First Baptist Church of Birmingham, Michigan
The
of
An
Welcome to Worship at
Welcome to Worship
Sunday, July 25th, 2010
Prelude: “Pass It On” (Kurt Kaiser) – Jack E. Ellis
*Call To Worship
Leader: Come, people of God. Here is the door to life. Bring all you are. God is waiting.
People: We stand at the door and knock
Leader: Come, people of God. Here is the door to justice. Leave behind all you do not need. God is waiting.
People: We stand at the door and knock
Leader: Come, people of God. Here is the door to truth. Behind it is a new way of living. God is waiting.
People: We stand as the door and knock
Leader: Come, people of God. The door is opened for all. Come in and worship. God is waiting.
*Hymn: “Come, We that Love the Lord” #22
(Please be seated.)
Opening Prayer
Leader: We gather in your realm of love, O God…
People: Listen in the silence, listen in the noise, listen for the sound of the Spirit’s voice.
Leader: May we find ways and words to proclaim your name, O God…
People: Listen in the silence, listen in the noise, listen for the sound of the Spirit’s voice.
Leader: May we be sustained and nurtured by your word, O God…
People: Listen in the silence, listen in the noise, listen for the sound of the Spirit’s voice.
Leader: May we be surrounded in prayer, O God…
People: Listen in the silence, listen in the noise, listen for the sound of the Spirit’s voice.
Leader: May your reign grow in us and in the world.
People: Listen in the silence, listen in the noise, listen for the sound of the Spirit’s voice.
Prayer of Confession:
Leader: Hear us, O God, as we pray to live hospitably with each other
People: And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Leader: Hear us, O God, as we pray to live generously together in communion.
People: Forgive us for doing wrong, as we forgive others.
Leader: Hear us, O God, as we pray to live lives of welcome and care for our neighbor.
People: In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
Leader: Hear us, O God, as we pray to live full lives that bring full life to others.
People: And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us.
Leader: Hear us, O God, as we pray to live as neighbors, companions, and friends together.
People: Loose the cords of mistakes binding us, as we release the strand we hold of others’ guilt.
Words of Assurance
Leader: In the same way you forgive others – generously and gracefully – so I forgive you. You are renewed.
Congregational Response: “Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God” #447
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you; Allelu, alleluia!
Ask, and it shall be given unto you, seek and ye shall find, knock, and the door shall be opened unto you; Allelu, alleluia!”
*Welcome and Passing the Peace
Leader: The peace of Christ be with you.
People: May the peace of Christ be among us. Amen.
(Please be seated.)
Celebrations and Concerns/Invitations to Involvement
(Children up through fourth grade may leave for Children’s Church.)
First Lesson: Psalm 85
- The Old Testament, Page 543
Second Lesson: Colossians 2:6-15
- The New Testament, Page 200
The Presentation of our Tithes and Offerings
Offertory: “I Know When I believed” (arr. Keith Christopher)
*Offertory Response: “Lord of All Good” #645, Vs. 1 & 3
“Lord of all good, we bring our gifts to you; use them your holy purpose to fulfill; tokens of love and pledged they shall be that our whole life is offered to tour will.
Father, whose bounty all creation shows; Christ, by whose willing sacrifice we live; Spirit, from whom all life in fullness flows: to you with grateful hearts ourselves we give.”
Offertory Prayer
(Please stand for the reading of the Gospel)
*Gospel Reading: Luke 11:1-13
– The New Testament, Page 72
Response:
Leader: The word of God for the people of God.
People: Thanks be to God.
Sermon: “Learning Prayer” – Rev. J. Wesley Babian
Prayer of the People:
Leader: We remember, O God, that we are surrounded by prayer: in every deed done, every word spoken, every grace felt, every act forgiven by others. These are the persistent prayers of the people
People: We open the door and we share a neighbor’s need. These are the persistent prayers of the people
Leader: A path stretches and we share the journey with a friend. These are the persistent prayers of the people
People: A story is told and we listen to the needs of a companion.
These are the persistent prayers of the people
Leader: A letter is written for a cause and justice is done. These are the persistent prayers of the people
People: A tree is planted and a world breathes a little easier. These are the persistent prayers of the people
Leader: A meal is shared and hunger is appeased. These are the persistent prayers of the people
All: We remember, O God, that we are surrounded by prayer: in every deed done, every word spoken, every grace felt, every act forgiven by others. These are the persistent prayers of the people.
