Gathering with Dr. Keith Ray

Sunday, May 11, 2025, at 10:15 a.m.

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Today’s service will be held indoors in the sanctuary (due to forecasted rain) as an in-person service and also live streamed at this link.
https://www.youtube.com/@NorthAndersonCCP

Click on “live” for the live stream. Join us!

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Gathering Music Polly Dunford
Welcome and Announcements Andi Nelson
Call to Worship

One: Transformative Creator, you envelope us with examples of community.

ALL: We are witness to Jesus’ up close and personal attempts to learn about and be with the people.

One: You want us to know that what happens outside of our church building matters to God’s people.

ALL: Continue to work in and through us to build towards collective flourishing.

One: Call us into living—

ALL: Call us into being curious, approachable, and loving towards all Your creation.

Invocation

Let us pray.

Creator of the Collective, let us begin by sitting in silence so that we can feel the presence of You in one another (be silent for 30 seconds) … Open up all our senses to be more available to the possibility of the Creator’s reflection in one another and let us be ready to build up a world, one in which we become agents of change. Open our hearts, O God, and help us to feel the brokenness of your world so we can begin again. Amen.

Opening Hymn
“Spirit, Open My Heart” Hymnal #692

Refrain — Spirit, open my heart to the joy and pain of living.

As you love may I love, in receiving and in giving.

Spirit, open my heart.

1) God, replace my stony heart with a heart that’s kind and tender.

All my coldness and fear to your grace I now surrender. Refrain

2) Write your love upon my heart as my law, my goal, my story.

In each thought, word, and deed, may my living bring you glory, Refrain

3) May I weep with those who weep; share the joy of sister, brother.

in the welcome of Christ, may we welcome one another. Refrain

Scripture Lesson Revelation 7:9-17

Sermon “Can Anything Good Come From Revelation"
Dr. Keith Ray

Thoughts to Ponder: The New Testament apocalyptic literature titled “Revelation” has a tainted history for those of us who grew up in more conservative environments.

Often used as a weapon to instill fear, many of us experienced this text as negative, a tool of manipulation, and it would be fine to never consider it again in our own spiritual formation and development. Yet, I wonder if there are not elements of good news that have not been mined sufficiently in this ancient text.

For example, what does Revelation say to a community that is lacking a sense of hope and purpose on difficult days? Let’s consider this question together as we gather in Easter joy in spite of our reading for the day!

Joys and Concerns

Prayers of the People

Communion Gathering at the Table

The Great Thanksgiving

Sharing the Bread and Cup

Prayer After Communion

Closing Hymn “Song of Hope” Handout

Words and Music by Jim Strathdee. 1985. Desert Flower Music.

1) When the darkness overwhelms us to dim our sight and mind,

When all roads lead to confusion and hope’s impossible to find,

Free our minds for dreaming of a time when war shall ever cease,

Free our eyes for vision that leads us to the ways of peace.

2) When the fear of war’s destruction paralyzes heart and breath,

When our songs and laughter vanish in terror of the sounds of death,

Free our hearts for loving this life so precious and so dear,

Free our voice for singing the songs that overcome our fear.

3) When in weary isolation we’ve lost our courage to care,

When our captive spirits perish in the bondage of despair,

Free our arms for action reaching for another’s hand,

Free our feet for marching or to boldly make a stand.

4) When our sisters are in slav’ry, when our brothers are in need,

When the cost is human mis’ry for the nation’s pow’r and greed,

When the ties are broken when we’ve lost our human soul,

Free our lives for serving to make the human fam’ly whole.

5) Let the mountains ring with freedom, let the valleys sing with peace,

Let the rivers swell with justice, let our unity increase,

May the sun’s warm healing and the ocean’s mighty roar

Bring the day of justice when peace shall reign forevermore.

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

Calendar of Service -

May 11 – Dr. Keith Ray - Outdoors

May 18 - Dr. Keith Ray

May 25 - Dave Johnson — Outdoors

June 1 - Dr. Keith Ray

June 8 - Dr. Keith Ray — Outdoors

June 15 - Rev. Deb Richardson-Moore

June 22 - Dr. Keith Ray — Outdoors

June 29 - Dr. Keith Ray — Outdoors

Outdoor services will be held on 2nd, 4th, 5th Sundays, weather permitting.
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New!! YouTube: NorthAndersonCCP

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Church Clean-up is Saturday, May 10. No one is signed up to help yet. Please consider.

Clean-up days are the 2nd Saturday of the month at 9:30 am and usually takes 90 minutes.

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Peanut Butter Whiskey at NACCP! Mark your calendars. On Saturday May 17th, we will host Laurie’s band, Peanut Butter Whiskey (PBW), for a free concert at NACCP! You can learn more about PBW here: https://www.facebook.com/RockinTheSouthland2022. Her band will be on our stage from to 5:00-7:00 pm. Those who attend will have hamburgers and hot dogs to enjoy while listening. Come join us for a memorable evening of music "in the woods at NACCP!” Bring your friends and a chair!
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Bible Study meets on Mondays at 6:30 pm through Zoom. 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: May 26th 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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Remember the glass “tip jar” is still on the piano. 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: Jerry Meehan; Michael Little’s friend Elaine; Glennie Burns; Mary Alice Mundy; Latha Semones; Immigrant families; Victims of all violence, oppression, and injustice; People of Ukraine; People of Israel and Palestine.

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: 4200 Liberty Highway, Anderson, SC 29621
Phone: 864-225-3575
Website: naccpchurch.org
Church News: naccpnews@yahoo.com
Instagram: northandersonccp
Facebook: NorthAndersonCommunityChurchPresbyterian
YouTube: NorthAndersonCCP