OPEN TO ALL - The 3rd Sunday of Easter | Children's Sabbath The Worship of God - Myers Park Baptist Church
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OPEN TO ALL
THE WORSHIP OF GOD APRIL 25, 2021
The Worship of God
The 3rd Sunday of Easter | Children’s Sabbath
May 1, 2022 | 10:00a
Inspired by the bold and boundless hospitality of Jesus, we are “open to all,” which means we welcome and accept
all people into the life of our Church without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, age, economic status,
political affiliation,
Each physical or mentalincapacity,
person involved leading or religious
worship belief.
today We believe
(ministers andthat God’s call is given
choir)
to all people, and we hasembrace
providedthe Spiritofthat
proof continues
being to cross boundaries
fully vaccinated in order to unite the world.
against COVID-19.
Masks are now optional for worship and in small group
settings for adults. Until notified otherwise, children and youth will be masked
while indoors in their small groups, but masks will be optional for them while outside.
Childcare is available for children ages birth – 5 years. Please see a greeter for more information.
Worship activities for children are available in the Narthex.
During this season of stewardship, the bricks on the altar are a Galeed or “heap of witness” (see Genesis 31:44-
49) testifying to us as a reminder of our covenant vows we have made “to be faithful stewards of our lives and
of this world” and “to nurture this church as a community of faith and as an instrument for reconciliation in
the world: by worship, by Christian education, by the dedication of our personal and material resources.”
Prelude John Richardson, organ
“Air” Gordon Young (1919-1998)
“Praise God” arr. Anna-Catherine Fowler
Children’s Orff Ensemble; Anna-Catherine Fowler, director
Call to Worship Lucy Mae Pearsall
Moment for Stewardship Rev. Carrie Veal
Invocation Lucy Mae Pearsall
*Opening Hymn
“I Sing a Song of the Saints of God” GRAND ISLE
I sing a song of the saints of God, patient and brave and true
who toiled and fought and lived and died for the Lord they loved and knew.
And one was a doctor, and one was a queen, and one was a shepherdess on the green:
they were all of them saints of God, and I mean, God helping, to be one too.
They loved their Lord so dear, so dear, and God’s love made them strong;
and they followed the right, for Jesus’ sake, the whole of their good lives long.
And one was a soldier, and one was a priest, and one was slain by a fierce wild beast:
and there’s not any reason, no, not the least, why I shouldn’t be one too.
They lived not only in ages past; there are hundreds of thousands still;
the world is bright with the joyous saints who love to do Jesus’ will.
You can meet them in school, or in lanes, or at sea, in church, or in trains, or in shops, or at tea;
for the saints of God are just folk like me, and I mean to be one too.
Welcome of Our Guests Claire Mosby
If you are our guest today, please text “guest” to 980.340.8900
so we may offer you our gratitude for joining us today.
*Passing of the Peace
__________________________
*Please rise in body or in spirit. 2
Litany of Family Dedication Rev. Carrie Veal and Rev. Dr. Ben Boswell
Leader: By God’s grace we are given children through the miracle of birth.
May we greet each new child with joy,
and surround them with faith,
so they may experience God’s presence and want to serve God.
People: Never let us neglect children,
but help us to delight in them,
showing them the welcome God has shown us all.
Leader: Parents, in presenting your children to God,
do you promise in dependence upon God’s grace
and with the help of the Church
to teach them the gifts and claims of the Christian faith,
and by prayer, word and example to bring them up
in the nurture, discipline, and instruction of the Lord?
Parents: We do.
Leader: Friends in the household of faith,
I commend to you these families.
Will you covenant to stand with them
in the nurture of these children?
Will you stay constant in their joys and struggles?
Will you do all in your power to make this Church
a true spiritual home for them,
lending them the support of your prayers and your example?
People: With God’s help we will so seek to follow Christ ourselves
that these families will be strengthened and confirmed in their resolve,
and that these children, surrounded by steadfast love,
may be nurtured in the faith and strengthened
in the way that leads to life.
Presentation and Blessing Rev. Carrie Veal
Heather and David Carson bringing Kennedy Carson.
Alice and Brian Cookson bringing Finn Cookson.
Myah and Allen Davis, along with Mileah and Amiya, bringing Asiah Stanford Davis.
Wesley Fowler and Katie Fowler, along with big sister Ebby, bringing Campbell Thompson Fowler.
Laura and Jeff Handler, along with big brother Casey, bringing Max Handler.
