OUR WORSHIP TIME BULLETIN

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January through June 2008 Click on a date to see a Bulletin

Jan. 6, 2008 Jan. 13, 2008 Jan. 20, 2008 Jan. 27, 2008

Feb. 3, 2008 Feb. 6, 2008(Ash) Feb. 10, 2008 Feb. 17, 2008

Feb. 24, 2008 March 2, 2008(Healing)March 9, 2008 March 16, 2008Palm

March 20, Maundy March 21, Fri. March 23, 2008Estr

March 30, 2008 April 6, 2008 April 13, 2008 April 20, 2008

April 27, 2008 May 4, 2008 May 11, 2008 May 18, 2008

May 25, 2008 June 1, 2008 June 8, 2008 June 15, 2008

June 22, 2008 June 29, 2008

Ideas for Sept. Praise Month: #481c "Come Just as You Are"; #583c "You Are My All in All" (anthem); #2002 "I Will Call Upon the Lord"(introit); #333 "Seek Ye First"(Resp.)

June 25, 2008: 7:30pm Choir Rehearsal

June 29, 2008

Introit: Praise Band

Prayer of Appr. Response: Praise Band

Anthem: Praise Band

Prayer Response: #333 "Seek Ye First" (Vs. 2)

(Insert): Ask and it shall be giv-en un-to you, Seek and ye shall find,

Knock and the door shall be o-pened un-to you. Al-le-lu, al-le-lu-ia!

Benediction: "Go With Us, Lord" (#535 words; #2076 piano)

Go with us Lord, and guide the way, Through this and ev-ery com-ing day,

That in Your Spir-it strong and true, Our lives may be, our gift to You.

Hymn of Praise (Jim): #483 Sing Praise to God, Who Reigns Above

Hymn of Meditation (Jim): #492 Baptized in Water

Hymn of Dedication (Jim): #372 Lord, I Want to Be a Christian

Praise Band Blesses us with their gifts.

Service for the Lord’s Day

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

June 29, 2008____ ___ _ __ __ 10:45 AM

By humble submission to John’s baptism, Christ joined himself to men in their need and entered upon his ministry of reconciliation in the power of the Spirit. Christian baptism marks the receiving of the same Spirit by all his people. Baptism with water represents not only cleansing from sin, but a dying with Christ and a joyful rising with him to new life. It commits all Christians to die each day to sin and to live for righteousness. In baptism, the church celebrates the renewal of the covenant with which God has bound his people to himself. By baptism, individuals are publicly received into the church to share in its life an d ministry, and the church becomes responsible for their training and support in Christian discipleship. When those baptized are infants, the congregation, as well as the parents, has a special obligation to nurture them in the Christian life, leading them to make, by a public profession, a personal response to the love of God shown forth in their baptism.

~ ~ ~ taken from the Book of Confessions

GATHERING

Prelude

Welcome and Concerns of the Church Leader

Introit “Here I am to Worship” Praise Band

Call to Worship

Pastor: The Kingdom of God has come near

People: Repent, and believe in the good news.

Leader: Thus says the high and exalted one who inhabits eternity;

People: Whose name is Holy

Leader: I dwell in a high and holy place, but I also live with those who are broken and humble in spirit,

People: To revive the spirit of the humble, to restore the courage of the broken.

Leader: In Christ God was reconciling the world to Godself, not counting their trespasses against them,

People: And entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.

*Hymn of Praise “Sing Praise to God, Who Reigns Above” No. 483

*Prayer of Approach Leader

Response “Come Just as You Are” Praise Band

*Confession and Pardon

*Call to Confession Pastor

*Confession of Sin (Unison) Leader

Tender Lord, You have shown us love and acceptance far beyond anything we had ever imagined possible. Yet we have complained about our lot, as though your care for us falls short of that of a good mother or father.

Forgive our ingratitude, and help us by your Spirit to welcome and affirm with gladness all that you have given us, confident that you order all things, not only for your glory, but also for our good, through Jesus Christ our Lord,

*Declaration of Pardon and God’s Claim on Us Pastor

*Gloria Patri “Glory Be to the Father” No. 579

THE WORD

Prayer for Illumination Leader

First Reading Jeremiah 20:7-13 Pg. 684

Children’s Sermon Pat Sanders

Anthem “I Could Sing of Your Love Forever” Praise Band

Second Reading Romans 6:1b-11 Pg. 146

Sermon Dr. James O. Pitts III

Invitation to Discipleship

We invite anyone who wishes to confess faith in Christ as Lord and Savior, who desires to reaffirm our baptismal faith, who seeks baptism for a child or who requests prayer with the laying on of hands to come forward during the next hymn.

*Hymn of Meditation “Baptized in Water” No. 492

Reaffirmation of Baptismal Covenant and Holy Baptism

Presentation of Couple and Child

*Profession of Faith: Let us stand to confess the faith of our baptism

Pastor: Do you believe in God the Father?

People: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

Pastor: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?

People: I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, Our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead; On the third day he rose again ; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

Pastor: Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?

People: I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Renunciation

Questions to Parents and Congregation

Thanksgiving Over the Water

Baptism and Laying On of Hands

Welcome of the Family

The Peace

Pastor: Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us forgive one another.

The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all

People: And also with you.

Prayers of the People

Lord’s Prayer

Response "Seek Ye First" (#333 Vs. 2)

Ask and it shall be giv-en un-to you, Seek and ye shall find,

Knock and the door shall be o-pened un-to you. Al-le-lu, al-le-lu-ia!

OUR RESPONSE TO GOD

Offertory

*Doxology No. 592

*Prayer of Thanksgiving

SENDING

*Hymn of Dedication “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” No. 276

*Charge

*Blessing

Response “Cares Chorus” Praise Team

Greeters - Joy Anstaett and Brenda Watson

Lay Reader - Ron Major

Ushers - Yvonne Battles, Donna Jameson and Adah Jenkins

Fellowship - Carol Hodgkinson

Sound Technicians - Michael Heatwole and Mitchell Watson

This Week’s Birthdays

Today - Sara Brown

Monday, Bob Law, Vivian Mohler

Tuesday - Doug Heatwole, George Purnell, Blanche Salyer, Connor Wikoff

Thursday - Ernie Wharton

This Week’s Anniversaries

Robert & Rosemary York 7/1/1968

This week’s prayer family: Joe and Jana Burnside.

This week’s prayer church: First Presbyterian Church in Derby, KS.

Church Family and Friends in Need of Special Prayers:

Natalie Hendreckson, Eden Murphy, Anne Brown, Joan Davis, Gary Friesner, Tom Meschke, Jim Wharton, Monty Fey, Jim Hamlett, Marge Williams, Greg Adams, Virginia Meschke, Laurie Bock, Bob Whippo, Debbie Harden, Gladys Cripe, Dave Sweley, Pat LeClerc, Dale Meadors, Susan Brookover, Linda Friesner, Karen Dunbar, John Hoxie, Ruth Oliver, Caroline Sundquist, Nancy Stegman, Belinda Fouse.

(Please call the church with your personal prayer request).

God Bless All Of You.

The following families have recently lost loved ones.

Please pray for the family of Les DePew, the family of Jack Reeve, the family of Ella Neff, Dave and Cheryl Sweley on the passing of his mother, Lois, Blanche Larson on the passing of her son Eric, Gladys Cripe and Blanche Larson on the passing of their sister Virginia Coen, Rolland Mathias and family on the passing of his brother, Laddie.

Special note:

There will be no Bell Choir and no Sunday school classes on

Sunday, July 6.

Sunday, July 6th

The Ochampaugh family will be hosting their annual Ice Cream Social

during our time of fellowship.

Thank you to the Ochampaugh family

for this enjoyable treat.

Tumbleweed Food Stand

Tumbleweed Festival is coming soon!

Please mark your calendars for Saturday & Sunday,

August 23-24.

We'll soon have a sign –up sheet in the Atrium for

serving in the food stand.

June 18, 2008: 7:30pm Choir Rehearsal

June 22, 2008

Introit: #382 Vs. 2 "Somebody's Knocking at Your Door"

Prayer of Appr. Response: "Come Just As You Are" #481c

Anthem: "Sweet By and By" (#778c)

Prayer Response: #333 "Seek Ye First" (Vs. 2)

(Insert): Ask and it shall be giv-en un-to you, Seek and ye shall find,

Knock and the door shall be o-pened un-to you. Al-le-lu, al-le-lu-ia!

Benediction: "Go With Us, Lord" (#535 words; #2076 piano)

Go with us Lord, and guide the way, Through this and ev-ery com-ing day,

That in Your Spir-it strong and true, Our lives may be, our gift to You.

Hymn of Praise (Jim): #458 Earth and All Stars

Hymn of Meditation (Jim): #148 At the Name of Jesus

Hymn of Dedication (Jim): #388 O Jesus, I Have Promised

Service for the Lord’s Day

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

June 22, 2008____ ___ _ __ __ 10:45 AM

Sin means that all our relations with others have become distorted and confused. Although we did not cease to be with God, our fellow human beings, and other creatures, we did cease to be for them; and although we did not lose our distinctive human capacities completely, we did lose the ability to use them rightly, especially in relation to God. Having ruined our connection with God by disobeying God’s will, we are persons with hearts curved in upon ourselves. We have become slaves to the sin of which we are guilty, helpless to save ourselves, and are free, so far as freedom remains, only within the bounds of sin.

~ ~ ~ taken from the Study Catechism

GATHERING

Prelude

Welcome and Concerns of the Church Leader

Introit "Somebody's Knocking at Your Door" (#382 Vs. 2) Chancel Choir

Call to Worship

Pastor: The Kingdom of God has come near

People: Repent, and believe in the good news.

Leader: Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening;

People: You have the words of eternal life.

Leader: Therefore, our Savior, Christ Jesus, abolished death

People: And brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

*Hymn of Praise “Earth and All Stars” No. 458

*Prayer of Approach Leader

Response "Come Just As You Are" (#481c) Chancel Choir

*Confession and Pardon

*Call to Confession Pastor

*Confession of Sin (Unison) Leader

Here we are, O God; we present ourselves to you. But how little we trust you to provide! How we fear the path to which you call us! How wayward we continue to be! We have been slaves to sin, which leads to death. You call us to obedience, which leads to righteousness and life. Lord, forgive our lack of faith and loyalty. Make us obedient from the heart, generous to the people you send our way, and open to your bountiful grace.

*Declaration of Pardon and God’s Claim on Us Pastor

*Gloria Patri “Glory Be to the Father” No. 579

THE WORD

Prayer for Illumination Leader

First Reading Jeremiah 28:5-19 Pg. 692

Children’s Sermon Pat Sanders

Anthem "Sweet By and By" (#778c) Chancel Choir

Second Reading Romans 6:12-23 Pg. 146

Sermon Dr. James O. Pitts III

Invitation to Discipleship

*Hymn of Meditation “At the Name of Jesus No. 148

Prayers of the People

Lord’s Prayer

Response "Seek Ye First" (#333 Vs. 2) Chancel Choir

Ask and it shall be giv-en un-to you, Seek and ye shall find,

Knock and the door shall be o-pened un-to you. Al-le-lu, al-le-lu-ia!

