SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER

APRIL 12, 2015 10 A.M.

GATHERING AROUND THE WORD PRELUDE Christ Is Alive! Let Christians Sing Charles Burney (1726-1814) arr. Wilbur Held (b. 1914) WELCOME AND CONCERNS OF THE CHURCH The Lord be with you. And also with you. INTROIT This is the Day Donald Moore * CALL TO WORSHIP Diane Giannola One: Peace be with you. Many: How good and pleasant it is when we live together in unity. One: Receive the Holy Spirit. Many: It is like precious oil on the head, the blessing of the Lord. All: Let us worship our Risen Lord! * HYMN God Is Here! No. 461 CALL TO CONFESSION Diane Giannola PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison)

You have shown yourself to us, O God, by Word and Spirit, with signs and wonders, in flesh and blood, yet we still struggle to live and believe the good news of Jesus Christ. We are more apathetic than active, isolated than involved, callous than compassionate, obstinate than obedient, legalistic than loving. Have mercy on us, O Lord, forgive us. Remove the obstacles preventing us from being your instruments of healing in our broken world. In this time of silence, enter into our lives and cast out our fear, so that we may come to trust in you and life in Jesus’ name . . . (silence)

Leader: Trusting your mercy, we lift these prayers to you in the name of Jesus Christ, our redeemer. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON * RESPONSE OF PRAISE Gloria Patri No. 567

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Amen. Amen.

*All who are able are invited to stand. Please turn off electronic devices.

PROCLAIMING THE WORD ANTHEM Alleluia (Cantata No. 142) J. S. Bach/W. Ehret

“May God now be praised, with thankful heart and voice sing out His praises;

for God today has given such joy, may we with grateful hearts forget Him never.”

Chancel Choir CHILDREN’S WORSHIP As the children first through third grades gather and recess to the Chapel for Children’s worship, the congregation is invited to join in singing:

What does the Lord require of you? What does the Lord require of you? To seek justice, and love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.

Congregation: The peace of Christ be with you. Children: And also with you.

What does the Lord require of you? What does the Lord require of you? To seek justice, and love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.

The children will return to join their families at the Doxology.

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION SCRIPTURE John 20: 19-31 Pew Bible p. 115 This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God. SERMON The Paradox of Thomas Rev. Frech

RESPONDING TO THE WORD * HYMN We walk by faith and not by sight No. 399

* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (unison) The Confession of 1967 (inclusive version) 9.21-22, 9.26

The reconciling work of Jesus was the supreme crisis in the life of humankind. His cross and resurrection become personal crisis and present hope for women and men when the gospel is proclaimed and believed. In this experience, the Spirit brings God’s forgiveness to all, moves people to respond in faith, repentance, and obedience, and initiates the new life in Christ. The new life takes shape in a community in which people know that God loves and accepts them in spite of what they are. They therefore accept themselves and love others, knowing that no one has any ground on which to stand, except God’s grace. Life in Christ is life eternal. The resurrection of Jesus is the sign that God will consummate the work of creation and reconciliation beyond death and bring to fulfillment the new life begun in Christ. Amen.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER (unison) Rev. Frech . . . “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come,

thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.” Amen.

OFFERTORY Medley: I’m Just a Poor Wayfarin’ Stranger 19th C. Amer. folk Jesus Walked this Lonesome Valley Amer. spiritual

I Want Jesus to Walk with Me African Amer. spiritual Becky Trella, soprano recorder * DOXOLOGY No. 592

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.

* PRAYER OF DEDICATION (unison) Holy God, we give you thanks and praise for light and life and love, and – above all - the presence of the living Lord among us. By your Spirit who breathes within us, strengthen our faith, use our gifts, and work in our lives to bear witness to the resurrection of Christ our Lord, in whose name we pray. Amen.

SERVICE OF ORDINATION AND INSTALLATION OF DEACONS LITANY Rev. Frech

As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is one body and one Spirit, just as we were called to the one hope of our calling.

In baptism, Dean Elledge, Marianne Empie, Tyler Gage, Tom Klecker, Barb Malo, and Shelby Ullman were clothed with Christ, and are now called by God through the voice of the church to enter into ministries of service and governance, announcing in word and deed the good news of Jesus Christ.

We remember with joy our common calling to serve Christ, and we celebrate God’s particular call to our brothers and sisters.

There are varieties of gifts, but it is the same Spirit who gives them. There are different ways of serving God, but it is the same Lord who is served.

God works through each person in a unique way, but it is God’s purpose that is accomplished.

To each is given a gift of the Spirit to be used for the common good.Together we are the body of Christ, and individually members of it.

PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES Rev. Frech To be Ordained and Installed, Class of 2017: Dean Elledge, Marianne Empie, Tyler Gage, Tom Klecker, Barb Malo, Shelby Ullman

STATEMENT ON THE NATURE OF THE OFFICE OF DEACON Rev. Frech

CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS TO THE DEACONS Rev. Frech Do you trust in Jesus Christ your Savior, acknowledge Him Lord of all and Head of the church, and through Him believe in one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? Do you accept the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be, by the Holy Spirit, the unique and authoritative witness to Jesus Christ in the church universal, and God’s Word to you? Do you sincerely receive and adopt the essential tenets of the Reformed faith as expressed in the confessions of our church as authentic and reliable expositions of what Scripture leads us to believe and do, and will you be instructed and led by those confessions as you lead the people of God? Will you fulfill your office in obedience to Jesus Christ, under the authority of Scripture, and continually guided by our confessions? Will you be governed by our church’s polity, and will you abide by its discipline? Will you be a friend among your colleagues in ministry, working with them, subject to the ordering of God’s Word and Spirit? Will you in your own life seek to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, love your neighbors, and work for the reconciliation of the world? Do you promise to further the peace, unity, and purity of the church? Will you seek to serve the people with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love? Will you be a faithful deacon, watching over the people, providing for their worship, nurture, and service? Will you share in government and discipline, serving in governing bodies of the church, and in your ministry will you try to show the love and justice of Jesus Christ?

CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS TO THE CONGREGATION Leanne Royster Clerk of Session 2015

Do we, the members of the church, accept Dean Elledge, Marianne Empie, Tyler Gage, Tom Klecker, Barb Malo and Shelby Ullman as deacons chosen by God through the voice of this congregation to guide us in the way of Jesus Christ? Do we agree to encourage them, to respect their decisions, and to follow as they guide us, serving Jesus Christ, who alone is Head of the church?

LAYING ON OF HANDS AND PRAYER OF ORDINATION AND INSTALLATION Rev. Frech CHARGE TO DEACONS Rev. Frech EXPRESSION OF WELCOME * HYMN Love Divine, All Loves Excelling No. 376

BEARING AND FOLLOWING THE WORD INTO THE WORLD * CHARGE AND BENEDICTION Rev. Frech

* CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place, I can feel his mighty power and his grace. I can hear the brush of angels’ wings, I see glory on each face. Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place. Amen.

POSTLUDE The Light of Day Again Is Here Johann Pachelbel (1653-1706)

The Worship Service Notes The Session of South Mecklenburg Presbyterian Church meets on the fourth Sunday of the month at 11:15 a.m. in the Chapel to receive new members. If you have interest in membership, please speak to one of the pastors following today’s service. The flowers in the Sanctuary today are given to the glory of God by Judy Jones and in memory of her father, George Jones.

We light a candle today to celebrate the birth of Charles Thomas Cornell (Charlie), April 5, 2015. Congratulations to his parents Laura Casey and Curtis Cornell.

Worship Teams: Elders and Deacons: Susan Hicks, Leanne Royster, Brett Thompson Ushers: Tim Morgan, Head Usher; Diane & Harold Blackmon, Curtis Guy, Janet Morgan, Jim Robertson, Alice & Robert Tyler Acolytes: Joanna Alford, Ashley Blake AV: Kari Case Hospitality Teams: Greeters: Ben & Leah Celones, Jay & Jan Whitlock Welcome Center Host: Sally Jones Coffee Grounds: Diane & Harold Blackmon, Ron Morgan

We offer preschool children’s worship for children 3-years old through kindergarten in their Sunday school classrooms each Sunday during the 10 a.m. Worship Service. Children from 3-years old through kindergarten need to interact physically with their world. They learn primarily by seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling and feeling. Hearing God’s stories, singing God’s songs, praying prayers and experiencing God’s love are all an act of worship. Please drop off your child in his or her Sunday school classroom: 3 and 4 year olds in room 5, and kindergarteners in room 10. THOSE NOT WISHING TO RETAIN THEIR COPY of this worship bulletin are asked to place it at the end of the pew to be recycled. Please take your copy of the SMPC Weekly home as a reference to future opportunities to become more engaged in the life of our faith community.

Dr. Matthew S. Brown, Pastor Rev. Lynne M. Frech, Associate Pastor Audrey McConnell, Director of Music

SOUTH MECKLENBURG PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 8601 Bryant Farms Road, Charlotte, NC 28277-1615

smpcoffice@smpchome.org 704-544-0404 www.smpchome.org