Thanksgiving Giving, November 19, 2023 3rd Sunday

Greater Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church The Reverend Marben Bland, Pastor

THANKSGIVING

GIVING f O s e i r o t S Godly , e d u t i t a Gr , y t i s o r Gene e c n a d n Abu

A Teaching In Scripture, Song And Story

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2023

Order Of Worship Sunday, November 19th, 2023, 11:00 AM Twenty-Fifth Sunday After Pentecost Congregational Singing Doxology Call To Worship Opening Hymn Give Thanks With A Grateful Heart The Invocation The Invocation Response Give Thanks With A Grateful Heart #200 Blessed Quietness Thanksgiving Giving Story#1: Gratitude #352 I Know The Lord’s Laid His Hands On Thanksgiving Giving Story#2: Generosity Announcements – Pastor’s Aid Ministry Worship In Giving Worship In Prayer The Lord’s Prayer The Apostles Creed #576 We Gather Together Thanksgiving Giving Story#3: Abundance Invitation To Discipleship #247 Just As I am Without One Plea Benediction

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It Is Good To Give Thanks A Call To Worship

Leader: It is good to gather to worship the Lord. It is good to give thanks to the Lord. And it is good to sing praises to the name, of the Lord.

People: It is good to declare our steadfast love to the Lord in the morning. It is good to declare our faithfulness to the Lord in the noonday. And it is good to bask in the protection of the Lord at night.

Leader: It is good that on the eve of this time of year that we call Thanksgiving that we share Godly stories of generosity, gratitude, and abundance People: For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands. I sing praises of gratitude for your generosity, your goodness, and your abundance.

People: Amen.

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Give Thanks With A Grateful Heart Henry Smith

Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One; give thanks, because he’s given Jesus Christ, his Son. Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One; give thanks, because he’s given Jesus Christ, his Son. And now let the weak say ‘I am strong’, let the poor say ‘I am rich’, because of what the Lord has done for us; and now let the weak say ‘I am strong’, let the poor say ‘I am rich’, because of what the Lord has done for us.

Give thanks…

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#200 Blessed Quietness Manie P. Ferguson/W. S. Marshall arr. by James M. Kirk

1. Joys are flowing like a river, Since the Comforter has to come; He abides with us forever, Makes the trusting heart His home.

Refrain Blessed quietness, holy quietness, What assurance in my soul!

On the stormy sea He speaks peace to me, How the billows cease to roll!

2. Bringing life and health and gladness, All around this heavenly Guest, Banished unbelief and sadness, Changed our weariness to rest.

3. Like the rain that falls from heaven, Like the sunlight from the sky, So the Holy Ghost is given, Coming on us from on high.

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Gratitude

Thanksgiving Giving Story#1 Teaching Notes From Pastor Marben Bland

Gratitude is a small thing that can benefit you and others in a big way. So many stressful things happen in everyday life, whether conflicts with family members, financial concerns, or health problems. But thinking about everything you have to be grateful for —from the friends and family in your life to the clothes on your back to the food on your table—can help put those challenges in perspective.

Three Verses About Gratitude: Ephesians 5:20 Always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Samuel 12:24 But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.

1st Thessalonians 5:18 "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

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#352 I Know the Lord’s Laid His Hands on Me Traditional Spiritual

Refrain O I know the Lord, I know the Lord, I know the Lord’s laid His hands on me, O I know the Lord, I know the Lord, I know the Lord’s laid His hands on me.

1. Did ever you see the like before? I know the Lord’s laid His hands on me; King Jesus preaching to the poor! I know the Lord’s laid His hands on me.

2. O wasn’t that a happy day, I know the Lord’s laid His hands on me. When Jesus washed my sins away? I know the Lord’s laid His hands on me.

3. Some seek the Lord and don’t seek Him right, I know the Lord’s laid His hands on me; They fool all day and pray at night. I know the Lord’s laid His hands on me; 4. My Lord’s done just what He said, I know the Lord’s laid His hands on me; He’s healed the sick and raised the dead. I know the Lord’s laid His hands on me.