OUR RESPONSE TO GOD

Offertory

*Doxology No. 592

*Prayer of Thanksgiving

*Passing of Christ’s Peace

Pastor: Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us forgive one another.

The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all

People: And also with you.

SENDING

*Hymn of Dedication “O Jesus, I Have Promised” No. 388

*Charge

*Blessing

Congregational Response "Go With Us, Lord" No. 535

Go with us Lord, and guide the way, Through this and ev-ery com-ing day,

That in Your Spir-it strong and true, Our lives may be, our

Across the Pastor’s Desk

By way of updating the congregation: last Wednesday our presbytery asked us to host a committee from the presbytery that is exploring the possibilities of launching an Hispanic ministry in this area (Dodge and Garden Cities). If feasible, it will be a joint venture between the Presbytery of Southern Kansas and the Presbytery of Northern Mexico. This week we invited three representatives from Mexico to look with us at the Hispanic populations in Wichita, Dodge City, and Garden City.

Obviously no details are currently available, as the plan has yet to be developed. But the preliminary investigation seems to appear quite positive in terms of starting something.

Since whatever is developed here would probably involve our congregation at some level, our General Presbyter asked me to contact several of our current elders for inclusion in this preliminary investigation.

Wednesday morning at 8:30 we hosted the Presbytery Committee and three of our elders for a light breakfast. Elder Joy Anstaett and Donna Jameson prepared a delightful breakfast for twelve of us - elders and presbytery Committee Members (including the three delegates from Mexico). My personal thanks to Joy and Donna for getting up early to get the breakfast ready; to Mike Collins, Chip Marcy, and Ron Major for interacting with the Presbytery Committee. Ron also set up a meeting with the Director of Emmaus House. Gilberto Dorantes planned our itinerary, drove the bus with all of us aboard, and provided ample commentary about the Hispanic community in Garden City.

All of these guests expressed great appreciation. So soon as there are any developments, I will alert you. If there is a desire for our involvement at any level, the Session will first be informed and their decision will certainly be quickly communicated to you.

A big THANK YOU to

- all who helped in any way with the VBS Beach Party. It was

a great success with about 27 children attending and 16 or so

adult and youth helpers. If you lent us anything, please look

for me to return the week of June 29^th.

- the Fellowship Committee for the breakfast donations for the

Youth Mission trip.

- Chip Marcy, the car wash crew, and car owners for the

Mission fund-raiser.

Nominating Committee

On Thursday, June 26^th at 6:00 pm we will be having

a committee meeting.

Greeters - Yvonne Battles

Lay Reader - Audrey Law

Ushers - Carol Hodgkinson, Ron Major

Fellowship - The Marcy family

Sound Technicians - Michael Heatwole and Mitchell Watson

This Week’s Birthdays

Today - Sarah Headrick

Monday - Madelyn Mathias

Tuesday - Laramee James, Cheryl Sweley, Molly Wieland

Wednesday - Jeff Sterling

Thursday - Patsy Roth

Friday - Rick Erwin, Jill Whippo

Saturday - Randy McVey

This week’s prayer family: Larry, Brenda and Mitchell Watson.

This week’s prayer church: St. Marks Presbyterian Church

in Haysville, KS.

Church Family and Friends in Need of Special Prayers:

Pat Roth, Natalie Hendreckson, Eden Murphy, Anne Brown, Joan Davis, Gary Friesner, Tom Meschke, Jim Wharton, Monty Fey, Les DePew, Jim Hamlett, Marge Williams, Greg Adams, Virginia Meschke, Laurie Bock, Bob Whippo, Debbie Harden, Gladys Cripe, Dave Sweley, Pat LeClerc, Dale Meadors, Susan Brookover, Linda Friesner, Karen Dunbar, John Hoxie, Ruth Oliver, Caroline Sundquist, Nancy Stegman, Belinda Fouse.

(Please call the church with your personal prayer request). God Bless All Of You.

The following families have recently lost loved ones.

Please pray for the family of Jack Reeve, the family of Ella Neff,

Dave and Cheryl Sweley on the passing of his mother, Lois, Blanche Larson on the passing of her son Eric, Gladys Cripe and Blanche Larson on the passing of their sister Virginia Coen, Rolland Mathias and family on the passing of his brother, Laddie.

THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITIES

Sunday, June 22

Bell Choir @ 8:30 am,

Sunday school @ 9:30 am,

Worship @ 10:45 am

Monday, June 23

Personnel Committee @ 4:00 pm,

Stewardship Committee @ 6:30 pm

Tuesday, June 24

Praise Team @ 7:00 pm

Wednesday, June 25

Choir @ 7:30 pm

Thursday, June 26

Nominating Committee @ 6:00 pm

Sunday, June 29

Bell Choir @ 8:30 am,

Sunday school @ 9:30 am,

Worship @ 10:45 am,

Baptism - Reception of New Members

June 11, 2008: 7:30pm Choir Rehearsal

June 15, 2008

Introit: #382 Vs. 2 "Somebody's Knocking at Your Door"

Prayer of Appr. Response: "Come Just As You Are" #481c

Anthem: "Praise to the Lord the Almighty"

Prayer Response: #333 "Seek Ye First" (Vs. 2)

(Insert): Ask and it shall be giv-en un-to you, Seek and ye shall find,

Knock and the door shall be o-pened un-to you. Al-le-lu, al-le-lu-ia!

Benediction: "Go With Us, Lord" (#535 words; #2076 piano)

Go with us Lord, and guide the way, Through this and ev-ery com-ing day,

That in Your Spir-it strong and true, Our lives may be, our gift to You.

Hymn of Praise (Jim): #477 Ye Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim

Hymn of Meditation (Jim): #101 When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

Hymn of Dedication (Jim): #429 Lord, You Give the Great Commission

Service for the Lord’s Day

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

June 15, 2008____ ___ _ __ __ 10:45 AM

Faith, which receives and rests on Christ and Christ’s righteousness, is the

sole instrument of our justification (i.e. our acceptance by God), yet is not alone in

the person justified, but is ever accompanied by all the other saving graces, and is

no dead faith, but works by love.

~ ~ ~ adopted from Westminster Confession of Faith

GATHERING

Prelude

Welcome and Concerns of the Church Leader

Introit 382 Vs. 2 "Somebody's Knocking at Your Door" Chancel Choir

Call to Worship

Pastor: The Kingdom of God has come near

People: Repent, and believe in the good news.

Leader: In this is love, not that we loved God but that God loved us

People: And sent God’s Son into the world so that we might live through him.

Leader: God sent the Son into the world not to condemn the world.

People: But that the world might be saved through him.

*Hymn of Praise “Ye Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim” No. 477

*Prayer of Approach Leader

Response "Come Just As You Are" #481c Chancel Choir

*Confession and Pardon

*Call to Confession Pastor

*Confession of Sin (Unison) Leader

Almighty God, you love us, but we have not loved you. You call, but we have not listened. We walk away from neighbors in need, wrapped in our own concerns. We condone evil, prejudice, warfare, and greed.

God of grace, help us to admit our sin, so that as you come to us in mercy, we may repent, turn to you, and receive forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Redeemer.

*Declaration of Pardon and God’s Claim on Us Pastor

*Gloria Patri “Glory Be to the Father” No. 579

THE WORD

Prayer for Illumination Leader

First Reading Genesis 18:1-15 Pg. 13

Children’s Sermon Pat Sanders

Anthem "Praise to the Lord the Almighty" Chancel Choir

Second Reading Romans 5:1-11 Pg. 146

Sermon Dr. James O. Pitts III

Invitation to Discipleship

*Hymn of Meditation “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” No. 101

Prayers of the People

Lord’s Prayer

Response #333 "Seek Ye First" (Vs. 2)

Ask and it shall be giv-en un-to you, Seek and ye shall find,

Knock and the door shall be o-pened un-to you. Al-le-lu, al-le-lu-ia!

OUR RESPONSE TO GOD

Offertory

*Doxology No. 592

*Prayer of Thanksgiving

*Passing of Christ’s Peace

Pastor: Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us forgive one another.

The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all

People: And also with you.

SENDING

*Hymn of Dedication “Lord, You Give the Great Commission” No. 429

*Charge

*Blessing

Congregational Response "Go With Us, Lord"

Go with us Lord, and guide the way, Through this and ev-ery com-ing day,

That in Your Spir-it strong and true, Our lives may be, our gift to You.

Flowers this week are given in loving memory of

Sally Wharton

and in honor of Father’s day by

The Wharton family

Greeters - Dale and Leona Meadors

Lay Reader - Shelby Heatwole

Ushers - AJ Dome, Steven Buchele

Fellowship - Fellowship Committee - Breakfast at the Church

Sound Technicians - Michael Heatwole and Mitchell Watson

This Week’s Birthdays This Week’s Anniversaries

Monday - Tom Meschke Rodney & Lloydeen Wolfe 6/15/1980

Wednesday - Darlene Mathias Lee & Brenda Reeve 6/18/1983

Thursday - Carole Naylor Rodney & Tara York 6/19/2004

Saturday - Ken Harsha Rick & Bonnie Erwin 6/21/1975

This week’s prayer family: Robert and Rosemary York and Joe York.

This week’s prayer church: First Presbyterian Church in Freeport, KS.

Church Family and Friends in Need of Special Prayers:

Eden Murphy, Anne Brown, Joan Davis, Gary Friesner, Tom Meschke, Jim Wharton, Monty Fey, Les DePew, Jim Hamlett, Marge Williams, Greg Adams, Virginia Meschke, Jack Reeve, Laurie Bock, Bob Whippo, Debbie Harden, Gladys Cripe, Dave Sweley, Pat LeClerc, Dale Meadors, Susan Brookover, Linda Friesner, Karen Dunbar, John Hoxie, Ruth Oliver, Caroline Sundquist, Nancy Stegman, Belinda Fouse.

(Please call the church with your personal prayer request).

God Bless All Of You.

The following families have recently lost loved ones.

Please pray for the family of Ella Neff, Dave and Cheryl Sweley on the passing of his mother, Lois, Blanche Larson on the passing of her son Eric, Gladys Cripe and Blanche Larson on the passing of their sister Virginia Coen.

From the Personnel Committee

Our Administrative Assistant Connie Boese will be gone on vacation the weeks of July 7 and 14. Now is your chance to be "Secretary for a Day", or longer! We are looking for volunteers to answer the phone, take messages and talk to people who come into the office. You would not be expected to type anything or do the many other administrative tasks that Connie ordinarily takes care of.

Mary Buchele will also be out of the office on the mission trip during the second week, so we will need to cover full days during that time. If you want to volunteer please call the office or Ann Hamlett and let us know when you could be available and we will work out the schedule. Thanks!

COMMITTEE MINUTES DUE

JUNE 17, 2008

The VBS Beach Party starts Monday at 9:00 a.m. We have great music and stories, crafts, snacks and games. If you have children in your house or neighborhood, please bring them to the Party! (Ages 3 – 4^th grade, Monday – Friday, 9:00 – 11:45 a.m.) Registration forms are in the atrium

We ask for your prayers during this busy and exciting week.

