8:30 and 11:00 a.m. Fourth Sunday in Lent March 26, 2017 WE GATHER TO ACCLAIM HIM PRE-SERVICE MUSIC GATHER FOR WORSHIP (8:30) As the Deer-arr. Donald Wagner (11:00) As the Deer-arr. Mark Hayes GATHERING SONG HYMN NO. 715 Rejoice, the Lord is King WE HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED ON Bill Emerson WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Glenn Cole GREETING TIME WE WORSHIP HIM WITH PRAISE HYMN NO. 89 Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee OFFERTORY Take Courage Callie Jo Fowler, vocal DOXOLOGY Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee. Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty, God in three persons, blessed Trinity! READING OF THE WORD 1 Thessalonians 5:16 -18 (NIV) Bryan Shaw AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (8:30) #881 THE APOSTLES’ CREED PRAISE SONGS (11:00) MORNING PRAYER Glenn Cole (11:00) Children may be dismissed to Children’s Church in Room 115. Pre-K (4 years old by Sept. 1, 2016) through 3rd Grade. WE HEAR HIS WORD The Rev. Bill Curington SCRIPTURE Philippians 4:4 -6 (NIV) SERMON “Sponge Squeeze” CONFIRMATION SERVICE (11:00) Austin Hunter OUR RESPONSE HYMN NO. 332 Spirit of Faith, Come Down SENDING FORTH Glenn Cole CONGREGATIONAL BLESSING May the Lord, Mighty God, bless and keep you forever, Grant you peace, perfect peace, courage in every endeavor. Lift up your eyes and see His face, know His grace is for you, May the Lord, Mighty God, bless and keep you forever. POSTLUDE Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior -William Doane LaMurl Morris Altar Color for Sunday, March 26—Purple WEEKLY ACTIVITIES AT ST. JAMES WEEKLY ACTIVITIES Sunday, March 26, 2017 10:30 a.m. Sunday School 11:30 a.m. Worship Service THE LIGHT Did you miss a Sunday? Pastor Bill’s sermons are on our website. Go to www.sjumc.org and click on “Teachings.” The Worship of God I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the giſt of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self -control. 2 Timothy 1:5-7 Back in January, four bright eyed sixth grade students sat in my office for the first me, ready to begin a class we call Confirmaon. I asked them to describe how they felt as we began the lesson: “nervous,” “excited,” one student just said “hungry.” Over the last eight weeks, I believe we’ve been able to change those answers into “peaceful,” “impassioned,” and hopefully, “sasfied.” You see, the purpose of the Confirmaon course, which all students must complete upon aging into the youth group, is not just to make sure they are ready to join the church. The purpose isn’t even just to teach them a bunch of head knowledge about God. The purpose is to confirm the giſt of God, His Holy Spirit, that dwells within them, and to fan it into flame. Each of these students are born again believers in God, but oſten-mes we know that even born again Chrisans need to breathe life into that Giſt of God and let it fan into flame. The purpose of Confirmaon is to show them the power of their faith. And perhaps today it’s me for not just these four young ones to be Confirmed. Maybe today is your opportunity to look within your chest and inspect how alive and well the Spirit of God is within you. Perhaps, alongside these students, today you can confirm, “Yes, I believe in God. Yes, He lives in me.” And, “Yes, that is the most important thing I will ever realize.” You might be surprised at the power, the love, and the self-control that flows out of that simple truth. Ausn Hunter Youth Minister The sanctuary flowers today are given to the glory of God by Dave and Janice Himmelsbach in honor of their wedding anniversary on March 25th. March 26, 2017 Sunday, March 26 Worship Services at 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. 8:30 a.m. Worship (Sanct.) 9:45 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Worship (Sanct.) 4:00 p.m. Estonia Mission Team Mtg. (Rm. 101) 5:00 p.m. St. Thomas Anglican Church (Sanct.) 6:00 p.m. Youth Supper Club (The Jimmy) Monday, March 27 11:00 a.m. Sign-In The Light Golf Classic (Lane Creek Golf Club) 6:00 p.m. Praise Team (Sanct.) Tuesday, March 28 7:30 a.m. Men’s Bible Study (Rm. 220) 9:45 a.m. Women’s Bible Study (Rm. 220) 5:30 p.m. The Light Board Mtg. (The Light) 6:30 p.m. Men’s Ministry (The Jimmy) Wednesday, March 29 5:45 p.m. RTF Prayer Class (Rm. 219) 6:00 p.m. Disciple One Fast Track (Rm. 111) 6:00 p.m. WednesdayInTheWord (The Jimmy) 6:15 p.m. Colossians Bible Study (Rm. 220) 7:30 p.m. Choir Rehearsal (Rm. 213) Thursday, March 30 7:00 p.m. Night of Healing Prayer (Sanctuary) Friday, March 31 8:00 a.m. Men’s Prayer Group (Sanctuary) 6:30 p.m. Athens SHARE (The Jimmy) Saturday, April 1 8:00 a.m. Spring Clean-Up at St. James Key FH=Fellowship Hall Sanct.= Sanctuary The Jimmy=House beside St. James (across parking lot)
Transcript
8:30 and 11:00 a.m.
