Second 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                                          Polly Dunford

Welcome and Announcements             Thor Raines 

Call to Worship   

One:  When the world around us is disturbing, where do we turn?

Many:  A psalmist says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation.”

One:  When we are afraid, what can we count on?

Many:  “The Lord is a fortress protecting my life.”

One:  We gather in the light of God’s protection.

Many:  We come to pray, praise and sing.

All: Let us worship God together!

Opening Hymn “Morning Has Broken” Hymnal #664

              Words by Eleanor Farjeon; Music is a Gaelic melody

1)  Morning has broken like the first morning; blackbird has spoken like the first bird.

Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning! Praise for them, springing fresh

from the Word!

2)  Sweet the rain’s new fall sunlit from heaven, like the first dewfall on the first grass.

Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden, sprung in completeness where God’s feet pass.

3)  Mine is the sunlight! Mine is the morning, born of the one light Eden saw play!

Praise with elation; praise every morning, God’s recreation of the new day!

Scripture Lesson                       Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 

Sermon        “Hearing AND Heeding”                              Dr. Keith Ray

Thoughts to Ponder:   Former Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Michael Curry, writes about today’s scripture lesson: “In the Gospel for the Second Sunday in Lent Jesus speaks in tones of abject disappointment and utter heartbreak at the refusal of his own people to hear and heed the summons of God to draw near, to gather, and to come home... For Jesus, God’s passionate dream, compassionate desire, and bold determination is to gather God’s human children closer and closer in God’s embrace and love. That mission and commitment is at the center of Jesus’ work.”

What happens when we reflect on our own refusal to hear and heed the way of love? It’s much easier to see those faults in others.

Lent invites us to consider our own healing needs.

Joys and Concerns 

Prayers of the People 

Closing Hymn and Offertory     “Lead Me From Death to Life”        Handout

Words by Satish Kumar, Assisted by the Choir

Music by Jim Strathdee

Music copyrighted in 1985 by Desert Flower Music.

All rights reserved.

Lead me from death to life, from falsehood to truth.

Lead me from despair to hope, from fear to trust.

Lead me from hate to love, from war to peace.

Let peace fill our heart, our world, our universe.

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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Calendar of Service -

March 23 - Dave Johnson

March 30 - Dr. Keith Ray

There will be a Keenagers planning meeting at the church on March 19 at 11:30 am. Come with your ideas for (and your willingness to coordinate) a future Keenager event.
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We have some upcoming Labyrinth walks at NACCP:
March 20 at 6 pm – Spring Equinox
May 3 at 1 pm – “Walk as One at One” for World Labyrinth Day
April 5 at 9 am -  Suicide Awareness walk at Anderson University
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A Celebration of Life Service for Shea Marsden will be held at Iron Oak Barn, 120 History Lane, Pendleton, SC, on Saturday, March 15, 2025, from noon to 4:00 pm.  Heavy hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine and sodas. RSVP to Bonnie Marsden at bcmarsden@bellsouth.net.

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Free Paper Shredding Day on March 15 from 8 am until 12 pm at the Anderson County Complex, 1428 Pearman Dairy Rd.

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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.
Nestle: March 21-28
Walmart: April 7-14
General Mills: April 21-28

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New Foundations will have a golf tournament on April 17. More details to come, but if you are interested in being on a team, contact Tom Wright.

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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 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.