WORSHIP OF GOD
Sunday, March 23, 2025 at 11 a.m.
PRELU DE For the Glory of the Lord arr. Hart SPdL Orchestra; Richard Rogers, director
CHORAL CALL TO WORSHIP
WELCOME Rev. Allie Osborne
INVITATION TO WORSHIP Rev. Osborne
HYMN NO. 299 Stand Up and Bless the Lord OLD 134TH
CONFESSION OF SIN/ASSURANCE OF PARDON Rev. Ronnie Brewer
All: Merciful God, in Your gracious presence we confess our sin and the sin of this world. Although Christ is among us as our peace, we are a people divided against ourselves as we cling to the values of a broken world. The profit and pleasures we pursue lay waste the land and pollute the seas. The fears and jealousies that we harbor set neighbor against neighbor and nation against nation. We abuse Your good gifts of imagination and freedom, of intellect and reason, and turn them into bonds of oppression. Lord, have mercy upon us; heal and forgive us. Set us free to serve You in the world as agents of Your reconciling love in Jesus Christ. Amen.
Leader: The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. As a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who fear Him. For He knows how we were made; He remembers that we are dust. But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep His covenant and remember to do His commandments.
All: Thanks be to God. Amen!
HYMN NO. 471 Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy
OLD TESTAMENT Proverbs 16:18 Bill Gabbard
All: Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
ANTHEM Be Thou My Vision Rutter Sanctuary Choir; Jack Mitchener, organ; SPdL Orchestra
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Rev. Milligan Burroughs Hall
OFFERTORY The Love of God arr. Kirkland SPdL Orchestra
Sunday, March 23, 2025 at 11 a.m.
DOXOLOGY (HYMN NO. 706)
Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow
OLD 100TH
Children K–5 may leave during this time for Kids Worship in room C-305 of the Children's Building.
SILENCE & PASTORAL PRAYER Rev. Jonathan Hall
HYMN NO. 74 There Is a Balm in Gilead BALM IN GILEAD
NEW TESTAMENT Matthew 6:19–21 Rev. Brewer (p. 787 in your pew Bible)
SERMON Dark Corners | Part 3: Pride Rev. Brewer
HYMN OF RESPONSE NO. 587
NEW BRITAIN Amazing Grace! How Sweet the Sound
Those wishing to join Second-Ponce today are invited to come down front at this time.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT Bill Gabbard
BENEDICTION
CONGREGATIONAL BENEDICTION
Bow down before Him, love and adore Him; His name is wonderful! Jesus, my Lord.
Rev. Brewer
Newcomers
Welcome to church! Make yourself at home here.
USING THE PEW CARDS
GREEN GUEST CARD: FOR FIRST TIMERS
Use it to share as much information as you like and drop it in the offering plate. We understand that some people are hesitant to fill out church cards. It's true—a member of our pastoral staff will reach out, but you won't be flooded with communication. Engagement with us will be at your own pace.
RED CARD: FOR RETURNING GUESTS & SPDL MEMBERS
If you're a guest who's ready to take the next step or a church member who wants to deepen your involvement, fill out the red pew card—I'm a Regular—and drop it in the offering plate. Let us know how we can help.
WHERE CAN I FIND ...
Bathrooms | There are restrooms on each floor of the church. Bathrooms with changing tables are on the third floor down from the Fellowship Hall. Restrooms closest to the Sanctuary are near the church office.
Emergency Care/First Aid Greeters and Bible study leaders can help you receive first aid before worship. If you need help during the service, see one of our uniformed officers just outside of the Sanctuary.
Water Fountains | Water fountains are by the restrooms on each floor.
CHILDCARE DURING WORSHIP
POSTLUDE Allegro moderato maestoso in C Major (1845) Felix Mendelssohn Jack Mitchener, organ
We love to see children at Second-Ponce, and we have a Kids’ Club area just for them! It's one floor up from the Sanctuary, and our greeters will be happy to show you the way. In the Kids' Club, there’s a nursery and Kids Worship for babies–5th grade. You may take your children to the Kids' Club before the service or, if you prefer, they can stay with you in the Sanctuary for the entire hour or until the Doxology when kids leave with ministry leaders.
JOINING SECOND-PONCE
Second-Ponce enthusiastically welcomes you to make a commitment to Christ and our community of faith. At any time during the Hymn of Response, simply walk to the front of the Sanctuary where a member of our ministry team will greet you with warmth and joy. If you're uncomfortable being "in the spotlight," but still want to join–that's ok! Speak with one of our ministers after worship and they'll walk you through an alternate plan.
UPCOMING EVENTS
SUPPER & SPDLU | THE GRACE OF LES MISÉRABLES BY MATT RAWLE
Wed, Mar. 26 Supper: 5 p.m. | Study: 6 p.m. | Meal Cost: $10/adult; $5/child
Rev. Jonathan Hall takes us through powerful connections between scripture, Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel and its Broadway musical adaptation.
Menu: Teriyaki chicken, fried rice, broccoli, salad & dessert
RSVP: By Noon, Mon, Mar. 24
EXTRA DATES HABITAT FOR HUMANITY'S LENTEN BUILD
Various Options 7:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
We have two exciting announcements:
• We have filled all of the volunteer slots for March 29!
