Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Today’s service will be held indoors in the sanctuary due to too much tree debris in the woods. This will be an in-person service and also live streamed at this link.  Join us!   

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Gathering Music                                          Polly Dunford

Welcome and Announcements                  Karen Manley    

Call to Worship

Leader:  Here, strangers are welcome.

All:  Here, the homeless find a home.

Leader:  There is a spirit in the air.

All:  Calling broken people,

Leader:  To walk this road with us.

All:  Seeking restoration and wholeness,

Leader:  Justice and healing,

All:  Mercy and grace.

Leader:  Spirit, guide our thoughts

All:  And accept our praise.

Leader:  Let us worship God with thanksgiving and joy.

 

Opening Hymn     “Find a Home Here”                  Handout

Words and Music by Mary-Ellen Kish; Arranged by Gwen Chapman

2008. Mary-Ellen Kish. www.mekishmusic.com.  All rights reserved.

Refrain:  Find a home here, live out faith here, gather strength here, find fam’ly here. 

Be yourself here, feel secure here, celebrate here, be at home here.

1)  The doors here are open wide  all who venture by are welcome inside.

Honoring the gift of diversity with diff’rent ways of loving, diff’rent ways to be.   Refrain

2)  Committed to love’s command people have discerned and taken a stand.

Prejudice and fear have gone on too long, it’s time for ev’ry person truly to belong.

Refrain

Scripture Lesson Mark 9:38-48

“Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.” “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us. Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward. “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where ‘the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.’

Sermon Being In with the In-Crowd                     Dave Johnson

Alternate title: Cut It Out or Cut It Off!

Prayers of the People

Closing Hymn and Offertory         “Walls Mark Our Bound’ries”                   Handout

Words by Ruth Duck; Music by Jim Strathdee

Words-1996. The Pilgrim Press. Music-1997. The Pilgrim Press.  All rights reserved.

 

1)  Walls mark our bound’ries and keep us apart;

walls keep the world from our eyes and our heart.

Tables are round making room for one more,

welcoming friends we had not known before.

So build us a table and tear down the wall!

Christ is our host.  There is room for us all!

2)  Walls make us sure who is in and who’s out;

walls keep us safe from all question and doubt,

but at a table in open exchange

new ties are formed as our lives rearrange.

So build us a table and tear down the wall!

Christ is our host.  There is room for us all!

3)  Once we were strangers, divided, alone.

Hate and distrust built a wall stone by stone.

Now at a table the bread that we share

joins us to Christ in a circle of care.

So build us a table and tear down the wall!

Christ is our host.  There is room for us all!

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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Reprinted with permission under One License #A-625711.  All rights reserved.

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Calendar of Service -

October 6 - Dr. Keith Ray; World Communion Day; Potluck meal

October 13 - Dr. Keith Ray; Blessing of the Animals

October 20 - Dr. Keith Ray

October 27 - Service at South Main Chapel and Mercy Center

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PFLAG meets the second Thursday of the month - October 10 - at NACCP at 7 pm.
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Church Clean-up day is the 2^nd Saturday of the month at 9:30 am and usually takes no more than 90 minutes. The sign-up sheet is in the church.

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Don’t miss the upcoming performances of  The Rocky Horror Show at Market Theatre October 11 – November 2.
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The Imani Milele Choir from Uganda will be performing at Presbyterian College on November 13 at 7 pm. Learn more at https://www.campfellowship.org/imani2024
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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: Oct. 27th, Nov. 24th, Dec. 22nd, Jan. 26th, Feb. 23rd, 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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Sarah Shumpert, AIM Board member, shares this update about the AIM Food Pantry: given the increased need in the community, AIM has increased the number of food boxes distributed to 55 per day (this is up from around 35 per day prior to COVID).  The increase in distribution means that the pantry empties much faster than it used to.  Please keep that in mind as you bring in food items. Also, the pantry is completely out of peanut butter and they would love to restock this item!
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You can go to scvotes.gov to look at a sample ballot, register to vote, and more. In addition to registering to vote online, you can also register to vote in person at your county board of voter registration. The deadline to register to vote in person is October 4. You can register online, by fax, or email by October 6 or by mail by October 7. Early voting is from October 21 - November 2 from 8:30 - 6:00 and the general election is on November 5 from 7:00 - 7:00.
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We are collecting underwear items for Undie Sunday to be delivered to South Main when we take lunch again on October 27. Candy donations are also greatly appreciated so that we can make treat bags for the South Main lunch.  Please bring in candy donations and put in the kitchen on the long counter.
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The Prayer Flag project is under way for World Communion Day in October.  Materials are set out in the serving area by the kitchen, and directions are posted.  Please take a moment to create your own prayer flag.

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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-formatted program.

For more information, call 864-844-7137. Please share this with anyone who may benefit from this group.

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Bible Study meets on Monday’s at 6:30 pm through Zoom and has begun the study of the book of Deuteronomy.  Contact Cynthia Warner at cynthiakwarner@mac.com or Dave Johnson at ampaw2t@gmail.com

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You may have noticed the new glass “tip jar” on the piano at church that serendipitously came about when someone didn’t claim a flower vase. Feel free to drop in a dollar or five 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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If you would like to donate to the family of Eric Childs, who was tragically killed in a car accident, please use this link: https://gofund.me/6340eb47.  Eric’s wife Jessicka Spearman heads the PFLAG group that meets at NACCP.

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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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Karen highlighted that the Prayer Tree has been moved into the sanctuary. If you have a prayer request to add to the tree, write it on one of the provided tags and hang it on a branch.
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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 can easily 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:  Gloria Bennett and her family; Michael Little’s friend Becky; Shea Marsden; Linda McFall; Glennie Burns; Mary Alice Mundy; Latha and Cheryl Semones; Immigrant families; Victims of all violence, oppression, and injustice; People of Ukraine; People of Israel and Palestine.