Fourth Sunday in Lent March 26, 2017
WE GATHER TO ACCLAIM HIM PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
GATHER FOR WORSHIP (8:30) As the Deer-arr. Donald Wagner (11:00) As the Deer-arr. Mark Hayes GATHERING SONG HYMN NO. 715 Rejoice, the Lord is K ing WE HONOR THOSE WHO HAVE PASSED ON Bill Emerson WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Glenn Cole GREETING TIME
WE WORSHIP HIM WITH PRAISE HYMN NO. 89 Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee OFFERTORY Take Courage Callie Jo Fowler, vocal DOXOLOGY
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty, God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
READING OF THE WORD 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV) Bryan Shaw AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (8:30) #881 THE APOSTLES’ CREED PRAISE SONGS (11:00) MORNING PRAYER Glenn Cole
(11:00) Children may be dismissed to Children’s Church in Room 115. Pre-K (4 years old by Sept. 1, 2016) through 3rd Grade.
WE HEAR HIS WORD The Rev. Bill Curington SCRIPTURE Philippians 4:4-6 (NIV) SERMON “Sponge Squeeze” CONFIRMATION SERVICE (11:00) Austin Hunter
OUR RESPONSE HYMN NO. 332 Spirit of Faith, Come Down SENDING FORTH Glenn Cole CONGREGATIONAL BLESSING
May the Lord, Mighty God, bless and keep you forever, Grant you peace, perfect peace, courage in every endeavor.
Lift up your eyes and see His face, know His grace is for you, May the Lord, Mighty God, bless and keep you forever.
POSTLUDE Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior-William Doane LaMurl Morris
Altar Color for Sunday, March 26—Purple
WEEKLY ACTIVITIES AT ST. JAMES
WEEKLY ACTIVITIES Sunday, March 26, 2017
10:30 a.m. Sunday School 11:30 a.m. Worship Service
THE LIGHT
Did you miss a Sunday?
Pastor Bill’s sermons are on our
website. Go to www.sjumc.org
and click on “Teachings.”
The Worship of God
I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:5-7
Back in January, four bright eyed sixth grade students sat in my office for the first time, ready to begin a class we call Confirmation. I asked them to describe how they felt as we began the lesson: “nervous,” “excited,” one student just said “hungry.” Over the last eight weeks, I believe we’ve been able to change those answers into “peaceful,” “impassioned,” and hopefully, “satisfied.”
You see, the purpose of the Confirmation course, which all students must complete upon aging into the youth group, is not just to make sure they are ready to join the church. The purpose isn’t even just to teach them a bunch of head knowledge about God. The purpose is to confirm the gift of God, His Holy Spirit, that dwells within them, and to fan it into flame. Each of these students are born again believers in God, but often-times we know that even born again Christians need to breathe life into that Gift of God and let it fan into flame. The purpose of Confirmation is to show them the power of their faith.
