                 |
| Sunday BulletinA readable copy is displayed here. For a more formatted appearance, choose the pdf format immediately below. |
First Presbyterian Church
Sunday,
February 5, 2012 8:30 and 10 a.m.  The
Prelude A time to be silent in
preparation for worship. Please turn off your
cell phone. * signifies the congregation may stand as able “Reverie” by Deberssy Clarinet: Doug White Welcome and
Announcements Ringing Our Historic
Church Bell Introit “My Life Is In You, Lord” *The Opening Hymn #448 “I’ll Tell the World that I’m a Christian” The Call to
Worship (responsive) Leader: Come let us join our
hearts in a chorus of praise, People: and lift up your voices with the saints of
every age! Leader: Let this place be filled
with a spirit of joy, People: For God is in this place with the gifts of
life and love. Invocation The Anthem “Go Light
Your World” by Pote Call to Confession Prayer of Confession (unison) Father, I must say
that I want to escape pain. I have injured myself and others in running from my
problems instead of viewing them from Your
perspective. In Your hand trials are tools that make me mature and able to
stand my ground. When they come I have complained and even worse, run to
temporary and quick fixes to find comfort. In the end I have
failed to become the person You and others need me to
be. I am deeply sorry. Please accept this confession as a way of saying, “I
trust You heavenly Father! I gave You
my problems so in Your hands they will be used to make me mature and prepared
to be the beautiful person You are creating me to be”. Time of Silent
Confession Assurance of
Pardon Hymn #704 “God Will Make a Way” The Pastoral Prayer/The Lord’s Prayer Congregational
Prayer Response #557
“Seekers of Your Heart” Lord, we want to know You, Live our lives to show You All the love we owe You We’re seekers of Your
heart, seekers of Your heart. (Children are invited to come forward during song for Children’s Sermon) Children’s
Sermon Offertory & Offertory Music “Panis Angelicus”
by Frank Clarinet: Doug White *Doxology #815 *Prayer of Dedication
Prayer of
Illumination First Reading of
Scripture Isaiah 45: 9-12 (pg. 675 OT) 8:30: LeRue
Werner 10: Paul Wonacott *The Hymn of
Preparation #459 “We Remember You” Second Reading James 1: 1-4
(pg. 228 NT) The Sermon “Trust the Process” Rev. Martinez (First
in the series of “How to have a great 2012”) The Sacrament of Holy Communion *The Closing Hymn #56 vs. 1 & 3 “To God Be the Glory” *Greeting Each Other In Christian Love *The Pastoral
Benediction The Postlude “The Emperor’s Fanfare” arr. by E. Power Biggs First
Presbyterian Church
A Congregation of The
Presbyterian Church (USA) 404 Spruce Street Elk Rapids, Michigan 49629 (231) 264-8167
FAX (231) 264-0162 A Stephen Ministry Congregation Church Email: info@erfpc.org Website: www.erfpc.org
SENIOR PASTOR/HEAD OF STAFF The Rev. Dr. Andrew
Martinez DIRECTOR OF MUSIC MINISTRIES Cheryl Knight INTERIM FAMILY LIFE COORDIATOR Brittany Peterson PASTOR EMERITUS The Rev. Dr. Daniel K.
Herlein
The Mission Statement of First Presbyterian Church Introduce Jesus Christ to those who do not know Him; Deepen the faith and commitment of those who already know Him; And demonstrate Christ’s way of love in service to the world.
_________________________________________________________________ PRAYER
REQUESTS: Thomas J. Cole, Diane
Klingler, Colin Joseph White (new
born grandson of Doug and Kathy White), Barbara Pyle (cousin of Sue Johnson),
Dianne Hall PLEASE REMEMBER OUR SHUT-IN FRIENDS Louise Engstrom,
Omer Foret, William & Beatrice Geise, Vern Oxender, Cecil &
Irene Smith, and Jeanne Townsend. CHILD
CARE facilities are available
to keep our services in the spirit of worship.
