Welcome to Atlanta First! This community of faith believes in radically welcoming all people! So whether you are young or old; light, medium, or dark skinned; living with a disability or non-disabled; have it all together or have nothing together; are poor in resources or have plenty of resources; heterosexual or identify as a LGBTQ+ person – whoever you are and however you come, we believe that you were created beautifully in the image of God! You are welcome and loved at Atlanta First!

January 31, 2021 - Fourth Sunday After the Epiphany

Tolling of the Hour Our bell, circa 1851, is rung every Sunday morning as a symbol of God’s faithfulness and a call to center ourselves in worship.

Greetings Erin Martin, Liturgist and engage Team Lead

Affirmation of Faith The Apostles’ Creed, Traditional Version I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, Born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Hymn of Praise UMH 154 - “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name“ (printed on page 3)

Pastoral Prayer and The Lord’s Prayer Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers, Lead Pastor ([email protected]) Our Father, 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.

Worship thru Song “Mighty to Save” - Hillsong Worship The Atlanta First Worship Team

Children’s Moment

Worship Thru Giving Your gifts are what allow us to worship, serve, grow and engage in the city of Atlanta. You can give securely online at AtlantaFirstUMC.org/give, through CashApp ($AtlantaFirstUMC), Text-to-Give by texting “1” to 833-675-0154, or you can mail your donation by check to the church office at 360 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30308. Doxology “Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow” - arr. Roberta Martin Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise Him, all creatures here below; praise Him above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. Amen. Amen.

Sermonic Selection “Awesome God” - Rich Mullins The Atlanta First Worship Team

Scripture Lesson and Sermon “Hope Emerging” Mark 1:21-28 (New Revised Standard Version) THE MAN WITH AN UNCLEAN SPIRIT 21 They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. 22 They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23 Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 24 and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28 At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

Invitation to Christian Discipleship This is an opportunity to join the Christian family, reaffirm your faith, or join the church. If you would like to join the Atlanta First family, please contact Pastor Jasmine at [email protected] or call the Pastoral Care Line, 404-446-3777.

Benediction

Going Forth Response - “Let the Church Say Amen” - “Total Praise” Hymn scan

During this time of social-distancing, we have a single, Disciple Fast Track is ideal for busy people who want combined online Sunday School class that meets through to fit an in-depth Bible study into their schedule. This ZOOM. Participants can use video conferencing or call 12-week study will immerse you in the books of Luke in through their phone. Pastor Jasmine leads the class, and we encourage everyone to participate! and Acts. Pastor Jasmine will lead this class. Classes will meet Tuesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 pm in Study for January 2021 - Adult Bibles Studies: Hope ZOOM. This series calls us to consider the Please send an e-mail to [email protected] Incarnation and what it means that to sign up and receive the ZOOM link. God sent Jesus into the world in human form, as one of us. Thus, the lessons invite us to think about the relationship God wants to have with us and how God’s sending Jesus makes that relationship possible. The study is hosted online in ZOOM, Sunday mornings at 9:45 am.

The Adult Bible Studies: Hope book is available for purchase online: Click Here to Order from Cokesbury.

*NOTE: The ZOOM meeting hosting the class has a password. There is a new ZOOM login link, so please contact our grow ministry at [email protected] to receive an updated invitation with the link to the meeting, phone number, and the password. Click Here to order the study e-book from Amazon.

You are invited to join us, weekly on Tuesdays at 6:30 pm, for a time of virtual intentional prayer together. You can call in or login on your smartphone, tablet, or computer once a week to pray together. A congregation that prays together All youth grades 6-12 are invited to is a strong, fortified, and faithful congregation join our small group for youth. We’ll that can endure anything! The prayer time will be meeting on ZOOM to explore what be hosted in ZOOM (see below). If you have any it means to live out God’s message, prayer concerns or praises, you may send them to and have fun doing it! If you have [email protected]. youth that are interested, please send us your youth’s name and contact Virtual Time of Prayer ZOOM Information: information.

Meeting ID: 820 2929 0243 Meetings are hosted online in ZOOM Passcode: 0360 on Saturdays. For more information, or Click here to join the meeting. if your youth would like to participate, Or join through the ZOOM app please contact Dixie Scruggs at: with the credentials above. [email protected] Or join by phone, with the credentials above, by calling either phone number below: 646-876-9923 or 312-626-6799 During this pandemic, there are still ways to be the hands and feet of Christ in the city. On the second Tuesday of each month, the Mission Team serves our under-housed neighbors by giving out meals, clothing, face masks, hand sanitizer, and toiletry kits. Donations for our Keep Atlanta Warm drive are desperately needed for our next Friends at the Front Door outreach on Tuesday, February 2nd, 2021 at 2pm. You can mail your donations to our package address (see Keep Atlanta Warm ad) or support through a monetary donation. A gift of $15 helps provide toiletries and a gift of $8 helps to provide a meal. Please see the last page for details on how to give online, by CashApp, Text-to-Give, and by Mail.

