We are honored you have chosen to join us in worship. There is a time in our service when we will welcome guests; we will not, however, ask you to stand, raise your hand or do anything that makes you feel awkward. We would like to know you were here, however. Please fill out the information request below and place it in the offering plate or hand it to an usher or minister. We promise to use it only to contact you about our church.

This is my (our)…

___ First visit to First Baptist Church

___ Second (+) visit

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Children at Home (Name/Age/Grade)

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___ I am new to Rome.

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about First Baptist Church.

___ I would like to talk with a minister.

___ I would like to know how to become a

Christian. ___ I am a guest of:

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Sunday, January 24 8:00 a.m. COVID Task Force - Zoom 9:00 a.m. Scrap Iron Broadcast (WLAQ 1410) 9:45 a.m. Virtual Bible Studies Contact Tamara Smathers or John Uldrick for links. 11:00 a.m. Worship 5:00 p.m. Bible Study Teachers Meeting - Zoom

Monday, January 25 FBC Serves Community Kitchen 5:15 p.m. Adult Bible Study Lesson Prep - Zoom

Wednesday, January 27 FBC Serves Community Kitchen 4:45 p.m. First Choice Curbside Meals (Reservation Only) 6:00 p.m. Prayer Time - Zoom Churns Bible Study - Zoom 6:20 p.m. First Choice Seminars “Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White” a book study led by Matt DuVall - Zoom “Setting Goals for Your Personal Discipleship” a small group led by Tamara Tillman Smathers - Zoom

Thursday, January 28 11:00 a.m. Community Kitchen Personnel Meeting - Community Room 5:45 p.m. Women’s Small Group - Zoom

Friday, January 29 FBC Serves Community Kitchen

The flowers in the Sanctuary are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of J.L. and Doris Todd on the occasion of Doris’ birthday by Randy, Amy and Lori Land and their loving grandsons.

FIRST CHOICE SEMINARS - WEDNESDAYS AT 6:15 P.M.

“Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White,” a book study led by Matt DuVall by Zoom meeting ID: 894 8594 6036.

Setting Goals for Your Personal Discipleship, a small group led by Tamara Smathers. Contact Tamara for Zoom access.

2021 YOUTH BBQ SALE Due to COVID precautions, GMC Value Mart will prepare and smoke our BBQ this year. They have prepared all of our meat in the past, and this year they will also smoke it. All orders must be picked up on Friday, February 5 between 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. from the GMC store located in Coosa at 3402 Alabama Highway.

$35 - 1 smoked Boston butt $20 -1 smoked rack of ribs

Tickets may be purchased online only at www.fbcrome.org. If you need assistance placing your order, please call the church office or reach out to a member of the FBC youth group.

Scan this QR Code to order.

VOLUNTEER OPORTUNITY Contact Kristen at kpope@fbcrome.org or text 502.693.5644 if you would be willing to sign up for one or two Sundays to serve in our infant/preschool room during the worship hour. This is an easy and important way to serve our church families!

First Baptist Church, 100 East Fourth Avenue, Rome, GA 30161

Phone: 706.291.6850 Website: www.fbcrome.org

WELCOME

Beloved: A Worship Series

January 24, 2021 11:00 a.m.

To help maintain a spirit of worship, please silence phones. We welcome a larger congregation through

Comcast Channel 44 and through the livestream over the church website and Facebook.

Preservice Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gwen Stephens Chiming of the Hour Prelude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joan Hill

“O God Beyond All Praising”...arr. Charles Callahan (Please use this time to prepare your heart for worship.)

Welcome to Worship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kristen Pope

Christ is calling you as disciples.

Lord Jesus, let us follow You faithfully.

You will be led into fields of mission and service.

Lord Jesus, where You lead us, we will go.

Listen for Christ’s call to you.

We are ready to serve the Lord. Amen.

*Hymn of Praise No. 319. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .LOBE DEN HERREN

“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation! O my soul, praise Him, for He is your health and salvation!

Come, all who hear; now to His temple draw near, Praise Him in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord, who will prosper your work and defend you; surely His goodness and mercy shall daily attend you.

Ponder anew what the Almighty can do, if with His love He befriends you.

Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore Him! All that has life and breath, come now with praises before Him.

