Palm Sunday  

Today’s service may be viewed on Facebook Live Stream at this link:  

https://fb.me/e/3e8MMj2kL

hear it in the church parking lot at 107.1 FM, or join us in person. 

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Gathering Music           Polly Dunford                                                    

Welcome and Announcements   Barb Barham                               

 Call to Worship

One: Hosanna, hosanna, loud Hosanna!

Many: Blessed is the one who comes.

One: Hosanna, hosanna, loud Hosanna!

Many: May the rivers of justice run.

One: Children singing, families dancing,

Many: The elders give a shout!

One: Peace in heaven, glory in the highest!

Many: Even the stones cry out!

One: Hosanna, hosanna, loud hosanna!

Many: May our refrain never cease.

One: Not by power nor by might,

Many: But the way that makes for peace.

A Reading for Palm Sunday  Matthew 21:1-11

Opening Hymn            “Filled with Excitement” Hymnal #199

Wave your palm branches during this hymn.

1)  Filled with excitement, all the happy throng spread cloaks and branches on the city streets.

There in the distance they begin to see, there on a donkey comes the Savior Christ.

Refrain:  From every corner a thousand voices sing praise to the One 

who comes in the name of God.

Our acclamation breaks forth in shouts of praise, our triumphant song of joy:

“Hosanna, hosanna to Christ!  Hosanna, hosanna to Christ!”

2)  As in that entrance to Jerusalem, hosannas we will sing to Jesus Christ,

to our Redeemer who still calls today, asks us to follow with our love and faith.

Refrain

           

Sermon                 “Unexpected Jesus” Dr. Keith Ray

Theme:  As Jesus enters Jerusalem in today’s gospel lesson, he faced a crowd of people filled with expectations of a messiah, a chosen one.  And yet, those expectations did not define the life and message of Jesus.  God is found not in the power of military might or political clout but in a human being riding on a donkey with a marginal crowd, heading to what will ultimately be his death by the political powers of the day. It is a reminder to us:

God’s ways are not always our ways.

Hymn/ Offertory              “A Cheering, Chanting, Dizzy Crowd”              Hymnal #200

1)  A cheering, chanting, dizzy crowd had stripped the green trees bare,

and hailing Christ as king aloud, waved branches in the air.

2)  They laid their garments in the road and spread his path with palms

and vows of lasting love bestowed with royal hymns and psalms.

3)  When day dimmed down to deepening dark the crowd began to fade

till only trampled leaves and bark were left from the parade.

4)  Lest we be fooled because our hearts have surged with passing praise,

remind us, God, as this week starts where Christ has fixed his gaze.

5)  Instead of palms, a winding sheet will have to be unrolled,

a carpet much more fit to greet the king a cross will hold.

Prayers of the People

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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Join us after worship service for our 1st Sunday Potluck meal.  

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Calendar of Service

April 6 (Maundy Thursday at 7:00 pm) - Keith Ray                                       April 9 (Easter in the Labyrinth- weather permitting) - Keith Ray

April 16 - Steve Morgan

April 23 - Keith Ray

April 30 - Sarah Woodard from Center for Development in Central America (CDCA)

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Easter Preparation Activities -  

• Labyrinth clean-up day is Saturday, April 8, at 10 am.  All help is appreciated.

• If you have flowers blooming in your yard and can donate a few for the cross in the labyrinth, please bring the flowers Saturday, April 8.  Please leave them in water in the labyrinth area.

• Lilies will be available following our Easter service in the labyrinth on April 9.  They will be $10.00 each.

• Egg Hunt - Bring some candy-filled plastic eggs Sunday morning for the hunt.

• Bring finger foods for a Continental brunch following Easter Sunday service.

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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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The Alliance of Pendleton Churches will be hosting a series of Community Lenten Lunches in area churches on Wednesdays in March from 12 -1 pm. A full schedule can be found here: https://www.smore.com/qxg82-community-lenten-lunches?ref=email-content#w-0476105465

Tom Wright recommends the Reflections on the Lenten Journey blog by Mike Boucher. Check it out here: https://spirituschristi.org/category/lent/

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United Way of Anderson County is sponsoring free Mental Health First Aid Training on various dates in February and March. Register at https://www.ticketsignup.io/TicketEvent/MentalHealthFirstAid

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If you are interested in a class on Advanced Directives and/or the “Stop the Bleed” program let Barb Barham know so that she and Rosie Thompson can plan accordingly for future programming.

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It’s time for Undie Sundays! We are collecting socks, men’s underwear (great need for Small men’s underwear) and women’s underwear and bras of all sizes for South Main Chapel and Mercy Center.  Bring your items between now and May 28 when we have our next turn serving lunch at South Main.

Additionally, South Main is currently experiencing a bottled water shortage. Donations welcomed at the South Main facility!

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Sarah Shumpert shared the Westside Community Center needs a new roof. They are asking folks to donate $40 in honor of the 40th anniversary of Martin Luther King Day being signed into legislation as a national holiday. Donations can be made online through the United Way of Anderson County.  Use the “Donation Description” box to designate your donation for the Westside Community Center roof.

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Several of the church hymnals seem to have left the building. If you took a hymnal home for a walk (since they don’t have legs of their own), don’t forget to walk it back to church!

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Remember in prayer: Chris Criswell; Patti Pitts; Bonnie Marsden and son Michael; Glennie Burns; Mary Alice Mundy; Jason Harding; Linda McFall; Mike Johnston; Madison Bishop (Whitney’s niece); Jackie Moore; Latha and Cheryl Semones; Immigrant families; Victims of all violence, oppression, and injustice; People of Ukraine; Victims of earthquakes in Turkey and Syria; Victims of tornadoes.

NACCP is an inclusive Faith Community that values questions

and the journey to the answers.

Ministry Leader: Dr. Keith Ray

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