When God Seems Distant - July 2, 2023 1st Sunday

Order Of Worship

Fifth Sunday After Pentecost

July 2, 2023 – 11:00 AM

The Reverend Gloria Wicker, EdD – Worship Leader

Doxology

Call To Worship

Opening Hymn

#520 Come, We That Love the Lord

The Invocation

The Invocation Response

#520 Come, We That Love the Lord

Song Of Praise

Announcements – Pastor’s Aid Ministry

Worship In Giving

Song Of Praise

Scripture – Psalm 13 –

A Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies

Summary Of The Decalogue

Song Of Preparation

#452 I Come to the Garden Alone

Message

“When God Seems Distant”

Invitation To Discipleship

#364 My Hope Is Built

Holy Communion

Benediction

Call to Worship

(Inspired by Psalm 13:3-6)

Leader: Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; lighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him” – lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

People: We come to you O Lord, seeking answers to our questions. We come to you O God, because you are the Creator. Leader: But I have trusted your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

People: We come looking for a song to sing; We wait for your voice to call us from beyond our fear.

(We’reMarchingtoZion)

IsaacWatts/RobertLowry

1.ComewethatlovetheLord, Andletourjoysbe known, Joininasongwithsweetaccord, Joinina songwithsweetaccord, Andthussurroundthe throne, Andthussurroundthethrone.

Refrain:We’remarchingtoZion, Beautiful,beautiful Zion; We’remarchingupwardtoZion, Thebeautiful cityofGod.

2.Letthoserefusetosing WhoneverknewourGod; ButchildrenoftheheavenlyKing, Butchildrenof theheavenlyKing,Mayspeaktheirjoysabroad, May speaktheirjoysabroad.

Refrain:We’remarchingtoZion, Beautiful,beautiful Zion; We’remarchingupwardtoZion, Thebeautiful cityofGod.

3.ThehillofZionyields Athousandsacredsweets Beforewereachtheheavenlyfields, Beforewe reachtheheavenlyfieldsOrwalkthegoldenstreets, Orwalkthegoldenstreets.

Refrain:We’remarchingtoZion, Beautiful,beautiful Zion; We’remarchingupwardtoZion, Thebeautiful cityofGod.

4.Thenletoursongsabound, Andeverytearbedry; We’remarchingthroughImmanuel‘sground, We’re marchingthroughImmanuel‘sground, Tofairer worldsonhigh,Tofairerworldsonhigh.

Refrain:We’remarchingtoZion, Beautiful,beautiful Zion; We’remarchingupwardtoZion, Thebeautiful cityofGod.

YourPrayersInTheHolyLand

PastorBlandisblessed,honored,andexcitedtobe goingonhissecondpilgrimagetotheHolyLand startingMonday.Formillionsofpeopleoffaith,the WailingWallisthesymboloftheHolyCityof Jerusalem.Itisaplacewherepeopleofallfaithspray, oftenplacingslipsofpaperintothewallcontaining prayers.

Pastorwelcomestheopportunitytotakeyourprayers totheHolyLand.Writeyourprayerontheslipsof paperprovidedanddropthemintheboxatthealtar. YourconfidentialprayerwillbeplacedintheWalling Wall.

TheAnnualRoosevelt&Thelma

TaylorScholarshipCelebration–

Thursday,July20@6:00PM

YouarecordiallyinvitedtoourAnnualRoosevelt& ThelmaTaylorScholarshipCelebration.Honoring

AthensHighSchoolCounselorsandSocialWorkers, recognizing2023andPastTaylorScholars.Chrystal Gillis,theDirectorofSchoolSocialWorkforthe

ClarkeCountySchoolDistrictwillbetheKeynote Speaker.

Birthday HAPPY

Margie Arnold July 7th

Carlos Jones July 7Th

Mya Nelson July 9th

General Charles Q. Brown

BlackHistory Moment

President Biden named Air Force Chief of Staff

General Charles Q. Brown as the nominee to serve as the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. If confirmed, he would replace General Mark Milley as the nation’s highestranking military officer. General Brown will be just the second Black chairman ever, following in the footsteps of the late General and former Secretary of State Colin Powell.

THE REVEREND GLORIA WICKER, E

Early Life & Education

The Reverend Gloria Lanette Jenkins Wicker, EdD was born in Columbus, Georgia, the second child of Calvin (deceased) and Ethel Jenkins. She received her primary and secondary education in the public schools of Columbus and Atlanta. A graduate of the now Clark-Atlanta University, she earned a master’s degree in special education from Columbus College and a Doctorate in Education Administration from Nova Southeastern University. She is a Golden Life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

Career

Dr. Wicker’s extensive career includes teaching assignments in Harris, Muscogee, and Baldwin Counties.She was name Director of Special Education in Baldwin County, a position she remained until she retired in 2005.Her commitment to education continues as she services as Chairperson of the Baldwin County Board of Education.

Ministry

A gifted preacher, biblical teacher and musician, Dr. Wicker spent 39 years pastoring African Methodist Episcopal Churches in the Sixth Episcopal District retiring in 2023. Her pastoral charges included Saint Paul A.M.E. Church in Gray, Georgia where she birthed Marben Bland into the ministry, as his spiritual mother.

Family

Dr. Wicker is married to retired Presiding Elder Alan Hale Wicker, together they have four adult children, and six grandchildren. She and her husband are great cooks. They share a love for traveling and attending jazz performances.

Prayer for Deliverance from Enemies

To the leader. A Psalm of David.

1 How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from

2 How long must I bear paina in my soul, and have sorrow in my heart all day long? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

3 Consider and answer me, O LORD my God! Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death, 4and my enemy will say, “I have prevailed” my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.

