Greater Bethel
Doxology:
“PraiseGodFromWhomAllBlessingsFlow”
CallToWorship
InspiredbyLuke2:41-52WrittenByTheReverendMarbenBland
"TheLightofSalvation:ACalltoWorship"Inspiredby:Luke2:22-40 WrittenByTheReverendMarbenBland
Leader:Come,peopleofGod,letusgatherinthepresenceoftheLord, asMaryandJosephoncebroughttheinfantJesustothetemple.
People:WecometopresentourselvesbeforetheLord,toworshipin spiritandintruth.
Leader:LikeSimeon,maywebeledbytheHolySpirit,waitingwithhope andexpectationforthesalvationofourGod.
People:OureyeslongtoseeHisglory,alightforrevelationtoall people!
Leader:LikeAnna,maywecomewithheartsdevotedinprayer, proclaimingtheredemptionthathascomethroughChrist.
People:Wewillliftourvoicesinpraise,forGod'spromisesarefulfilled inJesus,ourSavior!
Leader:Thechildgrew,becamestrong,andwasfilledwithwisdom,and thefavorofGodwasuponHim.
People:Maywe,too,growingrace,wisdom,andfaith,asweworship theOnewhobringslighttotheworld!
All:Come,letusworshiptheLordourGod!Amen.
OpeningHymn
#571LiftEveryVoiceandSing
JamesWeldonJohnson/J.RosamondJohnson/EdwardB.Marks 1.Lifteveryvoiceandsing,Tillearthandheavenring,Ringwiththe harmoniesofliberty;LetourrejoicingriseHighasthelisteningskies, Letitresoundloudastherollingsea.Singasongfullofthefaiththatthe darkpasthastaughtus,Singasongfullofthehopethatthepresent hasbroughtus;FacingtherisingsunOfournewdaybegun,Letus marchontillvictoryiswon.2.Stonytheroadwetrod,Bitterthe chasteningrod,Feltinthedayswhenhopeunbornhaddied;Yetwitha steadybeat,HavenotourwearyfeetCometotheplaceforwhichour fatherssighed?Wehavecomeoverawaythatwithtearshasbeen watered,Wehavecome,treadingourpaththroughthebloodofthe slaughtered;Outfromthegloomypast,TillnowwestandatlastWhere thewhitegleamofourbrightstariscast.
3.Godofourwearyyears,Godofoursilenttears,Thouwhohast broughtusthusfarontheway;ThouwhohastbyThymight,Ledusinto thelight,Keepusforeverinthepath,wepray.Lestourfeetstrayfrom theplaces,OurGodwherewe,metThee,Lestourhearts,drunkwiththe wineoftheworld,weforgetThee;ShadowedbeneathThyhand,May weforeverstand,TruetoourGod,Truetoournativeland.
TheInvocation
TheInvocationResponse
#571LiftEveryVoiceandSing
SongOfPraise
AlterCall
Announcements–Pastor’sAidMinistry MomentinBlackHistory
BlackHistoryTrivia
WorshipInGiving AMeditationOnTithingAndGiving
WrittenByTheReverendNathanielVeal
Leader:PleasestandasyouareableandraiseyourseedtotheLord andrepeattheselinesafterme— Lord,Ithankyouforwhatyouhavegiventome. NowGod,Iamgivingbacktoyouatithe,atenth,oraportionofwhat youhavegiventome.
God,Iamplantingmyseedintofertileground. Icannotexpectaharvest,ifIdonotplantanyseeds. God,Iamexpectingmyseedstoproduceaharvestthatispressed down,shakentogetherandrunningover.
Leader:Now,whateveryouwantGodtodoforyouinyourlife,crossit overyourchestandclaimit.AndNowThankGodForIt!Andletusall say….Amen!
Leader:Now,letusgiveourofferingtotheLord
Followingtheofferingthecongregationwillriseatthedirectionofthe Pastorandsing:
#588AllThingsComeOfThee
AllThingsComeofthee,OLord;andofthineownhavewegiventhee–Amen
TheApostlesCreed IbelieveinGodtheFatherAlmighty,Makerofheavenandearth,andin JesusChristhisonlysonourLordwhowasconceivedbytheHolySpirit, bornoftheVirginMary,sufferedunderPontiusPilate,wascrucified, dead;andburied.Thethirddayhearosefromthedead,heascended intoheavenandsittethattherighthandofGodtheFatherAlmighty; fromthenceheshallcometojudgethequickandthedead.Ibelievein theHolySpirit,theChurchUniversal,thecommunionofsaints,the forgivenessofsins,theresurrectionofthebodyandthelifeeverlasting Amen..
NewRevisedStandardVersionUpdatedEdition
46Afterthreedaystheyfoundhiminthetemple,sittingamong theteachers,listeningtothemandaskingthemquestions.47 Andallwhoheardhimwereamazedathisunderstandingand hisanswers.48Whenhisparents[a]sawhimtheywere astonished,andhismothersaidtohim,“Child,whyhaveyou treateduslikethis?YourfatherandIhavebeenanxiously lookingforyou.”49Hesaidtothem,“Whywereyousearching forme?DidyounotknowthatImustbeinmyFather’s house?”[b]50Buttheydidnotunderstandwhathesaidto them.51ThenhewentdownwiththemandcametoNazareth andwasobedienttothem,andhismothertreasuredallthese thingsinherheart.
52AndJesusincreasedinwisdomandinyears[c]andindivine andhumanfavor.
TheContemporaryDecalogue TheCongregation,RiseandSings:
“Fromallthatdwellbelowtheskies,lettheCreator’s praisearise;lettheRedeemer’snamebesung,through everylandbyeverytongue.”
