WORSHIP OF GOD
Sunday, August 11, 2024 at 11 a.m.
PRELU DE Voluntary I in D Major William Boyce
Jack Mitchener, organ
CHORAL CALL TO WORSHIP
HYMN NO. 52 O Worship the King LYONS
WELCOME & INVOCATION
Mary Lynn Gabbard Community Council Member
SCRIPTURE Psalm 34:1–8 Rev. Allie Osborne
Leader: I will bless the Lord at all times; God’s praise shall ever be in my mouth.
Congregation: I will glory in God; let the humble hear and rejoice.
Leader: Proclaim with me the greatness of God; let us exalt the Lord’s Name together.
Congregation: I sought God, and God answered me and delivered me out of all my terror.
Leader: Look upon the Lord and be radiant, and let not your faces be ashamed.
Congregation: I called in my affliction and God heard me and saved me from all my troubles.
Leader: The angel of God encompasses those who fear the Lord and God will deliver them.
Congregation: Taste and see that God is good; happy are they who trust in the Lord!
HYMN NO. 298 God Is Here! ABBOT’S LEIGH
ANTHEM Gracious Spirit Dwell with Me Scott Sanctuary Choir; Jack Mitchener, organ
MY SPDL COMMUNITY STORY Amanda Payne
OFFERTORY Charles V. Stanford Prelude on Hymn 64, “The King of Love My Shepherd Is” (Set 1, No 6) Jack Mitchener, organ
DOXOLOGY (HYMN NO. 706) OLD 100TH Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow
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. 255 We Are God’s People SYMPHONY
PASTORAL PRAYER Rev. Jonathan Hall
SCRIPTURE Acts 4:32–35 Rev. Ronnie Brewer (p. 888 in your pew Bible)
SERMON The Church: The Community of Jesus Rev. Brewer
WORSHIP OF GOD
Sunday, August 11, 2024 at 11 a.m.
HYMN OF RESPONSE NO. 272 ST. BRENDAN’S They’ll Know We Are Christians
Those wishing to join Second-Ponce today are invited to come down front at this time.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT Bill Gabbard
CONGREGATIONAL BENEDICTION
We are one in the bond of love; we are one in the bond of love. We have joined our spirits with the Spirit of God; we are one in the bond of love.
POSTLUDE
François Couperin
Dialogue sur les grands jeux - from the Gloria, Mass for the Convents Jack Mitchener, organ
SHARING HER SPDL COMMUNITY STORY
Amanda Payne and her husband Aaron have been members of Second-Ponce for over 15 years. They are co-hosts of the Parents Connect Zoom small group. Amanda is currently an active Deacon and serves on the Executive Committee and the Pastor Search Committee.* Their daughters, Clara and Emily, are active in the church’s children’s ministry. Originally from Blue Ridge, they enjoy returning to their hometown to spend time outdoors as a family.
*We'll continue to highlight the members of our Senior Pastor Search Committee in worship. Please encourage this group and pray for their important work together.
AUGUST IS COMMUNITY COUNCIL MONTH
We value community at Second-Ponce by working hard to build relationships and care for each other. We also prioritize the greater community outside of our church walls by sharing God’s love and encouraging people to engage with us in our ministry together.
During our August worship services, we'll highlight the work of building community at Second-Ponce. Each Sunday a member of our Community Council will lead the Welcome and Invocation. There will also be a “My SPdL Community Story," aimed at sharing how some of the ministries at Second-Ponce help strengthen and grow our faith community.
We grow in community, connecting and caring for each other, and inviting others to join us. That’s how Rev. Jonathan Hall and the Community Council describe their purpose. If you’re interested in helping or have an idea, send a quick message to the group at community@spdl.org. For more details on their work, visit spdl.org/community.
WORSHIP OF GOD
Sunday, August 11, 2024 at 11 a.m.
WE'RE "PEOPLE PEOPLE"
FOR GUESTS WE HAVEN'T MET YET
Welcome to church! Make yourself at home here! Settle in for a transformative and joyful hour of worship. We'd love to be helpful in your faith journey. There's a green card in the pew rack—I'm New Here—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 calls, emails or requests. Engagement with us will be at your own pace; we just want to know who you are and how we can pray for you.
