Southminster

Presbyterian Church

2245 South Holland Avenue Springfield, Missouri 65807 Phone: (417) 881-3762

Southminster Presbyterian Church of Springfield, Missouri, is called by God to proclaim the good news of

Jesus Christ, to minister in love to the needs of members of the congregation and residents of the

community, and to promote peace and justice in the world.

January 24, 2016

Service for the Lord’s Day Third Sunday After Epiphany January 24, 2016 10:45 am

*Indicates Congregation Standing. (Please stand if you are able.) Please contact the head usher if you are in need of child care.

Gathering

Ringing of the Chime

Enter Sanctuary

Welcome & Announcements Jane Bogue, Liturgist (All are invited to sign in the Friendship Register)

Please join me in preparing our hearts and minds to worship God.

Prelude “Psalm” Young

Call to Worship: One: May the Lord be our conscience. May the Christ be our peace and our

righteousness. May heaven rejoice at the sound of a child’s laughter when it is founded in harmony and love. May the Earth groan and cry for the child that cannot live in hope and safety.

All: Blessed are the children, whom the Lord loves. Blessed are they who are childlike in faith and in love. Blessed are they who care for the child that has been tossed to the side. Merciful are they who extend their hands of love and help to the unwanted. Amen.

*Opening Hymn № 409 “God Is Here!” Call to Confession One: Confession is said to be good for the soul. Open our eyes, let us see; open our

hearts, let us feel; open our ears, let us hear the wonderful kindness of our God. May we be humble in the presence of the Christ.

Prayer of Confession All: Christ Jesus, we confess that we often forget. We forget the most unable; we

forget the least among us; we forget those who are hidden. We confess to you and to one another that we may learn, that we may grow, that we may live like our Lord, the Christ. Amen.

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Declaration of Forgiveness One: We ask you, our God, to accept us on our bended knee, before you, a humble

people. We rejoice in your forgiveness. Let us not be slack in sharing your love to whomever you may put in our lives.

All: Praise the Lord, all who know the Lord. Taste and see, drink and know, that our God is God. Our God is trustworthy, loving, and eternally faithful to forgive. Amen.

The Peace One: May the Peace of Christ be with you. All: And also with you. Let us pass the Peace to one another. *Congregational Response: Hymn 583 “Glory to God”

The Word Prayer of Illumination

One: Give us a heart of flesh. Remove the heart of stone. Take away the scales from our eyes. By your Holy Spirit let us see the broken, the sold, the destroyed, and the ragged child. Make in us a heartbeat of caring and love. Let us know, in mind and heart, the suffering of the lost child.

All: Give to us your sight that we can see the most unable, who have been but are no more, innocent. Amen.

Scripture Reading: Psalms 128:1-6, Luke 9:46-48 Supporting Scripture: Genesis 33:5, Psalm 127, Matthew 18:2-6, 2 Timothy 3:14-16 Choir Anthem “Sanctuary with God’s Holy Temple” arr. Larson comp. Thompson, Scruggs Sermon “The Unknown, The Forgotten Children” Rev. Charley Shurtz *Hymn № 188 “Jesus Loves Me!”

*Statement of Faith (in unison) Apostles’ Creed (Traditional)

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. AMEN. Prayers of the People The Lord’s Prayer

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Hymn 409 “God Is Here!” (continued)

Sending

*Closing Hymn № 547 “Go, My Children, with My Blessing”

*Charge and Benediction Rev. Charley Shurtz

*Congregational Response “Go Now in Peace”

As we leave worship,

we are called to carry with us the light of Christ and share it with the world. Postlude “Allegro Maestoso in D Major” Young

We warmly welcome visitors and invite you to consider membership in our community

of faith if you do not have a church home. For more information about the church, please contact the office at (417) 881-3762.

Responding with Thanks

Call for Offering One: The Christ calls us to be givers, of self, by physical means, and through prayer.

Let us now return to God, for the glory of the Kingdom that is found in Christ Jesus, a heartfelt portion of what we have, and do so with thanksgiving for all our blessings.

Offertory Offertory on Swedish Hymn Tune DeCou “Tryg-gare Kan Ing-en Va-ra”

*Doxology № 592 “Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow”

*Prayer of Dedication All: Give us insight by your Holy Spirit that we may use all our gifts, even that of

our tithe, to the dedication of your kingdom and the needs of those who are forgotten or not even thought of. Amen.

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Announcements

The Annual Meeting of the congregation will be held following morning worship on Sunday,

January 31. Food will be provided by the session. Committees will be reporting on their activities

during 2015, and we will be voting on the Pastor's call for 2016. Also the budget for 2016 will be

presented. All members of the congregation are encouraged to attend this important meeting.

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M i n i S c r o l l

Events this week: January 24 - January 30, 2016

9:30 AM - Sunday School 10:45 AM - Worship Service 12:30 PM - Bethany Evangelical Church

10:30 AM - Bible Study (Westminster) 6:00 PM - Parkcrest AA Group 7:00 PM - Bethany Evangelical Church 7:00 PM - New Beginnings Al-Anon Alateen Family Group

6:00 PM - Overeaters Anonymous 6:30 PM - New Freedom Group 7:00 PM - Bethany Evangelical Church 7:30 PM - New Freedom Group

12:00 PM -Free Lunch, No Questions 5:00 PM - Parkcrest AA Group 5:30 PM - Wonderful Wednesday Dinner provided 6:30 PM - Choir

5:30 PM - Debtor’s Anonymous 7:00 PM - Bethany Evangelical Church 7:30 PM - New Freedom Group

7:00 PM - Parkcrest AA Group 7:00 PM - New Beginnings Al-Anon Alateen Family Group

8:00 AM - New Freedom Group 12:00 PM -Free Lunch, No Questions 12:00 PM -Overeaters Anonymous 7:00 PM -Bethany Evangelical Church

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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Contact information for Reverend Charley Shurtz:

Email: charley54shurtz@outlook.com Text/phone: 417-496-6723

Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

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Presbytery Prayer Support of the Week Hollister Presbyterian Church of Hollister, Missouri has approximately 17 members

and are being led by Pastor C.R.E. Phyllis Winzenried

Weekly Joys: Birthdays: January 24: Jack Van Hook, January 24: Beverly Smith,

January 25: Stephen Palmer

Anniversaries: January 30: Ron & Phyllis Feyh

Weekly Concerns: Doug Palmer, Carol (Phyllis Feyh’s sister-in-law), Louise Reed (Judi

Anderson’s cousin), Maria Nelson and family, Joann Wills, Roberta Nicholson

Members with ongoing concerns Lea Barcomb

@ Home

Mary Brunner

@ Elfindale Manor

Dale McDonald

@ Mount Vernon

Sharol Neely

@ Home

Margaret Randall

@ Woodland Manor

Harlan Diehl

@ Home

Maxine Graves

@ Home

Friends & Family

Charles Bess

father of Jeff Bess

Mike & Bonnie Crain

Barbara Crain’s

brother-in-law & his wife

Jerry Holt

brother of Don Holt

Linda Ice; Deidre

sister and niece of Nancy

Robinett

Cameron Marshall

son of Denise Moll

Randy Randall

son of Margaret

Maria Nelson’s mother

Doug Palmer

son of Steve & Patsy

Palmer

Jack Shuler

grandson of Gondy

Grant & Cece (Lumpe)

Hayden

Jan (John)

friend of Rich Marsh

Louise Davis

mother of Denise

Moll

Dan Curtis

husband of Pam

Curtis