The First Baptist Church

    of Birmingham      
An American Baptist Church

 

 

Welcome to Worship at First Baptist Church of Birmingham, Michigan

Sunday, Feb. 5, 2011

Enter to Worship

 

Prelude:                       "Variations 'Italian Hymn'"  (Beals)           – Jack E. Ellis

                                         

Call to Worship:                            Psalm 147:1-9

 

Leader: Praise the Lord! How good it is to sing praises to our God; for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.

People: The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel.

 

Leader: He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.

People: He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.

 

Leader: Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.

People: The Lord lifts up the downtrodden; he casts the wicked to the ground.

 

Leader: Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre.

People: He covers the heavens with clouds, prepares rain for the earth, makes grass grow o the hills.

 

All: He gives to the animals their food, and to the young ravens when they cry.

           

Hymn:                       “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”                               #77

 

Opening Prayer:

Leader: Sometimes, God, we pray with others, for healing and wholeness, and joy in your presence.

People: At other times, we need to be on our own, alone with our thoughts and concerns, the things that weigh heavily upon us.

Leader: In this time of worship may we find times of togetherness and solitude.

All: We pray in Christ’s name, Amen.

                    

 

Welcome and Passing the Peace

            Leader: The peace of Christ be with you.

            People: May the peace of Christ be among us. Amen.

 

Black History … Recalled

 

A Spiritual:                    “I’m Goin’-a Sing When the Spirit Says Sing”

 

“I’m goin’-a sing when the Spirit says sing, I’m goin’-a sing when the Spirit says sing, I’m goin’-a sing when the Spirit says sing, and obey the Spirit of the Lord.

 

I’m goin’-a pray when the Spirit says pray, I’m goin’-a pray when the Spirit says pray, I’m goin’-a pray when the Spirit says pray, and obey the Spirit of the Lord.

 

I’m goin’-a shout when the Spirit says shout, I’m goin’-a shout when the Spirit says shout, I’m goin’-a shout when the Spirit says shout, and obey the Spirit of the Lord.”

 

(Children up through eighth grade are dismissed for Learning Community.)

 

 

Celebrations and Concerns/Invitations to Involvement

 

First Lesson:                             Isaiah 40:21-31                                                                    

The Old Testament, Page 668

 

Second Lesson:                   I Corinthians 9:16-23       

                            The New Testament, Page 171

 

The Presentation of our Tithes and Offerings

Offertory Anthem:  "Communion Kum Ba Yah"   (arr. Burleigh)

                                    - Chancel Choir

 

 *Offertory Response:         “Now Thank We all Our God”               #374, Vs. 3

“All praise and thanks to God th Father now be given, the Son, and him who reigns with them in highest heaven, the one eternal God whom earth and heaven adore; for thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.”

 

Offertory Prayer

    

(Please stand for the reading of the Gospel.)

 

*Gospel Reading:                          Mark 1:29-39             

  The New Testament, Page 35

 

Response:

Leader: The word of God for the people of God.

            People: Thanks be to God.

 

Sermon:                          “Renewing Our Strength”  

–     Rev. J. Wesley Babian       

 

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)

 

Communion Offering           

Communion Offertory: "Ancient Words"  (arr. Turner)

 

(Today’s communion offering goes in support of South Oakland Shelter.)

 

*Reading of the Church Covenant

 

The Celebration of Communion

   

A Prayer of Blessing for the Bread
Distribution of the Bread
Music for the Bread: "Let Us Break Bread Together" #776

A Prayer of Blessing for the Cup
Distribution of the Cup
Music for the Cup: "Open The Eyes Of My Heart Lord"  (Mark Hayes)

Closing Hymn:                            “Blest Be the Tie that Binds”

                      “Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love;

                       the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.”

Benediction

 

Postlude:                                 "Lasst Uns Effruen"  (Lani Smith)

                      

*Please stand.

 

The flowers today are given by Dave Brault and Leona Frost

in honor of our South Oakland Shelter guests.

 

Depart to Serve

 

Pastor: J. Wesley Babian; Director of Music: Jack E. Ellis, M. Music

Sound: Scott Ritchie & Collin Trask & Will Olsen; Deacon Greeter: Jackie Earhardt;

Reader: Paige Moore; Ushers:  David Drake, Harriet Stewart, Glenn Craig, Jim Poe, Robert Washburn, Phil Babian, Leona Frost, Henry Nabors