“A VBS Beach Party Sampler”

If you can’t be here for VBS, come to our Family Potluck

and Worship service on Wednesday, June 18. Flamé the Flamingo, and the VBS children will be there, and worship will include many of the scriptures, songs and “Beach Be-Attitudes” being used at VBS. Bring a main dish and a side dish or dessert for potluck dinner at 6:00. Then praise God with us in worship at 6:30!

Hunger Barrel

Sunday, June 15, the Lay Ministry committee will be taking donations for their Hunger Barrel to benefit the Emmaus House. There is a great need in our community and your generosity is greatly appreciated. Together, we can help ease the hunger in our community.

Reserve a time to have your T.L.C.W.

(Tender Loving Car Wash)

Youth Mission Fund-raiser. June 18, 3-6 p.m.

Outside only $10, Inside only $10, Both $20

Contact one of our youth, or Chip Marcy or Mary Buchele

to schedule. (Pick-up & return by adult driver available.)

Across the Pastor’s Desk

The Value of Developing an Integrated Orthodoxy

The most critical issue facing PC (USA) today is the issue of an integrated orthodoxy. (I know that locally we would list many other things, but stay with me for a while.) An integrated orthodoxy is an essentially devotional, ethical, and intellectual stance that fits together our heads (thinking about God and humans), our hearts (our sense of reverence, compassion, zeal, etc.), and our hands (our actions that express our reverence, our compassion, our zeal, etc.) Ultimately this is the only kind of orthodoxy that counts. Ironically it is this stance that would help solve other issues that loom so large locally.

“Orthodoxy” is not currently a socially, ecclesiastically, or politically correct word. For many it conjures up fantasies of rigidity, persecution, superficiality, and narrowness. While, tragically, there have been episodes where these prevailed, an integrated orthodoxy works against that. It is difficult to persecute when the compassion of Christ moves us to empathy. It is hard to believe superficial, pious clichés when we think as realistically and profoundly as we see in the Christ. When we have been exposed to and absorbed the fullness of Scriptural and religious teaching, we don’t usually turn out narrow.

What usually happens among us is this: each of us has a natural propensity toward one of these “orthodoxies” and feels most comfortable with it - all to often in relative isolation from the other two. Many action oriented persons (hand orthodoxy) dismiss spending too much time studying and pondering (head orthodoxy); many thinkers (head orthodoxy) see compassion and devotion (heart orthodoxy) as “bleeding hearts” or over-focused “navel gazing”. Often people with great empathy (heart orthodoxy) criticize thinkers (head orthodoxy) or overzealous dogmatists and activists of offering nothing for the hungers of the heart.

Our Reformed tradition, at its best, supports all three of these and sees them as powerfully interacting. Not only does a congregation need all three emphases, each of us needs to cultivate each of these more fully in our personal lives.

Overemphasizing any one of these leaves us blind sighted. It may even lead to forms of fanaticism that will give any of these “orthodoxies” a bad name. Thinking religiously without a feeling of compassion and a sense of reverence leads to a sterile and moralizing dogmatism. Feeling compassion and reverence without doing specific deeds of mercy and service leads to hypocritical shallowness. Acting compassionate without doing some hard headed religious thinking often makes us vulnerable to being manipulated into functioning as “patsies” or “enablers”.

The local issues of congregational life cannot and should not be ignored: numbers, leaders, time, finances, etc. What challenges us most is to grow in grace in these three and other areas of our life. We are a talented congregation. This continues to show up in committee work. We are an intelligent and well educated congregation. This continues to show up in many discussions and in the things we like in church. We can be a compassionate group. This shows up in the mission activities for which many of our congregation volunteer.

The challenge for each of us is to develop in the areas we don’t usually emphasize, while maintaining the emphasis wherein we feel most comfortable. The only kind of orthodoxy that is truly safe and the only one that ultimately counts is the integrated orthodoxy of the thinking head, the warm heart, and the outstretched hand.

June 4, 2008: 7:30pm Choir Rehearsal

June 8, 2008

Introit: #382 Vs. 2 "Somebody's Knocking at Your Door"

Prayer of Appr. Response: "Come Just As You Are" #481c

Anthem: "O Sing to the Lord a New Song" (Ps. 33)

Prayer Response: #333 "Seek Ye First" (Vs. 2)

(Insert): Ask and it shall be giv-en un-to you, Seek and ye shall find,

Knock and the door shall be o-pened un-to you. Al-le-lu, al-le-lu-ia!

Benediction: "Go With Us, Lord" (#535 words; #2076 piano)

Go with us Lord, and guide the way, Through this and ev-ery com-ing day,

That in Your Spir-it strong and true, Our lives may be, our gift to You.

Hymn of Praise (Jim): #488 The God of Abraham Praise

Hymn of Meditation (Jim): #356 Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Hymn of Dedication (Jim): #310 Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee

Service for the Lord’s Day

Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

June 8, 2008_____ ___ _ __ __ 10:45 AM

True faith, is not only a certain knowledge by which I accept as true all that

God has revealed to us in his Word, but also a wholehearted trust which the Holy

Spirit creates in me through the gospel, that, not only to others, but to me also God

has given the forgiveness of sins, everlasting righteousness and salvation, out of sheer grace solely for the sake of Christ’s saving work.

~ ~ ~ taken from the Book of Confessions

GATHERING

Prelude

Welcome and Concerns of the Church Leader

Introit "Somebody's Knocking at Your Door" #382 Vs. 2 Chancel Choir

Call to Worship

Pastor: Blessed be God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

People: And blessed be his kingdom, now and forever. Amen

Leader: Praise God. Sing to God a new song.

People: God’s word is honorable, and all God’s work is done in faithfulness.

Leader: God loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of God.

People: Stand in awe of God for God created all things.

Leader: Rejoice in the Lord and give praises to God’s holy name.

*Hymn of Praise “The God of Abraham Praise” No. 488

*Prayer of Approach Leader

Response "Come Just As You Are" #481c Chancel Choir

*Confession and Pardon

*Call to Confession Pastor

*Confession of Sin (Unison) Leader

Holy and merciful God, in your presence we confess our sinfulness, our shortcomings, and our offenses against you. You alone know how often we have sinned in wandering from your ways, in wasting your gifts, in forgetting your love. Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we are ashamed and sorry for all we have done to displease you. Forgive our sins, and help us to live in your light, and walk in your ways, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Savior.

*Declaration of Pardon and God’s Claim on Us Pastor

*Gloria Patri “Glory Be to the Father” No. 579

THE WORD

Prayer for Illumination Leader

First Reading Genesis 12:1-9 Pg. 9

Children’s Sermon Pat Sanders

Anthem "O Sing to the Lord a New Song" Chancel Choir

Second Reading Romans 4:13-25 Pg. 145

Sermon Dr. James O. Pitts III

Invitation to Discipleship

We invite anyone who wished to confess faith in Christ as Lord and Savior, who desires to reaffirm our baptismal faith, who seeks baptism for a child or who requests prayer with the laying on of hands to come forward during the next hymn.

*Hymn of Meditation “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” No. 356

Prayers of the People

Lord’s Prayer

Response #333 "Seek Ye First" (Vs. 2)

Ask and it shall be giv-en un-to you, Seek and ye shall find,

Knock and the door shall be o-pened un-to you. Al-le-lu, al-le-lu-ia!

OUR RESPONSE TO GOD

Offertory

*Doxology No. 592

*Prayer of Thanksgiving

*Passing of Christ’s Peace

Pastor: Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us forgive one another.

The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all

People: And also with you.

SENDING

*Hymn of Dedication “Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee” No. 310

*Charge

*Blessing

Congregational Response "Go With Us, Lord"

Go with us Lord, and guide the way, Through this and ev-ery com-ing day,

That in Your Spir-it strong and true, Our lives may be, our gift to You.

Greeters - Nancy and Virginia Sowers

Lay Reader - Brevin Irvin

Ushers - Wayne and Ellen Lynn, Gary Friesner and Kathy Friesen

Fellowship - Steve and Kathy Irvin

Sound Technicians - Michael Heatwole and Mitchell Watson

This Week’s Birthdays

Wednesday - Mary Connors, Joan Parsons

This Week’s Anniversaries

John & Emme Miller 6/8/1963 Joe & Jana Burnside 6/12/1976

Rod & Mary Buchele 6/14/1986 Ken & Connie Harsha 6/14/1953

Rodney & Lloydeen Wolfe 6/15/1980

Across the Pastor’s Desk

“Since when do Presbyterians give altar calls, unless it is during an announced, planned revival service?” “Who’s supposed to respond, anyway?” “I didn’t think that liturgy and evangelism went together. They’ve always been presented to us more like sparring partners that we had to choose between!” Maybe you thought something like this when you first scanned today’s bulletin!

In today’s bulletin I added a short Invitation to Discipleship (an invitation to respond) after the sermon. Our Directory for Worship says that we ought to provide opportunities for people to be able to make a variety of responses to God’s grace in Jesus Christ. Our weekly service is not intended primarily as an evangelistic service; rather, it aims at our continuing growth in grace that “builds up (“edifies”) the church”. Yet we also need to expect and to provide for those occasions when God, as Holy Spirit, will call new disciples into our midst.

The kind of invitation to respond that we are urged to offer is directly related to our religious commitment: church membership is best understood as discipleship to Jesus Christ. It is also far more varied than most congregations ever dreamed. In our Directory we find: “The response to the proclaimed Word is expressed in an affirmation of faith and commitment. An

opportunity for personal response may also be provided. The Sacrament of Baptism may be observed. Baptized believers may be received as they affirm their faith or transfer their letter. Other acts of commitment which are appropriate are....” (W 3-3.500)

The Directory then goes on to list still other possibilities:

Ordaining and installing officers, commissioning varied church workers, including church school teachers, and marrying couples. Our Directory further suggests that proper responses may involve recognitions and transitions that are important to particular congregations.

The Directory calls our attention to a fundamental reality: Our worship services, whether on Sunday or other occasion, intend that in some way each of us will respond - within our hearts, or publicly, or both.

On several occasions the response will, of necessity, be both within our hearts and publicly articulated: confirmations, baptisms, ordinations, installations, teacher commissioning, etc. These are not to be merely formal, required recognitions, but concrete moments of significance wherein, in a new way, we deepen our commitment to God and pledge ourselves to join God’s mission to the world..

On other occasions some individuals may wish to request preparation for baptism; to ask for prayer and the laying on of hands; to renew their commitment to Christ and to his church, etc. This would not be an occasion for a speech or for a long announcement. It would simply be our way of fulfilling the Directory’s admonition that “we ought to provide opportunities for people to be able to make a variety of responses to God’s grace in Jesus Christ”.

We won’t set aside the front pews as “Mourners’ Benches”, nor will we keep on singing “Just As I Am” until somebody finally breaks. But hopefully none of us will leave the sanctuary without deepening our commitment to the Triune God through Christ in some way.

We REALLY need your help!!!!!!!

Have you signed up for Meals on Wheels?

There are still routes that we do not have anyone to deliver meals.

We are scheduled to deliver meals during the week s of

June 16 through 21 and June 23 through 28

If you are able to volunteer approximately one hour on the days still available, please consider helping. Sign up sheet is located in the office on the front desk.

Thank you.