And perhaps today it’s time for not just these four young ones to be Confirmed. Maybe today is your opportunity to look within your chest and inspect how alive and well the Spirit of God is within you. Perhaps, alongside these students, today you can confirm, “Yes, I believe in God. Yes, He lives in me.” And, “Yes, that is the most important thing I will ever realize.” You might be surprised at the power, the love, and the self-control that flows out of that simple truth.
Austin Hunter Youth Minister
The sanctuary flowers today are given to the glory of God by Dave and Janice Himmelsbach
in honor of their wedding anniversary on March 25th.
March 26, 2017
Sunday, March 26 Worship Services at 8:30 and 11:00 a.m.
8:30 a.m. Worship (Sanct.) 9:45 a.m. Sunday School 11:00 a.m. Worship (Sanct.) 4:00 p.m. Estonia Mission Team Mtg. (Rm. 101) 5:00 p.m. St. Thomas Anglican Church (Sanct.) 6:00 p.m. Youth Supper Club (The Jimmy)
Monday, March 27 11:00 a.m. Sign-In The Light Golf Classic (Lane Creek Golf Club) 6:00 p.m. Praise Team (Sanct.)
Tuesday, March 28 7:30 a.m. Men’s Bible Study (Rm. 220) 9:45 a.m. Women’s Bible Study (Rm. 220) 5:30 p.m. The Light Board Mtg. (The Light) 6:30 p.m. Men’s Ministry (The Jimmy)
Wednesday, March 29 5:45 p.m. RTF Prayer Class (Rm. 219) 6:00 p.m. Disciple One Fast Track (Rm. 111) 6:00 p.m. WednesdayInTheWord (The Jimmy) 6:15 p.m. Colossians Bible Study (Rm. 220) 7:30 p.m. Choir Rehearsal (Rm. 213)
Thursday, March 30 7:00 p.m. Night of Healing Prayer (Sanctuary)
Friday, March 31 8:00 a.m. Men’s Prayer Group (Sanctuary) 6:30 p.m. Athens SHARE (The Jimmy)
Saturday, April 1 8:00 a.m. Spring Clean-Up at St. James Key FH=Fellowship Hall Sanct.= Sanctuary The Jimmy=House beside St. James (across parking lot)
PRAYER REQUESTS
Faye Boyd Marlene Bryan Harriett Garrett Amie Arnold Bette Daniels Phil Sherman Laura Beck Katherine Wolf Collin Jarrett Andy Hassell Quinn Daly Fran Hutto Anna May Cobb Sally Stowers Pastor Artur Pold
SERVING IN THE MILITARY
Corp. Shay Jennings Major Brett Thomas Pvt. Andrew Bryant 2nd Lt. Wesley M. Hutto Maj. Nathaniel Chittick
PREPARING FOR SUNDAY MORNING Sunday Worship at 8:30 and 11:00 a.m.
The Rev. Bill Curington
LITURGICAL READINGS for March 26, 2017
1 Samuel 16:1-13 Psalm 23 Ephesians 5:8-14 John 9:1-41
THANK YOU FOR SILENCING ELECTRONIC DEVICES
DURING THE WORSHIP SERVICES.
Our St. James Prayer Ministers will be available at the Altar immediately
following the service to pray with anyone desiring prayer.
