second the greatest sermon ever
TRANSCRIPT
STAFFDr. Craig Wansink, Senior Pastor cell: 412-7467 [email protected]. Catherine Hart Monroe, Covenant Associate Pastor cell: 287-9897 [email protected] Robert Shoup, Director of Music cell: 739-9444 [email protected] White, Director of Administration, Families, & Youth cell: 615-8728 [email protected] Wansink, Director of Children’s Ministry & Nursery cell: 802-1536 [email protected] Libbey, Facility Manager; Barbara Watson, Housekeeper
7305 Hampton Boulevard, Norfolk, VA 23505 ● (757) 423-2822 ● https://spcnorfolk.org ● www.facebook.com/secondpresbyteriannorfolk Office hours: Wednesdays 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Joy-Filled
Mission-Minded
Second P R E S B Y T E R I A N C H U R C H
Christ centered ● joy-filled future-focused ● mission-minded
If you have a prayer request, please forward the request to the church office. We will include your request on the prayer request list for a month, unless you request for us to leave it on longer.
2021 SPC SESSION AND MINISTRY TEAMSLarry Hull, Clerk of Session
DISCIPLESHIPPeggy Troyer
Lynn RuehlmannClaire Ficker
Kevin Kittredge
MISSION AND STEWARDSHIPElisabeth Sawyer
Alice Allen-GrimesKaren McKinley
ADMINISTRATIONKathy StarkPam Reed
Mark StearnsJay Layne
Katie White
Our pastor since 2010, Dr. Craig Wansink received his Ph.D. in New Testament from Yale University, after having graduated from seminary in Chicago, and having studied at universities in Japan, Jordan, Germany, and Israel. Since 1993 he has been a Professor of Religious Studies at Virginia Wesleyan University, where he also serves as the Joan P. and Macon F. Brock, Jr. Director of the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom. Craig and his wife, Nancy Chapman, have two adult children, Katrina and Teddy.
Rev. Catherine Hart Monroe, our Covenant Associate Pastor for Discipleship & Spiritual Formation, received her M.Div. from Union Presbyterian Seminary. Catherine also serves as the chaplain for University Presbyterian Ministries at Old Dominion University. She and her husband, Chuck, live in Norfolk with their three children, Whitley, Hart, and Alden.
Director of Music Robert Shoup has been active in mission and ministry all of his life, having served congregations of varying denominations in Pennsylvania and Virginia for more than 30 years. He has been the Chorus Master for the Virginia Symphony Orchestra since 1997, and is the founding Artistic Director of The Norfolk Street Choir Project, which involves singers who are or have been affected by homelessness. Bob lives in Norfolk with his son, Benjamin, and his daughter, Ali.
THE GREATEST SERMON EVER
“Seeking First the Kingdom of God”
Second Presbyterian Church, August 22, 2021
We Gather In Christ
“Look and Learn”By Nah Young-Soo, arr. Shoup
CALL TO WORSHIP
Blessed is God, who created us and loves us beyond measure. Blessed is God, who calls us to stop measuring out our love.Blessed is God, who speaks and tells us stories about ourselves. Blessed is God, who reveals to us who we are and who we could be.Blessed is God, whose compassion is poured out on every single person. Blessed is God, who gives us compassion to share. Amen.
Whether we are old or young, whether we are first-time or longtime worshipers,whether we come full of doubts or confidence, joy or sorrow, in this place we all are family, because of what Jesus did for us on the cross.Welcome!
Second Presbyterian Church
We are . . . a family of Christians,
called by God and empowered by the Holy Spirit,to share the good news of God’s grace and love,
to care for one another,and to serve Jesus Christ
in our community and throughout the world.
“Worry is practical atheism and an affront to God.” —R. H. Mounce
As you leave Second, live each day by leaving a meaningful legacy for your life: be rich toward God.
WELCOME
PASSING OF THE PEACE
*SINGING OUR FAITH TOGETHER
“Look and Learn”By Nah Young-Soo (1991)
We Recognize our Need to Grow Closer to God
*CONFESSING OUR SIN
In this world of plenty, Lord God, we have chosen to create lives of poverty: We’ve hoarded our blessings, and we have kept more than our share of abundance. Forgive us.We have denied the goodness that we enjoy, and we have forgotten how to be grateful, making ourselves miserable and hurting others. Forgive us. Remind us, O Lord, of all the good things that we have received. Remind us how to enjoy the blessings we experience. Remind us that giving is a source of pleasure and plenty. Remind us that there can be enough to go around. Teach us to follow Christ in the ways of love, self-giving and compassion. Forgive us for not putting you first. Amen.
*RECEIVING GRACE
In our love for others, we discover God's love for us. In our forgiving of others, we learn once more how deeply God has forgiven us. We are God's children, called to be different, called to act differently, called to live as new people. We are forgiven. Thanks be to God. Amen.
All sing:
Eye has not seen, ear has not heard what God has ready for those who love him;
Spirit of love, come, give us the mind of Jesus, teach us the wisdom of God.
We Hear the Word
TIME OF DISCOVERY/BLESSING OF THE BACKPACKS & WORKPLACE ITEMS
MEDITATION ON THE KINGDOM Adult Choir ensemble
“Seek Ye First”By Karen Lafferty, arr. Douglas Wagner
MESSAGE “Seeking First the Kingdom of God ” —Dr. Craig Wansink Matthew 6:19-34
We Respond in Humility
All sing:
We are many parts, we are all one bodyAnd the gifts we have we are given to shareMay the spirit of love make us one indeed
One the love that we shareOne our hope in despair
One the cross that we bear.
MISSION AND MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
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.
*SINGING OUR FAITH TOGETHER
“His Eye Is on the Sparrow”Text by Civilla D. Martin (1905)
*BENEDICTION
Don’t be afraid. Instead, let your lives be marked by compassion and generosity, sharing what you have been given with those in need, andstoring up your treasure in heaven instead of here on earth. May the blessing of God strengthen you in every good word and deed. Amen.
“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength.” —Corrie Ten Boom
“If it’s big enough to worry about, pray about it instead. Don’t suppress or repress it. Confess it to Him. Worry is worthless.” —Rick Warren
Thanks to Janet, Wendy, Helen, Michael, Jeff, and Joe for leading vocal music in worship today.
“Eye Has Not Seen” and “We Are Many Parts” were written by Marty Haugen