The Worship of God Fifth Sunday of Lent April 7, 2019

PRELUDE WORDS OF GATHERING Tiffany Triplett Henkel

Pastor

Congregation read the bold print The Lord be with you. And also with you.

CHORAL INTROIT CALL TO WORSHIP

We come to this place because we want to know God, who helps us set aside the past, to walk the path to new life. We come in these moments because we want to know Jesus, who anoints us with the resurrection, who shares our lives with us. We come with these people because we want to know the Spirit, who shapes us for life with God, so we may praise God forever!

INVOCATION Vadim Yakshov Deacon

*HYMN OF PRAISE #25 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty GREETING ONE ANOTHER

LIFE OF THE COMMUNITY Brooklyn Lovelace

Administrative Assistant

Updates about Metro and our community ministry, Rauschenbusch Metro Ministries. Guests are welcomed to fill out a card so that we may have a record of your visit.

Optional childcare is provided for children. Leaders can be found at the back.

COVENANT OF CONCERNS PASTORAL PRAYER Scott Stearman

Pastor

HYMN #200 What Wondrous Love Is This?

OFFERTORY PRAYER OFFERTORY *DOXOLOGY Old 100th

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God all creatures here below; Praise God above ye heavenly host; Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

SCRIPTURE READING Isaiah 43:16-21 Hudson Henkel and Liam O’Brien

SPECIAL MUSIC SERMON Tiffany Triplett Henkel

THE CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER INVITATION TO THE TABLE SHARING THE BREAD AND THE CUP

HYMN OF COMMITMENT #439 God, Dismiss Us With Your Blessing

If you would like to formally join our community of faith or profess something publicly about your journey of faith, we invite you to speak to a pastor at this time.

*BENEDICTION POSTLUDE

Please join us after the service for Lenten Lunch and Conversation. *Please stand as you are able.

Brown-bag Lenten Lunch – today after the service! Join us following the service for a 45 minute conversation to discuss a particular application of this morning’s text and sermon. Bring your own lunch or grab something quick. Water and cups provided.

Holy Week & Easter Schedule

Maundy Thursday I April 18 We gather in the Sanctuary at Metro for a light soup dinner at 6:30pm followed by communion and a Service of Shadows that begins at 7pm.

Easter Sunday I April 21 After the mournful Friday and the silence of Saturday, we will gather Easter Sunday. There will be multiple signs of life throughout the day, including a Pancake meal from 9:30-10:30am to symbolically break the Lenten fast, Worship Service at 11:00, and a post-service fellowship complete with Easter Egg Hunt for kids of all ages. Remember to bring cut flowers to decorate our flower cross.

Eugene Bolin Memorial On Saturday, June 8th, Metro will host a Memorial Service for former pastor Gene Bolin. The service is at 1:30pm, and will include a memorial service in the sanctuary and a dedication on the roof top farm.

Stomping Ground Presents Next Fall April 12 and 13 at 7:30pm Luke believes in God. Adam believes in everything else. Next fall portrays the ups and downs of this unlikely couple’s five-year relationship with sharp humor and unflinching honesty. And when an accidnet changes everything, Adam must turn to Luke’s family and friends for support…and answers.

Next fall paoints a beautiful portrait of modern romance, asking the hard questions about commitment, love, and faith. Get tickets at https://nextfallstomp.eventbrite.com.

Hell’s Kitchen Farm Project News

Spring Kick-Off - Saturday, April 13 I 10AM - 1PM This is the official kick-off of the 9th growing season of the Hell’s Kitchen Farm Project. Our rooftop farm will be open to the public, and people of all ages are welcome to join us for farm tours, planting, kids activities and refreshments. Learn more about our work in the wider Hell’s Kitchen community and how you can get involved this season.

CSA Shares Available Join the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) to receive fresh produce through the summer and fall, picked up every week at Metro. Full, half, and subsidized shares are available. To sign up, visit hkfp.org/csa.

Youth Farm Internship Program - July 10 - August 17, 2019 HKFP is seeking applicants for a 6-week summer internship program for NYC high school students. The goal of the program is to acquaint local youth with urban agriculture, farming techniques, food security and social justice concerns, and career options in these realms. To be considered for the program, students must submit an application by May 26, 2019. Information and applications can be obtained by emailing info@hellskitchenfarmproject.org.

Let’s Elevate! Building Holy Hospitality for the next 35 years! Since 1984, Metro Baptist Church has carried out life-giving ministries in this vibrant but challenging area of Hell’s Kitchen. We’ve opened our space 24/7 in a building that is over a century old and that is almost hostile to those who are challenged by steps. In an effort to ensure that our ministries, our educational and arts programs, our HK Farm Project (etc.) are able to flourish we’ve embarked on architectural and financial feasibility studies. Copies of the architect’s report are in back. If you’d like to know more about this effort please speak to one of the pastors. Opportunities to be engaged in the financial feasibility will be coming up again soon.

Meals and Desserts for LSEP Desserts and meals are needed for RMM’s life skills empowerment programs. If you would like more information about serving in this way, email livingwell@rmmnyc.org. We still need meals for the following dates: April 11, 24, 25, May 1, 2.

If you need assistance, please find the staff member wearing a black polo shirt.

This Week’s Host: Brooklyn Lovelace This Week’s Deacon: Vadim Yakshov This Week’s Usher: Connie Brown

Coming Up April 12, 13 SGTC Presents Next Fall April 13 HKFP Season Opening April 14 Palm Sunday April 18 Maundy Thursday April 19 Good Friday April 21 Easter Sunday April 22 Earth Day April 26-28 Alliance of Baptists

Gathering May 5 Cecelia Stearman in Concert June 8 Gene Bolin Memorial