Let the Amen sound from His people again; gladly forever adore Him. Call to Confession. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Choral Ensemble

“Where He Leads Me”...E. W. Blandy/J. S. Norris A Time for Silent Confession of Sin

Assurance of Forgiveness (2 Corinthians 5:17-18) Hear the good news: If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: every thing old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, with whom we are reconciled through Christ. Thanks be to God!

wELCOME CHURCH CALENDAR

mailto:kpope@fbcrome.org

*Reading of Holy Scripture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mark 1:14-20 Tamara Tillman Smathers, reader

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good

news of God,

15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come

near; repent, and believe in the good news.” 16 As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother

Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him.

19 As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother

John, who were in their boat mending the nets.

20 Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat

with the hired men, and followed him.

Reader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.

*Gloria Patri (Hymn 704) Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end. Amen. Amen.

Special Music. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brandon Bagley, Music Ministry Intern

“Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore”...Cesareo Gabarain

Hymn of Calling No. 486. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .RESTORATION “Jesus Calls Us O’er the Tumult”

(Children ages four through fourth grade may depart for Children’s Worship.)

Jesus calls us o'er the tumult of our life's wild, restless sea; day by day his sweet voice soundeth,

saying "Christian, follow me."

As, of old, apostles heard it by the Galilean lake, turned from home and toil and kindred,

leaving all for His dear sake.

Jesus calls us; by thy mercies, Savior, may we hear Your call, give our hearts to Your obedience,

serve and love You best of all.

Morning Prayer (with The Lord’s Prayer). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Uldrick 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Musical Offering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Choral Ensemble

“Footsteps of Jesus”...arr. John Carter

Sermon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rev. Smathers “Beloved: Follow”

*Hymn of Commitment No. 474. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . THOMPSON

“Softly and Tenderly”

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, calling for you and for me;

see, on the portals He's waiting and watching, watching for you and for me.

Refrain: Come home, come home; ye who are weary come home;

earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling, O sinner, come home!

Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading, pleading for you and for me?

Why should we linger and heed not His mercies, mercies for you and for me? (Refrain)

O for the wonderful love He has promised, promised for you and for me!

Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon, pardon for you and for me. (Refrain)

*Prayer of Stewardship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Keith A. Reaves

Generous God, we ask You to bless the gifts we give this morning.

Help us follow without looking back so that we might leave behind more of our old lives to experience more deeply new life in You.

Help us to leave our nets on the shore, leave those things that seemed essential before we heard the call, so that we might travel the road You have put before us.

In the name of Christ who goes before us and beside us, we pray. Amen.

Offertory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joan Hill

“If You Will Only Let God Guide You”...arr. Anna Laura Page Meditation Text:

It certainly is a descending road that Jesus asks you to follow, but it seems very important that you do not focus on results, accomplishments or success but first of all on the Lord, who wants you to be faithful even when darkness surrounds you.— Henri J.M. Nouwen

The Work of the Church. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rev. Reaves *Pastoral Blessing Hymn of Commissioning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .AURELIA

God, by Your Holy Spirit, now send us in Your name To serve the lost and outcast, the poor for whom You came. Through gifts of hope and healing, through loving ministry,

May we reach out, inviting the world to "Come and see!" ©2002 Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. Used with permission.

*Postlude. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Joan Hill

“Trumpet Voluntary”…John Stanley

Worship Reminders

For those worshipping in the church building:

Masks must be worn at all times.

Please keep a social distance inside and outside the church building.

For emergencies, restrooms are available in the narthex or by taking the stairs in the narthex to the Fellowship Hall.

An offering will be received at the end of the service. Please bring your offering to the end of your pew and place it in the offering plate as the usher passes your pew.

Listening devices are available for those who have hearing difficulties. See an usher for details.

Joining First Baptist We receive new members in several ways. Those who have never publicly acknowledged Christ as Lord join by public profession of faith. Baptism is scheduled for a later date. Members of other Baptist congregations may transfer their membership to our congregation. We handle the details of contacting your current church. Members of other Christian faith traditions are invited to join by “statement of faith.” Because other traditions vary in belief and practice, those joining by statement of faith are invited to speak with a minister before joining so that they might answer questions.

Children’s Worship Children ages four through fourth grade are invited to Children’s Worship on the second floor of the Education Building. The children return to the sanctuary following worship.

Prayer Concerns (Please place in offering plate or hand to an usher or minister.) ____________________________________ ____________________________________

Matt DuVall, Pastor

Keith A. Reaves Senior Associate/Minister of Worship

Tamara Tillman Smathers Minister of Education/Administration

John H. Uldrick Minister to Students and Missions

Kristen Pope, Minister of Faith Development

Gwen Stephens Ministry Assistant/Interim Pianist

Joan Hill, Organist

A SERVICE OF CHRISTIAN WORSHIP FOR YOUR INFORMATION