The Worship of God The Worship of God, continued

Palm Sunday│ March 20, 2016

Chiming of the Hour

Processional Hymn 172 Hosanna, Loud Hosanna

Welcome to Worship Rev. Lauren Efird Leader: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you.

Passing of the Peace Rev. Efird

For Reflection: In order to fully experience the joy of resurrection, we must enter into Christ’s suffering and death.

Preparation for Worship “Allegretto” from Hamburg C.P.E. Bach Sonata in G Anne Dyke, Flute

Call to Worship (from Psalm 118) Rev. Robin Hardison Leader: O give thanks to the Lord, for God is good. People: God’s steadfast love endures forever! Leader: Open to me the gates of righteousness, People: That I may enter through them and give thanks to God. Leader: This is the gate of the Lord; People: The righteous shall enter through it. Leader: You have answered me and become my salvation. People: The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. Leader: This is the Lord’s doing; People: It is marvelous in our eyes! Leader: This is the day the Lord has made; People: Let us rejoice and be glad in it! Leader: Save us, we beseech you, O Lord! People: O Lord, we beseech you, give us success! Leader: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. People: The Lord is God, and has given us light. Leader: Bind the festal procession with branches. People: You are our God, and we give thanks to you. Leader: You are our God, and we extol you. People: Give thanks to the Lord! God is good!

Invocation Rev. Hardison

Hymn 173 Lift Up Your Heads

Offertory Prayer Greg Upchurch

Offertory “Prelude” from Suite III in C J.S. Bach Rosalind Leavell, Cello

Presentation of the Offering 706 OLD 100TH Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God, above ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

At this time, the children (ages third grade and under) are invited to come to the front of the Sanctuary to go to Children’s Worship. Parents may pick up their children in the Children’s Wing after worship.

Scripture Reading Luke 19:28-48 Rev. Ben Wines

Lenten Cantata (see insert) Requiem John Rutter

Today marks the start of Holy Week, a time of reverence and reflection. Please refrain from applause at the end of today’s cantata so that we can maintain the spirit created by the music into our Holy Week observances.

Hymn 180 (v. 1-3) Go to Dark Gethsemane

Benediction Rev. Efird

Postlude If Thou But Suffer God Neumark-Bach to Guide Thee

Please stand as you are able.

The instrumentalists today are Anne Dyke, flute; Rosalind Leavell, cello; Jonathan Pelaez, timpani; Wilson Storey, harp; Julia Thompson,

timpani and glockenspiel; and Melanie Wilsden, oboe. The deacon of the day is Greg Upchurch,

Chair of the Congregational Care Ministry. Today’s acolyte is Nick Perkinson.

Hearing assistance devices are available at the back of the sanctuary.

Please join us for the Good Friday Service of Tenebrae this Friday, March 25, at 7 pm.

Childcare will be provided. ___________________________________________________________

Leadership Rev. Lauren Efird, Minister of Youth and Congregational Care

Rev. Robin Hardison, Minister of Children and Missions Rev. Stephen Stacks, Minister of Music Rev. Ben Wines, Ministerial Associate

Helen Bishop, Organist Dr. Luther Brewer, Pastor Emeritus

All Who Serve This Church

Announcements and Upcoming Events

Announcements and Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events Mar. 23 A Mile for Missions Walk/Run Mar. 25 Good Friday Tenebrae Service Mar. 27 Easter Sunday Mar. 28 Office Closed for Easter Monday April 3 Praise Assembly April 17 Ministry Expo April 17-24 WIHN Week April 24 Youth Ministry Sunday

Interim Pastor Announced At the church-wide business meeting on Sunday, March 13, the GFBC Congregation voted to name Rev. Lauren Efird as Interim Pastor. We are excited to have her serve in this role and look forward to her leadership as we work towards what’s next for GFBC.

Flowers for Easter Cross Everyone is invited to bring flowers to the narthex before Sunday School next Sunday to help adorn the cross that will be displayed in the sanctuary during worship.

Stations of the Cross Display The Stations of the Cross is an ancient Christian practice of guided prayer and meditation using a series of images that depict the passion of Jesus. Stations created by artists in our congregation are on display in the Sunday School hallway during the season of Lent. There is no better time than Holy Week, which begins today, to pray your way through these wonderful works of art.

Safety and Security Training Anyone who works with children or youth in any capacity and has not attended the Safety and Security Training needs to attend training on Sunday, April 10, at 2 pm. The training will be held in the Youth Alpha and Omega Room and will last one hour.

