First Presbyterian Church

Thomaston, Georgia

7th 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.

May 8, 2005                                                                     11:00 a.m.

We Gather To Worship God

Prayer of Preparation: (Silent)

Bless us, O God, with a reverent sense of your presence, that we may be at peace and may worship you with all our mind and spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

Organ Prelude                                                   Johann G. Walther

      " Now Let Every Tongue Adore Thee”

The Life of the Church                                                                                                                                                                                                   Laurel Blount

*Affirmation of Faith       Apostles’ Creed              Hymnal pg.  14

*Hymn of Praise   For the Beauty of the Earth”   Hymnal no. 473 

We Are Renewed By God’s Grace

Confession of Sins

Merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word and deed.  We have not loved you with our whole heart and mind and strength; nor have we loved our neighbor 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.  Through Christ we pray.  Amen.

 

Assurance of Pardon                                            Rev. Joe Blevins

 

*Praise Response                         “Glorify Thy Name”                                                               Hymn no. 2016

Special Time for Small Saints                                                            Rev. Joe Blevins

 

We Unite In Faith and Concern

Music Meditation Duet                                                                                   Jim Richards and Vickie Capel                                                          “Through Your Sins Be As Scarlet”

(Crosby/Doane)

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

Moment For Mission     Mother’s Day Offering                                                Laurel Blount

Worship of Giving

Offertory                        “A Gift of Love”                 arr. Jim Capel

*     Doxology and Prayer of Dedication                                                  Hymnal  no. 592   

We Give Attention to God’s Word

                                    Anthem                    God Be In My Head             Anna Laura Page

God be in my head and in my understanding. 

God be in my eyes and in my looking.  God be in my mouth and in my speaking.  God be in my heart and in my thinking.  God be at my end,

God be at my end, and in my departing Amen

 

Scripture Reading:                                 Proverbs 31: 25-31

 

Sermon                             “Being Christ’s Woman”         Rev. Joe Blevins

 

We Go in Christ’s Name

*Hymn of Dedication                    “Christ Beside Me”               Hymn 2166

*Benediction                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

*Organ Postlude          “Postlude on “Azmon”            Don Phillips

 

*(Congregation Stands)

(Please note hymns with 3 digits are in the hardback hymnal and

 4 digit numbers are in the small soft cover book)

OUR GREETERS TODAY ARE   RON AND EVELYN MYATT

THE ELDER AT THE DOOR IS ED ALVERSON

We joyfully welcome all who visit with us today.  If you would like to become a member of First Presbyterian, see the pastor or the elder at the door.  If you would like to have someone pray for you or with you, you will find prayer volunteers in the Prayer Room after the service of worship. (The Prayer Room is to the left of the Narthex as you exit the sanctuary)  Have a wonderful Day in the Joy of The Lord

 

 

Announcements

May 8, 2005

 

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

M-O-T-H-E-R

"M" is for the million things she gave me,
"O" means only that she's growing old,
"T" is for the tears she shed to save me,
"H" is for her heart of purest gold;
"E" is for her eyes, with love-light shining,
"R" means right, and right she'll always be,
Put them all together, they spell "MOTHER,"
A word that means the world to me.
--Howard Johnson (c. 1915)

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 honor of all mothers in the congregation and Inez Vaughan’s birthday from the Neil Vaughan family.

 

Please continue to keep the following individuals and their families in your prayers: Katherine Birdsong, Kathryn Bowles, Jo Daniel, John and Virginia Ferguson, Norman Gardner, Vee McDonald, Charlie and Martha Jewell Mixon, Fred Shepard,  Dick  Strouss and Dick Waggoner.

 

Mother’s Day Offering

Each May, churches across Georgia celebrate the Mother’s Day Offering, the largest source of funds for benevolent care for the Caring Hands Fund.  The Mother’s Day offering will be collected this morning and, you will find an envelope in your bulletin to place your donations.

 

                                           New Pictorial Directory

At long last, by popular request, a new pictorial directory is on the way!  Olan Mills will be at our church on Tuesday, June 21 and Wednesday, June 22 from 3:00-9:30.  Each family will receive a complimentary directory and a free 8X10 custom color portrait.  This will be a great time to get a family portrait.  Registration will begin on Sunday, May 22 during the morning worship service.

 

 

 

New Web Page

Our new web page is www.fpcthomaston.org

 

The following is the schedule for meetings the week of May 8 thru May 14, 2005.  Please note all meetings will be at the church unless otherwise indicated.

 

Sunday

Sunday Evening Bible Study                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      6:30    

Tuesday

Martha Simpson Circle                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           6:30

The Ivylyn Girardeau Circle will meet on Tuesday May 10, at the home of Freddie Davis at Lake Jackson.  The church bus will leave the church at 4:30.  If you will be attending, please contact Shirley Boldenow by today so that she can order the food.

Wednesday

Silver Circle will go to the Calvin Center-Spring Fling on Wednesday May 11.  The bus will leave from the church at 8:00 a.m. and return around 4:00 p.m.  If you have any questions, please contact Gloria Salter.

Family Night Supper                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          6:00

Jim and Barbara Richards will tell about their recent cruise to the Panama Canal.  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.

Thursday

Witness and Outreach Committee                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       6:30 

 

 

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 ____

 

 

Congratulations Graduates

Mark Your Calendar for Senior Recognition

Please join us for senior recognition on Sunday May 22, 2005 during the morning worship service, at 11:00 a.m.  Following the morning worship service, we will gather for a church wide covered dish lunch in the fellowship hall to honor and celebrate with our high school graduates and their families.  Our 2004 seniors are Natalie Alverson, Mallorie Edenfield, Jennifer Peek, and Jessica Strouss.

 

Vacation Bible School

Plans are underway for VBS 05.  We will be on a Serengeti Trek where “All the Kids will be Wild about God.  The trek will take place July 10-July 14 from 5:30-8:15.  This is for children ages K-5th grade.   Anypre-school children are welcome to attend if  their parents or caregivers are volunteering.

If you would like to volunteer to help, please contact Mandy Miller at 648-3230.