Youth Mission Trip

The youth and sponsors going on the mission trip in July will meet tonight, Sunday June 8 at 6:00 pm. Parents are invited to this meeting as we will be discussing departure and return times, what mission activities we will be doing and where the group will stay. Also on the agenda is the “fun day” activities. Hope to see you there! Mary & Kurt

Breakfast at the Church

The Fellowship Committee will be serving Breakfast next Sunday, (June 15) at 9:30 am.

The Committee will provide ham, pancakes and orange juice.

The congregation is invited to bring a side dish of fresh fruit.

Presbyterian Women’s Mission Tea

You Are Invited!

June 11^th is the date for the Presbyterian Women’s Mission Tea this year t the First Presbyterian Church of Lakin. They would like to extend an invitation to all Presbyterian Women to attend. Sue Nispel from Covenant Presbyterian Church in Wichita will be the guest speaker. Sue recently went to Thailand for the dedication of an orphanage that was funded by the Presbyterian Women’s Thank Offering. She will share about the program and the children there. The other area of concern that she would like to speak about is the women of Thailand and ways to empower and provide employment and income for them. These are issues that all the churched in Thailand are concerned about at this time. Less than 1% of the population in Thailand are Christian and yet the Christian churches there have a rich heritage of mission work among women and children. Please plan to attend on June 11th at 1:30 pm as Sue shares her mission experience with us. Refreshments will be served following the program.

If you plan on attending with a group, please contact the office at 620-355-7601 so that they can make plans for refreshments. An offering will be taken to help with driving

expenses.

VBS begins next week!

June 16 – 20, 9:00 – 11:45 a.m.

Please pray for the children and their parents, and for our leaders and helpers, that the assemblies and classes would be pleasing to the LORD. If you are able to help with registration or a day, please see Mary or Kathryn.

We are still looking for a variety of items. Mary and Kathryn will have a list posted in the atrium. Please look it over and let us know if you can supply any of our needs.

Registration forms are also available in the atrium.

Pre-registration makes life easier for everyone!

VBS Teachers and Helpers

A orientation meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 11 at 7:00 pm. There will be a light salad dinner. If you require child care please contact the church office no later than Tuesday afternoon.

This week’s prayer families: Cathaleen Cooper, Joan Davis,

Dorothea Kline, and Linda Mueller.

This week’s prayer church: First Presbyterian Church in Larned, KS.

Church Family and Friends in Need of Special Prayers:

Eden Murphy, Louis McElroy, Anne Brown, Joan Davis, Gary Friesner, Tom Meschke, Jim Wharton, Monty Fey, Les DePew, Jim Hamlett, Marge Williams, Greg Adams, Virginia Meschke, Jack Reeve, Laurie Bock, Bob Whippo, Debbie Harden, Gladys Cripe, Dave Sweley, Pat LeClerc, Dale Meadors, Susan Brookover, Linda Friesner, Karen Dunbar, John Hoxie, Ruth Oliver, Caroline Sundquist, Nancy Stegman, Belinda Fouse.

(Please call the church with your personal prayer request). God Bless All Of You.

The following families have recently lost loved ones.

THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITIES

Sunday, June 8

Bell Choir @ 8:30 am, Sunday school @ 9:30 am, Worship @ 10:45 am

Tuesday, June 10

CE @ 6:00 pm, Praise Team @ 7:00 pm

Wednesday, June 11

Choir @ 7:30 pm, Worship @ 8:30 pm

Thursday, June 12

Deacons @ 11:30 am, Lay Ministry @ 6:00 pm, Stewardship @ 6:30 pm

Sunday, June 15 - Breakfast at the Church

Breakfast @ 9:30 am, Worship @ 10:45 am

May 30, 2008: 7:30pm Choir Rehearsal

June 1, 2008

Introit: #216 "O Sing a New Song to the Lord"

Prayer of Appr. Response: "I Love You, Lord" (#2068)

Anthem: #400 "When We Are Living" (Choir Notes: Vs. 1=All; Vs. 2= Solo or Men, 2 lines; Vs. 3=Solo or Ladies 2 lines; Vs. 4 All Sing)

Song of Gathering: #513 "Let Us Break Bread Together" (All Sing)

Benediction: "Go With Us, Lord" All Sing (Choir notes: #535 words; #2076 piano)

Go with us Lord, and guide the way, Through this and ev-ery com-ing day,

That in Your Spir-it strong and true, Our lives may be, our gift to You.

Hymn of Praise (Jim): #

Hymn of Meditation (Jim): #

Hymn of Dedication (Jim): #

Service for the Lord’s Day

Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

June 1, 2008_____ ___ _ __ __ 10:45 AM

The Lord’s Supper is the sign and seal by which our communion with Christ

is renewed. When we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, the Lord Jesus Christ is truly present, pouring out his Spirit upon us. By his Spirit the bread that we break and

the cup that we bless share in our Lord’s own body and blood. Through them he

once offered our life to God; through them he now offers his life to us. As I receive the bread and the cup, remembering that Christ died even for me, I feed on him in my heart by faith with thanksgiving, and enter his risen life, so that his life becomes mine, and my life becomes his, to all eternity.

~ ~ ~ taken from the Study Catechism

GATHERING

Prelude

Welcome and Concerns of the Church Leader

Introit "O Sing a New Song to the Lord" #216 Chancel Choir

Call to Worship

Pastor: Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

People: And blessed be his kingdom, now and forever. Amen

Leader: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

People: Though the earth should change and the mountains shake into the sea, we will not fear, for God is with us.

Leader: The God of hosts is with us.

People: The Holy God of heaven and earth is our refuge.

*Hymn of Praise “If Thou but Trust in God to Guide Thee” No. 282

*Prayer of Approach Leader

Response "I Love You, Lord" (#2068) Chancel Choir

*Confession and Pardon

*Call to Confession Pastor

*Confession of Sin (Unison) Leader

Merciful God, in your gracious presence we confess our sin and the sin of the world. Although Christ is among us as our peace, we are a people divided against ourselves as we cling to the values of a broken world. The profit and pleasures we pursue lay waste the land and pollute the seas. The fears and jealousies that we harbor set neighbor against neighbor and nation against nation. We abuse your good gifts of imagination and freedom, of intellect and reason, and have turned them into bonds of oppression.

Lord, have mercy upon us; heal and forgive us. Set us free to serve you in the world as agents of your reconciling love in Jesus Christ.

*Declaration of Pardon and God’s Claim on Us Pastor

*Gloria Patri “Glory Be to the Father” No. 579

THE WORD

Prayer for Illumination Leader

First Reading Genesis 6:9-22; 7:24; 8:14-19 Pg. 5

Time for God’s Children Pat Sanders

Anthem "When We Are Living" #400 Chancel Choir

Gospel Reading Romans 1:16-17; 3:22b-31 Pg. 144

Sermon James O Pitts III

*Hymn of Meditation “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less” No. 379

Prayers of the People

OUR RESPONSE TO GOD

Offertory

*Doxology No. 592

Invitation to the Lord’s Table We invite to this table all Christians from any tradition

Great Thanksgiving and Lord’s Prayer

The Dialogue:

Pastor: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Pastor: Lift up your hearts.

People: We lift them up to the Lord.

Pastor: Let us give thanks to our the Lord our God.

People: It is right to give thanks and praise.

Breaking of the Bread

Song of Gathering "Let Us Break Bread Together" No. 513

Communion of the People

Prayer after Communion

*Passing of Christ’s Peace

Pastor: Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us forgive one another.

The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all

People: And also with you.

SENDING

*Hymn of Dedication “Be Thou My Vision” No. 339

*Charge

*Blessing

Congregational Response "Go With Us, Lord"

Go with us Lord, and guide the way, Through this and ev-ery com-ing day,

That in Your Spir-it strong and true, Our lives may be, our gift to You.

Greeters - Adah Jenkins

Lay Reader - Carole Naylor

Ushers - Gordon & Priscilla Hallberg and Bob and Audrey Law

Fellowship - The Buchele family

Sound Technicians - Michael Heatwole and Mitchell Watson

This Week’s Birthdays: This Week’s Anniversaries:

Wednesday - Rodney York Ron & Janet Major 6/1/1974

Thursday - Julie Middleton Ron & Pat Roth 6/6/1996

Saturday - Riley Bock Chad & Nancy Woods 6/7/1987

Across the Pastor’s Desk

Some of our members have asked, “What is the purpose of the pastor’s articles in the bulletin and the newsletter?” The simplest answer is that many members find them informative and helpful. That was certainly my hope. Even if not everyone is equally interested, it is worthwhile for those who do.

At a more basic level the answer is a little different. I discovered early, and accidentally, how little members knew about some of the things we do and teach. I also discovered how long it takes for some facets of church life to filter its way through our educational program. So I began writing brief articles about what is Advent; or why the Prayer of Confession is arranged as it is; or how we elect officers, etc.

While not everybody would read every word, enough people did that more accurate information was floating through the congregation and less confusion reigned. This way most people began to know at least a little about a lot of things; whenever they wanted to know more in some particular area, they could then ask questions, read a book, or take a class.

Since I will be here at the most 24 months, I am trying to expose the congregation to as much useful information as possible in that time. Particularly what PC (USA) teaches is a bit fuzzy for many folks. So both the short quotations from our Constitution each week and the column in the bulletin and newsletter.

Sometimes this is prompted by activity within the congregation, like articles on the need for teachers; sometimes the particular Sunday readings (like Pentecost and Trinity); sometimes people ask questions or are mildly critical, like “Invitation to Communion”; sometimes I felt that this or that needed emphasizing.

I would welcome any suggestions for topics! I want the time and effort spent in writing these to be as pertinent as possible.

I certainly hope that by touching on a number of different topics dealing with different facets of church life, the congregation as a whole can benefit. I know that most of us absorb short pieces better than long ones and the main points rather than many minute details.

Jot down topics that interest or puzzle you. I promise at least to give some response.

Breakfast at the Church

Our next Fellowship meal gathering is Breakfast in the Church on Sunday,

June 15 at 9:30 am.

The Fellowship Committee will provide ham, pancakes and orange juice.

The congregation is invited to bring a side dish of fresh fruit.

Addition to Teachers and Sponsors listed in the last bulletin:

Kathryn Ochampaugh was the sponsor for Celebrate Kids! our group for

K-4^th graders and she did a great job! Thanks to her and all the teachers and sponsors!

We need your help

Have you signed up for Meals on Wheels?

There are still routes that we do not have anyone to deliver meals.

For the week of June 16 through 21 we are in need of help for three routes,

for the week of June 23 through 28 we are in need of one helper on Monday,

and two on Saturday.

If you are able to volunteer approximately one hour on the days still available, please consider helping. Sign up sheet is located in the office on the front desk.

Thank you.

Get ready for a Beach Party VBS!

June 16 – 20, 9:00 – 11:45 a.m.

We are planning an exciting week, with science, crafts, music, games, snacks and drama-filled Bible stories!

We need leaders and helpers in these areas:

- Recreation - “life-guards” (to travel w/ groups) - decorating - Discovery (uses science to illustrate daily points)

Please sign up in the Atrium, or contact Mary.

