5th Sunday of Easter
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Gathering Music Polly Dunford
Welcome and Announcements Gloria Bennett
Call to Worship
One: We delight ourselves in the presence of Christ and his love for all creation.
All: Let us open our hearts to receive Christ’s abundant love.
One: Christ calls us to see him as the vine and for us to become the branches.
All: Let us seek to produce much fruit in God’s Garden where all are welcome.
One: Come, let us worship the Gardener, Creator of all that was, is and forever will be.
All: Amen
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 Acts 8:26-40
Sermon “Evolutionary Theology” Dr. Keith Ray
Thoughts to consider: Most of us would agree that we evolve, for better or for worse,
as we navigate life. The same is true for our religious institutions.
But what do we do when we realize what we have professed and taught is wrong?
Is it possible to say that even our sacred texts can be wrong.
Let’s consider these questions together!
Prayers of the People
Closing Hymn and Offertory “Help Us Accept Each Other” Hymnal #754
1) Help us accept each other as Christ accepted us;
teach us as sister, brother, each person to embrace.
Be present, Lord, among us and bring us to believe
we are ourselves accepted, and meant to love and live.
2) Teach us, O Lord, your lessons, as in our daily life
we struggle to be human and search for hope and faith.
Teach us to care for people, for all, not just for some,
to love them as we find them, or as they may become.
3) Let your acceptance change us, so that we may be moved
in living situations to do the truth in love;
to practice your acceptance until we know by heart
the table of forgiveness, and laughter’s healing art.
4) Lord, for today’s encounters with all who are in need,
who hunger for acceptance, for justice and for bread,
we need new eyes for seeing, new hands for holding on:
renew us with your Spirit; Lord, free us; make us one!
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 -
May 5 - Rev. Hillary Taylor, SC for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
May 12 - TBD
May 19 - TBD
May 26 - Service and Lunch at South Main Chapel and Mercy Center; NO service at NACCP
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News from Rev. Mike Johnston — “I have completed my radiation for prostate cancer - 5 weeks out and my PSA was 0.03. Doctor was hoping for 0 within 5 months - radiation did its job.” Great news to hear!
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Joanne and Cynthia play in the Handbell Choir at CUMC. Their spring concerts will take place on May 1 and 3. Both are free, and parking is easy. We hope you will consider attending! The Director’s words follow:
It's that time of year, dear friends! The Celebration Ringers of Clemson United Methodist Church offer a free concert, and you have two opportunities to attend!
We will share Hymns We Love to Ring on May 1st (Wednesday) and May 3rd (Friday). In this free concert, we’ll play a collection of well-known hymns—handbell style! So whether your favorite hymn is “Be Thou My Vision” or “Trust and Obey” or maybe even something new, you’re invited to join us in the Clemson United Methodist Church Worship Center on Frontage Road in Clemson, on May 1st at 6:15 pm or May 3rd at 5:00 pm. Hope to see you there!
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You may have noticed the new glass “tip jar” on the piano at church that serendipitously came about when someone didn’t claim a flower vase. Feel free to drop in a dollar or five when you like the music during the service. Dave and Polly will donate the “tips” to a cause related to music, such as bringing music to schools.
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Vicki is looking for a missing Trader Joe’s bag that was full of beanies that the Keenagers crocheted. Please return to Vicki or be sure to let her know if you already donated the beanies to an organization!
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GAMAC has two concerts coming up: The Creation by Joseph Hayden on Saturday, May 4 at 7:30 pm at First Baptist Church and Serenade on Sunday, April 28 at 3:00 pm at the Rainey Fine Arts Center. Visit gamac.org for tickets.
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Market Theatre’s next show is “Hands on a Hardbody” that will be presented outdoors in the North Main Commons (home of Magnetic South Brewery) May 3 – 6. Admission is free.
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World Labyrinth Day is May 4. Please join us as we “Walk as One at 1” in our own labyrinth at 1 pm.
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Reminder that PFLAG meets Thursday, May 9, at NACCP at 7 pm.
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Women’s clothing is needed for women coming out of incarceration. Good, gently used items please. All sizes.
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Church Clean-up days are the 2nd Saturday of the month at 9:30 am and usually take no more than 90 minutes. The sign-up sheet is in the church.
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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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Doug Booth encourages everyone to volunteer at PAWS – there is something for everyone, from socializing with the dogs on-site to taking a dog to lunch to hosting weekend visits. There are many dogs at the facility who crave human interaction. Additionally, don’t forget to bring in any donations of blankets to the church.
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Karen highlighted that the Prayer Tree has been moved into the sanctuary. If you have a prayer request to add to the tree, write in on one of the provided tags and hang it on a branch.
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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: Nancy and Charlie Blakely; 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
