Today’s service will be held indoors in the sanctuary as an in-person service and also live streamed at this link. Click on “live” for the live stream. Join us!
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Gathering Music Polly Dunford
Welcome and Announcements Joanne Batten
Call to Worship
One: Worship is a place to rest.
All: We breathe deeply here.
One: We still our aching bones.
All: We sit in the quiet and surround ourselves with music.
One: Worship is a place to rest.
All: Worship is a place to grow.
One: We listen for a word from God.
All: We invite it to challenge us.
One: We lean in with curiosity.
All: We ask questions.
One: Worship is a place to grow. So come into this space. Come rest and grow here.
All: Let us worship God.
Opening Hymn “He Has Made Me Glad” Handout
Words and Music by Leona Von Brethorst
I will enter his gates with thanksgiving in my heart,
I will enter his courts with praise.
I will say, “this is the day that the Lord has made.”
I will rejoice, for he has made me glad.
He has made me glad, he has made me glad. I will rejoice, for he has made me glad.
He has made me glad, he has made me glad. I will rejoice, for he has made me glad.
Scripture Lesson Luke 13:6-9
Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?' "'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.'"
Sermon “It’s Not About You!” Dave Johnson
Thoughts to Ponder: Parables are interesting teaching tools, frequently employed by the gospel writers. They often have multiple interpretations and lead to discussion and debate. This morning we will look at the Parable of the Fig Tree from Luke and see what we can learn from it.
Joys and Concerns
Prayers of the People
Closing Hymn “Beneath the Soil” Handout Music by George Kirbye, 1592. Text by Anna Strickland, 2024
1) Beneath the soil in the dark there’s growth too slow to see.
A transformation not displayed in branches, fruit, and leaves.
2) Remember when the world demands more than you can produce.
We each grow at a different pace and growth starts at the roots.
3) The rest and nurture we receive will turn to fruit in time.
For God made us to grow and change as t’ward the sky we climb.
4) In ev’ry season of our lives the Spirit is at work
to nurture us to bear good fruit while rooted in the earth.
Benediction
Discussion
Shalom (meaning - “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. *************************************************************************************
Reprinted with permission under One License #A-625711. All rights reserved.
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Join us for Cookout Encore! All foods are provided.
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Calendar of Service -
July 13 - Dr. Keith Ray
July 20 - Dr. Keith Ray
July 27 - Dr. Keith Ray
Outdoor services are being suspended until the weather cools - late summer/early fall. *********************
Choir practice this Sunday (July 6) at 9:25 to learn a new song to help the congregation sing that same day.
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Potluck Meal on July 6 — Join in for Cookout 2.0! Come one, come all! Bring only your appetite and smiles. We have plenty of leftovers from Peanut Butter Whiskey’s recent band night. There are hotdogs, hamburgers, buns, chips and all the sides.
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On Sunday, July 13, during Discussion Time, there will be a short informational meeting about our “locked door” policy and a secret ballot polling so each person can have input. Session will then meet after church to consider the results in making a decision about the policy.
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Three Nights on Nature is coming!
July 15, 7:00 pm - Dr. Mike Ferro - "A Few Stops on the Walk Around the Back Yard"
Collection Manager at the Arthropod Collection of Clemson University, a research and teaching resource, with 1.3+ million specimens.
July 16, 7:00 pm – Melissa Fuentes – “Nature’s Wonders, Part 2”
Curator of the Vertebrate Collection at the Bob and Betsy Campbell Museum of Natural History, Clemson University.
July 17, 7:00 pm – Dale Gilbert – “The Marvelous Gift of Weather”
Retired Meteorologist, yet working part time with WYFF4. Also, a football and basketball public address announcer for the Clemson Tigers.
NACCP folk: Please bring an item for the light refreshments to be shared with all.
Non-perishable food item(s) are also encouraged as donations to Hope Mission.
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South Main Chapel and Mercy Center has asked for help with building up their snack pack supplies. As you feel moved, any of the following items would be appreciated.
Needs are: canned tuna, potted meat, canned food with pop top lids, applesauce cups, crackers, cereal bars, fruit cups, cookies. Thank you for all your help.
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Bible Study meets on Mondays at 6:30 pm through Zoom. If you’d like to be added to the Zoom invite list, contact Cynthia at cynthiakwarner@mac.com.
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Please remember to donate non-perishable food items to AIM (Anderson Interfaith Ministries). An extra item when you shop is a great help to others in our community.
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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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