WORSHIP OF GOD Sunday, March 1, 2020, at 11 a.m.
PRELUDE
Festival Piece on "Nicea"
arr. Westenkueler
CALL TO WORSHIP
With a Voice of Singing
Kenneth Jennings
Verleen Baerg, organ
Mercer Singers; Dr. Stanley L. Roberts, director
HYMN NO. 345
When Morning Gilds The Skies
WELCOME
LAUDES DOMINI
SCRIPTURE
Sunday, March 1, 2020, at 11 a.m.
PASTORAL PRAYER
Rev. Heather Webb
HYMN NO. 344
OFFERTORY
Bob Lamb
Robert H. Young
Psalm 32
Dr. Joshua Scott
Mercer Singers
(Old Testament p. 440)
CORPORATE CONFESSION OF SIN The proof of God’s amazing love is this: While we were sinners, Christ died for us. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Trusting in God’s faithfulness and compassion, let us silently confess our sin before God and one another. O Lord, great God, all holy, Father most gracious, filled with mercy and steadfast love, we are embarrassed to come before you, for we have preferred the ways of this world to your ways, for we have rebelled against your wisdom and we have gotten into trouble, for we have rejected your fatherly guidance and have gotten lost altogether. To you belongs righteousness, O Lord, and to us confusion of face. O Lord, great God, all holy, filled with awe, Father, most gracious, filled with mercy and steadfast love, incline your ear to our troubles. Hear us when we pour out our sorrows before you. Forgive us, not on the ground of our own righteousness, but on the ground of your great mercy. On the ground of your great mercy in the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ. It is in his name that we pray, for he is our Savior and the mediator of the covenant of grace. Amen. ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Mercer Singers
SCRIPTURE
PREPARATION FOR PRAYER I Will Lift Mine Eyes Mercer Singers
Jake Runestad
Sweet Hour of Prayer Genesis 2:15–17; 3:1–7 (Old Testament p. 2)
SERMON
SWEET HOUR Dr. Dock Hollingsworth
O Jesus, I Have Promised
ANGEL'S STORY
O Jesus, I have promised to serve thee to the end; Be thou forever near me, my Master and my Friend; I shall not fear the battle if thou art by my side, Nor wander from the pathway if thou wilt be my guide. O Jesus, thou hast promised to all who follow thee, That where thou art in glory there shall thy servant be; And, Jesus, I have promised to serve thee to the end; O give me grace to follow, my Master and my Friend.
Wana Baraka
Mercer Singers
Now Thank We All Our God Verleen Baerg, organ
The Mercer Singers is an auditioned ensemble of 48 voices, and is the primary touring choral ensemble of Mercer University. The choir includes undergraduate and graduate students, and performs a wide range of choral music. The Singers have performed in the US and Europe, and made their Carnegie Hall debut under the baton of their director, Dr. Stanley Roberts, in 2017. Dr. Roberts, and his wife Marie, are both Mercer graduates, and former members of the Singers. We are blessed to welcome this outstanding ensemble this morning!
If you haven't already, visit our welcome table located in the lobby of the Sanctuary (also called the Narthex). There, you'll find information about the church and friendly members ready to answer your questions. We hope you'll come back. We meet for Sunday School at 9:45 a.m. and offer two worship opportunities: A traditional service in our Sanctuary at 11 a.m. and a contemporary service called All Together in our SPdL Theater at 4 p.m. We share Fellowship Supper Wednesdays at 5 p.m. followed by activities for children, youth & adults. During the week there are Bible studies, special events, guest speakers and more.
Second-Ponce enthusiastically welcomes you to make a commitment to Christ and our community of faith. During the Sunday morning worship service, we provide the opportunity to join the church during the Hymn of Response. At any time during the song, simply walk to the front of the Sanctuary where our senior pastor or a SecondPonce minister will greet you with warmth and joy.
O let me hear thee speaking in accents clear and still, Above the storms of passion, the murmurs of self will. O speak to reassure me, to hasten or control; O speak and make me listen, thou guardian of my soul.
POSTLUDE
Bob Lamb, an active member of Second-Ponce since 1980, has served the church in many capacities, including former chair of the board of deacons, as member and chair of numerous committees and as a Sunday school teacher. He sings bass in the Sanctuary Choir and is currently chair of our Finance Committee. He and his wife, Patty, have two grown children, Betsy and Griffin. Bob is employed by the Mercer University College of Pharmacy.
HOW TO JOIN
O let me feel thee near me! The world is ever near; I see the sights that dazzle, the tempting sounds I hear; My foes are ever near me, around me and within; But Jesus, draw thou nearer, and shield my soul from sin.
BENEDICTION
LEADING OUR OFFERTORY PRAYER
WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE HERE
We All Need a Garden to Tend
HYMN OF RESPONSE
Sunday, March 1, 2020, at 11 a.m.
WELCOME, MERCER SINGERS
Children K–5 may leave during this time for Kids Worship. Parents, please pick up your children in room C-305 of the Children’s Building after the service.
HYMN NO. 412
WORSHIP OF GOD
(No. 706 in your Hymnal)
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye Heavenly host; Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Dr. Scott
Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of your possession? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in showing clemency. He will again have compassion upon us; he will tread our iniquities under foot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will show faithfulness to Jacob and unswerving loyalty to Abraham, as you have sworn to our ancestors from the days of old. Amen, and amen!
René Clausen
All That Hath Life and Breath, Praise Ye the Lord!
OFFERTORY RESPONSE All for Love
GLORIOUS NAME
Glorious Is Thy Name
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Bill Gabbard
INVOCATION ANTHEM
WORSHIP OF GOD
arr. Shawn Kirchner Bach, arr. Fox
SECOND-PONCE MINISTERIAL STAFF Dr. Dock Hollingsworth, Senior Pastor Verleen Baerg, Organist/Music Associate Joy Callaway, Pianist Bill Gabbard, Minister of Music Keith Harmel, Director of Sounds of Faith Dr. David Hull, Associate Pastor Jeff Miller, Church Administrator
Richard Rogers, Director of Orchestra Dr. Joshua Scott, Associate Pastor to Youth & Families, College Students, Young Adults & All Together Rev. Heather Webb, Associate Pastor to Children & Families