I hope Gaspode, my pup,  has brought you a few smiles along the way. Certainly could not have done this without him. This weekly exercise has often taken me down memory lane. I would be remiss if I did not think of and thank Mrs. Simmons, my eleventh grade English teacher. On Monday she’d assign the topic for the weekly essay due the next Monday. Every Sunday night, I wrote the essay. I will close with one simple thought, 

See you in church next week! 

In person worship begins May 16, 10 AM

Mary Beth Powell and Gaspode