Worship: Participating in worship today are Rev. Majid Abel and Lynn Mashburn. The Sanctuary Flowers are given today in loving memory of our fathers and grandfather James W. Rasmussen and Bill F. Bales, by Hal, Pam, Christopher, Matthew and Blake Rasmussen. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”. Romans 15:13 With joy and thanksgiving, the Sacrament of Baptism will be received by Joseph Michael Huston, brother and brother-in-law of Jim and Sandra Huston; and Eleanor Ashley Chalfant, daughter of Amber and Matthew Chalfant; sister of William Chalfant and Evelyn Chalfant; granddaughter of Kitty and Bill Chalfant; great granddaughter of Doris and Wesley Chalfant; niece of Andrew Lawson; great niece of Susan and Mike O’Brien and Emily Ware; goddaughter of Lauren Estes and Wesley Tait. Serve: Prayers of Intercession are requested for Cris Kelly, Decker Dawson, Paul Dowling, Jack Armstrong, Herb Ware, Jackie Rendall, Rose Ann Hughston, Tanya Godfrey, Mary Lou Hall, Sarah Gulick, Emily Gulick, Edith Wisehart, Ralph Green, Sally Green, Meg Branson, and Charlotte Seay. Please pray for military personnel deployed for Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan): Michael, Casey, Carlos, Megan, Drew McKelwaith, Chris Miles, David Thornhill, Hank Hortenstine, Tom Wolters, Mike Neu, Hunter D. Martin, Damon Darnell, Steven Castellon, Kyle Humphries, Justin Robinson, Capt. Andrew Plucker, Members of 3rd Battalion 5th Marines, Alan Austin, Jr., Jake Dement, Clayton and Jason Slover, Sloan Kelly, Devin Mata, James Evetts Haley, IV, David Bell, Capt. Cam Moury, Adam Weathers, Jonathan Marshall, Matthew Welsh, Capt. Michael Moore, Capt. Drew Schildwachter, 1st Lt. Alex Bablich, Lt. Cory Sheeron, Gary Smith, Lt. Chuck Jansen, Lt. Michael Porcelli, and Taylor Franklin. Family Promise: FPC will host Family Promise January 18-25, 2015. Please see the signup board in Lynn Hall for details to participate in this wonderful ministry of outreach and service. We need your input! Our Session has created a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document and a Survey regarding what is going on with our denomination and what FPC’s response needs to be. The goal is to have as many of you as possible fill out the survey to give the Session good information to consider at their retreat January 24. The FAQs are accessible from our website home page at www.fpcmid. org. After reading the FAQs, please take the survey online by going to https://www. research.net/s/fpcmidland. If you are unable to access these documents online, please contact the church office (432-684-7821) for paper copies. The deadline for taking the survey online is January 20 (January 18 for paper copies). For more information, please call the church office to contact a pastor or member of Session. The Women’s Retreat participates are requesting donations of any denim items of clothing, new or used. Please drop off the donations on Pam Timmon’s front porch, 1900 North “H” St. For more information please contact Pam at 559-8508. Donations are needed: to replenish fund balances bin botht eh Jubilee Fund, which provides financial assistance to church members and the Fasken Fund, which provides financial assistance to elderly female church members. Both funds are administered by the Diaconate working closely with Carl Moore and Walter Thompson. Currently both funds together are providing regular assistance to 3 members and occasional assistance to a few other members.
Invite: Discover First Classes Begin: Please join us Sunday, January 11, 2015 at 9:30 a.m. in Room 218 for Discover First, a four-week series of classes for new members, guests, and those who may be interested in joining First Presbyterian. The goal of this class is to acquaint people with our church and introduce the variety of ministries and mission opportunities at First Presbyterian Church. We look forward to seeing you! DivorceCare will begin a new 13-week course on Wednesday, January 14, 6:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. in the Parlor. DivorceCare is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk through separation or divorce together. If you are separated or in the midst of a divorce, join us for a video series from experts and small group support and discussions, facilitated by Stephen Ministers LE Sawyer and Julie Edwards, and KC Blackketter. Members of our church and community at large are welcome. For further information please go to www.divorcecare.org. $15 registration fee includes materials.
Loving and leading all people to deeper life in Jesus Christ
The FPC Men’s Chorus will lead worship on Sunday, January 25. Rehearsals will be at 8:00 p.m. on January 14 and 21 in the choir room (224). For more information please contact Greg at
[email protected] or 684-7821. Save the Date: FPC’s Men’s Retreat is February 20-22, 2015 at Warren Ranch, Coleman, Texas. Matt Heard is our speaker. We will be using his book, Life with a Capital L. His website is www.mattheard.org. Registration will begin later in January.
Welcome to First Presbyterian Church 800 W. Texas Midland, Texas 79701 (432) 684-7821 Web Site: www.fpcmid.org Sunday Worship 8:15 a.m. – Sanctuary 9:30 a.m. – Sunday School 11:00 a.m. – Sanctuary 11:00 a.m. – The Bridge in Lynn Hall Senior Pastor Associate Pastor of Christian Nurture and Family Ministry Associate Pastor of Mission and Evangelism Associate Pastor of Administration Youth Program Coordinator Minister of Music Music Associate Director of Older Adult Ministry Director of Children’s Ministry Director of Nursery Ministry Director of Recreational Ministry Director of Operations
Baptism of Christ by Laura James
Steve Schorr Shannon Weisenfels Walter Thompson Mary Beth Anton Becky Holmes Gregory Pysh Rebecca Sawyer Susie Mauldin Chrissie Mee Taresa Kellogg Scott Kain Jeremy Olive
Additional information and audio and video sermons may be found on our web site: www.fpcmid.org Sermon CDs or DVDs may be ordered by filling out an envelope in the pew or calling the church office. Radio Ministry: KMCM-97 Gold (FM 96.9) at 11:00 a.m. Watch the 11:00 a.m. Sanctuary worship service live at www.fpcmid.org
January 11, 2015 Baptism of the Lord 11:00 a.m. “What Does the Lord Require of Us?”
