Today’s service may be viewed on Facebook Live Stream at this link in the comfort of your own home or in person in the sanctuary. Join us!
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Gathering Music Polly Dunford
Welcome and Announcements Jax Collins
Call to Worship
Children of God: welcome!
Welcome to this place of love and grace.
Welcome to this place of hope and perseverance.
God invites all of us to be a part of the beloved community.
God invites all of us to share in the good news:
We are welcome, just as we are. We are loved, just as we are.
In gratitude for all of this, let us worship God.
Opening Hymn “Let Us Build a House - All are Welcome” Hymnal #301
1) Let us build a house where love can dwell and all can safely live,
a place where saints and children tell how hearts learn to forgive.
Built of hopes and dreams and visions, rock of faith and vault of grace;
here the love of Christ shall end divisions:
all are welcome; all are welcome; all are welcome in this place.
2) Let us build a house where prophets speak, and words are strong and true,
where all God’s children dare to seek to dream God’s reign anew.
Here the cross shall stand as witness and as symbol of God’s grace;
here as one we claim the faith of Jesus:
all are welcome; all are welcome; all are welcome in this place.
3) Let us build a house where love is found in water, wine, and wheat;
a banquet hall on holy ground where peace and justice meet.
Here the love of God, through Jesus, is revealed in time and space;
as we share in Christ the feast that frees us:
all are welcome; all are welcome; all are welcome in this place.
4) Let us build a house where hands will reach beyond the wood and stone
to heal and strengthen, serve and teach and live the Word they’ve known.
Here the outcast and the stranger bear the image of God’s face;
let us bring an end to fear and danger:
all are welcome; all are welcome; all are welcome in this place.
5) Let us build a house where all are named, their songs and visions heard
and loved and treasured, taught and claimed as words within the Word.
Built of tears and cries and laughter, prayers of faith and songs of grace;
let this house proclaim from floor to rafter:
all are welcome; all are welcome; all are welcome in this place.
Scripture Lesson Jonah 3:1-5, 10
Sermon “When God Cannot be Trusted” Dr. Keith Ray
Thoughts to Consider: One of the hazards of religion is that the followers of said religion can begin to see themselves as separate and, therefore, better than particular groups of other people. Even progressives justify classifying persons in categories of the enlightened versus the unenlightened. It even happens in scripture. But occasionally the universality of Divine love shows up and reminds us that the expanse of the human family is far and wide, inviting us to become uncomfortable in sharing community with the diversity of God’s human creation. Perhaps we can learn something of this in an old fish story!
Prayers of the People
Closing Hymn and Offertory “Walls Mark Our Bound’ries” Handout
Words by Ruth Duck; Music by Jim Strathdee
Words-1996. The Pilgrim Press. Music-1997. The Pilgrim Press. All rights reserved.
1) Walls mark our bound’ries and keep us apart;
walls keep the world from our eyes and our heart.
Tables are round making room for one more,
welcoming friends we had not known before.
So build us a table and tear down the wall!
Christ is our host. There is room for us all!
2) Walls make us sure who is in and who’s out;
walls keep us safe from all question and doubt,
but at a table in open exchange
new ties are formed as our lives rearrange.
So build us a table and tear down the wall!
Christ is our host. There is room for us all!
3) Once we were strangers, divided, alone.
Hate and distrust built a wall stone by stone.
Now at a table the bread that we share
joins us to Christ in a circle of care.
So build us a table and tear down the wall!
Christ is our host. There is room for us all!
Benediction
Discussion
Shalom (“May you be well and whole and in communion with all creation.”)
Shalom, my friends, Shalom, my friends, Shalom, Shalom.
Till we meet again, Till we meet again, Shalom, Shalom.
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Reprinted with permission under One License #A-625711. All rights reserved.
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Calendar of Service -
January 28 - Dr. Keith Ray
February 4 - Dr. Keith Ray, 1st Sunday Potluck meal
February 11 - Dr. Keith Ray
February 18 - TBD
February 25 - Dr. Keith Ray
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Choir practice will start again on Sunday, January 28 at 9:25 AM in the choir room. Please come a little early to put your music in a folder with a pencil. See you all then! Polly (864) 940-0640
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February 4 - Potluck Hymn Sunday - Pick a hymn, write its name and number on the paper provided, and put your completed paper in the basket on the Communion table.
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Reminder that PFLAG meets the second Thursday of the month at NACCP at 7 pm.
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The next Keenagers event will be crochet lessons and a Valentine’s Day celebration on Wednesday, February 14 at 11 am at NACCP.
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PAWS is currently in need of blankets. Please bring them to church if you have donations.
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The Bible Study Group (BSG) meets Mondays at 6:30 pm via Zoom. Dave Johnson is guiding us through the book of Exodus. If you’d like to be added to the Zoom invite list then contact Cynthia at cynthiakwarner@mac.com. We’d love to have newcomers!
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Joanne reminds us all to keep up the food donations for AIM (Anderson Interfaith Ministries)! Bring your non-perishable items to the church. This is an on-going need that should become part of everyone’s shopping routine.
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Are you interested in becoming a member of NACCP? Would you like to make this community your spiritual home? Please contact Keith at keithdray@gmail.com or at 864-508-1530.
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Remember in prayer: Linda McFall; Bonnie Marsden and son Michael; Jackie Moore; Glennie Burns; Mary Alice Mundy; Jason Harding; Madison Bishop (Whitney’s niece); Latha and Cheryl Semones; Immigrant families; Victims of all violence, oppression, and injustice; People of Ukraine; People of Israel and Palestine.
NACCP is an inclusive Faith Community that values questions
and the journey to the answers.
Ministry Leader: Dr. Keith Ray
keithdray@gmail.com
Pianist and Choir Director: Polly Dunford
Mailing address: P.O. Box 4346, Anderson, SC 29622
Phone: 864-225-3575
Website: naccpchurch.org
Church News: naccpnews@yahoo.com
Instagram: northandersonccp
Facebook: NorthAndersonCommunityChurchPresbyterian