Prayer of Dedication:
Leader: When our living prayers have done all they can to protest for peace and seek justice for all,
People: we shall continue to pray with words.
Leader: When our living prayers have done all they can to feed the hungry and provide shelter for the homeless,
People: we shall continue to pray with words.
Leader: As we have received Christ, we will continue to live our lives in Christ. We will surround your people in prayer, O God, of words and actions, so that when we can act no longer,
People: we shall continue to pray with words.
Closing Hymn: “Loving Spirit” - Back of hymnal
Benediction
Postlude: “For All The Saints” (Fred Bock)
*Please stand.
The flowers today are given by Doris Fell in recognition of our church staff members.
Depart to Serve
Pastor: J. Wesley Babian; Director of Music: Jack E. Ellis, M.Mus.
Sound: Scott Ritchie & Tim Olsen; Deacon Greeter: Jackie Earhardt
Leader: Dave Brault; Scripture Reader: Marilyn Lin
Ushers: David Drake, Harriet Stewart, Glenn Craig, Jim Poe, Robert Washburn,
Leona Frost, Henry Nabors
Candle lighters: Grace Charbeneau, Brandon Charbeneau, Emily Bly, Katherine Stewart
Invitations to Involvement
Next Week:
Communion Sunday, August 1, 2010
Choir Rehearsal, 9:30AM, Worship Service – 10:30 a.m., Children’s Learning Community – during Worship time after being dismissed from the service, reception after worship, Taize worship service, evening
The Global Gift Shop is open today after services. New merchandise is delivered often! The shop is a mission of economical re-distribution for third world artisans.
Learning Community For Adults: Continue to be offered. Join a class today!
See updated news on Living Water International in the Welcome Center.
Vacation Bible School Begins Tomorrow! Vacation Bible School! VBS will be held from 9 AM-noon, (Monday through Wednesday) July 26, 27, and 28. The theme will be Build a Better World: Water. It will be geared for first through seventh grade. On Wednesday, after we wrap up we will have lunch and then go to a water park for the afternoon!
Anyone interested in a mission bus trip “Learn and Serve” to New Windsor, MD next October 25-29? Let the church office know and we will begin to look for scholarship funding to cover part of the cost to participants. $410 includes roundtrip bus, 4 night double occupancy lodging, all meals and sightseeing in Gettysburg. Brochures are available in the Welcome Center.
Email is a great way for the church to communicate with you. It’s an affordable and fast way to keep connected as a church family. If you have an email account and would like to receive news and information from the church via it, please email Leslie in the church office. Thank you!
Friendship House - EBAY Fund raising - Do you have items to donate to the Friendship House EBAY fund raising program? We are looking for items like jewelry (costume or fine), coins, stamps, memorabilia, interesting artifacts, antique toys, etc. Items should have a value of at least $20.00. Please bring your items on Sundays and put them in the office in the box marked "Friendship House EBAY".
Summer Office hours: Monday – Thursday, 9AM to 2PM.
The Ladies of the Church ‘Eat & Talk’ Group got together for lunch and fellowship on July 19. We will also collect for mission support. Please plan to join in the wonderful opportunity to share time together, get to know each other and make new friends! Our next venture will be on Aug. 23, 11AM at Omara’s Restaurant, at 12 Mile road and Coolidge. Please RSVP to Hazel Boltwood or the church office.
See the update from missionary Dan Buttry posted next to the office.
Brian Blaesing invites the congregation to share with him their thoughts and ideas about the vision of our church. Seek him out. In his last month’s SoJournal article he asks, “Do you know God’s will for this congregation? God wants us to seek out His will and find a congregational Vision and Mission worthy of our God given talents, skills and abilities.”
All are invited to an end of the summer party on August 29 at Kensington Metro Park!
The Newsletter is available today.
Join Pastor Babian on Wednesday, July 28, 7PM for his mid-week summer shorts.
Join Jack Ellis on Sunday, August 1 for a Taize worship service.
New church members Calin McKelvey and Jeremy Davis will be married at FBCB on Saturday, August 7.
Check out the new information on the bulletin board about Living Waters International, a ministry our church financially supports.
Friendship House Request: Children’s Backpacks Needed for School Supply Give-away Day
Mark Your Calendars! Sunday, September 12, All Church Picnic!
Congratulations to Shelley and Tim Olsen on their wedding here at First Baptist Church Birmingham yesterday!