Atlanta First has launched a mobile app! Now it is easier than ever to have information about how you The engage Team invites you to get involved in can worship, serve, grow, and engage right at your fingertips. the fight against COVID-19 in Atlanta: by making In addition to up-to-the-minute information, the app reusable face masks and collecting hand sanitizer! We are seeking volunteers who want to donate will also include recorded videos (such as worship their sewing skills, time, or monetary contributions videos, Thursday Thoughts, and concert series). to this effort. We are in need of more masks to hand The biggest reason to download the app? We’ll be out at our Friends at the Front Door ministry, as the launching “app exclusives,” such as mini-movies, number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise. sermon add-ons, and devotionals, that can only be To sign up to learn more, please fill out this form: accessed via the app. The app is now available for download for both Apple and Android devices! Click https://forms.gle/4dknc7v1ge8EnbkYA the link below to download: Or you may email Erin Martin, our engage Team https://a3a.me/atlantafirstunitedmethodist Lead: [email protected]. Prayer List for the Week of Sunday, January 31, 2020 worship, serve, grow & engage We would like to pray with and for you. at Atlanta First: Please share your prayer needs with us at [email protected]. Sunday, January 31 Sympathy 9:45 am Sunday School (ZOOM) With the sure and certain hope of the Resurrection, we give thanks for the life of Mr. Ross Lane, who 11 am Online Worship died on Saturday, January 30th, 2021. We extend our deep Christian sympathy to Bonnie and the Lane Family. Our gratitude for Ross’ deep commitment to God, the Atlanta First United Methodist Tuesday, February 2 Church, the St. Andrew Sunday School Class, his community through SafeHouse and more, extends 2 pm Friends at the Front Door deep and wide, and we will miss him. Celebration of Life arrangements are pending. 6:30 pm Virtual Time of Prayer 7 pm Disciple Fast Track Church Family Pastor Jasmine & Family Mattie Brock Barbara Fruit Lisa Peterson Thursday, February 4 Atlanta First Beverly Bush Claudia Harris Rev. Dr. Jacqui Rose-Tucker 11 am Disciple IV Bible Study Les Scarborough Atlanta First Staff Virginia Cathcart Dr. Helen Jin Kim Natalie & Brian Smith Sunday, February 7 Atlanta First Shut-Ins Hubert Davis Bonnie Lane Gerald Stacy 9:45 am Sunday School (ZOOM) The Adams-Williams Family Marlee Franklin James Mickle Dorothy Ann Turnipseed 11 am Online Worship Jacquelyn Banks Dot Fraser Rev. Ed and Ann Nelson Rev. Hulda Wilson 2 pm 1st Sundays at First Recital Extended Church Family and Friends Tuesday, February 9 All who are affected by Barry Fraser Anthony Smallwood 6:30 pm Virtual Time of Prayer the COVID19 Pandemic Son of Dot Fraser Brother-In-Law of 7 pm Disciple Fast Track Healing for our Nation Tonia Freeman Alisa Smallwood Edward Bean Rosa Freeman’s Sister Charlie Smith Thursday, February 11 Father of Brian Smith Grandson of Dallas Terrell Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson 11 am Disciple IV Bible Study Mary Jim Black Resident Bishop Maxine Stewart Cousin of Dorothy Ann Turnipseed Mother of Miriam Smith Ruth Jackson Sunday, February 14 Pamela Datcher Mother of Sandra Jackson The Stotler Family Missionaries 9:45 am Sunday School (ZOOM) Sister of Dr. Jacqui Rose-Tucker Family of Lance Kelly 11 am Online Worship Priscilla DeWitt & Gainseville High School Meredith Tarantino Friends of Natalie Smith Friend of Jeanne Spencer Mother of Natalie Smith Wednesday, February 17 Dr. Michael T. McQueen Lynn Weller Joyce Essein Ash Wednesday - Lent Begins Friend of Dr. Jacqui Rose-Tucker District Superintendent Relative of Natalie Smith 6:30 pm Ash Wednesday Worship Carl B. Fairchild Tommye & Keith Miller Drs. Anne and Ed Wimberly Friend of Jeanne Spencer Friends of Jeanne Spencer Cousins of Mary Jackson Happy Birthday! Active Duty Military & First Responders Monday, February 1 MSgt. Logan Cathcart MSgt. Scott Cathcart All active-duty military currently Grandson of Virginia Cathcart Son of Virginia Cathcart deployed and their families. Chandler Scott

Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers, Lead Pastor [email protected] Rev. Dr. Nancy Long, LPC, LMFT, Pastoral Counselor [email protected] Dixie Scruggs, Ministry Intern [email protected] Christopher Bryant, Director of Worship and Music [email protected] Jennifer Graham, Executive Assistant to the Pastor [email protected] Jeanne Spencer, Events and Operations Coordinator [email protected] Steven Colly, Communications & Media [email protected]

Have any questions or comments about how to worship, serve, grow or engage here at Atlanta First? Contact us at: [email protected] • [email protected] • [email protected] • [email protected]

Atlanta First UMC Office: 404-524-6614 Watch Live-Streams of Our Worship and Prayer Services Online! /AtlantaFirstUMC 24/7 Pastoral Care Line: 404-446-3777 www.AtlantaFirstUMC.org/live www.AtlantaFirstUMC.org