Choice Groups Update Our Spring Choice Groups that include the Bible Study Group, the Book Study Brook, the Crafting Group, and the Quilting Group continue to meet on Wednesday evenings at 6 pm after the Community Meal. Now that the time has changed, the Walking Choice Group will resume this Wednesday night, March 16, at 6 pm.

Organ Renovation Update Are you excited to experience some beautiful music this morning led by our choir, organist, and instrumentalists? Would you like for the organ to continue to function so that it can provide music long into the future? If so, donate now and pledge to donate over the next few years to the organ fund! We are still looking to raise about $30,000 more before we begin our project and would love to have every member pledge to give a certain amount over the next five to seven years. Contact Rev. Stephen Stacks to donate and pledge.

Food, Friends, and Fun Coming Soon It is hard to believe, but summer is right around the corner and that means it is time to sign up for Food, Friends, and Fun (FFF)! We will start our summer program for our community friends on Thursday, June 16. Like last year, we will be offering reading, crafts, games, and lunch for our friends who might be missing that hot meal since school will be out, but most importantly, we will be getting to know our neighbors. We need volunteers to help with the reading groups, crafts, games, and lunch preparation and serving. We also need van drivers to help pick up and take home our guests. If you are interested, contact Rev. Robin Hardison at robin.hardison@gfbccary.org. Don’t miss the fun!

Welcome New Members! We welcome to the GFBC family John and Lauren Lentivech who joined the church on March 6. John and Lauren live in Cary and have two young sons, Landon and Steven. We also welcome Catherine Glasgow and Sean Glasgow, the daughter and son of Scot and Leanne Glasgow. Catherine and Sean joined on March 13 and will be baptized on Easter Sunday.

Prayer Concerns______________________________________

Frank Aversa (Joe Hughes’ cousin), Janet Edwards Cheek, Sharon Edmondson, Thomas Edwards (Zelma Palmer’s father), Shirley Edwards, Lilli Hicks, Frances Jones, Gail Jones, David Judkins (Nancy Judkins’ son), Theresa Kelley, Ansley Mills, Doris Moore (Kathy Watkins’ mother), Milton Murray (Sylvia Byrd’s father), Pratt Parrish, Graham Williams (Joe Hughes’ brother-in-law), and Laura Yarbrough (Robin Hardison’s friend)

Rex Rehab, Apex—Don Corwin and Iris Thomas

We extend our sympathy to the family of Jean Chase and to Rev. Stephen Stacks at the death of his grandfather, Billy Stacks.

Our partner church, Ebenezer Baptist, Cuba, and our brothers and sisters of the Oromo Evangelical Lutheran Mission

GFBC by the Numbers_________________________________ Focus on Finance 2015/2016 Budget (MDP + MSP) $949,144 Amount of Budget supported through Stewardship Giving $897,334 (excludes cell tower and GFCC receipts) Week 28 of 52 (March 13) Stewardship Giving needed Week 28 YTD to fully subscribe budget $17,501 $477,310 Actual Stewardship Giving $13,462 $439,783 Over (Under) $(4,039) $(37,527) Attendance Last Week Sunday School 144 Worship 215

Good Friday Service of Tenebrae

Friday, March 25, 7:00 pm

The word “tenebrae” is Latin for “shadows” or “darkness.” The

purpose of the Tenebrae service, practiced in the church since

medieval times, is to recreate the emotional aspects of the passion

story: Christ’s betrayal, abandonment, death, and burial. The

readings will trace the story of Christ’s passion, the music will

portray his pathos, and the power of silence and darkness will

remind us of the drama of that momentous day.

It is impossible to fully experience the joy of Easter without

experiencing the darkness of Good Friday. We invite you to

attend this service as we join Christians throughout the world in

journeying with Christ to the cross.

110 SE Maynard Road, Cary, NC 27511

The children of Greenwood Forest invite you to support . . .

A Mile for Missions

Our Mission Kids are asking for donations for their

Mile for Missions ministry project.

This Wednesday evening, March 23, starting at 6 pm, the kids will run or

walk a mile in the church parking lot and are looking for sponsors.

If you have not already donated, look for our children at various

locations throughout the church to make a donation. And please make

plans to come watch our children walk/run on Wednesday, March 23.

All funds go to support the

Backpack Buddies Ministry.