Martin First United Methodist ChurchWorshipping, Nurturing, & Serving

Third Sunday of Lent

March 24, 2019

Entrance

Gathering with Welcome and Prelude The Lord’s Prayer

Hymn Amazing Grace

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Opening Prayer

Apostles Creed

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Act of Praise Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me

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Time with the Children

Parable of Fig Tree by S. Parkes Cadman Proclamation

Prayer for Illumination

First Readings Isaiah 55:1-9 (CEB) All of you who are thirsty, come to the water!Whoever has no money, come, buy food and eat!Without money, at no cost, buy wine and milk!Why spend money for what isn’t food,    and your earnings for what doesn’t satisfy?Listen carefully to me and eat what is good;    enjoy the richest of feasts.Listen and come to me;    listen, and you will live.I will make an everlasting covenant with you,    my faithful loyalty to David. Look, I made him a witness to the peoples,    a prince and commander of peoples.Look, you will call a nation you don’t know,    a nation you don’t know will run to you    because of the LORD your God,    the holy one of Israel, who has glorified you.

1 Corinthians 10:1-13 (CEB) Brothers and sisters, I want you to be sure of the fact that our ancestors were all under the cloud and they all went

through the sea. All were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. All ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. They drank from a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.  However, God was unhappy with most of them, and they were struck down in the wilderness.   These things were examples for us, so we won’t crave evil things like they did.  Don’t worship false gods like some of them did, as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink and they got up to play.  Let’s not practice sexual immorality, like some of them did, and twenty-three thousand died in one day. Let’s not test Christ, like some of them did, and were killed by the snakes.   Let’s not grumble, like some of them did, and were killed by the destroyer.  These things happened to them as an example and were written

Seek the LORD when he can still be found;    call him while he is yet near.Let the wicked abandon their ways    and the sinful their schemes.Let them return to the LORD so that he may have mercy on them,    to our God, because he is generous with forgiveness.My plans aren’t your plans,nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.Just as the heavens are higher than the earth,    so are my ways higher than your ways,    and my plans than your plans.

as a warning for us to whom the end of time has come. So those who think they are standing need to watch out or else they may fall. No temptation has seized you that isn’t common for people. But God is faithful. He won’t allow you to be tempted beyond your abilities. Instead, with the temptation, God will also supply a way out so that you will be able to endure it. Hymn I Love to Tell the Story 156 (8:30)

Jesus So Lowly 10:50 Chancel Choir

Gospel Reading Luke 13:1-9(CEB) Some who were present on that occasion told Jesus about the Galileans whom Pilate had killed while they were

offering sacrifices.  He replied, “Do you think the suffering of these Galileans proves that they were more sinful than all the other Galileans?  No, I tell you, but unless you change your hearts and lives, you will die just as they did.  What about those eighteen people who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them? Do you think that they were more guilty of wrongdoing than everyone else who lives in Jerusalem?  No, I tell you, but unless you change your hearts and lives, you will die just as they did.”

Jesus told this parable: “A man owned a fig tree planted in his vineyard. He came looking for fruit on it and found none. He said to his gardener, ‘Look, I’ve come looking for fruit on this fig tree for the past three years, and I’ve never found any. Cut it down! Why should it continue depleting the soil’s nutrients?’ The gardener responded, ‘Lord, give it one more year, and I will dig around it and give it fertilizer. Maybe it will produce fruit next year; if not, then you can cut it down.’”

Sermon The Game Changer Bryant Fisher

Prayers and Intercessions

Thanksgiving and Communion

Invitation and Confession:Let us confess our sins before God and one anotherAlmighty God, our heavenly Father, we have sinned against you, through our own fault, in thought, and

word and deed, in what we have done and in what we have left undone. For the sake of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, forgive us all our offenses; and grant that we may serve you in newness of life, to the glory of your Name. Amen Silence, followed by words of assurance.

The Great Thanksgiving p. 17

Sending Forth

Hymn

Just as I Am,

Without One Plea

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Blessings and Postlude

DISCOVERY 2019

DID YOU KNOW: The Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper raised $450 for the 2020 Louisiana Mission Trip. Thank you to all who attended!

Discover God’s Love through the Church (that’s us)

Thank you for giving of your time, your talents and your support for this life changing weekend for 110 youths. Thank you, Father, for your amazing grace.

INTERCESSORY PRAYER CONCERNS: Ongoing Concerns: Virginia Clendenin, Irene Harper, Marilucile Counce, Alan Moody, Patsy Coates, Norma Holbrook, Dale Overton, Neil Rawls, Lloyd King, Bea Mohler, Bob Peeler, Richard Maloan, Gordon Morris, Bob Smith, Jill Brigance, Kit & Tom Haynes, Billie Sue Walker, Kathy Prewett, Ann Wall, Daryl Byford, Angie Farmer, Lloyd Duncan, Laura Jo Hurst, Gail Yates, Bishop Bill McAlilly and Superintendent Cynthia Davis.Friends & Relatives: Freda Bolding’s mother; her sister, Vicki; and niece, Elishia Brandon. Vicki & Hal Greer & the Greer Family. Dale and Nancy Overton’s son, Tommy. Angie Damron’s son and Dawne Belote’s brother, Steve Damron. Mack Thornton’s brother-in-laws, Butch Henley, Lynn White, John Kinzel and Steven Ratliff, and sister-in-law, Linda Cushman. Phil Wade’s and Debbie Jorge’s father, Jesse Wade. Erica Bell’s father, Don Griffin. Romona Bell’s great niece, Samantha Angerbrant, Peggy King’s friend, Leslie Justice. William Solomons’ daughter, Angie Stickles. Janice Merryman’s cousin, Paul Blankenship. Courtney Williams. Gracie Davidson. Peggy King’s son-in-law, George Frels. Justin Crice’s grandfather, Mike Bradford. Frank and Norma Holbrook’s daughter, Holley Cochran. Jeff Stockton’s friend. Becky Tofte. Lori Manley’s father, Charles Abbott. Steve & Bea Mohler’s daughter-in-law, Heather Mohler. Bill Stepp. Ben Luca. Jenise Butler’s cousin, April. Susan Parr. Camille Legins’ father.