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Generosity

Thanksgiving Giving Story#2

Part One

Teaching Notes From Pastor Marben Bland

As Christians, the Bible is clear throughout its pages that we’re called to give generously.

Exodus chapter 35, we see the Israelites all generously giving the materials and time to build the tabernacle. If any of those people decided to withhold the materials they owned or the skills they had, the tabernacle wouldn’t have come together.

In Malachi 3:10-12, giving is the one thing God tells us to test him in.

Malachi 3:10-12 New International Version 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.

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Generosity

Thanksgiving Giving Story#2

Part Two

Teaching Notes From Pastor Marben Bland

In John 3:16 God himself gave us his only son because he loves us so much, and that Son died on a cross for us. It sets a model that generosity in God’s people should be sacrificial.

True Generosity is the willingness to help someone more than with is expected.

John 3:16 New International Version 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Question: Are You Willing To Help More Than Expected?

If So How?

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The Lord’s Prayer Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

The Apostles’ Creed I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only son our Lord who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead; and buried. The third day he arose from the dead’ he ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Church Universal, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life 10 everlasting. Amen.

#576 We Gather Together Theodore Baker/Edward Kremser

1. We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessings; He chastens and hastens His will to make known; The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing, Sing praises to His Name: He forgets not His own.

2. Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining; Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine; So from the beginning the fight we were winning; Thou, Lord, wast at our side, All glory be Thine!

3. We all do extol Thee, Thou Leader triumphant, And pray that Thou still our defender will be,Let Thy congregation escape tribulation;Thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free! Amen.

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Abundance

Thanksgiving Giving Story#3 Teaching Notes From Pastor Marben Bland

Luke 21:1-4 New King James Version The Widow’s Two Mites 21 Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, 2 and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. 3 So He said, Truly I tell you; this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their abundance; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on” Speaking to the disciples In John 10:7-10, Jesus said this about abundance…. …….7 “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture.

10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

If we believe in Jesus and desire to follow his teachings, then we must live life with an abundance mindset.

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Living In

Abundance 2024

TIME

Read The Entire Bible In A Year

TALENTS Find Additional Ways To Lend Your Talents To The Kingdom

MONEY

Consider increasing your tithe by atleast 1%

6 Tips to Develop and Model an Abundance Mindset 1

Offer words of appreciation

2

Chose to see opportunity

3

Remind yourself that there is more than enough

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Carefully select the company you keep

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Spend time in reflection

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Give more of yourself to things that you care about

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#258 Just As I Am, Without One Plea Charlotte Elliott/William B. Bradbury

1. Just as I am, without one plea, But that Thy blood was shed for me, And that Thou bidst me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

2. Just as I am, and waiting not To rid my soul of one dark blot, To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot, O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

3. Just as I am, though tossed about With many a conflict, many a doubt, Fightings and fears within, without, O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

4. Just as I am, Thou wilt receive, Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve; Because Thy promise I believe, O Lamb of God, I come, I 14 come!

Advent Bible Study

Mary Had a Baby: An Advent Bible Study Based on African American Spirituals, written by Marilyn E. Thornton with material from the first edition by Cheryl Kirk-Duggan.

Join us for our four-week Advent Bible Study series where we explore four great spirituals that give greater meaning to the birth of Jesus: November 30th, 2023 - Mary Had a Baby December 7th, 2023 - Rise Up Shepherd and Follow

December 14th, 2023 - Children, Go Where I Send Thee

December 21st, 2023 - Go, Tell It on the Mountain Order your book today on Amazon

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BETHEL

Events

GREATER “Mary Had A Baby Advent Bible Study

Monday, November 30th, 7:00 PM On Zoom

Stewards Meeting

Tuesday, December 5th, 2:00 PM On Zoom

Trustees Meeting

Tuesday, December 5th, 7:00 PM On Zoom

Official Board Meeting

Tuesday, December 14, 7:00 PM On Zoom

Christmas Party

Saturday, December 9th, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

District Conference & Christmas Party Saturday, December 16th, 9:30 AM Trinity AME, Warrenton, Georgia

Christmas Program Sunday, December 17th, 11:00 AM

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