Prayer of Family Dedication Rev. Dr. Ben Boswell
God of grace, we pray for these parents,
and for all parents, and for all who parent in the Lord.
Help them to know you, to love with your love,
to teach your truth, and to tell the story
of Jesus to their children
so that your word may be heard.
Bless these children.
Guard them safely through struggles and challenges
that they may live the promises you give.
And keep us with these children
and with all children, ready to listen and to love,
even as in Jesus Christ you have loved us.
In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
3Hebrew Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 6:1-16 (NRSV adapted) Conner Young
Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the ordinances—that the Lord your God
charged me to teach you to observe in the land that you are about to cross into and
occupy, so that you and your children and your children's children may fear the Lord your
God all the days of your life, and keep all God’s decrees and commandments that I am
commanding you, so that your days may be long. Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe
them diligently, so that it may go well with you, and so that you may multiply greatly in a
land flowing with milk and honey, as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised
you.
Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with
all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am
commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them
when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise.
Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write
them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. When the Lord your God has
brought you into the land that God swore to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to
Jacob, to give you—a land with fine, large cities that you did not build, houses filled with
all sorts of goods that you did not fill, hewn cisterns that you did not hew, vineyards and
olive groves that you did not plant—and when you have eaten your fill, take care that you
do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of
slavery. The Lord your God you shall fear; God you shall serve, and by God’s name alone
you shall swear. Do not follow other gods, any of the gods of the peoples who are all
around you, because the Lord your God, who is present with you, is a jealous God. The
anger of the Lord your God would be kindled against you and God would destroy you from
the face of the earth. Do not put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested God at
Massah.
Hebrew Scripture Reading: Isaiah 58:10-12 (NRSV) Preston Barfield
. . .if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your
light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. The Lord will guide you
continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and
you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. Your
ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you
shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.
Leader: For the Word of God in scripture,
for the Word of God among us,
for the Word of God within us.
People: Thanks be to God.
Sermon Anthem Carol Choir and Chapel Choir
“Somebody’s Knocking at Your Door” African American Spiritual
Sermon Rev. Dr. Ben Boswell
“Raise Up the Foundations of Generations”
Invitation to Silent Reflection/Confession Rev. Carrie Veal
Church at Prayer
4The Lord’s Prayer
Our God who is in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your 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 yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Moment for Stewardship Elizabeth Chaplain
Invitation to Offering Rev. Mia McClain
Text giveMPBC to 833.833.3995.
Offertory John Richardson, organ
“Toccatina for Flute Stops” Pietro Yon (1886-1943)
*Presentation of Gifts and the Doxology LASST UNS ERFREUEN
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise God, all creatures, here below. Alleluia. Alleluia!
Praise God above, ye heavenly hosts.
Creator, Christ and Holy Ghost.
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
*Prayer of Dedication Anna Carmilani and Kate Donato
*Closing Hymn
“Rejoice in God’s Saints” OLD 104TH
Rejoice in God’s saints, today and all days!
A world without saints forgets how to praise.
Their faith in acquiring the habit of prayer,
their depth of adoring, Lord, help us to share.
Rejoice in those saints, unpraised and unknown,
who bear some’s cross, or shoulder their own;
they share our complaining, our comforts, our cares:
what patience in caring, what courage, is theirs!
Rejoice in God’s saints, today and all days!
A world without saints forgets how to praise.
In loving, in living, they prove it is true:
their way of self-giving, Lord, leads us to you.
Benediction Rev. Dr. Ben Boswell
Postlude John Richardson, organ
“A Song of Triumph” Oliphant Chuckerbutty (1884-1960)
Following worship today, there will be a Family Social on the playground.
5Leading worship today with Rev. Dr. Ben Boswell, Senior Minister,
are Rev. Carrie Veal, Executive Minister of Community and Engagement,
Rev. Mia McClain, Associate Minister,
and Lucy Mae Pearsall, Conner Young and Preston Barfield, Lay Participants.
Leading worship through music are
Dr. Matt Caine, Minister of Music and Worship,
John Richardson, Organist,
Candace Williamson, Children’s Choir Director,
Anna-Catherine Fowler, Children’s Orff Director,
Emily Urbanek, Pianist,
and the Carol and Chapel Choirs.