FOR GUESTS WE KNOW & CHURCH MEMBERS
Welcome back to church! Your presence is part of what makes Sundays at Second-Ponce so wonderful. 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.
MORE GOOD STUFF
EVERYONE IS AN "INSIDER" AT SPDL
We're pulling back the curtain on some experiences and words you'll encounter today.
• Doxology: The Doxology is a short hymn of praise. We use it as transition music when children leave the Sanctuary for Kids Worship.
• Fellowship Supper: Each Wednesday, we share a meal together in the Fellowship Hall. It's a great social and spiritual pick-me-up in the middle of the week.
• Interim Senior Pastor: As we search for our new Senior Pastor, Rev. Ronnie Brewer is with us to provide transitional leadership by preaching, guiding ministry staff, assisting the search committee and walking alongside us as we navigate change.
• Invocation: The first prayer of the service invoking the spirit of God to be with us.
• Prime Timers: Prime Timers is the name of our vibrant senior adult ministry.
• Senior Pastor Search Committee: A group of 9 church members nominated by their peers to lead us in finding our next Senior Pastor. They were chosen based on their church engagement and relationships, applicable strengths and helpful perspectives.
• SPdL: An abbreviation for Second-Ponce de Leon. We pronounce it "Spee-duhl."
• SPdLU: An acronym for Second-Ponce de Leon University, our Wednesday evening time of adult discipleship.
CHILDCARE DURING WORSHIP
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 children's ministry leaders). After worship, pick them up in the Kids’ Club.
HOW TO JOIN
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.
YOUTH/PARENT PLANNING MEETING
Sunday, August 11 | After Worship | Lunch Provided 4th Floor Youth Space
All youth families are invited to join as we plan and dream together for the fall and winter in SPdL's youth ministry. No RSVP required.
YOUTH ZOO TRIP
Saturday, August 17 8:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Cost: $20/person (includes lunch) Hey youth, wanna go to the zoo? Saturday, August 17, we'll meet at the Welcome Center and ride together to the Atlanta Zoo. We'll spend the morning there, have lunch and return to the church at 1:30 p.m. If you're interested in going, let Jonathan know: jhall@spdl.org or www.spdl.org/rsvp by Sunday, August 11.
SPECIAL COMMUNITY COUNCIL EVENTS
LUNCH BUNCH
Sunday, August 18 | After Worship | Meet in the Welcome Center Let's have lunch after church! Meet in the Welcome Center, find a group and a restaurant that suits you and off you go! These will be informal, light-hearted fellowship groups, so come prepared to laugh together, swap stories and eat good food. Cost is your own meal. No RSVP required.
LEMONADE ON THE LAWN
Sunday, August 25 After Worship SPdL Front Lawn | Cost: Free Join us for lemonade and cookies on the SPdL front lawn after worship on Sunday, August 25. Exit through the Narthex (Sanctuary lobby) on the Peachtree Road side of the church to enjoy refreshments and community together.
SUPPER & SPDLU
Wednesday, August 14 Supper at 5 p.m. | Discipleship at 6 p.m. | On Zoom & in the Fellowship Hall | Cost: $10/adult; $5/child In Re-Discovering the Ten Commandments, we'll "examine the theological and ethical dimensions of each commandment, studying not only their original meaning but also how they are put to use and interpreted in the rest of Scripture." Supper Menu: BYO (Build Your Own) taco bar with hard and soft shells, ground beef, chicken, cheese, lettuce, tomato and sour cream, chips and salsa, salad and dessert. RSVP by Noon, Monday, August 12 at spdl.org/rsvp.
YOUNG ADULT KARAOKE NIGHT
Friday, August 16 | 7:15–9:15 p.m. Karaoke Melody (Doraville)
Cost: $15 Plus Food & Drinks
Unleash your inner performer at karaoke night! We’ll meet at SPdL at 6:45 p.m. to carpool to Karaoke Melody (7130 Buford Hwy NE b 240, Doraville, GA 30340) and return around 9:15 p.m. RSVP to Jonathan Hall at jhall@spdl.org by Wednesday, August 14.