TheMinisterSays: HearthecommandmentsofGodtohispeople: IamtheLordyourGodwhobroughtyououtofbondage.
ThePeopleSings: Amen.Lordhavemercy
Youshallnotmakeforyourselfanyidol. Amen.Lordhavemercy. YoushallnotinvokewithmalicetheNameoftheLord yourGod.
Amen.Lordhavemercy. RemembertheSabbathdayandkeepitholy. Amen.Lordhavemercy.
3
Honor your father and your mother.
Amen. Lord have mercy. You shall not commit murder.
Amen. Lord have mercy.
You shall not commit adultery.
Amen. Lord have mercy. You shall not steal.
Amen. Lord have mercy. You shall not be a false witness.
Amen. Lord have mercy.
You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.
Amen. Lord have mercy.
THEGLORIAPATRI
“GlorybetotheFather,andtotheSon,andtotheHoly Ghost;Asitwasinthebeginning,isnow,andevershallbe worldwithoutend.Amen.”
SongOfPraise Message
ThePowerOfTheTemple
ACaseForEnhancingOurChurchFacilities InvitationToDiscipleship
#513 Time Is Filled with Swift Transition (Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand) Jennie Wilson/F. L. Eiland
1. Time is filled with swift transition, Naught of earth unmoved can stand, Build your hopes on things eternal, Hold to God’s unchanging hand.
Refrain Hold to His hand, to God’s unchanging hand; Hold to His hand, to God’s unchanging hand;Build your hopes on things eternal;Hold to God’s unchanging hand.
HolyCommunion
TheCalltoCommuniontobemadebytheMinister Youthatdotrulyandearnestlyrepentofyoursins,andare inloveandcharitywithyourneighbor,andintendtoleada newlife,followingthecommandmentsofGod,andwalking fromhenceforthinhisholyways,drawnearwithfaithand taketheholysacramenttoyourcomfort,andmakeyour humbleconfessiontoAlmightyGod.
TheGeneralConfessiontobemadebytheMinisterandpeople AlmightyGod,FatherofourLordJesus Christ,makerofallthings,judgeofallpeople ,weacknowledgeandbewailourmanifold sinsandwickednesswhichwefromtimeto timemostgrievouslyhavecommittedby thought,word,anddeedagainstyourdivine majesty,provokingmostjustlyyourwrath andindignationagainstus.Wedoearnestly repentandareheartilysorryfortheseour misdoings;theremembranceofthemis grievousuntous.
Havemercyuponus,havemercyuponus, mostmercifulGodforyourSon,ourLord JesusChrist’ssake;forgiveusallthatispast, andgrantthatwemayeverhereafterserve andpleasetheeinnewnessoflife,tothe honorandgloryofyourname,throughJesus ChristourLord.Amen
PrayerofConsecrationtobemadebytheMinister AlmightyGod,ourHeavenlyFather,whoofyourtender mercydidgiveyouronlyson,JesusChrist,tosuffer deathonthecrossforourredemption,whomadethere byhisoblationofhimself,onceoffered,afullperfect andsufficientsacrifice,oblation,andsatisfactionfor thesinsofthewholeworld;anddidinstituteandinhis holygospelcommandustocontinueaperpetual memoryofthathispreciousdeathuntilhiscoming again;hearus,OmercifulFather,wemosthumbly beseechyou,andgrantthatwereceivingtheseyour creaturesofbreadandwine,accordingtoyourson,our SaviourJesusChrist’sholyinstitution,inremembrance ofhisdeathandpassionmaybepartakersofhismost blessedbodyandblood;whointhesamenightthathe wasbetrayedtookbread,andwhenhehadgiven thanks,hebrokeit,,andgaveittohisdisciples,saying, ‘Take,eatthisismybodywhichisbrokenforyou.This doinremembranceofme.’(TheMinstersaystake,and eatthebread,thebodyofourSavorJesus.)Likewise aftersupperhetookthecupandwhenhehadgiven thankshegaveittothemsaying,‘Drinkallofit,forthis ismybloodofNewTestament,whichisshedforyou andformanyfortheremissionofsins;dothis,asoften asyoushalldrinkit,inremembranceofme.(The Minstersaystake,anddrinkfromthecup,thebloodof ourSavorJesusChrist.)Amen.’
The Lord’s Prayer
To be made by the Minister and people
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.
#321 Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross
Fanny J. Crosby/William H. Doane
Jesus, keep me near the cross; There a precious fountain, Free to all, a healing stream, Flows from Calvary’s mountain. Refrain: In the cross, in the cross, Be my glory ever, Till my raptured soul shall find Rest beyond the river.
SessionOne:“Love”
Thursday,January23rd,7:00PMET
SessionTwo:“Conscience”
Thursday,January30th,7:00PMET
SessionThree:“Justice”
Thursday,February6th,7:00PMET
SessionFour:“Freedom”
Thursday,February27th,7:00PMET
SessionFive:“Prevenance”
Thursday,March6th,7:00PMET
SessionSix:“Hope”
Thursday,March13th,7:00PMET
Share The Dream, MLK Bible Study Session #3
With Co-Host Rev. Miki Chastain Pastor, Oconee Street UMC
7:00 PM, Thursday, February 6th, 2025. Take part in the Bible Study on www.gbaathens.org, Greater Bethel Facebook Page and YouTube Channel. Purchase the book “Share The Dream” on Amazon.
Stewards Meeting
2:00 PM, Tuesday, February 4th, 2025, on Zoom
Trustees Meeting
7:00 PM, Tuesday, February 4th, 2025, on Zoom
Official Board Meeting
3:00 PM Saturday, February 22nd, 2025