Fifth Sunday in Lent

Today’s service may be viewed on Facebook Live Stream at this link: https://fb.me/e/2z0d5G06b?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            Rob Gentry

Prelude         “The Rose”           Kristin Cascio

  Words and Music by Amanda McBroom

          Copyright 1977, 1979 by Fox Fanfare Music, Inc.

      International Copyright Secured.  All rights reserved.            

Call to Worship

One:  Breath of Life, you animate us.

Many:  We come before you seeking revival from within.

One:  Holy One, when you speak, great things happen.

Many:  Empower us to make great things happen.

One:  Matchless One, you bring good things to life.

Many:  We desire to bring good things to life too.

Opening Hymn            “Make Spaces for Spirit!”      Handout

Words by Shirley Erena Murray and Music by Jean S. Strathdee, Arranged by Jim Strathdee

Words copyrighted in 2001 by Hope Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

    Music copyrighted in 2005 by Desert Flower Music. All rights reserved.

1) Make spaces for Spirit!  For energy rising, for Pentecost presence,

the wind and the fire,

   a new kind of language, a voice and a vision to shift and uplift us,

to rouse, rouse, and inspire.

   2)  Make spaces for action by spirited people: the leader, the teacher

the healer of ill,

the builder, the artist, the bringer of laughter, the melding and welding

of spirit, spirit and will.

3)  Make spaces for graces the gifts of the Spirit, the fruit of the garden

where love is the spring,

the water of blessing, the incense of worship, the wine poured for sharing,

the hope, hope that will sing.

4)  Make spaces for Spirit by changing of systems, by opening prisons,

by debtors’ release,

the flaming of courage, the firing of justice, the Spirit of Jesus,

the coming coming of peace.

Scripture Lesson             Ezekiel 37:1-15

Sermon           “Religion of the Dry Bones”         Dr. Keith Ray

Theme: Today’s scripture lesson tells the story of Ezekiel coming to a valley of dry bones, a gruesome visual that serves to represent the people of God who are living in exile, away from Jerusalem.  And yet, these dead bones end up living again.  There is a message of hope and renewal.  In our current climate, it’s perfectly reasonable to see organized religion as a valley of dry bones.  And yet, will the dry bones live again?  Let’s talk about it together.

Hymn/ Offertory              “Lead Me From Death to Life”                      Handout

Words by Satish Kumar and 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.

Re-Membering Our Journey        Rob Gentry, Diane Lee, Linda McFall, Sharon Fowler

Charles McFall Irene Fields

Jim and Chip Ivey Virdith and Paul Bates

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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Calendar of Service    

April 2 (Palm Sunday) - Keith Ray; 1st Sunday Potluck meal

April 9 (Easter) - Keith Ray

April 16 - Steve Morgan

April 23 - Keith Ray

April 30 - Sarah Woodard from CDCA

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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

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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; Michael Little-Bell and Family; Violet Taylor (Kristin Cascio’s granddaughter); Glennie Burns; Mary Alice Mundy; Jason Harding; Linda McFall; Mike Johnston; Whitney and Taylor 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.

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