• We have now extra volunteer dates for even more people to participate. Learn more at www.spdl.org/habitat.
YOUTH PASSPORT MISSIONS CAMP
Mon, June 23–Fri, June 27 | Total Cost: $500/student | $200 deposit due Mar. 30
Join SPdL Youth for Passport Camp at Mississippi Delta Community College in Moorhead, MS! This trip is a wonderful opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus in a community in need. Sign up at www.spdl.org/events. Reach out to Jonathan Hall with questions: jhall@spdl.org.
7 NEW SPOTS OPEN EXPERIENCE THE MONASTERY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Sat, Apr. 5 Meet at 8:30 a.m. to ride the bus or carpool from SPdL | Return: 4 p.m.
Cost: $10 (includes lunch)
Join the Discipleship Council as we take a field trip to the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers! We'll be taking the small bus (so seating is limited) and will provide lunch. You may drive yourself or carpool but we still need an RSVP since our total space is limited. Sign up by Fri, Mar. 28, through Karen Harwell (kharwell@spdl.org or 404.591.4357).
COMMUNITY EGG HUNT
Sat, Apr. 12 | 11 a.m.–1 p.m. | Egg hunting waves | Free and open to public
Grab your baskets and your buddies and hop on down to our annual Community Egg Hunt!
This annual favorite includes inflatables, food, a raffle, games, face painting, a balloon artist and crafts. Candy donation bins are in the Welcome Center.
Tough Enough to Stuff?
Help us stuff Easter eggs for our Community Egg Hunt!
• Wednesdays 3/26, 4/2 & 4/9 4–6 p.m. | Fellowship Hall
• Sunday, March 30 | After worship | Free pizza lunch provided
PALM SUNDAY POTLUCK
Sun, Apr. 13 After Worship Fellowship Hall
Join us after worship for a potluck lunch in the Fellowship Hall. SPdL is a congregation of such great cooks so you know the food is going to be delicious! Sign up to bring a dessert, entree, side or salad at www.spdl.org/events. It's going to be a great time of fellowship after Palm Sunday worship!
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
True North: Trusting Jesus in a Wild World Mon, June 2–Fri, June 6 | 9 a.m.–Noon | $35/child
During this year's VBS, we'll guide kids on the ultimate Alaskan adventure! As children trek the tundra, they’ll explore how easy it is to lose sight of what’s true in our wild world today. True North VBS points them toward Jesus and shows He is a faithful friend we can always trust. Register your child or sign up to volunteer at www.spdl.org/vbs.
LENTEN ART IN WORSHIP
Today's Art Expression
Pride can convince us that we are better and more deserving of God's blessings than others. Lent can help us examine this dark corner, come to terms with our vulnerability and brokenness and be reminded of Jesus' healing presence. We hope today's Lenten art helps express this reality.
Artistic Expressions during Lent
This Lenten season at Second-Ponce, our worship services will include special artistic offerings such as painting, dance, sculpture, photography, and a cappella vocal music. Inspired by Rev. Ronnie Brewer’s Lenten sermon series “Dark Corners,” each art expression draws inspiration from the sermon focus that week.
Though Lent encourages us to acknowledge our shared mortality and humanity, the dark and deathly corners of life do not have the final say in God’s kingdom. Through these artistic offerings, may our Lenten journey of addressing the “Dark Corners” of our lives and world be a life-giving and meaningful experience.
40 WEEKS OF PRAYER GUIDE
Week 34 | Mar. 23–30: Treasures in Heaven
Read: Matthew 6:19–21 and Proverbs 16:18
Questions to Ponder: Where is your treasure? In what do you place your trust? Where or in what does Second-Ponce put its trust as a church?
Pray: Lord, we are grateful for the many blessings we have as individuals and as a church. Show us places that cause us to trust ourselves instead of You—where we are too focused on self-sufficiency and reliance on our earthly resources. (Pause to listen to God, possibly allowing those in the room to speak ideas aloud.) Forgive us when we have been led astray by wealth, accomplishment and pleasure. Help us to store up equity in Your eternal ways, truth and character. Show us when to be humble. Give us the courage to rely on You and not ourselves. Amen.
WEEK AT A GLANCE
MONDAY, MARCH 24
Noon Fellowship Supper RSVP Due
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26
5 p.m. Fellowship Supper
6 p.m. Adult Discipleship (SPdLU)*
7:05 p.m. Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal
FRIDAY, MARCH 28
End of Day Monastery Trip RSVP Due
SATURDAY, MARCH 29
7:30 a.m. Habitat for Humanity Lenten Build
SUNDAY, MARCH 30
9:15 a.m. Coffee & Fellowship
9:45 a.m. Bible Study & Sunday School for Children, Youth & Adults
11 a.m. Worship*
Noon Egg Stuffing & Pizza Lunch
End of Day Youth Passport Deposit Due Second-Ponce de
*This event is available in person and online via Zoom, YouTube or Facebook; check event details.
