Fifth Sunday in Lent

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

Ed Yokley

One:  Family of God, we gather as who we are, and we bring what we have.

Many:  Let us encounter the new thing God is doing among us.

One:  We bring joy and sorrow, hope and despair, resources and need, certainty and questions.

Many:  Let us engage the new thing God is doing among us.

One:  In this space, we meet the One who parts seas, creates paths, and changes circumstances.

Many:  Let us encourage the new thing God is doing among us.

Opening Hymn  “Gather Us In”  —  Hymnal #401

Laurie Gentry, flute

Dave Johnson, guitar

1)  Here in this place the new light is streaming; now is the darkness vanished away;

see in this space our fears and our dreamings brought here to you in the light of this day.

Gather us in, the lost and forsaken; gather us in, the blind and the lame;

call to us now, and we shall awaken; we shall arise at the sound of our name.

 2)  We are the young, our lives are a mystery.  We are the old who yearn for your face.

 We have been sung throughout all of history, called to be light to the whole human race.

Gather us in, the rich and the haughty; gather us in, the proud and the strong;

give us a heart, so meek and so lowly; give us the courage to enter the song.

3)  Here we will take the wine and the water; here we will take the bread of new birth.

Here you shall call your sons and your daughters, call us anew to be salt for the earth.

Give us to drink the wine of compassion; give us to eat the bread that is you;

nourish us well, and teach us to fashion lives that are holy and hearts that are true.

4)  Not in the dark of buildings confining, not in some heaven, light years away:

here in this place the new light is shining; now is the kingdom, and now is the day.

Gather us in and hold us forever; gather us in and make us your own;

gather us in, all peoples together, fire of love in our flesh and our bone.

Scripture Lesson                              John 12:1-8

Sermon                          “Simple Acts and Divine Encounters”              Dr. Keith Ray

Thoughts to Ponder:  Has it ever happened to you?  Have you done something, said something, or acted in some way, thinking what you were doing or saying was quite small, only to discover later that the other person received it with far more significance?  You see a friend who is visibly depressed.  And you say, "Let's go get coffee."  And you chat for a while; then off you go, back home.  But six months later, the friend comes up and says, "I want to tell you how much it meant to me to have coffee with you that day,” and then she describes for you how much your brief encounter meant.

Let’s talk about how such acts, even in the life of Jesus, can mean.  Even in the life of Jesus, the acts of others mean far more than they may seem.

Joys and Concerns

Prayers of the People

Closing Hymn and Offertory

“I Danced in the Morning”                Hymnal #157                                                           

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.                                                 ************************************************************************************

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Calendar of Service -

April 13 - Dr. Josh Hunt; Palm Sunday

April 17 - Dr. Keith Ray; Holy Thursday Love Feast at 7:00 pm

April 20 - Dr. Keith Ray; Easter Sunday in Labyrinth

April 27 - Sarah Junkin Woodard

Upcoming Labyrinth walk at NACCP:
May 3 at 1 pm – “Walk as One at One” for World Labyrinth Day
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An “Economic Blackout” is scheduled as a protest to companies that have changed their DEI policies in response to President Trump’s Executive Order. The boycott includes NO SPENDING in-person or online.  If you absolutely need to purchase something during that week, then go to a locally owned retailer.
Walmart: April 7-14
General Mills: April 21-28

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Church Clean-up days are the 2^nd Saturday of the month at 9:30 am and usually take no more than 90 minutes. The sign-up sheet is in the church.
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United Way sponsors a snack packing program for Anderson school children.

Currently there are no open dates.   If you are interested in trying it out, you can also sign up as an individual at  https://uwandsc.galaxydigital.com/need/detail/?need_id=1031432. You will need to set up an account and can then sign up any open date.

If you are interested or have questions, please call Vicki Wright at 585-781-4620.
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Bible Study meets on Mondays at 6:30 pm through Zoom.  Dave Johnson is guiding the group through the book of Leviticus. 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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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: 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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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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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-steps program.  For more information, call 864-844-7137. Please share this with anyone who may benefit from this group.

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The glass “tip jar” is still on the piano. 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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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, paper rolls, small boxes w/ tops and water bottles to the church.
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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: Glennie Burns; Family of Peggy Upton; The Marsden family; Michael Little’s friend Mark; Linda McFall; Mary Alice Mundy; Latha Semones; Immigrant families; Victims of all violence, oppression, and injustice; People of Ukraine; People of Israel and Palestine; Victims of Hurricane Helene; Victims of US Wildfires.