WELCOME AND CONCERNS OF THE CONGREGATION

PRELUDE “Lord, I Want to Be a Christian” arr. Cindy Berry

*CALL TO WORSHIP (from Psalm 22:25-27)

Leader: From you comes my praise in the great congregation;

People: my vows I will pay before those who fear him.

Leader: The poor shall eat and be satisfied;

People: those who seek him shall praise the LORD. May your

hearts live forever!

Leader: All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the

LORD;

People: and all the families of the nations shall worship before

him.

HYMN “Christ for the World We Sing” Insert

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

God of all mercy, we confess that we have sinned against you, opposing your will in our lives. We have denied your goodness in each other, in ourselves, and in the world you have created. We repent of the evil that enslaves us, the evil we have done, and the evil done on our behalf. Forgive, restore, and strengthen us through our Savior Jesus Christ, that we may abide in your love and serve only your will...

Silent Prayers of confession

WORDS OF ASSURANCE

In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. (2 Corinthians 5:19) Hear then Christ’s word of grace to us: our sins are forgiven.

Thanks be to God!

GLORIA PATRI

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

SCRIPTURE LESSON: Acts 8: 26-40

SERMON: “What Can Stand in the Way?” Rev. Barrett Ingram

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic* Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

*“catholic” (little c) is translated as “universal” and is not a reference to the Roman Catholic Church.

PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORD’S PRAYER

HYMN “Take the Name of Jesus with You” Insert

BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE “We Know That Christ is Raised”

arr. Lloyd Larson

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*Those that are able are invited to stand.

Announcements

Sunday, May 2

Worship committee meeting following worship

Monday May 10 – Wednesday May 12

Barrett will be on Continuing Ed.

Sunday, May 16

Christian Ed. committee meeting following worship

Monday May 17 – Friday May 21

Barrett will be on vacation.

Please contact the clerk, JoAnn Cox if you have a concern.

Flowers today - Melody Cribb

Flowers next Sunday - Lynn Clark

Prayer List:

Susan Priest, Marguerite Hufham, Sarah Melvin, Louise Quick, Ronnie Rush, Betty Johnson, Bill Jackson, Darrel Melvin, Happy Lashlee, Gerry Carey, Becky Regan, Mary Ward,

Lucille Hood, Amy Johnson, Bill Marsh, Shannon Wilcox, Clara Wooten Hunsucker, Jo Campbell, Linda Smith, Susan and David Butler, Doug Bergeron, Margaret Ingram, Bill Greene, Jimmy Hickman, Holly Eppley, Betty Faircloth, Susan Deans, Sammy Hatcher, Carmen McQueen, Claudia Hester, Richard and Mary Jane Howell, Ray Battle, Ernest Ray and Phyllis Long,

Michael Ann Williamson, James Boswell, Molly Cox, Bob Nelson, Betty Ann McPherson, Alice Waugh, Wendy Marlowe Bowen, Mary Pope, Patsy Grainger, Randy Page, Karen Davis, Colby Hester, Brandon McDonald, Mariah Cox, Mickey Packer, Jesus Mondragon