VBS leaders & helpers make a difference in the lives of our

children. God calls us to teach children

We need your help, if you have any of the following items that you could loan us we would appreciate it.

Items needed:

Beach towels - bright colors; Life preserver; Flip-flops;

2 small plastic wading pools; 1 pair snorkeling fins

Large chair for David’s throne; 3 inner tubes or swim wings

Reserve a time to have your T.L.C.W.

(Tender Loving Car Wash)

Youth Mission Fund-raiser. June 18, 3-6 p.m.

Outside only $10, Inside only $10, Both $20

Contact one of our youth, or Chip Marcy or Mary Buchele to schedule. (Pick-up & return by adult driver available.)

This week’s prayer family: Jon and Patti Ansley.

This week’s prayer church: Forest Park Presbyterian

Church in Hutchinson, KS.

Church Family and Friends in Need of Special Prayers:

Louis McElroy, Anne Brown, Joan Davis, Gary Friesner, Tom Meschke, Jim Wharton, Monty Fey, Les DePew, Jim Hamlett, Rhonda Hutton, Marge Williams, Greg Adams, Virginia Meschke, Jack Reeve, Adria Doll, Laurie Bock, Bob Whippo, Debbie Harden, Gladys Cripe, Dave Sweley, Pat LeClerc, Dale Meadors, Susan Brookover, Linda Friesner, Karen Dunbar, Glen Woods, Cole Tuit, John Hoxie, Ruth Oliver, Caroline Sundquist, Nancy Stegman, Belinda Fouse.

(Please call the church with your personal prayer request).

God Bless All Of You.

The following families have recently lost loved ones.

May 21, 2008: 7:30pm Choir Rehearsal

May 25, 2008

Introit: #216 "O Sing a New Song to the Lord"

Prayer of Appr. Response: "I Love You, Lord" (#2068)

Anthem: "He Leadth Me" (Isaiah 49:8-16)

Prayer Response: #403 Vs. 1 "What a Friend We Have in Jesus"

What a friend we have in Je-sus, All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a priv-i-lege to car-ry Ev-ery-thing to God in prayer!

O what peace we of-ten for-feit, O what need-less pain we bear,

All be-cause we do not car-ry Ev-ery-thing to God in prayer!

Benediction: #525 "Here I Am Lord"

I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard My peo-ple cry.

All who dwell in deep-est sin, My Hand will save.

I who made the stars of night, I will make their dark-ness bright.

Who will bear My light to them? Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard You call-ing in the night.

I will go, Lord, if You lead me. I will hold Your peo-ple in my heart.

Hymn of Praise (Jim): #

Hymn of Meditation (Jim): #

Hymn of Dedication (Jim): #

Service for the Lord’s Day

Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time

May 25, 2008_____ ___ _ __ __ 10:45 AM

The eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who out of nothing created heaven and earth with all that is in them, who also upholds and governs them by his eternal counsel and providence, is for the sake of Christ his Son my God and my Father. Itrust in him so completely that I have no doubt that he will provide me with all things necessary for body and soul. Moreover, whatever evil he sends upon me in this troubled life he will turn to my good, for he is able to do it, being almighty God, and

is determined to do it, being a faithful Father.

~ ~ ~ taken from the Book of Confessions

GATHERING

Prelude

Welcome and Concerns of the Church Leader

Introit "O Sing a New Song to the Lord" #216 Chancel Choir

Call to Worship

Pastor: Blessed be God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

People: And bless be his kingdom, now and forever. Amen

Leader: As a woman cannot forget her nursing child, neither will God forget God’s people.

People: We are written on the palms of God’s hands.

Leader: Let us sing with God for God’s steadfast love.

*Hymn of Praise “In Christ There Is No East or West” No. 439

*Prayer of Approach Leader

Response "I Love You, Lord" (#2068) Chancel Choir

*Confession and Pardon

*Call to Confession Pastor

*Confession of Sin (Unison) Leader

Loving God, you are so tender with us - so steadfast. In your presence we may be calm and quiet like a child with its mother, like a nursing baby. How we long for such peace and comfort! We worry about many things: how to provide for those we love, how to spend our limited time, how to seem capable and right in a world that judges by appearance. Why do we fret, when you have promised to care for us?

Merciful God, put us back together in your memory and compassion, that, remembered by you, we may find rest in you.

*Declaration of Pardon and God’s Claim on Us Pastor

*Gloria Patri “Glory Be to the Father” No. 579

THE WORD

Prayer for Illumination Leader

First Reading Isaiah 49:8-16a Pg. 644

Children’s Sermon Amy and Mandy McVey

Anthem "He Leadth Me" Chancel Choir

Gospel Reading Matthew 6:24-34 Pg. 6

Sermon Dr. James O. Pitts III

*Hymn of Meditation “Seek Ye First” No. 333

Prayers of the People

Lord’s Prayer

Response "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" No. 403 Vs. 1

What a friend we have in Je-sus, All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a priv-i-lege to car-ry Ev-ery-thing to God in prayer!

O what peace we of-ten for-feit, O what need-less pain we bear,

All be-cause we do not car-ry Ev-ery-thing to God in prayer!

OUR RESPONSE TO GOD

Offertory

*Doxology No. 592

*Prayer of Thanksgiving

*Passing of Christ’s Peace

Pastor: Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us forgive one another.

The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all

People: And also with you.

SENDING

*Hymn of Dedication “My Soul in Silence Waits for God” No. 197

*Charge

*Blessing

Congregational Response "Here I Am Lord" No. 525

I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard My peo-ple cry.

All who dwell in deep-est sin, My Hand will save.

I who made the stars of night, I will make their dark-ness bright.

Who will bear My light to them? Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard You call-ing in the night.

I will go, Lord, if You lead me. I will hold Your peo-ple in my heart.

Greeters - Mary Guy

Lay Reader - Ann Hamlett

Ushers - The Irvin family

Fellowship - The Ochampaugh family

Sound Technicians - Michael Heatwole and Mitchell Watson

Across the Pastor’s Desk

Time to Know Our Theology

Several years ago one PC (USA) General Assembly produced the sound byte “Theology Matters!” in response to some rather pointed criticisms and blunt questions!

It is a good “sound byte” and it is a good motto; but do many of us believe it on a day-to-day basis? Would many of us support any extended study of what we say we believe?

I wrote a brief article entitled, “Time for Apologetics”. Today it is “Time to Know Our Theology”. And I write it for this reason: an active parish minister in the United Church of Canada just published a book, “With or Without God”. In it she defines Jesus as “a Middle Eastern peasant with a few charismatic gifts and a great posthumous marketing team”.

At least since the early 1960's every five to ten years somebody somewhere produces a sensational title in which presents overly simplistic, preposterous, or outright deceptive material as if it were profound, ground-breaking, or revelatory! Ironically most of these become overnight sales breakers! This fact probably tells us more about the level of biblical, theological, and religious ignorance of our nation than about the religious depth of the books themselves. Obviously they must remain free to write whatever they can get published. At the same time we need to be selective consumers of their ideas!

First there was Honest to God (1960) which had some well-placed points and acted as a wake-up call. Then came The Death of God (1966) that was a flash-in-the pan movement. The New Morality in the late 1960's gave us something to think about and to debate. Episcopal Bishop John Spong followed with a veritable spate of books, most of which at least have some profound ideas that are worthy of consideration and reflection; however, the general tenor of his later books and articles is :”What we all have grown up believing is outmoded mythology. What we now need is a totally different grasp of God and Jesus”.

Then we get the Da Vinci Code, etc. Obviously the idea of Jesus having a family is not per se problematic. It simply is historic misrepresentation . Now we have a Toronto pastor who seems to repudiate anything that might identify her as a Christian, including the name “Christian”.

It is with this increasingly “more than secular” North American intellectual climate that we will be dealing for the foreseeable future. In that climate us knowing our theology matters, greatly. While we don’t have to have a PhD in Philosophy or a PhD in Theology, it will help to be familiar with the resources that are easily available in and to this congregation. Our excellent church library is unfortunately significantly underused!

One part of being an Interim Pastor is alerting each congregation to dimensions of social and church life that is likely to impact it in the near future. I fear that most church members believe that issues like these only occur in far-off places: Toronto, New York, London, Los Angeles, Paris, Chicago,

Tokyo, Atlanta. Although I have yet to see any articles in our local paper like the one I quoted earlier, it is folly to believe that with TV, the Internet, and national publications going to every hamlet in our country, anywhere is isolated from these ideas.

The Christian Church grew; numerically and in influence when philosophies and movements not only opposed us, but actively persecuted us. We have grown complacent in the apparent belief that somebody, somewhere will produce a magic answer for us! Worse still, we ourselves, because we only know our own tradition minimally, begin to believe that movements like these are, and should be, guides for us! Will it take another 40 or 50 years for us to get the point? If we value the faith that we have received, we need to grasp it better and be able to express it ourselves, when an appropriate time presents itself !

Get ready for a Beach Party VBS!

June 16 – 20, 9:30 – 11:45 a.m.

We need leaders and helpers in these areas:

- Preschool - recreation - Bible story - “life-guarding”

- decorating - Discovery (uses science to illustrate daily points)

Please sign up in the Atrium.

We need your help, if you have any of the following items that you could loan us we would appreciate it.

Items still needed:

Beach towels - bright colors; Beach chairs; Life preserver; Sea shells;

Flip-flops; 2 small plastic Wading pools; Sand buckets; 3 Hula hoops

Large chair for David’s throne; 3 pair Snorkeling fins;

3 Inner tubes or swim wings

We need your help

Have you signed up for Meals on Wheels?

There are still routes that we do not have drivers for. If you are able to volunteer approximately one hour on the days still available, please consider helping. We are scheduled to deliver meals during the two (2) week period of

June 16^th through 21^st and June 23^rd through 28^th.

Thank you.

Russian Music for Violin and Piano

featuring Priscilla Hallberg - Violin

Linda Adams - Piano

Sunday, May 25, 2008 beginning at 3:00 pm

at The Presbyterian Church of Garden City

Free Admission

Hospice Volunteers - Garden City Training

Hospice volunteers bring light and love into people’s lives. Learn more about hospice and how hospice volunteers help the terminally ill and their families. A Hospice volunteer training session is scheduled for June 23, 24 & 25 from 6-10PM @ St. Catherine Hospital, Garden City. There is no charge for the training and a light meal is provided each evening. Attending the training does not commit you to becoming a hospice volunteer, however to become a hospice volunteer you must attend all 3 training sessions. Some of the topics include: The Hospice Philosophy, The Psychological Impact of Death, Communication Skills, Family Dynamics, Setting Boundaries, The Spiritual Dimensions of Dying and Exploring the Grief Process. St. Catherine Hospice serves 19 counties in Southwest Kansas and volunteers serve in their own community providing support to the terminally ill and their families in many different ways. For more information and to register for the training call Gina Cash, Hospice Volunteer Coordinator @ 620-272-2519 or 800-281-4077.

This Week’s Birthdays:

Today - Mitchell Watson

Monday - Neely Burnside

Tuesday - Mary Lynn Buchele, Kathy Friesen

Wednesday - Kirk Brown

Saturday - Lauren Deaver, Pat Whitham

Anniversaries:

Gary & Lee Ann Shrader Matt & Jennifer Jones

5/25/1991 5/26/2001

This week’s prayer family: Greg and Linda Adams.

