The Worship of God at Myers Park Baptist Church Charlotte, North Carolina

The Seventh Sunday of Easter Commitment Sunday

2 June 2019 The Worship of God The Seventh Sunday of Easter Commitment Sunday | Congregational Meeting

2 June 2019 at Ten o’clock in the morning

THE COMMUNITY GATHERS BEFORE GOD

Inspired by the bold and boundless hospitality of Jesus, we are “open to all,” which means we welcome and accept all people into the life of our Church without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, age, economic status, political affiliation, physical or mental capacity, or religious belief. We believe that God’s call is given to all people, and we embrace the Spirit that continues to cross boundaries in order to unite the world.

The Silent Meditation To be transformed to turn yourself inside out like a glove to spin like a planet to thread yourself through yourself so that each day penetrates each night so that each word runs to the other side of truth so that each verse comes out of itself and gives off its own light so that each face leaning on a hand sweats into the skin of the palm So that this pen changes into pure silence I wanted to say into love To fall off a horse to smear your face with dust to be blinded to lift yourself and allow yourself to be led like blind Saul to Damascus Transformation, Anna Kamieñska The Ringing of the Angelus Bell

The Prelude “Organoedia: Introitus et Kyrie” Zoltán Kodaly (1882-1967)

The Call to Worship Leader: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you.

Childcare is available for children ages birth through five years – please see a greeter for more information. Worship kits for children are available in the Narthex.

*The Opening Sentences Leader: God calls us to see the light of grace and be changed. People: God calls us to know the heart of forgiveness and bring blessings. Leader: Though we may fall on the road to Damascus with Saul,

______*Please rise in body or in spirit. 2 People: we also rise with the light of Christ in our eyes. Leader: Gathered together in community, let us receive one another with joy. People: Gathered together for worship, let us receive God’s love with thanksgiving. All: Let us worship God!

*The Procession and Opening of the Bible See page 9. “Called As Partners in Christ’s Service” Beecher

*The Prayer of Invocation

THE PEOPLE CONFESS AND RECEIVE FORGIVENESS

The Kyrie Eleison

The Invitation to Silent Confession

The Prayer of Confession God of compassion and mercy, you told us to love one another. Yet, we struggle to do so. We have a hard time loving those who are not like us, who disagree with us, or who ask us to face truths about ourselves. You told us to love one another, because love is from you. And yet we often do not love those we think are dirty, different, or undesirable. It is written that perfect love casts out fear, and yet we are afraid. Afraid for our comfort, our wallets, and how others perceive us. Forgive us, God, and show us how to love the way you command us to love. Release us from our judgment and our fear. Open our hearts so that they might receive your perfect love for us, and enable us to offer that love to all the world. Amen.

The Assurance of Pardon

*The Canticle (Glory to God in the highest.)

3 *The Passing of the Peace Preschool children will leave with their teachers; children in grades 1 - 5 are invited to a time of Children's Worship. Before brunch, preschool children should be picked up in Room 107; children in grades 1 - 5 should be picked up in the Sanctuary transcept.

The Welcome of Our Guests If you are our guest today, please text “guest” to 474747 or fill out a guest card located in the pew rack and place it in the offering plate during worship as your gift to us.

THE WORD OF GOD IS PROCLAIMED AND HEARD The Gospel Reading Acts 9:1-20 (NRSV adapted) Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if Saul found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”

Leader: For the Word of God in scripture, for the Word of God among us, for the Word of God within us. People: Thanks be to God.

*The Sermon Hymn Number 252 “Though I May Speak” O Waly Waly

4 The Sermon The Reverend W. Benjamin Boswell “Laying Hands on Evil”

The Time for Silent Reflection

THE CONGREGATION RESPONDS TO GOD’S WORD The Moment for Stewardship Blake Bowersock

The Church at Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer Our God, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

The Offertory Mobile giving is available through the Church Life app or via text – see page 8. Gifts of loose cash in June will benefit Women in Transition (WIT) at the YWCA which provides affordable transitional housing and intensive support services for single, unaccompanied women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The Anthem The Chancel Choir “Saul” Egil Hovland (1924-2013) Saul breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. So that if any be found belonging to the WAY, he might bring them bound in chains back to Jerusalem. Saul, why do you persecute me? Jerry Warmath, narrator

The Act of Commitment At this time, everyone is invited to bring their commitment cards forward to the basket.

*The Presentation of Gifts As the Deacons move down the center aisle, the congregation is asked to stand. This presentation to God enacts our self-offering and gratitude to God.