5 But I trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.

6 I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

SummaryOfTheDecalogue

TheCongregation, RiseandSings:

“Fromallthatdwellbelowtheskies, letthe Creator’spraisearise; lettheRedeemer’s namebesung, througheverylandby everytongue. ”

TheMinisterSays:

HearwhatChristourSavioursaith, thou shaltlovetheLordthyGodwithallthy heart, andwithallthysoul, andwithallmy mind. Thisisthefirstandgreat commandment. Andthesecondislikeunto it: Thoushaltlovethyneighborasthyself. Onthesetwocommandmentshangallthe lawandtheprophets.

THEGLORIAPATRI

TheCongregation, RiseandSings:

“GlorybetotheFather, andtotheSon, andtotheHolyGhost; Asitwasinthe beginning, isnow, andevershallbe, world withoutend. Amen. ”

C. Austin Miles

1. I come to the garden alone, While the dew is still on the roses; And the voice I hear, falling on my ear, The Son of God discloses. Refrain: And He walks with me, and He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own, And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other has ever known.

2. He speaks, and the sound of His voice Is so sweet the birds hush their singing; And the melody that He gave to me Within my heart is ringing.

3. I’d stay in the garden with Him Though the night around me be falling; But He bids me go; through the voice of woe, His voice to me is calling.

#364 My Hope Is Built

Edward Mote/William B. Bradbury

1. My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Refrain On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand.

2. When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil.

Refrain On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand.

3. His oath, His covenant, His blood Support me in the whelming flood; When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my home and stay.

Refrain On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand.

4. When He shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in Him be found! Dressed in His righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before that throne!

Refrain On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand.

HolyCommunion

TheCalltoCommuniontobemadebytheMinister

Youthatdotrulyandearnestlyrepentofyoursins,and areinloveandcharitywithyourneighbor,andintend toleadanewlife,followingthecommandmentsof God,andwalkingfromhenceforthinhisholyways, drawnearinyourseatswithfaithandtaketheholy sacramenttoyourcomfort,andmakeyourhumble confessiontoAlmightyGod.

TheGeneralConfessiontobemadebytheMinisterandpeople

AlmightyGod,FatherofourLordJesus

Christ,makerofallthings,judgeofallpeople ,weacknowledgeandbewailourmanifold sinsandwickednesswhichwefromtimeto timemostgrievouslyhavecommittedby thought,word,anddeedagainstyourdivine majesty,provokingmostjustlyyourwrath andindignationagainstus.Wedoearnestly repentandareheartilysorryfortheseour misdoings;theremembranceofthemis grievousuntous.Havemercyuponus,have mercyuponus,mostmercifulGodforyour Son,ourLordJesusChrist’ssake;forgiveus allthatispast,andgrantthatwemayever hereafterserveandpleasetheeinnewness oflife,tothehonorandgloryofyourname, throughJesusChristourLord.Amen.

AlmightyGod,ourHeavenlyFather,whoofyour tendermercydidgiveyouronlyson,JesusChrist, tosufferdeathonthecrossforourredemption, whomadetherebyhisoblationofhimself,once offered,afullperfectandsufficientsacrifice, oblation,andsatisfactionforthesinsofthewhole world;anddidinstituteandinhisholygospel commandustocontinueaperpetualmemoryof thathispreciousdeathuntilhiscomingagain; hearus,OmercifulFather,wemosthumbly beseechyou,andgrantthatwereceivingthese yourcreaturesofbreadandwine,accordingto yourson,ourSaviourJesusChrist’sholy institution,inremembranceofhisdeathand passionmaybepartakersofhismostblessed bodyandblood;whointhesamenightthathe wasbetrayedtookbread,andwhenhehadgiven thanks,hebrokeit,,andgaveittohisdisciples, saying, ‘Take,eatthisismybodywhichisbroken foryou.Thisdoinremembranceofme.’(The Minstersaystake,andeatthebread,thebodyof ourSavorJesus.)Likewiseaftersupperhetookthe cupandwhenhehadgiventhankshegaveitto themsaying, ‘Drinkallofit,forthisismybloodof NewTestament,whichisshedforyouandfor manyfortheremissionofsins;dothis,asoftenas youshalldrinkit,inremembranceofme. (The Minstersaystake,anddrinkfromthecup,the bloodofourSavorJesusChrist.)Amen. ’

TheLord’sPrayer

TobemadebytheMinisterandpeople

OurFatherwhoartinheaven, hallowedbe thyname. Thykingdomcome. Thywillbe done, onearthasitisinheaven. Giveusthis dayourdailybread; Andforgiveusour trespassesasweforgivethosewhotrespass againstus; Andleadusnotintotemptation butdeliverusfromevil. Foryoursisthe kingdom, andthepower, andtheglory forever. Amen.

#321 Jesus, KeepMeNeartheCross

FannyJ. Crosby/WilliamH. Doane

Jesus, keepmenearthecross; There apreciousfountain, Freetoall, a healingstream, FlowsfromCalvary’s mountain.

Refrain: Inthecross, inthecross, Be mygloryever, Tillmyrapturedsoul shallfind Restbeyondtheriver.

Bible Study

Thursday: August 3, 2023 @ 7:00 PM ET

It's easy to be happy when things go well for you. But what would it be like to have a sense of joy that continued even in times of trouble? Such was the deep joy that the apostle Paul experienced--even in prison. His contentment was neither dependent on circumstances nor changed by difficulty.

Our Bible Study resumes with a ninesession study of Philippians. In our study Paul will show you how to live joyfully in every situation. Order the book today on Amazon.