Bill Hurst—Head Usher, March, 2017
111 West Lake Drive • Athens, Georgia 30606 • (706) 548-1680 Congregational Care Hotline (after hours) (706) 395-5152 • www.sjumc.org
March 27—The Light Golf Classic—11:00 Sign-In, Noon Tee Time March 30—Night of Healing Prayer —7:00 pm April 1—Spring Clean Up at St. James—8:00 am-Noon April 5—Lunch Bunch —11:30 am April 8—Missions Barbeque—11:00 am-3:00 pm April 15—Easter Egg Hunt—2:00-4:00 pm
Wednesday Night Opportunities
Attendance & Offering (March 19, 2017)
Attendance
Sunday School —- Worship (8:30) 40 Worship (11:00) 183 Total Worship 223
Offering
General/Operating Fund Offering $14,793 General/Operating Fund Offering (YTD) $184,988
ST. JAMES UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
The Rev. Bill Curington, Senior Pastor
Glenn Cole Bryan Shaw Executive Minister Minister of Music Bill Emerson Austin Hunter Minister of Congregational Care Youth Minister Jenny Major Lloyd Craft Children’s Minister Pastor, The Light (Mission Church) Cathy Uhrick LaMurl Morris Finance Secretary Organist Mary Swift Bethany Nelson Administrative Assistant Interim Nursery Minister
7:30 P.M. — Music Ministry
Music Ministry
Youth Ministry
Bible Studies
Please Note...We are in need of the following items for The Bigger Vision community winter shelter: Sugar, Creamer, Non-Sugar Sweetener (There is a receptacle in the fellowship hall for you to place your items.)
If you wish to provide flowers for our worship services in the current year, please sign up on the flower calendar on the bulletin board next to the Fellowship Hall.
FELLOWSHIP MEAL, 5:30 p.m. (FH) Menu for WEDNESDAY, March 29
We need your dinner reservation by Monday, March 27 (11 a.m.) To make reservations: [1] call the church office (706-548-1680)
and leave message on voice mail; [2] email [email protected]; or, [3] note number of children & adults by your name
on Sunday’s attendance sheets.
The Light Golf Classic - Tomorrow -Monday, March 27
Please join us at Lane Creek Golf Club for a day of fun, fellowship & golf. Lunch & snacks provided. Prizes for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place teams! Not able to play? Join us in spirit by being
a Spectator! All proceeds will go to support The Light ministry outreach programs and construction of the Children’s Classroom Addition. Your participation and donations will help us to go The Second Mile in ministry to the Rocksprings community. Additional information and registration forms are available in the Church office or on-line at www.sjumc.org.
Women’s Bible Study “The Armor of God” by Priscilla Schirer
March 7-April 18 9:45-11:00 in Room 220 (led by Janie Lineberger)
Books are available at Lifeway.
Wednesday Night Bible Study on Colossians
Led by Glenn Cole and Lloyd Craft 5-week study March 8-April 5 6:15 PM in Room 220
Join us!
5:45-7:30 P.M. — Healing and Deliverance Prayer Class (Rm. 219)
6:15-7:30 P.M. — Disciple One Fast Track—Old Testament (Rm. 111)
6:15-7:30 P.M. — Colossians Bible Study (Rm. 220)
6:00-7:30 P.M. — “WednesdayInTheWord” Middle and High School Bible Study (The Jimmy)
Night of Healing Prayer Thursday, March 30th 7:00-8:30 PM St. James UMC Sanctuary
Everyone is welcome!
Annual International Missions BBQ
Saturday, April 8, 2017
BBQ may be picked up 11:00 a.m. through 3:00 p.m. BBQ by the pound will be available by pre-order only for $10. BBQ plates (1/4 lb. BBQ, corn soufflé, slaw and bread) will be $8.50. One ticket will be required for each pound or plate.
Ticket packets, in groups of 10, will be available for church members to sign for and sell tickets through next week. A table will be set up in the Fellowship Hall (between the services). Stubs, funds or unsold tickets from packets will be due back by April 3rd. Contact Dave Himmelsbach (706-540-9131) or [email protected] for more information.
The St. James Easter Egg Hunt is coming!
Join us on April 15 from 2:00 until 4:00 PM at the Babcock's farm.
We need candy and small toys to fill the eggs. Bins are located in the fellowship hall, the children's Sunday school hall, the nursery area, outside rooms 219 and 220, and in the narthex for any donations. Everyone is invited!
LUNCH BUNCH Wednesday, April 5 at 11:30 a.m.
China Star (3567 Atlanta Highway, near Academy Sports) RSVP by Monday, April 3 to Phylis Larkins at 706-338-0700
ST. JAMES SPRING CLEAN UP Saturday, April 1, 2017 8:00 am—Noon Come join us as we spruce up our building and grounds. A light breakfast and lunch will be provided.