In addition, we give thanks for all who have taught music
to our children during the 2021-2022 school year:
Charlotte Judge
Janice Bradner
MaryAnn Largen
Tempie Largen
Ashley Norton
Karen Wielunski
Are you a new member? Are you curious about joining? Trying to discover how to get
involved? You are invited to our 3-session Navigating Series beginning next Sunday,
May 8. Please contact Rev. Carrie Veal to learn more and to register.
The acolytes are members of the Youth and College Ministry.
We give God thanks for the ministry and work of Laura Geer,
Communications Director, who joined our staff on May 3, 2010.
HOW TO JOIN MYERS PARK BAPTIST CHURCH
Becoming a member of Myers Park Baptist is as simple as filling out a Joining Card.
To receive a card or learn more, contact Rev. Carrie Veal at cveal@myersparkbaptist.org.
MOBILE GIVING
You can now text your contributions and offerings to MPBC! It is secure, simple, and efficient:
C Text giveMPBC (not case-sensitive) to 833.833.3995.
C When you receive a message, click on the link provided and follow the instructions.
C You will then receive a receipt to confirm your gift was received. It is that simple!
Questions? Contact Rev. Leigh Anne Hagerman, Church Administrator,
at 704.334.7232 x116 or lhagerman@myersparkbaptist.org
6Blue Tintinnabulum
The banner with bells is called a Tintinnabulum. Created by Beth Resler Walters, a member of the
congregation, it is made of differing pieces of cloth and bells from around the world. It represents
the individuality and harmony of voices around the world ringing out praise of God: Alleluia!
C The Jesus bell is the highest, crystal-clear, with a clapper encircled by fish.
C There are bells from Ireland, Japan and Turkey, among others.
C One holds the scripture “They who wait upon the Lord…”
C One is a large musical eighth note, representing musicians.
C One is a small cowbell, honoring how south Charlotte, even just some 35 years ago,
was farm land, and before that was tilled where SouthPark Mall is now located.
C One has a Muslim medal.
C And one is like the bells given to children on Easter to ring at every “Alleluia.”
We occasionally take photographs during our worship service.
If you would prefer not to be included, please contact
Laura Geer, Director of Communications, at lgeer@myersparkbaptist.org.
Worship Services through May
May 2022
8 | Dr. Jonathan Lee Walton, Dean of Wake Forest University School of Divinity,
preaching
15 | Youth Sunday | 10a in the Sanctuary
22 | Worship | 10a in the Sanctuary | Jazz with Carolina Social Music Club
29 | Worship | 10a in the Sanctuary | Communion
7Our Covenant
We, the members of the Myers Park Baptist Church, are a people on a journey of faith. By
God’s grace we are experiencing love through Jesus Christ and in the community of the
faithful. We are discovering in this experience our freedom to become new creatures and our
responsibility to be faithful stewards of our lives and of this world.
We will be open to all new light, strengthened by God and each other in our faith. We will
sustain a critical examination of Scripture, belief and ritual as interpreters of God’s active
presence in the world. We will accept controversy as a reality of life together and an
opportunity for growth toward maturity. We covenant to be a community of God’s New
Creation and affirm that we are open to all and closed to none.
We covenant together to nurture this church as a community of faith and as an
instrument for reconciliation in the world: by worship, by Christian education, by the
dedication of our personal and material resources and by all the other ways we express the
significance of our lives with God and one another.
We covenant together to be priests celebrating God’s presence in community and in the
world, believing we are participants in God’s kingdom on Earth.
Our Ministers
Rev. Dr. Benjamin Boswell | Senior Minister
bboswell@myersparkbaptist.org
Rev. Joseph Aldrich | Executive Minister of Caregiving & Leadership
jaldrich@myersparkbaptist.org
Rev. Mia McClain | Associate Minister of Faith Formation & Outreach
mmcclain@myersparkbaptist.org
Rev. Carrie Veal | Executive Minister of Community & Engagement
cveal@myersparkbaptist.org
Rev. Tara Gibbs | Minister of Youth & College
tgibbs@myersparkbaptist.org
Rev. Leigh Anne Hagerman | Campus Administrator
lhagerman@myersparkbaptist.org
Dr. Matt Caine | Minister of Music & Worship
mcaine@myersparkbaptist.org
Charlotte Judge | Associate Director of Music
cjudge@myersparkbaptist.org
John Richardson | Organist
jrichardson@myersparkbaptist.org
One License A-729324 | WorshipCast License CCS # WC-12779 | CVLI Video License #504 239 870You can also read