This week’s prayer church: First Presbyterian Church in Halstead , KS.

Church Family and Friends in Need of Special Prayers:

Joan Davis, Gary Friesner, Tom Meschke, Jim Wharton, Monty Fey, Les DePew, Jim Hamlett, Rhonda Hutton, Marge Williams, Greg Adams, Virginia Meschke, Jack Reeve, Adria Doll, Laurie Bock, Bob Whippo, Debbie Harden, Gladys Cripe, Dave Sweley, Pat LeClerc, Dale Meadors, Susan Brookover, Linda Friesner, Karen Dunbar, Glen Woods, Cole Tuit, John Hoxie, Ruth Oliver, Caroline Sundquist, Nancy Stegman, Belinda Fouse.

(Please call the church with your personal prayer request).

God Bless All Of You.

The following families have recently lost loved ones.

May 14, 2008: 7:30pm Choir Rehearsal

May 18, 2008 (Trinity)

Introit: #455 "All Creatures of Our God & King (Vs. 6)

Prayer of Appr. Response: "I Love You, Lord" (#2068)

Anthem: Holy, Holy, Holy

Song of Gathering: #521 "You Satisfy the Hungry Heart" (All Sing Vs. 1-3)

Benediction: #525 "Here I Am Lord"

I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard My peo-ple cry.

All who dwell in deep-est sin, My Hand will save.

I who made the stars of night, I will make their dark-ness bright.

Who will bear My light to them? Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard You call-ing in the night.

I will go, Lord, if You lead me. I will hold Your peo-ple in my heart.

Hymn of Praise (Jim): #138 "Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!

Hymn of Meditation (Jim): #288 "I Sing the Mighty Power of God"

Hymn of Dedication (Jim): #367 "Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love"

Service for the Lord’s Day

Trinity Sunday

May 18, 2008_____ ___ _ __ __ 10:45 AM

We believe and teach that the same immense, one and indivisible God is in person inseparably and without confusion distinguished as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Thus there are not three gods, but three persons, consubstantial, coeternal, and coequal; distinct with respect to hypostases, and with respect to order, the one preceding the other yet without any inequality. For according to the nature or essence they are so joined together that they are one God, and the divine nature is common to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

~ ~ ~ taken from the Second Helvetic Confession

GATHERING

Prelude

Welcome and Concerns of the Church Leader

Introit "Circle The Table” Good News Kids!

Call to Worship

Pastor: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts.

People: The whole earth is full of God’s glory

Leader: I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God.

People: Who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

Leader: Our Lord is a great God, who says: I am the Alpha and Omega.

People: The first and the last, the beginning and the end.

*Hymn of Praise "Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty! No. 138

*Prayer of Approach Leader

Response "I Love You, Lord" (#2068)

*Confession and Pardon

*Call to Confession Pastor

*Confession of Sin (Unison) Leader

God of grace, love and communion, we confess that we have failed to love you with all our heart, soul, and mind; and to love our neighbor as ourselves. We ignore your commandments, stray from your way, and follow other gods.

Have mercy on us. Forgive our sin and raise us to new life that we may serve you faithfully and give honor to your holy name.

*Declaration of Pardon and God’s Claim on Us Pastor

*Gloria Patri “Glory Be to the Father” No. 579

THE WORD

Prayer for Illumination Leader

First Reading Genesis 1:1-2a Pg. 1

Time for God’s Children Teachers/Sponsors Recognition Pat Sanders

Anthem “Holy, Holy, Holy” Chancel Choir

Chase Sterling & Kyle Ochampaugh - Trumpets

Gospel Reading Matthew 28:16-20 Pg. 32

Sermon “The Holy Trinity” James O Pitts III

*Hymn of Meditation "Christ Has Risen" see insert

Prayers of the People

OUR RESPONSE TO GOD

Offertory

*Doxology No. 592

Invitation to the Lord’s Table We invite to this table all Christians from any tradition

Great Thanksgiving and Lord’s Prayer

The Dialogue:

Pastor: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Pastor: Lift up your hearts.

People: We lift them up to the Lord.

Pastor: Let us give thanks to our the Lord our God.

People: It is right to give thanks and praise.

Breaking of the Bread

Song of Gathering "You Satisfy the Hungry Heart" (All Sing Vs. 1-3) No. 521

Communion of the People

Prayer after Communion

*Passing of Christ’s Peace

Pastor: Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us forgive one another.

The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all

People: And also with you.

SENDING

*Hymn of Dedication "Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love" No. 367

*Charge

*Blessing

Response "Here I Am Lord" No. 525

I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard My peo-ple cry.

All who dwell in deep-est sin, My Hand will save.

I who made the stars of night, I will make their dark-ness bright.

Who will bear My light to them? Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard You call-ing in the night.

I will go, Lord, if You lead me. I will hold Your peo-ple in my heart.

Greeters - Ken and Connie Harsha

Lay Reader - Steven Buchele

Ushers - Kyle Ochampaugh, Melinda Dome, Mary Lynn Buchele, Trace Woods

Fellowship - Nancy Gilmer

Sound Technicians - Michael Heatwole and Mitchell Watson

This Week’s Birthdays

Monday - Carl Bors V; Henry Bors

Tuesday - Pauline Weddle

Wednesday - Trace Woods

Friday - Rebecca Crotty; Hayley Mayfield

Across the Pastor’s Desk

The Holy Trinity

Unfortunately the basic Christian understanding of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit remains one of the least grasped and most maligned of major Christian doctrines.Along with the understanding of Christ as simultaneously fully God and fully human, the Trinity forms the bedrock of our faith. These two go together.

Nationwide there is some confusion about the relative importance of our speaking of the one God as “the one and only true God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”. Throughout the country all major Christian traditions face the challenge of dealing empathically and realistically with secularism and pluralism. We should continue to support all other Americans in seeking to protect and extend the basic civic freedoms of speech, thought, and religious expression. Yet there are dimensions of secularism and pluralism that we cannot endorse, if Christian faith, as we know it, is to continue.

There is a powerful and well-educated minority movement that seeks to persuade Trinitarians “to give orthodox Christianity up and get with it” in order to minister to the mind set of our society, e.g. “To make the Christian faith more user friendly”. The two major targets of this campaign are:

1) the understanding of Christ as Messiah

(Lord and Savior) for all people

2) the understanding of God as a triunity - Father, Son,

and Holy Spirit.

This campaign was publicly, if not widely, announced at least ten years ago. It has been endorsed by at least a few Presbyterians. Some would like to call this movement a “modern Reformation”. The leaders understand quite well what they are attempting to do. Many openly and candidly state that they wish to develop a new type of Christianity that discards an obsolete past.

Many well-informed and open-minded churchmen may miss the point that the Christian faith is necessarily Trinitarian. (Were we to worship and pray to Christ and the Holy Spirit, were both not divine, we would then ourselves be idolaters - those who worship anything that is less than God.) They then support efforts to deconstruct the doctrine of the Trinity in the mistaken view that doing so would broaden our vision and help us to shed a narrow-minded perspective.

Obviously it is possible for anyone with aggressive or domineering tendencies to use the doctrine of the Trinity (and everything else) in a dogmatic, narrow, and mean-spirited way! On the contrary confessing the Trinity may be (actually, should be) done without being either narrow or dogmatic. By understanding what we mean by speaking of God as a “trinity of persons”, we may discover that open-minded, intelligent, and well-educated persons can remain orthodox Christians without sacrificing their brains or betraying the best thinking of modern culture.

We need your help

Twice each year our Church is involved with the delivering of Meals on Wheels.

Once again we are seeking volunteers. We are scheduled to deliver meals during the two (2) week period of June 16^th through 21^st and June 23^rd through 28^th.

Thank you.

Calling all 5^th-12 graders

You are invited to meet with Chip Marcy and Mitchell Watson after worship on May 18 to discuss two topics:

Fund-raiser ideas (possibly a carwash) and dates

Summer youth group

THANK YOU TEACHERS/SPONSORS

Those who answered a call: “Hello. This is God calling.”

Sunday School teachers:

Steve Irvin, Randy McVey, Sandra Neff, Virginia Sowers,

Ann Hamlett, Carol Deaver, Rosemary York, Brenda Watson (youth and adults), Kathy Friesen, Becky McVey (Confirmation Class teacher), Jon Ansley (adults)

Youth Sponsors: Becky McVey, Wally Hamann, Anna McVey, Kurt Peterson, Mary Buchele

Get ready for a Beach Party VBS!

June 16 – 20, 9:30 – 11:45 a.m.

We need leaders and helpers in these areas:

- Preschool - recreation - Bible story - “life-guarding”

- decorating - Discovery (uses science to illustrate daily points)

Please sign up in the Atrium.

We need your help, if you have any of the following items that you could loan us we would appreciate it.

Items needed:

Beach towels - bright colors; Beach chairs; Life preserver; Sea shells;

Flip-flops; 2 small plastic Wading pools; Sand buckets; 3 Hula hoops

Large chair for David’s throne; 3 pair Snorkeling fins;

3 Inner tubes or swim wings

Russian Music for Violin and Piano

featuring Priscilla Hallberg - Violin

Linda Adams - Piano

Sunday, May 25, 2008 beginning at 3:00 pm

at The Presbyterian Church of Garden City

Free Admission For more information call Priscilla Hallberg at 275-4379

This week’s prayer family: Bruce and Julie Middleton.

This week’s prayer church: First Presbyterian Church in Dodge City, KS.

Church Family and Friends in Need of Special Prayers:

Gary Friesner, Tom Meschke, Jim Wharton, Monty Fey, Les DePew, Jim Hamlett, Rhonda Hutton, Marge Williams, Greg Adams, Virginia Meschke, Jack Reeve, Adria Doll, Laurie Bock, Bob Whippo, Debbie Harden, Gladys Cripe, Dave Sweley, Pat LeClerc, Dale Meadors, Susan Brookover, Linda Friesner, Karen Dunbar, Glen Woods, Cole Tuit, John Hoxie, Ruth Oliver, Caroline Sundquist, Nancy Stegman, Belinda Fouse.

(Please call the church with your personal prayer request).

God Bless All Of You.

The following families have recently lost loved ones.

Trinity Sunday, May 18

Bell Choir @ 8:30 am, Sunday school @ 9:30 am, Worship w/Communion @ 10:45 am

Monday, May 19

Session @ 6:30 pm

Tuesday, May 20

Praise Team @ 7:00 pm

Wednesday, May 21

Celebration Worship w/Potluck dinner @ 6:00 pm, Choir @ 7:30 pm

Sunday, May 25

Bell Choir @ 8:30 am, Sunday school @ 9:30 am, Worship @ 10:45 am

May 7, 2008: 7:30pm Choir Rehearsal

May 11, 2008 (Pentecost)

Introit: #216 "O Sing a New Song to the Lord"

Prayer of Appr. Response: "I Love You, Lord" (#2068)

Anthem: "Holy Spirit, Light Divine" (Janet Major, Soloist)

Congregation See Insert

Song of Gathering: #508 "For the Bread Which You Have Broken" (All Sing)

Benediction: #525 "Here I Am Lord"

I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard My peo-ple cry.

