Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone

you find to the wedding banquet. Matthew 22:9

BETHANY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

11:00 a.m. Worship Service

October 12, 2008

22^nd Sunday after Pentecost

“And he led them out as far as Bethany . . . and he blessed them.” Luke 24:50

GATHERING

ANNOUNCEMENTS

PROCESSIONAL………….“Song of Hope”.........Allison Weaver

PRELUDE………………....“Deep River”………Handbell Choir

LIGHTING OF THE ALTAR CANDLES

CHIMING OF GOD’S PRESENCE

CHORAL INTROIT

OPENING PRAYER

O God, our words can never really do justice to the depth of your care for us. W

e rejoice in your blessings, yet we so often fail to live up to them.

May this time of worship and our daily living proclaim our thanksgiving for these lavish gifts of grace.

In Jesus’ name, we pray.  Amen.

PRAISE

*HYMN.121………..…………………………….…WELLESLEY

“There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy”

LITANY OF CONFESSION

Jesus criticized those who said ‘yes’ to him with their lips but denied him with their deeds.
Forgive us, O God, the times when we use feeble excuses to avoid following in Christ’s footsteps.
The invitation to us is an invitation of grace - those who finally sat down at the banquet could never have expected such an invitation.
Forgive us, O God, when we expect you to be there for us - but fail to respond to your call on our lives.
Help us empty ourselves of all that prevents us from following Jesus, even if it means putting our personal agendas on hold.

And as the apostle Paul beseeched the Philippians:
Fill us with the desire to think about whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure,

whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, whatever is excellent and worthy of praise.

Through Jesus in whose name we pray. Amen

SILENT PRAYERS

WORDS OF ASSURANCE

Paul urged those he loved to stand firm in the Lord and to rejoice in the Lord always.

“…because God has forgiven us all our trespasses, erasing the record that stood against us … God set this aside, nailing it to the cross.”

(Colossians 2:13, 14). Glory to God!

*GLORIA PATRI........................................................................p.70

*PASSING OF THE PEACE

TIME FOR CHILDREN

HYMN NO.467…………(1,2)……………..TRUST AND OBEY

“Trust and Obey”

CONCERNS AND PRAYERS

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

THE LORD’S PRAYER

GIVING THANKS

CELEBRATIONS

WELCOMING NEW MEMBERS

DEDICATION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY………………………………............Chancel Choir

“His River, His Peace”

*DOXOLOGY..……..………..……………………..……….....p.95

PROCLAMATION

GOSPEL LESSON…………………………........Matthew 22:1-14

SERMON………………………………...…...Rev. Lewis L. Poag

“The Invitation”

RESPONSE

*HYMN NO.593 ……………………….…… HERE I AM, LORD

“Here I am Lord”

*BENEDICTION

*CHORAL RESPONSE

POSTLUDE…………………………………...….Allison Weaver

Hearing aids, large print hymnals, and Orders of Worship

are available at the sanctuary entrance.

VVVVVV

The flowers are placed on the altar to the Glory of God

in memory of Harold “Jitter” Hudler by Stephanie Dollar

A nursery is provided during Sunday School and the Worship Hour for children ages 0-3. Children’s Church, following the Children’s Time, is available for children through 2^nd grade.

Lectionary Reading for October 19: Psalm 99, Exodus 33:12-23, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Matthew 22:15-22

VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE

Children’s Church: Stephanie Dollar

Acolyte: Bailey Little

Altar Guild: Elaine Graybeal and Lib Lemly

Greeters: Earlene Barker

CHURCH CALENDAR

SUNDAY, October 12, 2008:

9:45 a.m. Sunday School

11:00 a.m. Worship; Children’s Church; Nursery

12:00 p.m. Administrative Council Meeting

6:30 p.m. Planning Meeting Parents of Children and Youth

MONDAY, October 13, 2008:

5:30 p.m. Yoga Class at West Jefferson UMC

WEDNESDAY, October 15, 2008:

5:15 p.m. Joyful Noise Choir

5:45 p.m. Wednesday Night Supper

6:35 p.m. Chancel Choir

7:30 p.m. Hand Bell Choir

STEWARDSHIP REPORT

October 5, 2008

Church Budget Offering…………………………………$4,199.00

Stained Glass Window Repair……………………………..$270.87

Kitchen Guild From Bazaar………………………………....$12.25

Sunday School Attendance………………………………………47

Worship Service Attendance…………………………………….97

Bethany United Methodist Church

Pastor: Lewis L. Poag Organist: Allison Weaver

Adult Choir Director: Grady Lonon Pianist: Joyce Kilby

Bell & Children’s Choirs: Jane Lonon Custodian: Michael Houck

Secretary/Treasurer: Marilyn Miller Lay Leader: Don Church

495 Highway 194 South, West Jefferson, NC 28694

Church: (336) 877-2801 Fax: (336) 877-2185

Kitchen: (336) 877-2833 Parsonage: (336) 877-3285

Email: bethanyumcwj@skybest.com

Website: www.gbgm-umc.org/bethany-wjefferson

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OCTOBER 12, 2008

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CIRCLE OF CONCERN

Colleen Calloway, Lillian Campbell, Kinney Edwards, Lillis and Worth Gentry, Joanna Gilmer, Elinor Howell, Sandy Jackson, John Miller, Don Norwood, Bob Page, Don Sloan, Jack Whitehouse and Darrell Worth.

At Glenbridge (Boone): Callie Ozment

At Villages of Ashe: Pearl Hagel

Serving in the military: Lynn Ashley, Adam Barlow, Luke Everhart, Michael Howell, David Lemly, and Jamie McKeithan.

The Congregation extends its sympathy to Kathy Barlow and family on the death of her mother, Lavaun Church.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT SUPPER: Our menu this week is: Meatloaf, Potato, Vegetable, and Dessert. The prices are: Adults $7.00, 6-12, $5.00, 5 and under free. Sign-ups are a must. The sign up sheet is on the bulletin board, or call Sandra Prange at 982-6463 by Tuesday morning, October 7^th. Cancellations must be made at the same time. Come and enjoy!

STAINED GLASS REPAIRS - Work on repairing our stained glass windows is underway. Contributions so far total $4270 toward the cost of about $6500. If you would like to make a special donation just mark your check or envelope: “Glass repairs.”

DON’T FORGET YOUR REGULAR OFFERINGS. Are your financial commitments to the church up to date? If you aren’t sure, please check.

We are counting on them to help us keep up with our commitments to staff, utilities, programs and benevolences. It takes all of our efforts to keep our ministries going strong.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

Monday, October 6: 6:30 p.m. Finance Committee

KITCHEN GUILD Thanks to all of you, this year’s Fall Bazaar was a great success! Thanks for all the generous contributions of food, beautiful handmade crafts, yard sale items, money, etc. A special thank you to the men for the excellent biscuits and coffee, and the Women of Bethany for great soup and sandwiches. We are grateful to Mike and Cathy Everhart for the cheese boxes, Pat Morrison for a beautiful handmade pottery bowl and Petal Pushers for the lovely wreath all given as door prizes. Special appreciation for the countless hours donated by the wonderful kitchen crew planning, making chicken casseroles, sorting and pricing items, making signs and everything you did to make the bazaar a lot of fun for all. We made about $2,000.00. $200.00 was given to help pay for the stained glass window repair and the rest will be used to purchase furniture, etc. for the fellowship hall. Thanks again to everyone for their part in making Bethany a great place to be.

Sereita Powers, Chairperson, The Kitchen Guild

P.S. There is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board for pecan orders. The Kitchen Guild is selling pecan pieces, halves and pecan meal from Ellis Brothers in Georgia. The pecans will be delivered in November. The prices are $8.00 for a 16 ounce bag for the pieces or halves and $3.00 for the pecan meal.

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED to help the Church Trustees with several projects including painting the Picnic Shelter and refinishing a number of doors.

If you have skills to offer please contact Bob Kilby, Trustees Chair at 846-5052.

TRAVEL TO THE HOLY LAND February 1-13 2009 with Rev. Poag and the Pastors of West Jefferson and Jefferson UMC’s. The trip will include visits to Jerusalem, Bethlehem, the Jordan River, Petra, Masada, the Dead Sea, Qumran, Jericho, and sites in Galilee including Nazareth, Capernaum, the Sea of Galilee and more. Brochures are available at the display in the front hallway. If you have any questions please speak with Lewis or call the church office at 877-2801.

A MEMBERSHIP SUNDAY scheduled for October 12^th. Full, Associate and Affiliate memberships are available for permanent and part-time residents. Please speak with Rev. Poag about your interest.