First Presbyterian Church

Thomaston, Georgia

2nd Sunday of Easter

JOE R. BLEVINS, Pastor

The purpose of First Presbyterian Church is to 

glorify God in Jesus Christ  through  worship, evangelism, discipleship, fellowship and service.

April 3, 2005,                                                                                                                                                                                                       11:00 a.m.

We Gather To Worship God

Prayer of Preparation: (Silent)

Open our eyes, O Lord, that we may see glorious visions of what You want to accomplish in our lives.  Open our ears that we may hear what You have to say through Your servants who bring the Word.  Open our hearts that we may heed the words that have been made evident by Your Holy Spirit.  Let us show our love to You by our readiness to trust and obey Your guidance this day.   In Christ we pray.  Amen.

 

Organ Prelude                                                                                                                                                                                                            Ed Alverson

The Life of the Church                                                                                                                                                                                                   Jim Richards

*Affirmation of Faith       Apostles’ Creed                                      Hymnal pg.  14                     

*Hymn of Praise              “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”         Hymnal no. 464

We Are Renewed By God’s Grace

Confession of Sins

Most loving and merciful God, in the cross and the resurrection You have paid the price for our eternal redemption.  We praise You, O Lord, and ask You to help us carry Your gospel all around the world.  Forgive us when we have failed to walk where You would send us, to love when our loving could have made a difference, or to be Your voice of peace in our troubled world.  Grant that our hearts may be stirred anew with the joy of Your love so that we may go forth today committed to serving You.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

                                 

Assurance of Pardon                                                                                                                                                                                            Rev. Joe Blevins

*Gloria Patri                                                                                                                                                                                                           Hymnal no. 579

Special Time for Small Saints                                                                                                                                                                                  Rev. Joe Blevins

We Unite In Faith and Concern

Prayer Meditation         “Oh How He Loves You and Me”        Hymn no. 2108

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer                           Hymnal pg. 16

Worship of Giving

Offertory                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Ed Alverson                            

Doxology and Prayer of Dedication                                                     Hymnal no. 592   

We Give Attention to God’s Word

Scripture Reading:  John 3: 16-21

Sermon                             “God’s Great Love”                                                                                                                                                            Rev. Joe Blevins

We Come to Christ’s Table

Hymn of Preparation      "Jesus, thou Joy of Loving Hearts"    Hymnal no. 510

Words of Institution and Prayer

The Communion

Prayer

We Go in Christ’s Name

*Hymn of Dedication                       “Jesus, thy Boundless Love to Me”    Hymnal no. 366

 

*Benediction                                                                                                                                                                                                          Rev. Joe Blevins

*Organ Postlude                                                                                                                                                                                                           Ed Alverson

 

Announcements

April 3, 2005

We welcome members and visitors who are worshiping with us this morning.  So that we can have a record of your attendance, please sign the red book located at the end of each pew and pass it on to others on your row. 

 

The flowers in the sanctuary this morning are given to the Glory of God and in loving memory of Elsie Williams by the family of Eugene Williams.

 

Please continue to keep the following individuals and their families in your prayers: Katherine Birdsong, Caroline Kinsey, Jane Eubanks, John and Virginia Ferguson, Norman Gardner, Leland and Jeanette Harrison (Betty Waggoner’s brother and sister-in-law), Charlie and Martha Jewell Mixon, Jesse Rogers and Dick Strouss

 

Prayer Room Ministry

Our Prayer Room Ministry was started in June 1998.  Members of our church visit the Prayer Room on a weekly basis and pray for those who have personally requested prayers and those whose names are placed by others.  At this time there are approximately 100 people who are being prayed for and sent prayergrams.  The strength of our Prayer Room Ministry lies in our Intercessors.  The more we have the stronger our ministry becomes.

 

We ask you to consider joining us in this work of faith.

 

Skip Presley will be glad to meet with you and talk about participation.

 

Called Session Meeting

There will be a Called Session meeting in the fellowship hall on April 6 at 5:00 p.m. The purpose of meeting is to meet with Larry Phillips of Phillips Construction Company and Ed Kendust  of  Neal, Kendust & Murray, P.C., to discuss the proposed chapel project which the Session has approved.  Our church has received an anonymous gift in the amount of $80,000 to upgrade an existing room in our church which can be used for multiple purposes.  If you are interested in knowing more about this project, you are invited to attend the meeting.  If you wish to have input, please contact Don Timberlake, Clerk of the Session, so you can be given the privilege of the floor. 

 

The following is the schedule for meetings the week of April 3 thru April 9, 2005.  Please note all meetings will be at the church unless otherwise indicated.

 

Sunday

Sunday Evening Bible Study                            6:30

 

Monday                               

                      Men of the Church                    7:00

Gary Moore will be our guest sharing with us his testimony regarding his heart transplant.  Richard Strouss and Ken Asmussen will provide the supper.  So that they will know how many to prepare for, please contact the church office or sign the sheet located in the Narthex by Sunday, April 3rd.

 

Tuesday

Birdsong/Jenkins Circle                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           10:00

 

Wednesday

Called Session Meeting                                   5:00

Family Night Supper                                        6:00

Wesley Brown will present our program:  A Night at the Movies- “Our Hometown,” 1947.    The cost is $5.00 per person. Children under 3 will eat free.  The cap per family is $15.00.   If you wish to attend, please complete the form and place it in the offering plate.   You may also call the church office by noon on Tuesday to place or change a reservation.

 

Please note there will not be choir rehearsal tonight

 

Tear Off Below For Wednesday Night Supper

***************************************************

Please indicate below the number attending and place in the offering plate. (standing reservations are no longer accepted)

Name:____________________________________________

 

#Adults________      #Children ____

 

Saturday

Renewal Weekend (BBQ see attached sheet to sign up)                        6:00

Renewal Weekend

Remember to mark your calendars for April 9 & 10th. This is when we will hold our annual Renewal Weekend.  Our speaker this year will be Dr. Parker Williamson, editor of the Presbyterian Layman and Executive Director of the Presbyterian Lay Committee.  He has just returned from a three week trip visiting the Presbyterian Churches in East Africa and he will share some of what is going on there with us.  Parker will also be one of the featured speakers at this year's Faith and Life Conference at Grove College in Pennsylvania.  He is also a strong supporter of the Confessing Church Movement.  Remember to sign up for the BBQ before April 4th, as this is when we have to turn our count in to Bobby Searcy, who will be catering our BBQ supper.  Complete and tear off below by Monday April 4 and place in the offering plate or you may call the church office.

 

I plan to be present for the Saturday Evening BBQ at 6 PM on Saturday April 9th:

Name(s): ______________________Number of persons_________

Phone number ___________________________