All who dwell in deep-est sin, My Hand will save.

I who made the stars of night, I will make their dark-ness bright.

Who will bear My light to them? Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard You call-ing in the night.

I will go, Lord, if You lead me. I will hold Your peo-ple in my heart.

Hymn of Praise (Jim): #128 "On Pentecost They Gathered"

Hymn of Meditation (Jim): #319 "Spirit"

Hymn of Dedication (Jim): #315 "Every Time I Feel the Spirit"

Service for the Lord’s Day

Day of Pentecost

May 11, 2008_____ ___ _ __ 10:45 AM

Apart from the Holy Spirit, our Lord can neither be loved, nor known, nor served. The Holy Spirit is the personal bond by which Jesus Christ unites us to himself, the teacher who opens our hearts to Christ, and the comforter who leads us to repentance, empowering us to live in Christ’s service. As the work of the one Holy Spirit, our love, knowledge, and service of Christ are all inseparably related.

~ ~ ~ taken from the Study Catechism

THE GATHERING

Prelude

Welcome and Concerns of the Church Leader

Introit "O Sing a New Song to the Lord" #216 Chancel Choir

Call to Worship

Pastor: Alleluia. Christ is risen

People: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.

Leader: The love of God has been poured into our hearts

People: through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

Leader: The word of the Lord to the prophet: I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh

People: Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy

Leader: Your old shall dream dreams

People: And your young shall see visions.

*Hymn of Praise "On Pentecost They Gathered" No. 128

*Prayer of Approach Leader

Response "I Love You, Lord" (#2068) Chancel Choir

*Confession and Pardon

*Call to Confession Pastor

*Confession of Sin (Unison) Leader

Almighty God, you poured your Spirit upon gathered disciples creating bold tongues, open ears, and a new community of faith. We confess that we hold back the force of your Spirit among us. We do not listen for your word of grace, speak the good news of your love, or live as a people made one in Christ.

Have mercy on us, O God. Transform our timid lives by the power of your Spirit, and fill us with a flaming desire to be your faithful people, doing your will for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.

*Declaration of Pardon and God’s Claim on Us Pastor

*Gloria Patri “Glory Be to the Father” No. 579

THE WORD

Prayer for Illumination Leader

First Reading Acts 2:1-21 Pg. 112

Children’s Sermon Pat Sanders

Anthem "Holy Spirit, Light Divine" featuring Janet Major, Soloist

Congregation See Insert

Gospel Reading John 7:37-39 Pg. 95

*Hymn of Meditation "Spirit" No. 319

The Creed - A Brief Statement of Faith

In life and in death we belong to God. Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit. We trust in the one triune God, the Holy One of Israel, whom alone we worship and serve.

We trust in God the Holy Spirit, everywhere the giver and renewer of life. The Spirit justifies us by grace through faith, sets us free to accept ourselves and to love God and neighbor, and binds us together with all believers in the one body of Christ, the Church. The same Spirit who inspired the prophets and apostles rules our faith and life in Christ through Scripture, engages us through the Word proclaimed, claims us in the waters of baptism, feeds us with the bread of life and the cup of salvation, and calls women and men to all ministries of the Church.

In a broken and fearful world the Spirit gives us courage to pray without ceasing, to

witness among all people to Christ as Lord and Savior, to unmask idolatries in Church and culture, to hear the voices of peoples long silenced, and to work with others for justice, freedom, and peace. In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit, we strive to serve Christ in our daily tasks and to live holy and joyful lives, even as we watch for God’s new heaven and new earth, praying, “Come, Lord Jesus!”

With believers in every time and place, we rejoice that nothing in life or in death

can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Prayers of the People

Pastor: Christ has gathered the church in unity through the Spirit. With sure hope, let us pray. Maker of all things, in the beginning, you created heaven and earth. In the fullness of time, you restored all things in Christ. Renew our world, in this day, with your grace and mercy.

People: Lord, hear our prayer.

Pastor: Life of the world, you breathed life into the flesh you created. Now, by your Spirit, breathe new life into the children of earth. Turn hatred into love, sorrow into joy, and war into peace.

People: Lord, hear our prayer.

Pastor: Lover of concord, you desire the unity of all Christians. Set aflame the whole church with the fire of your Spirit. Unite us to stand in the world as a sign of your love.

People: Lord, hear our prayer.

Pastor: God of compassion, through your Spirit you supply every human need. Heal the sick, and comfort the distressed. Befriend the friendless, and help the helpless.

People: Lord, hear our prayer.

Pastor: Source of peace, your Spirit restores our anxious sprits. In our labor, give us rest; in our temptation, strength; in our sadness, consolation.

People: Lord, hear our prayer.

(brief silence)

Pastor: God eternal, as you sent upon the disciples the promised gift of the Holy Spirit, look upon your church and open our hearts to the power of the Holy Spirit. Kindle in us the fire of your love, and strengthen our lives for service in your kingdom; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

All: Amen

THE EUCHARIST

Offertory Linda Adams

*Doxology No. 592

Invitation to the Lord’s Table We invite to this table all Christians from any tradition

Great Thanksgiving and Lord’s Prayer

The Dialogue:

Pastor: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Pastor: Lift up your hearts.

People: We lift them up to the Lord.

Pastor: Let us give thanks to our the Lord our God.

People: It is right to give thanks and praise.

Breaking of the Bread

Song of Gathering "For the Bread Which You Have Broken" No. 508

Communion of the People

Prayer after Communion

*Passing of Christ’s Peace

Pastor: Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us forgive one another.

The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all

People: And also with you.

SENDING

*Hymn of Dedication "Every Time I Feel the Spirit" No. 315

*Charge

*Blessing

The Congregational Response "Here I Am Lord" No. 525

I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard My peo-ple cry.

All who dwell in deep-est sin, My Hand will save.

I who made the stars of night, I will make their dark-ness bright.

Who will bear My light to them? Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard You call-ing in the night.

I will go, Lord, if You lead me. I will hold Your peo-ple in my heart.

Happy Mother’s Day

Greeters - Chip. Melanie and Elizabeth Marcy

Lay Reader - Carol Hodgkinson

Ushers - Donna Jameson, Adah and Kelley Jenkins

Fellowship - The Deaver family

Sound Technicians - Michael Heatwole and Mitchell Watson

This Week’s Birthdays

Tuesday - Laurie Bock, Ken Golay

Thursday - Mason Bock, Jeff Whitham

This week’s prayer family: Adah, Kelley and Larry Jenkins.

This week’s prayer church: Hopewell Presbyterian Church

in Anthony, KS.

Church Family and Friends in Need of Special Prayers:

(Please call the church with your personal prayer request).

God Bless All Of You.

The following families have recently lost loved ones.

***COMMITTEE MINUTES DUE***

Committee Minutes are due this Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Across the Pastor’s Desk

Pentecost

“What’s so special about Pentecost? Why all of the fuss?” After Easter and Christmas, Pentecost is the most significant of our Christian celebrations. Pentecost marks the coming of the Holy Spirit, thus launching the Christian movement as distinct within Judaism. Though Early Christians still maintained close relations to the institutions of Judaism, already on the Day of Pentecost the universalism of the Gospel struck a prominent note. Pentecost eventually launched the mission to the nations that became so characteristic of Christianity within a few decades.

Historically, Pentecost (called by different names) was celebrated within Judaism for centuries. After the Fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., Pentecost became the annual commemoration of the giving of the Ten Commandments to Moses on Sinai, a commemoration which continues within Judaism.

Within Christian circles Pentecost became a multi-layered symbol, especially for the author of the Book of Acts. The varied emphases of Pentecost cluster around identifying Christianity as a missionary church at the core. One theologian, commenting on this, wrote: “The church exists by mission, as a fire by burning”. This motto summarizes the impact of Pentecost: at the very heart of Christian faith lies the impulse to share our faith.

The most prominent themes from Acts are:1) the fulfillment of the promise made by the Resurrected Christ that the disciples would be “empowered from on high to bear witness to the Gospel to the nations.” 2) the “gift of different tongues” which is less the ecstatic “speaking in tongues” (glossolalia) and more the gift of speaking in foreign languages, which equipped the apostles to undertake Jesus’ uncompleted mission to the nations. 3) This gift of tongues also symbolizes the reversal of Babel where the languages of humans were multiplied, resulting in hostile divisions. At Pentecost, symbolically, this barrier is overcome so that “in Christ there is no East, no West, no South, no North, but one great fellowship of love throughout the whole side earth”. 4) Pentecost also fulfilled the prophetic vision that young and old, male and female, slave and free would all receive the Spirit of the Lord. Previously only the most gifted and those specifically selected (prophets, priests, kings, sages, etc) were said to “receive the Spirit”. In Christ such a reception becomes a universal possibility, usually associated with baptism.

All of these themes stress the universal significance of the Christ and his Gospel. The emphasis lies not on exclusivity or condemnation of others, but the open hearted and open handed invitation to the peoples of the world to embrace the Crucified, but Risen, Lord and Savior. By its very nature the basic Gospel prompts our missionary thrust. Our calling is to share the Gospel and to witness to our faith in life, in word, in service, in deeds of compassion and responsible citizenship.

We are never called on to convert anyone; that is the task of the Holy Spirit. Ours is to share and to witness in ways that are courteous, sensitive, well-informed, and open-minded. Wherever we find anything that is ethical, kind, caring, responsible, reverent, etc., we acknowledge that and give thanks for it. Wherever we find a misunderstanding of our faith and/or confront suspicions for our motives, we seek to correct whatever we can.

Pentecost challenges us all to embrace a wider perspective and a more hopeful future for ourselves and the masses of our generation.

We need your help

Twice each year our Church is involved with the delivering of

Meals on Wheels.

Once again we are seeking volunteers. We are scheduled to deliver meals during the two (2) week period of

June 16^th through 21^st and June 23^rd through 28^th.

Thank you.

Get ready for a Beach Party VBS!

June 16 – 20, 9:30 – 11:45 a.m.

We need leaders and helpers in these areas:

- Preschool - recreation - Bible story - “life-guarding”

- decorating - Discovery (uses science to illustrate daily points)

Please sign up in the Atrium.

We need your help, if you have any of the following items that you could loan us we would appreciate it.

Items needed:

Beach towels - bright colors; Beach chairs; Life preserver;

Sea shells; Flip-flops; 2 small plastic wading pools;

Large chair for David’s throne; 3 pair snorkeling fins

3 inner tubes or swim wings; 3 hula hoops; Sand buckets

Russian Music for Violin and Piano

featuring Priscilla Hallberg - Violin Linda Adams - Piano

Sunday, May 25, 2008 beginning at 3:00 pm

at The Presbyterian Church of Garden City

Free Admission For more information call

Priscilla Hallberg at 275-4379

Pentecost Sunday, May 11

Bell Choir @ 8:30 am, Sunday school @ 9:30 am,

Worship w/Communion @ 10:45 am, Shut-in Communion

Tuesday, May 13

Praise Team @ 7:00 pm

Wednesday, May 14

Celebrate Kids! @ 5:00 pm, Youth groups @ 6:00 pm, Choir @ 7:30 pm

Trinity Sunday, May 18

Bell Choir @ 8:30 am, Sunday school @ 9:30 am,

Worship w/Communion @ 10:45 am

April 30, 2008: 7:30pm Choir Rehearsal

May 4, 2008 (Easter 7)

Introit: "He is Not Here" Changed to Children's Performance = Pat

Prayer of Appr. Response: "I Love You, Lord" (#2068)

Anthem: "Majesty"

Prayer Response: #403 Vs. 1 "What a Friend We Have in Jesus"

What a friend we have in Je-sus, All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a priv-i-lege to car-ry Ev-ery-thing to God in prayer!