Service for the Lord’s Day Baptism of the Lord January 11, 2015 11:00 a.m. Welcome! We are glad you are here! Loving and Leading all people to deeper life in Jesus Christ is the mission of FPC. We trust during this time of worship you will sense God’s presence. May the praise, the prayers, the music, and the Word of God give you Joy and confidence during the week ahead! Preparation for Worship Who are you? I am a child of God. What does it mean to be a child of God? That I belong to God, who loves me. What makes you a child of God? Grace---God’s free gift of love that I do not deserve and cannot earn. Don’t you have to be good for God to love you? No. God loves me in spite of all I do wrong. How do you thank God for this gift of love? I promise to love and trust God with all my heart. How do you love God? By worshiping God, by loving others, and by respecting what God has created. ----from Belonging to God: A First Catechism, Questions 1-6 “Psalm 19” Rebecca Sawyer, organ
Entrance Voluntary
Benedetto Marcello
Welcome and Parish Concerns Musical Introit
“Kingsfold”
John Madura
*Call to Worship All who thirst, come to the water And drink deeply of these living streams. Come, all who are weary; Come, all who yearn for forgiveness. Our gracious God beckons and blesses us. Let us give praise for new life in Christ. *Hymn
“We Sing the Mighty Power of God”
Kingsfold
*Confession of Sin *Unison Prayer of Confession Merciful God, In baptism you promise forgiveness and new life, making us part of the body of Christ. We confess that we remain preoccupied with ourselves, separated from sisters and brothers in Christ. We cling to destructive habits, hold grudges, and show reluctance to welcome one another; We allow the past to hold us hostage.
Offering Musical Offering “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light” Sanctuary Choir; Gregory Pysh, conductor The Permian Basin String Quartet John Madura, Alexander Norris, violins Melissa Madura, viola; Amy Huzjak, cello I want to walk as a child of the light; I want to follow Jesus. God set the stars to give light to the world; The star of my life is Jesus.
In your loving kindness, have mercy on us, and free us from sin. Remind us of the promises you make in baptism so that we may rise to new life, and live together in Christ’s grace.
Refrain In him there is no darkness at all; The night and the day are both alike. The Lamb is the light of the city of God: Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.
*Assurance of Pardon
I want to see the brightness of God; I want to look at Jesus. Clear Sun of righteousness, shine on my path, And show me the way to the Father. Refrain
*Congregational Response O God of righteousness and grace, seen in the Christ, Thy Son, Whose life and death reveal Thy face, by whom Thy will was done: Inspire Thy heralds of good news to live Thy life divine, Till Christ is formed in every heart, and every land is Thine! Time with the Children Four and five year olds may join the adult leader on the Lectern side following a Time with Children to go up to Children’s Church. Parents, after church please come to Room 102 to pick up your children. Children will be released only to their parents. First Reading of Scripture
Mark 1:4-11
Pg. 34
Second Reading of Scripture
Micah 6:6-8
Pg. 866
Sermon
“What Does the Lord Require of Us?”
*Hymn No. 522
“Lord, When I Came Into This Life”
Paul Manz
Rev. Majid Abel Land of Rest
Reaffirmation of the Baptismal Covenant Profession of Faith Renunciations *Profession The Apostles’ Creed (Ecumenical) I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. 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. 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. Thanksgiving for the Waters of Baptism and Prayers of Intercession Act of Renewal and Commitment for the Christian Community You are invited to come forward by the center aisle, take a shell from the font and remember your own baptism and Christ’s claim on your life. If you do not wish to come forward, you may take a shell from the font following the service.
I’m looking for the coming of Christ; I want to be with Jesus, When we have run with patience the race, We shall know the joy of Jesus. Refrain Kathleen Thomerson *Hymn of Praise “Take, O Take Me As I Am” Take, O take me as I am; summon out what I shall be; Set your seal upon my heart and live in me. Repeat *Prayer of Thanksgiving *Hymn No. 525 “Here I Am, Lord” *Charge and Benediction *Response in Song “On Eagle’s Wings” And He will raise you up on eagle’s wings, Bear you on the breath of dawn, Make you to shine like the sun, And hold you in the palm of His hand. *Closing Voluntary
“In Thee Is Gladness”
Johann Sebastian Bach
*If able, please stand. Worship Note: Today we continue in the Season of Epiphany. The three Gospel texts for Epiphany tell us of the Magi, the Baptism of Jesus, and the First Miracle at Cana. In these stories the identity of Jesus as Light of the world is revealed for all to see. Theologian John Colwell writes in his book The Rhythm of Doctrine: A Liturgical Sketch of Christian Faith and Faithfulness: Epiphany is a celebration of a light that has shone and is shining— it shone in Christ, and it shone into our lives—and as a celebration, Epiphany is a response of gratitude and of trust, for we have seen this light and we have confidence in this truth; we have come from darkness to light. To have come to see this light which shines through the gospel story, to have come to see it without refusing it, rejecting it, or perverting it, is to live truthfully. Today we welcome Rev. Majid Abel, pastor of Naulakha Presbyterian church in Lahore, Pakistan, to our pulpit. We have just begun partnering with Naulakha Presbyterian Church and look forward to Rev. Abel sharing with us in worship today. Please join us for Lunch this Tuesday, January 13, 11:30 a.m. in the Koinonia Room to hear Rev. Abel share more about what it is like to be a Christian in Pakistan and how their church ministers in that context. Contact Pastor Walter ( 684-7821) for more information.
