Earth Day Sunday

Today’s service may be viewed on Facebook Live Stream at this link:  https://fb.me/e/3ObpQduIo?mibextid=RQdjqZ, 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       Joanne Batten                         

Call to Worship

We who have lost our sense and our senses—our touch, our smell, our vision of who we are; we who frantically force and press all things, without rest for body or spirit, hurting our Earth and injuring ourselves:

we call a halt. We want to rest. We need to rest and allow the Earth to rest.

We need to reflect and to rediscover the mystery that lives in us, that is the ground of every unique expression of life, the source of the fascination that calls all things to communion. We declare a Sabbath, a space of quiet:

for simple being and letting be; for recovering the great, forgotten truths; for learning how to live again.

Opening Hymn       “The Earth is the Lord’s”         Handout

  Tune is Traditional Welsh hymn (“Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise”)

1839.  Songs of the Sanctuary.

Words by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. 2001. Upper Room Books.

All rights reserved.

1) “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.”

Creation reminds us, O God, of your love.

By grace we are learning, as year leads to year,

We’re called to be stewards, your caretakers here.

2)  Your rainforests nurture the world that we share.

Your wetlands give animals shelter and care.

Your coral reefs cradle the life of the sea.

You’ve shown us, in love, what your good world can be.

3)  Too often, O God, we abuse your good earth.

We fail to remember its beauty and worth.

We take from creation much more than we need,

We threaten your world through indifference and greed.

5)  May we be good stewards of all that you give,

Protecting creation wherever we live.

May we be a church that renews and restores

And lovingly cares for this earth that is yours.

Scripture Lesson Luke 24:13-35

Sermon          “Finding God on the Journey”            Dr. Keith Ray

Question to ponder: How is your local church uniquely equipped and positioned to address climate change? Let’s come to the table and open our eyes together. 

Perhaps we will taste and see.

A Litany for Earth Day 

God of seed-time and harvest.  Have mercy on us and hear our prayer:

For children who go to bed hungry at night, and for parents who cannot find food for them.

Lord, hear our prayer. 

For communities hungry because of flood, fire or drought, and for governments who struggle to provide for them,

Lord, hear our prayer. 

For farmers sowing seed and raising livestock to feed the world, and for their care for the land that provides their livelihood,

Lord, hear our prayer. 

For subsistence farmers vulnerable to climate changes, and for market gardeners vulnerable to price variations,

Lord, hear our prayer. 

For those who are committed to organic farming practices,

Lord, hear our prayer. 

For the wellbeing and ethical treatment of livestock, and for those who raise, transport and slaughter animals for food,

Lord, hear our prayer. 

For soup kitchens, food banks and aid agencies, and for the donors, volunteers and staff who help feed the hungry,

Lord, hear our prayer. 

For remote communities where fresh food is expensive and in short supply,

Lord, hear our prayer. 

For policy makers and planners in land use and food production, and for community educators in diet and nutrition,

Lord, hear our prayer. 

Gather us in to your heavenly feast where all who hunger and thirst for justice will be satisfied.  Amen.

Closing Hymn/ Offertory                   “Go Now in Peace”                     Handout

          Words by Don Besig and Nancy Price; Music by Don Besig

            1988. Harold Flammer Music.  All rights reserved.

Go now in peace. Never be afraid.

God will go with you each hour of ev’ry day.

Go now in faith, steadfast, strong and true.

Know He will guide you in all you do.

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

 Reprinted with permission under One License #A-625711.  All rights reserved.

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Calendar of Service 

April 30 - Sarah Woodard from CDCA

May 7 - Keith Ray; 1st Sunday Potluck Meal

May 14 - Keith Ray

May 21 - Keith Ray

May 28 - TBD

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On Saturday April 22nd at 9:00 AM, NACCPers will engage in our regular Litter Collection along Liberty Highway.  For this collection, we are coordinating with The GREAT Anderson County Cleanup.  Our collection day marks the 53rd anniversary

Earth Day.  If you can help, we would be happy to have you!  We provide vests, gloves and grabbers - all you need to do is show up!  If you can let me know (e-mail at cynthiakwarner@mac.com or text to 678-697-8249) in advance that would be great. If you want to show up at the last minute, Cynthia will be glad to see you!

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Bill Griffith will be doing a short training on the AED (automated external defibrillator) that is located in the kitchen area on Sunday, April 23rd immediately after church. Participation in the training is limited to about 10 people, so let Barb know if you are interested. Future trainings will also be available so that we can build up a significant number of NACCPers who are able to use the device. Stay tuned

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Tom Wright gives this building update: Ceiling repairs will be finished this week. Flooring installation will begin next.  Because flooring installation will involve the entire building, some interruption to Sunday services will occur.  Details will be provided as they become available. Thanks to the Building Committee for all their hard work!

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Don’t miss out on seeing Kinky Boots at the Market Theatre April 27 – May 15. The show is co-directed by our very own Thor Raines and features Barb Barham and Bill Griffith! Tickets are available at http://markettheatre.org.

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Vicki Wright is looking for volunteers to do activities with children at the Anderson Soiree on Saturday, April 29th at 11:30 am. Text or call Vicki at 585-781-4620 if you are interested.

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The next event for the Anderson Forum for Progressive Theology on April 30th will be in partnership with First Baptist Church, Greenville featuring Amanda Tyler, executive director of BJC (Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty).  She leads the organization as it upholds the historic Baptist principle of religious liberty, defending the free exercise of religion and protecting against its establishment by government.  Her presentation is entitled “How Christian Nationalism Threatens Democracy & Christianity.”  It will be held at First Baptist Church at 847 Cleveland St. in Greenville (and live-streamed) at 3 pm.  Additionally, Tyler will be preaching the worship service sermon at Boulevard Baptist Church in Anderson at 10:30 am on April 30th. Visit https://afptonline.org/ for more information.
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World Labyrinth Day is May 6.  Come out to Walk as One at 1.

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Save the date! May 20th at 9:30 am will be an outdoor clean-up day at the church. Bring your gloves and gardening tools. If you love to garden and play in the dirt, this one’s for you!

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A kitchen table and chairs and a sofa are needed by Kristin Cascio’s daughter, Elizabeth. Please text Kristin at 607-427-7371 if you can help.

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Ann Blackwood needs shoeboxes for a project with children at the New Foundations Home for Children. Please bring in any empty shoeboxes you have by late April.

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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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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: 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
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