11:00 a.m. May 25, 2003
Assemble in God’s Name
Organ Prelude:
Choral Introit:
s Hymnbook: "God of Our Fathers, Whose Almighty hand” #515
s Passing the Peace
Concerns of the Church
Call to Worship (Psalm 22:23 AV)
Leader: Ye that fear the LORD, praise him;
People: All ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
Opening Prayer
A Statement On Baptism (in unison)
Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible Church; but also to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace, of his ingrafting into Christ, of regeneration, of remission of sins, and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in the newness of life. Which sacrament is, by Christ's own appointment, to be continued in His Church until the end of the world.
The outward element to be used in this sacrament is water, wherewith the party is to be baptized, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, by a minister of the Gospel, lawfully called thereunto. Dipping of the person into the water is not necessary; but Baptism is rightly administered by pouring, or sprinkling water upon the person. Not only those that do actually profess faith in and obedience unto Christ, but also the infants of one, or both, believing parents, are to be baptized. Although it is a great sin to contemn or neglect this ordinance, yet grace and salvation are not so inseparably annexed unto it, as that no person can be regenerated, or saved, without it: or, that all that are baptized are undoubtedly regenerated. The efficacy of Baptism is not tied to that moment of time wherein it is administered; yet, notwithstanding, by the right use of this ordinance, the grace promised is not only offered, but really exhibited, and conferred, by the Holy Ghost, to such (whether of age or infants) as that grace belongs unto, according to the counsel of God's own will, in His appointed time. The sacrament of Baptism is but once to be administered unto any person. (Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 28)
s Gloria Patri #546
Presentation of Tithes and Offerings
Offertory
s Doxology #544
Children's Sermon: "Memorial Day"
Genesis 12:1-2
Dismissal to Children’s Church (5 and Under)
Prayers of the People
s First Reading: Psalm 22:23-31
s Hymnbook: "My Country Tis of Thee" #513
Second Reading: Acts 8:26-40
Anthem:
Sermon: "Neo-Jesus"
Go in God’s Name
s The Apostles' Creed
s Prayer of Thanksgiving
s The Lord's Prayer
s Hymnbook: "O Beautiful for Spacious Skies" #510
s Charge and Blessing
Postlude:
s: all who are able, please stand.
Bible Study, Wednesday, 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. We are studying II Corinthians chapter 13.
Homecoming
We are having homecoming on June 15. This will be the primary celebration of our Sesquicentennial. Guy Smith Jr., a child of this church and the Stated Clerk of Catawba Presbytery, will be our speaker that day. We will have lunch in the church fellowship hall after Morning Worship. If you know of anyone you would like to invite for Homecoming, please write their name and address on the list in the narthex of the church.
Joint Service
As part of the celebration of Synod’s Bicentennial, all the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Churches in Western Catawba Presbytery (Blacksburg, Bethany, Sharon, Smyrna, Hickory Grove, Clover, Living waters, York) are getting together for a joint meeting here at our church on June 1, at 7:00 p.m. Refreshments will follow the meeting.
Memorial Day Thought
During World War II, the Allies carried out amphibious assault landings on June 6, 1944. In the ensuing battle, thousands of young men and women lost their lives. Not far from the landing site, exists a large well-groomed cemetery with a beautiful chapel at one end. In the chapel stands an altar of black and gold Pyrenees marble engraved with the inscription: I Give Unto Them Eternal Life And They Shall Never Perish. In graves in front of the chapel, lie the bodies of 9,387 service men and women. Each headstone identifies the person buried there, with the exception of 307 whose bodies were unidentified. Nearby there is a stone tablet telling of 1,557 men and women who died in battle but whose bodies were never found. Here generals are buried beside privates, blacks beside whites, Jews beside Christians, Americans from 49 states plus the District of Columbia and Guam. Each paid the ultimate sacrifice. All died for freedom. All died on our behalf.
Psalm 22:23-31
23 You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him; stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!
24 For he did not despise or abhor the affliction of the afflicted; he did not hide his face from me, but heard when I cried to him.
25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will pay before those who fear him.
26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD. May your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD; and all the families of the nations shall worship before him.
28 For dominion belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.
29 To him, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, and I shall live for him.
30 Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord,
31 and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn, saying that he has done it.
If you have questions or comments, email Tony Grant
Copyright 2000 York Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church
Last modified 9/8/03