Gathering Music Polly Dunford
Welcome and Announcements Jax Collins
Call to Worship
Leader: We worship a God who received the death penalty. Jesus was tried, sentenced, and murdered by the state.
Congregation: He died on a cross on a hill between two criminals.
Leader: That cross was the symbol of the oppressive power of the Roman state. It was the tool the Romans used to keep the population in line.
Congregation: The cross on a hill said, “behave, or you will end up here.”
Leader: Jesus took that cross. He died and was buried. On the third day, he rose from the dead. The empty tomb is a God’s proclamation that love and grace triumph over oppression and death.
Congregation: Christ’s resurrection is a rejection of all that the cross represented.
All: Christ is risen, indeed! Hallelujah!
Opening Hymn “Abide With Me” Hymnal #836
1) Abide with me: fast falls the eventide.
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide!
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
help of the helpless, O abide with me.
2) Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
earth’s joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
change and decay in all around I see.
O thou who changest not, abide with me.
3) I need thy presence every passing hour;
what but thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who, like thyself, my guide and stay can be?
through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.
4) I fear no foe, with thee at hand to bless;
ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if thou abide with me.
5) Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes;
shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.
First Reading Genesis 4: 3-16
Second Reading Bryan Stevenson, Just Mercy
“Proximity has taught me some basic and humbling truths, including this vital lesson: Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done. My work with the poor and the incarcerated has persuaded me that the opposite of poverty is not wealth; the opposite of poverty is justice. Finally, I’ve come to believe that the true measure of our commitment to justice, the character of our society, our commitment to the rule of law, fairness, and equality cannot be measured by how we treat the rich, the powerful, the privileged, and the respected among us. The true measure of our character is how we treat the poor, the disfavored, the accused, the incarcerated, and the condemned.”
― Bryan Stevenson, Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption
Third Reading John 8:1-11
Message “Our God of ‘Life Instead of Death’” Rev. Hillary Taylor
Summary: God’s message to us throughout scripture is this:
“Nobody is beyond redemption; we are more than the worst thing we’ve ever done,
and we are more than the worst thing that’s ever happened to us.”
Prayers of the People
Closing Hymn and Offertory “Lord When Were You In Prison” Handout
Words by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. Music by Frederick C. Maker.
Words 2013. The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church.
Music 1881. All rights reserved.
1) “Lord, when were you in prison?” we’ll ask of you one day;
and when did we go visit you, and listen well, and pray?
And when did we show mercy there (as we need mercy, too)?
As we love those in prison, Lord, we show our love to you.
2) When you taught love of neighbor, had you heard in your time
of one who lay beside the road, a victim of a crime?
The neighbor that you said was good brought help and wholeness, too;
may we help those who hurt so much from crimes that others do.
3) What made you show compassion when others shouted, “Die!”
and why did you reject the words. “An eye deserves an eye”?
How could you say, “Don’t cast your stones unless your life is pure”?
Lord, show us this is righteousness: to save and to restore.
4) Lord, how could you still love us, a people filled with hate,
when you had been condemned to die according to the state?
How could you cry to God, “Forgive! They don’t know what they do”?
Lord, turn us from our vengeful ways, until we love like you.
5) O Lord, you still are present behind each prison gate;
we pray that we may see you there in those that others hate.
And Lord, when people shout for death to settle evil’s scores,
may we, your church, seek mercy and your justice that endures.
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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Please join us for our 1st Sunday Potluck Meal following worship service.
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Calendar of Service -
May 12 - Dr. Keith Ray - Session meets
May 19 - Rev. Lucy Youngblood
May 26 - Service and Lunch at South Main Chapel and Mercy Center; NO service at NACCP
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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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GAMAC has a concert coming up on Saturday, May 4, at 7:30 pm at First Baptist Church. - The Creation by Joseph Haydn Visit gamac.org for tickets.
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Market Theatre presents “Hands on a Hardbody” outdoors in the North Main Commons (home of Magnetic South Brewery) May 3 – 6 at 7:30 pm. Admission is free. Bring your own chair.
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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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The Undie Sunday campaign has begun in the lead-up to our next visit to the South Main Chapel and Mercy Center on May 26. Please bring new men’s and women’s underwear.
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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 day is Saturday, May 11, at 9:30 am. This 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