*The Doxology Lasst uns Erfreuen Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise God, all creatures, here below. Alleluia. Alleluia! Praise God above, ye heavenly hosts. Creator, Christ and Holy Ghost. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

*The Prayer of Dedication

THE COMMUNITY IS SENT INTO THE WORLD FOR MINISTRY

*The Procession into the World and Closing of the Bible Number 337 “Christ Has Called Us to New Visions” In Babilone

The Benediction 5 The Postlude “Organoedia: Gloria” Zoltán Kodaly (1882-1967)

Following worship, all are invited to a Volunteer Appreciation Brunch and Congregational Meeting in Heaton Hall.

Before brunch, preschool children should be picked up in Room 107; children in grades 1 - 5 should be picked up in the Sanctuary transcept. There will be childcare for the Congregational Meeting beginning at 11:30a.

6 Leading worship today with The Reverend W. Benjamin Boswell, Senior Minister, are The Reverend Leigh Anne Hagerman, Church Administrator, The Reverend Carrie Veal, Minister of Children and Community Life, and Lisa Bambach, member of the congregation.

The Chancel Choir leads worship through music with Frances L. Morrison, Minister of Music, and John Richardson, Organist.

The acolytes are Ian Hull, Addie Hull and Amelia Grace Reeves.

The sound technician is Eric Roberts. The webcast technician is Ken Steiner.

Flowers on the altar are given to the glory of God and in appreciation for all the volunteers and their commitment to the congregation and ministry.

7 THEOLOGY OF WORSHIP

Why do we worship? Worship at Myers Park Baptist is the gathering of a diverse, intergenerational, ecumenical community of faith, celebrating God’s active and timeless presence in the world. In worship, God re-forms our hearts, minds and bodies, and ignites our imaginations with sacred stories—stories that invite us to question, explore mystery, express joy and grief, and deepen our faith. We worship to learn how to develop caring, empowering relationships with each other, and to stay centered in God as the world swirls around us. We worship to be inspired and prepared to exemplify the compassion and justice of Jesus in our church family and in the world. Through worship, God frees and transforms us in heart, mind and body, so we can make a difference within ourselves, in our relationships and in our community.

How do we worship? Focusing on God, worship at Myers Park Baptist unfolds consistently with the Isaiah 6 scriptural model: praise, confession, pardon, calling to respond, commitment and sending out. All our worship services are built on this ancient structural form, regardless of worship style, venue or theme. Communal practices within worship — radical hospitality, confession and assurance of pardon, passing the peace, silence and listening, spirited hymn singing, presentations of gifts, and active participation in Communion—transform worshipers into newness with God and one another. Themes for services, based on lectionary scriptures, annually portray the narrative arc of God’s redeeming love for humankind.

HOW TO JOIN MYERS PARK BAPTIST CHURCH

Becoming a member of Myers Park Baptist is as easy as filling out a Joining Card. To receive a card or learn more, stop by the Welcome Table in the Narthex.

MOBILE GIVING

You can now text your contributions and offerings to MPBC! It is secure, simple, and efficient: C Start a new text message to phone number 73256. C In the message of the text, enter 1900Q, a space, and the amount you want to give (i.e., 1900Q 100). C The system will return a message to you; click on the link provided and follow instructions. C You will then receive a receipt to confirm your gift was received. It is that simple! C Next time, since your setup is already done – just text “1900Q, a space, then amount you wish to give” to 73256.

Questions? Contact Rev. Leigh Anne Hagerman, Church Administrator, at 704.334.7232 x116 or [email protected]

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 OUR COVENANT

We, the members of the Myers Park Baptist Church, are a people on a journey of faith. By God’s grace we are experiencing God’s love through Jesus Christ and in the community of the faithful. We are discovering in this experience our freedom to become new creatures and our responsibility to be faithful stewards of our lives and of this world.

We will be open to all new light, strengthened by God and each other in our faith. We will sustain a critical examination of Scripture, belief and ritual as interpreters of God’s active presence in the world. We will accept controversy as a reality of life together and an opportunity for growth toward maturity. We covenant to be a community of God’s new creation and affirm that we are open to all and closed to none.

We covenant to nurture this Church as a community of faith and as an instrument for reconciliation in this world: by worship, by Christian education, by the dedication of our personal and material resources and by all the other ways we express the significance of our lives with God and one another.

We covenant together to be priests celebrating God’s presence in community and in the world, believing we are participants in God’s kingdom on earth.

1900 Queens Road | Charlotte, NC 28207 | 704.334.7232 www.myersparkbaptist.org

@MPBaptist

OUR MINISTERS

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