Infants and children through three years of age are invited. Our
Childcare Coordinator is Melissa West. MASON’S
PANCAKE BRUNCH
at the Masonic Hall today from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cost is $7. Everyone is
welcome! THE PRAYER
SHAWL KNITTING CIRCLE will meet
during the second service on the second Sunday of every month. All are welcome! THERE WILL BE A MEETING OF THE CONGREGATION, ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19,
2012, at 11:05 a.m., immediately
following the worship service. The purpose of this meeting will be (1) to
receive the Session-approved 2012 Annual Budget; (2) to receive the 2010 Annual
Report as printed with additions and/or corrections; (3) to approve the
recommendations from the Nomination Ministry Team to fill the vacancies for the
Elder Class of 2012 and 2014 and one vacancy of the Nomination MT
member-at-large; (4) to receive the recommendation of Session with respect to
the senior pastor’s 2012 Terms of Call.
We must have a quorum to conduct this important business. Members are
asked to be present. Non-members are welcome to attend and observe. Copies of
the Annual Report and the Terms of Call are available for your review. SUNDAY SCHOOL LOCATIONS (10 a.m.)
BLOOD DRIVE TOMORROW
1 to 7 p.m. at the AMVETS Hall, 410 Bridge Street. PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN - Next Thursday, February 9, is our regular day for
Presbyterian Women. I am hoping that
some of you may be able to come at about 11:30 a.m. and bring a sack lunch and
start preparing the envelopes for the Bakeless Bakesale mailing.
Our meeting and Bible Study will begin at noon - and be done by 1:30
p.m. Sorry for the last minute change.
Carol Sinclair is our hostess. Please call Jennifer Haskell if you have
any questions at 231-599-2946. SIGN UP FOR
FLOWERS -
The Flower Calendar is located on the
bulletin board in Fellowship Hall. Arrangements can mark a special occasion, a
memorial or a tribute, or they can enhance the Sanctuary on a Sunday morning.
Flowers can be self-arranged or can come from your favorite florist. MIDDLE SCHOOL BAKE SALE
next Sunday, February 12, between the worship services and after second
service. SMALL
GROUP UPDATE: Updated Small Group brochures with several new
Groups listed can be found at the Welcome Center along with sign-up
forms. Please take a brochure and see if there is a Small Group just
right for you CONTINUOUS, ONGOING, YOUTH FUND RAISER: You can donate your returnable (only) bottles and
cans to help fund scholarships for mission trips and retreats for our Youth. ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22. Beginning at
6 p.m. we will gather together in our sanctuary for an Ash Wednesday
Service. In addition to the Sacrament of
Holy Communion, we will offer the application of ashes as authorized by the
Presbyterian Church (USA) Book of Common Worship. SERMON
NOTES –James 1: 1-4
I.
The Bible shows us how to size up
a difficult problem (James 1: 2-3)
A.
“Whenever
you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy,
because you know that the
testing of your faith produces
1. Endurance,
and let endurance have its full effect, so that you
may be
able to
2. Be
mature and complete, lacking in nothing.”
B.
“Consider
it nothing but joy.” The word consider
means “think”; “have
an
opinion”; “lead.”
1. Our minds lead our emotions, our bodies, our actions.
II.
Suffering does not control our
feelings―our attitude does
A.
Many
conflict resolution principles begin thus, “Embrace the conflict as
being
a potential for something positive.”
1. Suffering has a purpose. Suffering
grows us up to be mature.
a) Joy is found in how we look at our problem. Joy is not the absence of suffering.
b) I will choose not to leave his workbench to avoid God’s process by doing
something I will later regret.
B.
Mature
people have “staying power.” Mature
people stand their ground
when
future adversity comes their way.
1. Immature people do not “stand their ground.”
2. Immaturity leads to doing something we will regret in the future
3. Mature people trust that a God of love is up to some good in every
problem. Immature
people do not stay grounded in God’s love
III.
God uses trials to strengthen
people who can stand their ground
A.
“We
know that all things work together for good for those who love God,
who
are called according to his purpose (Romans 8: 28).”
B.
In
Philippians 2: 3and 6 & 3:7 and 8 we see how the mind and opinion
God helps us have allows us to view trials as a process to make us
mature, complete and lacking in nothing
IV.
God is a father who stands by his
kids for our good
A.
Joy
is a decision we make based on knowing God is a loving father who
is
making me a masterpiece.
1. I can stand on that hope! Trials
cannot make me their victim. I have
a Father guiding the process!
2. I can refuse to do something I will later regret knowing that joy
comes knowing God is making me better in a trial. Joy is not found in temporary relief from
God’s process.
|