PRIME TIMERS' ICE CREAM SOCIAL
Tuesday, August 20 | 2-4 p.m. Fellowship Hall Cost: Free Join us for homemade ice cream and the makings for banana splits and Coke floats as we walk down memory lane. Bring a photo of yourself as a baby or small child for the slide show coordinated by Ron Watts. You may send it via email to Ron.M.Watts@gmail.com or drop it by the church office in an envelope with your name on it and marked for Ron Watts. You will get your photos back! RSVP with Vicki McCaskey by August 16 at vmccaskey@spdl.org or 404.591.4344.
FREE MOVIE SCREENING | INVITE YOUR FRIENDS!
Saturday, August 24 Optional boxed supper ($10) at 6 p.m. | Movie begins at 7 p.m. | Fellowship Hall Childcare available by registration only Join us for dinner and a movie! The Most Reluctant Convert: The Untold Story of CS Lewis depicts the events that shaped Lewis’ early life and journey from atheism to
Christianity. Prior to the free screening, we'll have an optional boxed supper of a turkey sandwich or strawberry spinach salad available for $10. After the movie, we invite you to stick around for an optional time of discussion. Registration, while free of charge, is required for childcare and supper (adult and children) by Friday, August 16 at www.spdl.org/rsvp.
PRAYING TOGETHER
40 Weeks of Prayer: The Body of Christ at SPdL Praying Together By Karen Harwell When a body of believers prays together, there is a spirit like no other. Walls fall and barriers crumble ... creativity blooms ... relationships grow and strengthen ... faith is fortified ... joy surges and vision is renewed.
Jesus Himself emphasizes group prayer as a foundational value when defining a body of believers: “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in My Name, there am I with them." (Matthew 18:19–20)
In times of transition, prayers for vision, wisdom and strength are important. Accordingly, the Discipleship Council invites everyone to covenant together with their Sunday School classes and other small groups for 40 weeks of prayer using the weekly prayer guides provided to group leaders. If you miss class or want to pray on your own, the guides will also be published at the bottom of the Signal prayer list each Wednesday and Friday. For an introduction and an example of how to use the prompts, catch Gayle Suggs' presentation at www.spdl.org/pray.
South African writer and minister Andrew Murray shares in his book With Christ in the School of Prayer: “What an extraordinary privilege united prayer is! What a potential power it has! Who can say what blessing might be gained if in every church united, effective prayer were regarded as one of the chief purposes for which they are banded together.” Let us—the body of believers at Second-Ponce—pray and discover together that “it is through prayer that the promises of God await their fulfillment, that the kingdom awaits its coming and that the glory of God awaits their full revelation.”
We invite you to join us in unified prayer—in our discipleship groups, with specific prayer groups you form on your own, with your family, or alone—for the next 40 weeks.
WEEK AT A GLANCE
SUNDAY, AUGUST 11
12:15 p.m. Youth/Parent Planning Meeting End of day Youth Zoo Trip RSVP Due
MONDAY, AUGUST 12
Noon Fellowship Supper RSVP Due
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14
5 p.m. Fellowship Supper
6 p.m. Adult Discipleship (SPdLU)*
6 p.m. Activities for Children & Youth
7:05 p.m. Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal End of day Young Adult Karaoke RSVP Due
FRIDAY, AUGUST 16
7:15 p.m. Young Adult Karaoke Night
SATURDAY, AUGUST 17
8:30 a.m. Youth Zoo Trip
SUNDAY, AUGUST 18
9:15 a.m. Coffee & Fellowship
9:30 a.m. Bible Study & Sunday School for Children, Youth & Adults
11 a.m. Worship*
12:15 p.m. Lunch Bunch
*This event is available in person and online via Zoom, YouTube or Facebook; check event details.
Growing in Christ and community–sharing God's love in the world.
August 11, 2024
Rev. Ronnie Brewer Interim Senior Pastor The Church: The Community of Jesus
This text gives us basic teaching of the community Jesus wants as His body. Holding things in common: Jesus, His Lordship, our gifts and our concern for others.
Second-Ponce Ministerial Staff
REV. RONNIE BREWER Interim Senior Pastor rbrewer@spdl.org
BILL GABBARD Minister of Music bgabbard@spdl.org
REV. JONATHAN HALL Minister of Community & Student Discipleship | jhall@spdl.org
REV. ALLIE OSBORNE Minister of Missions & Children's Discipleship | aosborne@spdl.org
