210 S. Wayne Street

Milledgeville, GA 31061

478-452-9394

www.fpchurch.org

fpchurch@windstream.net

We seek to glorify God through:

Inspiring worship in Word and music,

Inquiring study for adults and youth,

Inclusive hospitality locally and globally,

Industrious outreach for social justice

and environmental stewardship.

radio ministry WKZR (102.3FM)

Pastor, Rev. Susan Balfour, revsebalfour@gmail.com

Children & Youth, Gloria Burns, gloryb.ce@gmail.com

Admin. Asst., Amy Snowden, fpchurch@windstream.net Music Director, Dr. Jennifer Flory, jennifer.flory@gcsu.edu

Organists, Kate Phillips and Jenny Moore

Child Care Providers, Morgan Martin, Raeven Rodney, and Andaysha Taylor Co-Treasurers, David Baarda and Joel Burns

OFFICE HOURS Monday- Friday 9am - 5pm

PASTOR OFFICE HOURS Mondays off; in office midday Tuesday ~ Friday

If you would like to set up an appointment with Rev. Susan, please call the office at 478-452-9394. God Bless!

*DOXOLOGY Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Alleluia! Alleluia!

Praise God, the source of all our gifts! Praise Jesus Christ whose power uplifts!

Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit!

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! *PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AND DEDICATION God of grace, we give thanks for your faithfulness to us, we give thanks for your hope in us, we rejoice in the knowledge of your unend- ing grace. In the light of your mercy, and confident in your love, we dedicate these offerings, and ourselves, to you. Amen. BEARING GOD’S WORD INTO THE WORLD

*HYMN 722 Lord, Speak to Me That I May Speak *CHARGE AND BENEDICTION Go in peace. AMEN! *CHORAL BENEDICTION All who come may take this gift Alexander M. Peters (GTG #479, vs. 3) *POSTLUDE How Firm a Foundation James Mansfield

“Like” us on FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/First.Presbyterian.Church.Milledgeville. GA

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Books Available in the office for Upcoming studies Presbyterian Women Study ~ Love Carved in Stone ~ Study begins

Sunday Sept.8 or Tuesday Sept. 10.

Wednesday evening group ~ Short Stories by Jesus

September 1, 2019 Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

PRELUDE Oh God, Thou Faithful God Flor Peeters CHIMING OF THE HOUR WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

We are delighted that you have joined us this Lord’s Day. If you are interested in membership, we invite you to speak to Rev. Susan. Thank you for being with us!

GATHERING AROUND GOD’S WORD

CHORAL INTROIT Why forsake the Lord Alexander M. Peters

(GTG #479, vs. 1) CHILDREN’S TIME CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: God calls us to service, rather than honor. Congregation: God calls us to love the unknown, rather than the familiar.

Leader: We come to this time of worship, trusting in the grace of Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

PRAYER OF PRAISE: adapted Catherine of Siena O fire ever blazing! We who come to know ourselves in you find your

greatness wherever we turn, even in the tiniest things, in people and in all created things, for in all of them we see your power and wisdom and clemency. You, eternal Father, are the table that offers us as food the Lamb, your only-begotten Son. Amen.

*HYMN 14 For the Beauty of the Earth CALL TO CONFESSION God invites us to mutual love. But to find that mutuality, we must release our need

for honor, our desire for privilege. In humility let us seek forgiveness, trusting in the promises of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION Merciful God, forgive us for we exalt ourselves and mock the humble. We

choose to believe we are self-sufficient rather than trust in your strength. Open us to your spirit, that we might serve all people without regard to outcome, devoting ourselves to your honor alone. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

CHORAL RESPONSE For the lamb will be our shepherd Alexander M. Peters (GTG #479, vs. 2) DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS

God rejoices when we repent and return, offering us finest wheat and honey from the rock to sustain us in new life. Rejoice! For you have been reconciled to God and to one another. With joy, seek the honor of God’s service. Amen.

*GLORIA PATRI HYMN NO. 581 Glory be to the Creator, and to the Christ and to the Holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now and always shall be, world without end! Amen, amen.

*Please stand as you are able.

THE PEACE Leader: Let us now share the peace which Jesus made possible.........

Peace be with you. Congregation: And also with you. Leader: Please greet those near to you with the peace of Christ. ANTHEM How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds by Vernon Hoyle

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer's ear! It soothes our sorrows, heals our wounds, and drives away our fear.

It makes the wounded spirit whole and calms the troubled breast; 'tis manna to the hungry soul, and to the weary, rest.

O Jesus, shepherd, guardian, friend, my Prophet, Priest, and King, my Lord, my Life, my Way, my End, accept the praise I bring.

How weak the effort of my heart, how cold my warmest thought; but when I see you as you are, I'll praise you as I ought.

Till then I would your love proclaim with every fleeting breath; and may the music of your name refresh my soul in death.

PROCLAIMING GOD’S WORD PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION:

God of Wisdom, open us to the work of your Spirit, that we may hear and faithfully respond to your holy Word. Amen.