Thank YouTo Our Church Family, We want to express our sincere appreciation to all our church family for the cards, calls, text messages, and food you have sent our way for the past two months; but most of all the prayers that were given to God for George’s healing. Thank you to the Prayer Shawl Ministry for the warm and beautiful blue prayer shawl. May the grace of God shine on each of you.

Madelyn & George Pritchett

Thank you to everybody that sent cards, brought food and asked my son, Bobby, how I was doing. I appreciate each and every act of kindness that has been done for me. Sue Wright

I would like to thank the church for the pretty and very useful prayer shawl. Also thanks to everyone for the prayers, cards, calls, and visits during my time of surgery and rehab. It means a lot to have friends behind you in a time like this. Thanks again to everyone for everything. Jerry Brigance

Thanks to everyone for your prayers, visits, phone calls, cards and especially the great food since Neil has been sick. Please continue to pray for him as he continues to improve. God Bless. Neil and Jane Rawls

Serving in March

Offering Steward: March 24: Richard Griffin & Larry Snider/Jerry Crosser & Mike Maloan Communion Servers: Sandra Powell, Frank Black, Gayle Cooper, Walter Sanders, Kevin Hamilton, Les & Lynn MacDiarmidMeal Ministry: Claire Schuster, Kris Moore, Kim Turner and Sheila Burlison Shut In Visitation: Methodist Men Shawl Ministry: Alicia Pinto & Carla Field Nursery Workers: Magen Beard, Michaela Johnson, Hallie ButlerChildren Greeter: Madelyn & McKensie Babb & Cothron PlunkAcolyte: David & Will Ary

Calendar for March 24-30Sunday, March 24 5:30 UMYF at Dairy QueenMonday, March 25 Weakley County Schools Spring Break 10:00 Single Bible Study, Lunch & Program 6:00 10:50 Choir RehearsalWednesday, March 27 9:30 Bazaar Committee/Banner Room 7:00 Time for Poetry with Anna Clark Spring Break No FMF

Mark Your Calendar:Sun. March 31 2 p.m. Discussion of General Conference Sun. April 21 EasterSun. April 28 Mad Hatter Tea Party Sat. May 4 Church Wide Yard SaleSat. May 18 Church Wide Work Day

Memorials & Honorariums Honoring and remembering those we love…

Congo Scholarship Fund in memory of Mary Lee Cannon Children’s Library in memory of Bob & Betty CheesemanKDO Scholarships in memory of Marilyn FelkeyMusic Program in memory of Paul SmithParsonage Fund in honor of Madelyn & George Pritchett, Jim & Dee Cannon Project 20/20 in honor of Jane & Neil RawlsProject 20/20 in memory of Anne Johnson, Mildred Bolding ROOTS & SEEDS Fund in memory of Bob & Betty Cheeseman Youth Fund in memory of David Robert Cannon, Mildred Bolding

Children’s Chat with Jennifer VincentHours: Mon., Tues. & Wed. 8-2

Children’s Library– Lent & EasterThe Frightening Philippi Jail in memory of Doyle Taylor Sims; God Chose You in memory of Betty Bell Wright; The Legend of the Easter Robin in memory of Richard Nelson

We rejoice with Daniel and Courtney Baker and their family upon the birth of Maverick Daniel Baker last Wednesday.

Orchestra Rehearsal will take place 2:00 p.m. on Sundays, April 7 & 14.

Adult Program News: Kathy Smith Office Hrs: Mon. & Wed. 8-5 & Tues.8-4

Monday, March 25 10am Single Bible Study, Program with Bob Peckham & Lunch in Fellowship Hall

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH225 Main Street Martin, TN 38237

www.martinfirstunitedmethodist.org Office: 731-587-2689 Randy’s cell 731 332 2649 www.adminassist@martinfumc.org Pastor: Reverend Randy CooperChildren’s Min. Dir., Office Mgr. Jennifer VincentAdult Ministry & Financial Secretary: Kathy SmithYouth Minister: Bryant Fisher Administrative Assistant: Judy MehanKids Day Out Preschool Director: Suzanne PelrenMaintenance Supervisor: Ken HoganMusic Coordinators: Justin Little & Chrissy Hamilton8:30 Chancel Choir Dir.: Chrissy Hamilton10:50 Chancel Choir Dir. Robert MancusiOrganist: Justin Little

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS: Monday-Thursday: 8-12 & 1-5 pm

WORSHIP with Us Sunday Mornings: 8:30 & 10:50 am Sunday School: 9:45 am

A Christ-centered people whose mission is

Kids’ Day Out Director, Suzanne PelrenHrs.: Tues & Thurs. 8:00 – 2:00

Spring has sprung and the Kids’ Day Out children and staff members could not be happier! The cold, wet winter kept us in a great deal and we finally got to play on the playground this week. We were able to utilize the Fellowship Hall and basketball court during those yucky months, but there is nothing like climbing on the equipment and running in the playground grass. Thank goodness for sunshine to brighten our days and dry up the ground!