5th Sunday in Lent
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 Vicki Conrad-Wright
Call to Worship (from Praying with the Earth, John Philip Newell)
All things come from you, O God,
and to you we return.
All things emerge in your great river of life
and into you we vanish again.
At the beginning of this day we wake
not as separate streams but as countless currents
in a single flow
the flow of this day’s dawning
the flow of this day’s delight
the flow of this day’s sorrows
your flow, O God,
in the twistings and turnings of this new day.
Opening Hymn “Here in This Place – Gather Us In” Hymnal # 401
1) Here in this place the new light is streaming; now is the darkness vanished away;
see in this space our fears and our dreamings brought here to you in the light of this day.
Gather us in, the lost and forsaken; gather us in, the blind and the lame;
call to us now, and we shall awaken; we shall arise at the sound of our name.
2) We are the young, our lives are a mystery. We are the old who yearn for your face.
We have been sung throughout all of history, called to be light to the whole human race.
Gather us in, the rich and the haughty; gather us in, the proud and the strong;
give us a heart, so meek and so lowly; give us the courage to enter the song.
3) Here we will take the wine and the water; here we will take the bread of new birth.
Here you shall call your sons and your daughters, call us anew to be salt for the earth.
Give us to drink the wine of compassion; give us to eat the bread that is you;
nourish us well, and teach us to fashion lives that are holy and hearts that are true.
4) Not in the dark of buildings confining, not in some heaven, light years away:
here in this place the new light is shining; now is the kingdom, and now is the day.
Gather us in and hold us forever; gather us in and make us your own;
gather us in, all peoples together, fire of love in our flesh and our bone.
Scripture Lesson Matthew 13:24-30
Sermon “On Not Tearing out the Tares” Rev. Nancy Blakely
Thoughts to ponder: Jesus’ parable of the weeds among the wheat points to the fact that we live in a paradoxical world. How are we to navigate through these daily tensions with any kind of wisdom?
Prayers of the People
Anthem “Remember Me”
Words by Stephen Andrews and Music by Aaron Adams
Celebration of Communion
Closing Hymn and Offertory “Today We All Are Called to be Disciples” Hymnal #757
1) Today we all are called to be disciples of the Lord,
to help to set the captive free, make plowshare out of sword,
to feed the hungry, quench their thirst, make love and peace our fast,
to serve the poor and homeless first, our ease and comfort last.
2) God made the world and at its birth ordained our human race
to live as stewards of the earth, responding to God’s grace.
But we are vain and sadly proud; we sow not peace but strife.
Our discord spreads a deadly cloud that threatens all of life.
3) Pray justice may come rolling down as in a mighty stream,
with righteousness in field and town to cleanse us and redeem.
For God is longing to restore an earth where conflicts cease,
a world that was created for a harmony of peace.
4) May we in service to our God act out the living word,
and walk the road the saints have trod till all have seen and heard.
As stewards of the earth may we give thanks in one accord
to God who calls us all to be disciples of the Lord.
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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Calendar of Service -
March 24 - Dr. Keith Ray - Palm Sunday
March 26 - Maundy Thursday Tableau (on Tuesday!), 7:00 pm
March 31 - Dr. Keith Ray - Easter - 10:15 am in the Labyrinth
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Choir practice will meet Sunday at 9:25 AM in the choir room. The remaining choir practice dates are 3/17, and 3/24, and we will sing during services on these same dates. Please come a little early so that you are ready to start on time. See you then! Polly 864- 940-0640
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Sharon reminds us that the “One Great Hour of Sharing” special collections continue through Lent season. You may write “OGHS” on the memo line of your check or use the designated envelopes for cash donations.
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Easter lily orders are due Sunday, March 17. Forms are available on the table outside the sanctuary. The cost is $10. each. Please put your order form and money in the offering basket. ********************
AFPT is hosting an event on Sunday, March 17, at 3:00 pm. This is a live event with Zoom provided to hear Ramsey Hanhan. His presentation is “What It Means to Be Palestinian: A Palestinian’s Dream.” There are three ways to watch: 1) Join the in-person event at NACCP. No registration necessary. 2) View at home alone - Register for the Zoom link here.
3) Create your own satellite “watch party” with friends using the Zoom registration above.
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The Junior League of Anderson will hold its annual Oyster Roast fundraiser on March 16 at 6:00 pm. Visit https://andersonsc.jl.org/events/register-2024-spring-oyster-roast/ for tickets.
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Spring Equinox is Tuesday, March 19 and celebrated with a labyrinth walk at 5:30 pm.
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On Friday, March 22nd, meet Diane Lee at the Anderson Arts Center Downtown on Federal Street at the front desk at 3 pm. We will look at the varied artwork being submitted for the annual Juried Show, choose our favorite pieces (we can later see if they make it into the show!!) and then go across the street to the Bradbury Bistro for afternoon refreshments!! Roxanna Albert, former Anderson 5 Arts Coordinator, is this year’s juror!
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Market Theatre presents “Jersey Boys”. Drew Whitley, Thor Raines and Rosie Thompson are involved with this outstanding show. It is a must see! The group from church will see the show on Sunday, March 24, with lunch before the show.
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“Is it I, Lord?”, a Maundy Thursday Tableau, will be presented to NACCP on Tuesday, March 26, at 7:00 pm. This is a short drama that tells the story of the disciples and Jesus during the last supper. Please consult the chart in the church hallway for rehearsal dates and times. See you there!
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The Kudzu Krew is now the “Kudzu Killers” who are set to take out the kudzu that has invaded our labyrinth. New members are welcome! If you have the energy and/or interest in joining, please let Cynthia know via email (cynthiakwarner@mac.com)
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If you are interested in volunteering at the Anderson Soiree children’s games on April 26-27, please let Vicki know. 585-781-4620
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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. 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: Michael Little’s friend Becky; Shea Marsden; 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