SCRIPTURE READINGS Pew Bible Page # OLD TESTAMENT Jeremiah 2:4-13 NT P. 699 PSALM Psalm 81:1, 10-1 OT P. 541 NEW TESTAMENT Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 NT P. 227 GOSPEL Luke 14:1, 7-14 NT P. 77 SERMON Rev. Susan E. Balfour THE LORD’S SUPPER *HYMN 504 We Come as Guests Invited INVITATION GREAT THANKSGIVING (see insert) WORDS OF INSTITUTION RECEIVING THE SACRAMENT Please approach the Lord’s Table down the center aisle; take a piece of bread and a little cup; you may return to your pew via the side aisles. PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AND THE LORD’S PRAYER RESPONDING TO GOD’S WORD INVITATION TO THE OFFERING God gives us more grace than we can ever earn and sustains us in ways we cannot imagine. With a spirit of generosity, let us freely offer ourselves and our gifts to the world. OFFERTORY Blest Be the Tie That Binds Emma Lou Diemer

LIMITED MOBILITY Mary Carlton

Martha Chappell

Helen Danuser

Polly Morrison

Gloria Smith

THIS WEEK AT OUR CHURCH: SEPT. 1 ~ SEPT. 8 Today: 9:45 Sunday School 11:00 Worship Service w/Communion & Food Offering Received Monday: HAPPY LABOR DAY!! ~OFFICE CLOSED~ Tuesday: 9:30~10:30 FOOD PANTRY 12:00 Kiwanis Club Luncheon Wednesday: 6:30 Potluck Gathering 7:15 Bible/Book Study & Discussion Thursday: 1:00 Afternoon Bridge Club 7:00 Choir Practice Sunday: 9:45 Sunday School 11:00 Worship Service 5:00 Presbyterian Women Study

ONLINE GIVING

fpchurch.org

CHURCH FAMILY: Harry Beck, chemotherapy

Anne Dennis, knee surgery Marianne Edwards, health concerns

EXTENDED FAMILY: Wendy Branch, Rev. Jody Branch’s wife, health concerns

Family of John F. Burns III, Joel Burns’s cousin, passed away

Murphy Davis, Open Door Community, cancer, multiple health concerns

Judy deGrandcourt, Sandra Balfour’s sister, advanced MS

Kyle Dennis, Anne’s husband, Multiple Myeloma, kidney issues, rehabilitation after

bypass surgery Russell & Kathleen Edwards, Marianne’s parents, numerous health problems

Kathy Hall, Gini Wilkerson’s mother

Dee Hartmann, Sandra Balfour’s sister-in-law, health issues

Molly Manley, undergoing chemo treatments for cancer at PruittHealth in Macon

Arthur & Julie Montemayor, Becky Henderson’s parents, her father has been placed on hospice

Charlie Morgan, Jennifer Flory’s father, health concerns

Chris Pearson, Sunda Coleman’s son, recovering at home; dialysis treatments in town

Bob Smart, Anne Smart’s husband, ankylosing spondylosis IN ASSISTED LIVING Jane Carroll, Fellowship Home at Meriwether, 10 Meriwether Place

Bryan Dempster, Green Acres, 313 Allen Memorial Drive SW

Bob & Eloise Lamb, Fellowship Home at Meriwether, 10 Meriwether Place

Steven Powell, Chaplinwood, 325 Allen Memorial Drive SW Room 301B Suzy Smith, Savannah Court, 61 Marshall Rd. Milledgeville

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Join us after worship in the Fellowship Hall for refreshments and fellowship The Fellowship Hall is to the right of the front of the Sanctuary.

Restrooms are to the left of the front of the Sanctuary.

Elder(s) for the month of September:

Sept. 1 ~ Nancy Miller Sept. 8 ~ Catherine Dean Questions for Reflection

How does your experience of the culture prevent you

from fully embracing the call to serve with humility? How can you seek out the stranger in your community?

When have you realized that you were doing God’s work, only after the fact?

SESSION/ELDERS

2019 ~ Donna Gautier (Mission & Outreach) Nancy Miller (Clerk) Bill Werts (Worship)

Bob Wilson (Stewardship) 2020 ~ Grace Anne Azahar (Finance) Catherine Dean (Congregational Life)

Marianne Edwards (Personnel) Doris Moody (Property)

Anne Smart (Christian Education)

THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

GREAT THANKSGIVING

Leader: The Lord be with you Congregation: And also with you Leader: Lift up your hearts. Congregation: We lift them to the Lord. Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. Congregation: It is right to give our thanks and praise. Leader: It is truly right and our greatest joy... ... Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with angels and with all the faithful of every time and place, who forever sing to the glory of your name:

You are holy, O God of majesty... ... Great is the mystery of faith:

According to Christ’s commandment: We remember his death, we proclaim his resurrection, we await his coming in glory... ...Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor are yours, almighty God, now and forever. Amen. Leader: The gifts of God for the people of God.

Congregation: Thanks be to God. LORD’S PRAYER Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.