O what peace we of-ten for-feit, O what need-less pain we bear,

All be-cause we do not car-ry Ev-ery-thing to God in prayer!

Benediction: #525 "Here I Am Lord"

I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard My peo-ple cry.

All who dwell in deep-est sin, My Hand will save.

I who made the stars of night, I will make their dark-ness bright.

Who will bear My light to them? Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard You call-ing in the night.

I will go, Lord, if You lead me. I will hold Your peo-ple in my heart.

Hymn of Praise (Jim): #417 "Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation"

Hymn of Meditation (Jim): #344 "Christ of the Upward Way"

Hymn of Dedication (Jim): #478 "Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven"

Service for the Lord’s Day

Ascension Sunday

May 4, 2008_____ ___ _ __ __ 10:45 AM

Ascension means - First, that Christ has gone to be with the Father, hidden except

to the eyes of faith. Second, however, that Christ is not cut off from us in the remote past, or in some place from which he cannot reach us, but is present to us here and now by grace. He reigns with divine authority, protecting us, guiding us, and interceding for us until he returns in glory.

~ ~ ~ taken from The Study of Catechism

GATHERING

Prelude

Welcome and Concerns of the Church Leader

Introit “We Believe" Good News Kids

Call to Worship

Pastor: Alleluia. Christ is risen.

People: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.

Leader: Why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.

People: Alleluia!

Leader: Go and make disciples of all nations, says the Lord; I am with you always, to the end of time.

People: Alleluia!

*Hymn of Praise "Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven" No. 478

*Prayer of Approach Leader

Response "I Love You, Lord" (#2068) Choir

*Confession and Pardon

*Call to Confession Pastor

*Confession of Sin (Unison) Leader

Almighty God, you have raised Jesus from death to life, and crowned him Lord of all. We confess that we have not bowed before him, or acknowledged his rule in our lives. We have gone along with the ways of the world, and fail to give him glory.

Forgive us, and raise us from sin, that we may be your faithful people, obeying the commands of our Lord Jesus Christ, who rules the world and is head of the church, his body.

*Declaration of Pardon and God’s Claim on Us Pastor

*Gloria Patri “Glory Be to the Father” No. 579

THE WORD

Prayer for Illumination Leader

First Reading Acts 1:1-11 Pg. 112

Children’s Sermon Pat Sanders

Anthem "Majesty" Choir

Gospel Reading Luke 24:44-53 Pg. 86

Sermon “The Ascension of Christ” Dr. James O. Pitts III

*Hymn of Meditation "Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation" No. 417

Recognition of Graduates

*Passing of Christ’s Peace

Pastor: Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us forgive one another.

The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all

People: And also with you.

Prayers of the People

Lord’s Prayer

Response "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" No. 403 Vs. 1

What a friend we have in Je-sus, All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a priv-i-lege to car-ry Ev-ery-thing to God in prayer!

O what peace we of-ten for-feit, O what need-less pain we bear,

All be-cause we do not car-ry Ev-ery-thing to God in prayer!

OUR RESPONSE TO GOD

Offertory

*Doxology No. 592

*Prayer of Thanksgiving

SENDING

*Hymn of Dedication "Christ of the Upward Way" No. 344

*Charge

*Blessing

Congregational Response "Here I Am Lord" No. 525

I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard My peo-ple cry.

All who dwell in deep-est sin, My Hand will save.

I who made the stars of night, I will make their dark-ness bright.

Who will bear My light to them? Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard You call-ing in the night.

I will go, Lord, if You lead me. I will hold Your peo-ple in my heart.

The ushers will pass the friendship pads during the welcome. Hearing devices and Spanish/English Bibles are available (Hay bíblias en español para los que los quieren, pida a los ayudantes del oficio). If you need one, please ask an usher for assistance. Worship bags and activity sheets are available in the atrium for children of Kindergarten age and younger (1 per family). Page numbers for the Bible passages used in worship are included in the bulletin.

Greeters - Ruth Richards and Donna Jameson

Lay Reader - Ann Hamlett

Ushers - The Heatwole family

Fellowship - Christian Ed. - Graduate Recognition

Sound Technicians - Michael Heatwole and Mitchell Watson

This Week’s Birthdays

Today - Matt Friesen 5/4, Tanya Munoz 5/4

Tuesday - Nancy Gilmer 5/6, Jeanne Hamilton 5/6

Wednesday - Helen Doubrava 5/7, Lorene Walker 5/7

Saturday - Gladys Cripe 5/10, Roberta Huddleston 5/10

This week’s prayer family: Gordon & Priscilla

Hallberg and Elizabeth Hodges.

This week’s prayer church:

Bethel Presbyterian Church in Wichita, KS.

Special Prayers for the victims and families on the

anniversary of the Greensburg, KS tornado.

Church Family and Friends in Need of Special Prayers:

Tom Meschke, Jim Wharton, Monty Fey, Les DePew, Jim Hamlett, Larry Sanders, Rhonda Hutton, Marge Williams, Greg Adams, Virginia Meschke, Jack Reeve, Adria Doll, Laurie Bock, Gary Friesner, Bob Whippo, Debbie Harden, Gladys Cripe, Dave Sweley, Pat LeClerc, Dale Meadors, Susan Brookover, Linda Friesner, Karen Dunbar, Glen Woods, Cole Tuit, John Hoxie, Ruth Oliver, Caroline Sundquist, Nancy Stegman, Belinda Fouse.

(Please call the church with your personal prayer request).

God Bless All Of You.

The following families have recently lost loved ones.

Please pray for the family of Ella Neff, Dave and Cheryl Sweley on the passing of his mother, Lois, Blanche Larson on the passing of her son Eric, Gladys Cripe and Blanche Larson on the passing of their sister Virginia Coen, Rolland Mathias and family on the passing of his brother, Laddie, Kathy Irvin and family on the

passing of her mother.

Across the Pastor’s Desk

“What in the name of all that’s holy is Christ’s ‘Ascension’?” Ascension is “Christ’s departure to the Father”. The One who was sent from eternity now returns to eternity. Ascension is Christ’s “Homecoming”. However, the emphasis is not just on ”going away”; even more it a ”going up” to empower the church to continue his ministry.

Several bible commentators have suggested that before the New Testament was compiled, three events: Resurrection, Ascension, and Pentecost occurred simultaneously or very close together. Others assert that the time frame suggested by Luke in his Gospel and in the Acts is substantially correct.

Whatever the case, these three events, though clearly distinguishable by what each signifies, are related, both in meaning and in time.

Resurrection points to Christ’s victory over the powers of death, evil, and sin. It is the beginning of the New Creation, the pioneer of the new humanity, the “opening act” of what God intends for the cosmos.

Ascension points to God’s endorsement of Christ as God’s kind of Messiah, and God’s exalting Christ to be ruler of nations and worlds. After the Ascension, when we Christians speak of God, we must also speak of the Christ who reigns with God. This means that

ultimately Christ’s love will conquer every other rule and authority. Ascension asserts that redeemed human nature - our new or spiritual body (or person) in Christ - is capable of “being taken into eternity where God lives with the holy angels and saints”.

Pentecost points to the power of God, as Holy Spirit, to energize the Christian community so that baptized Christians are not only willing, but are also able, to carry forth the unfinished task of Jesus of Nazareth in proclaiming the Gospel throughout the world. The Spirit “fits” us for continuing the teaching and healing ministry of Christ - that all humans might be reconciled to God and to one another..

Theologian John Leith wrote: “The Ascension means that the incarnate life of Jesus Christ is taken into the very being of God; that the ministry of Jesus Christ, formerly based on time and space, is now is now universal by the power of the Spirit; that Jesus Christ is at the right hand of God (symbol of authority); that he makes continual intercession for us; and that he has opened for us the way to the presence of God.

The doctrine of the ascension intends in the words of ordinary experience to describe that which is beyond ordinary experience and is not contained in the space we know. Hence, when taken literally (as in “going up in the sky”) the description of the ascension baffles us. Yet how better can we say all that it means?”

We will be collecting the Pentecost Offering

on Sunday, May 11, 2008

Sunday School Pentecost Celebration

“Happy Birthday to the Church”

May 11^th, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.

All Sunday School classes invited!

If you’ve not been attending a class – you are still invited!

Russian Music for Violin and Piano

featuring Priscilla Hallberg - Violin

Linda Adams - Piano

Sunday, May 25, 2008 beginning at 3:00 pm

at The Presbyterian Church of Garden City

Free Admission

For more information call

Priscilla Hallberg at 275-4379

Get ready for a Beach Party VBS!

June 16 – 20,

9:30 – 11:45 a.m.

We are planning an exciting week, with science, crafts,

music, games, snacks and drama-filled Bible stories!

We need leaders and helpers in these areas:

- Preschool - recreation - Bible story - “life-guarding”

- decorating - Discovery (uses science to illustrate daily points)

Please sign up in the Atrium, or contact Mary.

VBS leaders & helpers make a difference in the lives of our children. God calls us to teach children

We need your help, if you have any of the following items that you could loan us we would appreciate it.

Items needed:

Beach towels - bright colors; Beach chairs; Life preserver;

Sea shells; Flip-flops; 2 small plastic wading pools;

Large chair for David’s throne; 3 pair snorkeling fins

3 inner tubes or swim wings; 3 hula hoops; Sand buckets

We need your help

Twice each year our Church is involved with the delivering of Meals on Wheels.

Once again we are seeking volunteers. We are scheduled to deliver meals during the two (2) week period of

June 16^th through 21^st and June 23^rd through 28^th.

Thank you.

The Presbyterian Women’s Association

would like to thank everyone for the wonderful support for the annual Spring Rummage Sale. Left over items were donated to the Salvation Army.

Through all the hard work and generous donations the Women raised $921.14

for their mission work.

Again Thank You to all.

THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITIES

Sunday, May 4

Bell Choir @ 8:30 am, Sunday school @ 9:30 am, Worship @ 10:45 am

Tuesday, May 6

CE @ 6:00 pm, Celebration Team @ 7:00 pm

Wednesday, May 7

Celebrate Kids! @ 5:00 pm, Youth Groups @ 6:00 pm,

Choir @ 7:30 pm, Worship @ 8:30 pm

Thursday, May 8

Circle I @ 9:30 am, Deacons @ 11:30 am, Circle II @ 2:00 pm, Circle III @ 7:30 pm

Pentecost Sunday, May 11

Bell Choir @ 8:30 am, Sunday school @ 9:30 am, Worship w/Communion @ 10:45 am

Shut-In Communion