Today’s service may be viewed on Facebook Live Stream at this link in the comfort of your own home or in person in the sanctuary.  Join us!

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Gathering Music               Ed Yokley          

Welcome and Announcements     Bonnie Marsden        

Call to Worship 

One: Bless the Holy One with our whole selves. Praise the Maker of our being!

Many: Remember the mighty deeds and the good works of our God.

One: The Sovereign One endows us with many gifts and equips us to do good work.

Many: Remember the mighty deeds and the good works of our God.

One: Holy Love entered the world without condemnation but with grace and forgiveness, mercy and compassion, redemption and restoration.

Many: Hallelujah! We give thanks for the mighty deeds and the good works of our God!

Opening Hymn              “There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy”               Hymnal #435

  Words by Frederick William Faber; Music is a Dutch melody; Arranged by Julius Rontgen

1)  There’s a wideness in God’s mercy, like the wideness of the sea.

There’s a kindness in God’s justice, which is more than liberty.

There is no place where earth’s sorrows are more felt than up in heaven.

There is no place where earth’s failings have such kindly judgment given.

2)  For the love of God is broader than the measures of the mind.

And the heart of the Eternal is most wonderfully kind.

If our love were but more faithful, we would gladly trust God’s Word,

and our lives reflect thanksgiving for the goodness of our Lord.

Scripture  Matthew 18:21-35

       

Sermon           “The Impossibility of Forgiveness”           Dr. Keith Ray

 Thoughts to ponder: As followers of the teachings and ways of Jesus, how do we practice forgiveness when we have been harmed or hurt?  It’s not an easy ask or expectation.

 Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors?  Really?  Let’s ponder it together.

Prayers of the People

Closing Hymn/Offertory        “Help Us Accept Each Other” Hymnal #754

      Words by Fred Kaan; Music by Doreen Potter

1)  Help us accept each other as Christ accepted us;

teach us as sister, brother, each person to embrace.

Be present, Lord, among us and bring us to believe

we are ourselves accepted, and meant to love and live.

2)  Teach us, O Lord, your lessons, as in our daily life

we struggle to be human and search for hope and faith.

Teach us to care for people, for all, not just for some,

to love them as we find them, or as they may become.

3)  Let your acceptance change us, so that we may be moved

in living situations to do the truth in love;

to practice your acceptance until we know by heart

the table of forgiveness, and laughter’s healing art.

4)  Lord, for today’s encounters with all who are in need,

who hunger for acceptance, for justice and for bread,

we need new eyes for seeing, new hands for holding on:

renew us with your Spirit; Lord, free us; make us one!

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 

September 24 - Dr. Keith Ray  - Outdoors

October 1 - Dr. Keith Ray/Rev. Nancy Blakely (Indoors) - Communion dialogue service; Potluck meal
October 8 - Rev. Deb Richardson-Moore (Outdoors) - Congregational Meeting (Elder Nominating Committee); Session meeting
October 15 - Dr. Keith Ray (Indoors)
October 22 - Service/Lunch at S. Main Chapel and Mercy Center; NO service at NACCP
October 29 - Dr. Keith Ray (Outdoors) - Blessing of the Animals

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Change of Venue - Laurie Gentry’s band Peanut Butter Whiskey’s venue has changed for Saturday, Sept. 16.  They will not be at Peace of Pie in Fairplay, but will be at the following address:  261 Joann Circle, FairPlay. Please text Laurie at 864-320-4360 if you can attend.

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Men's meal on Saturday, September 16 at 5 pm in the back room of the Golden Corral. All individuals who identify as men are invited. PFLAG guys are invited and welcomed! Just a time for guys to fellowship, have a meal… tell lies and tall stories. Please let Jason Harding know either by text or phone 864-401-1344 if you plan to attend so he will have an estimate of how many to expect.

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Market Theatre presents “Rock of Ages” in Carolina Wren Park September 14-25 at 7:30 pm. It’s free!  Come early and get a good place to sit in the park.  Bring your own chair.  Drew Whitley is the director, Thor Raines and Claude Newsome are in the cast.

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Vicki Wright is looking for someone to buy her Peace Center ticket to “MJ The Musical” on September 20.  Let her know if you are interested. It’s a great seat!

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GAMAC is sponsoring a benefit event on Thursday, September 21 at 7 pm at The Bleckley Station.  Ray McGee’s Jazz Club is returning for one night only featuring R&B vocalist Wanda Johnson, jazz saxophonist Alan Nowell, and the Shannon Hoover Quartet.  Reservations are required.  Club table of 8 at $600 and Club Table seat at $75 include heavy hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages.  Adult General Admission is $25 with concessions on sale. Reserve Table Seats by September 18!   Call 864-231-6147.
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The Autumnal Equinox labyrinth walk will be on Saturday, September 23, 2023.

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On Saturday, September 30 at 7:00 pm, Jamie Dean will present organ music at Saint Andrew Catholic (SAC) Church in Clemson. Her presentation will span a wide variety of music:  Alain Litanies, Hailstork Black Spiritual arrangements, Barber Adagio for Strings, Bach, Elgar and more. The concert is part of SAC’s Campus-Edge Concert (CEC) series and is free.  Parking at SAC is easy - unlike most parking in Clemson! The address is 209 Sloan Street.

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Choir practice for current and new members will be on Sunday, October 1 at 9:25 am in the choir room. Questions? Call Polly Dunford at 864-940-0640.

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You're invited to Hats Off to Women, AIM's Annual Luncheon. AIM's Decorated Table Event to benefit the Women and Children Succeeding Program. Join us on Thursday, October 12 from 11 am to 2 pm at the Anderson Sports and Entertainment Center for guest speakers, decorated table contest, great food and shopping! Preview Party: Come shop before the event and vote on your favorite table on Wednesday, October 11 from 5 to 7 pm. For more information about the event go to aimcharity.org.  Please contact Susan Anderson at susan.anderson@aimcharity.org or 864-965-9082 for further questions about vendor opportunities at the event, making a donation, or having a table at the luncheon.

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The Bible Study Group (BSG) meets Mondays at 6:30 pm via Zoom. Dave Johnson is guiding us through the book of Exodus. If you’d like to be added to the Zoom invite list then contact Cynthia at cynthiakwarner@mac.com. We’d love to have newcomers!

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Bill Bailey reminds us all to sign up for church clean-up.  Clean-up days are the 2nd Saturday of the month at 9:30 am and usually take no more than 90 minutes.  The sign-up sheet is in the church.  Our next clean-up day will be Saturday, October 14, 2023, at 9:30 am. 

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The Concert of Hope and Remembrance will be on Saturday, October 14 at Boulevard Baptist Church in Anderson.

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We will be serving lunch at South Main Chapel and Mercy Center and joining in with their church service on Sunday, October 22, 2023.  More details will follow.

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Joanne reminds us all to keep up the food donations for AIM (Anderson Interfaith Ministries)!  Bring your non-perishable items to the church.  This is an on-going need that should become part of everyone’s shopping routine.

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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: Keith Ray; Linda McFall; Bonnie Marsden and son Michael; Glennie Burns; Mary Alice Mundy; Jason Harding; 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. 

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