Today’s service will be held indoors in the sanctuary as an in-person service and also live streamed at this YouTube link.  Click on “live” for the live stream.  Join us!   

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Gathering Music                                          Polly Dunford

Welcome and Announcements               DuPre Calhoun                

Call to Worship

One:  God who is beyond us,

maker of heaven and earth –

Many:  open our eyes to see the wonder of creation!

One:  God was made known

In the life of Jesus the Christ

Many:  Open our hearts to know the deep love of Christ!

One:  God who lives in each one of us as Spirit

Holy fire to kindle our true purpose

Many:  Open our beings to each other to confirm that we all belong,

And together we can give birth to your new earth.

Opening Hymn #692           “Spirit, Open My Heart”

 

Refrain  —  Spirit, open my heart to the joy and pain of living. 

      As you love may I love, in receiving and in giving.

              Spirit, open my heart.

1)  God, replace my stony heart with a heart that’s kind and tender.

All my coldness and fear to your grace I now surrender.      Refrain

2)  Write your love upon my heart as my law, my goal, my story.

In each thought, word, and deed, may my living bring you glory,Refrain

3)  May I weep with those who weep; share the joy of sister, brother.

in the welcome of Christ, may we welcome one another.Refrain

 

Scripture Lesson       John 2:1-11

Sermon           “A Sign of the Divine” Dr. Keith Ray

 

Thoughts to ponder:  In Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus performs many miracles.

Not in John.   Yes, Jesus does some amazing things, but John does not call them “miracles.”  Instead, he calls them “signs.”  Jesus performs “signs.”   And what is the first sign of Jesus?  He turns water into wine at a wedding banquet in Cana of Galilee.  We might be a little embarrassed by this.  Jesus’ first sign is turning water into wine?  Why not healing a sick person?  Or feeding five thousand?  Or calming a storm?

But enabling a wedding party to continue?  Is that our Jesus? Indeed it is.

So let’s talk about it together.

Joys and Concerns 

Prayers of the People

Closing Hymn and Offertory #80             “You Shall Go Out with Joy”

You shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace;

the mountains and the hills will break forth before you;

there’ll be shouts of joy, and all the trees of the field will clap,

will clap their hands.

And all the trees of the field will clap their hands;

the trees of the field will clap their hands;

the trees of the field will clap their hands while you go out with joy.

       

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 -

January 26 - Dr. Keith Ray

February 2 -  Dr. Keith Ray; 1st Sunday Potluck meal

February 9 -  Dr. Keith Ray; Session meeting

February 16 -  Rev. Dr. Steve Morgan

February 23 -  Dr. Keith Ray; Worship Committee meeting

 

NACCP on YouTube.  Since the beginning of this year, a small group of NACCPers have worked to make our gatherings available on YouTube.   You can live stream us, or see recordings.  Now we are recruiting others to be part of our NACCP AV Team.  We will offer training to anyone willing to help. Please let Cynthia (cynthiakwarner@mac.com) or Joanne (843.607.3862) know if you are interested.
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Bible Study meets on Mondays at 6:30 pm through Zoom.  Dave Johnson is guiding us through the book of Deuteronomy (editor’s note: it’s far more interesting than it sounds!). If you’d like to be added to the Zoom invite list, contact Cynthia at cynthiakwarner@mac.com.

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An updated church directory is available for upload.  If you do not have the password, please send request to mhc.clemson@gmail.com
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Hurricane Helene Relief News:

• The United Way of Anderson County and AIM are teaming up to ensure that local needs are met in response to Hurricane Helene. Visit their special website at  https://www.unitedwayofanderson.org/helene to learn more about making donations, and volunteer opportunities for both food distribution and clean-up efforts (especially if you have chainsaws, tools, trailers, etc.).
• To donate money for the NC storm victims, visit these sites:
  Black Mountain Presbyterian Church www.bmpcnc.org
• So that victims in the Black Mountain/Montreat/Swannanoa area get all of your donation (rather than the credit card company getting a percentage of it!), you can send a check to Black Mountain Presbyterian Church, 117 Montreat Rd., Black Mountain, NC 28711, and in the memo line put “Hurricane Helene Relief Fund.  Thank you!
• Presbyterian Disaster Assistance www.pda.pcusa.org
  American Red Cross www.redcross.org

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Please join Presbyterian Earth Care (PEC) for this unique monthly opportunity for community and meaningful Bible study!  The study will run for 75 minutes each session. Dates: Jan. 26th, Feb. 23rd, Mar. 23rd, Apr. 28th, May 26^th all at 7 pm. Study Leaders: Rev. M. Courtenay Willcox and Rev. Lucy Youngblood. For more info and Zoom link: https://presbyearthcare.org/bible-study-pw-2024-2025/
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Sarah Shumpert, AIM Board member, shares this update about the AIM Food Pantry: given the increased need in the community, AIM has increased the number of food boxes distributed to 55 per day (this is up from around 35 per day prior to COVID).  The increase in distribution means that the pantry empties much faster than before.  Please keep that in mind as you bring in food items. Also, the pantry is completely out of peanut butter and they would love to restock this item!
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Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families Support Group meets each Thursday from 6:00-7:00 p.m. at Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church, 1501 Sandy Springs Rd., Sandy Springs, SC. This is a 12-formatted program.

For more information, call 864-844-7137. Please share this with anyone who may benefit from this group.

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You may notice the glass “tip jar” is still on the piano at church. Feel free to drop in any amount 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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If you would like to donate to the family of Eric Childs, who was tragically killed in a car accident, please use this link: https://gofund.me/6340eb47.  Eric’s wife Jessicka Spearman heads the PFLAG group that meets at NACCP.

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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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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 it 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 can easily 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 Mark; Shea Marsden; Linda McFall; Glennie Burns; Mary Alice Mundy; Latha and Cheryl Semones; Immigrant families; Victims of all violence, oppression, and injustice; People of Ukraine; People of Israel and Palestine; Victims of Los Angeles Fires.