Greater Providence Baptist Church 2000 Milton Road ~ Charlotte, North Carolina 28215(704) 532–6228 www.greaterprovidence.org ~ [email protected] Reverend Fred Gibson, D. Min., Pastor 2015 Church Theme: “Grow Beyond Where You Are” 2 Peter 3:18 (NKJV) February 1, 2015 8:00 & 11:00 A.M. “The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works” (Ps. 145:9). No gift of ours, O God, can begin to compare with the gift of Your son, our Lord, yet we dare to bring with love our offerings and thank You for every gracious gift that blesses our lives. Amen. *The Great Thanksgiving “All things come of Thee O Lord; and of Thine own have we given Thee.” Amen. Holy Communion Sunday The Inspirational Selection Sacred Music The Prelude The Processional *The Invitation to the Offering – Leader *The Offertory Music ORDER OF SACRED WORSHIP Worship Leaders: Ministers & Deacons THE AFFIRMATION OF GIVING THROUGH TITHES AND OFFERINGS *The Offertory Prayer – Leader and Congregation Color: Green THE AFFIRMATION OF GOD THE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY GHOST *The Invocation – Leader Leader: No one but You, our God, can mend our hearts and strengthen our resolve. No one but You can help us see Your salvation. Come, Holy One! Come, Hope of Zion! Come! Receive our worship! Come! Hear our prayers! Come! Answer and save! Come! We are waiting! Come! Hear our hearts’ cries! Come! We are ready! Come! We are waiting! Come! Amen. *The Call to Worship Leader: We come this morning seeking healing, so we bring You our pain. People: We come this morning seeking comfort, so we bring You our disease. Leader: We come this morning seeking peace, so we bring You our conflicts. People: We come this morning seeking forgiveness, so we bring You our sins. ALL: We come to You, O God, who makes a way out of no way. We come seeking to be in Your presence one more time. Take away our sadness and give us Your joy. Amen. *The Call to Confession – Leader Dear Lord, even as now we are justified by Your grace as a gift, even as there is redemption in Christ Jesus, even as You provided atonement for sin by Your blood, even as we are justified by faith in Jesus Christ. *The Confession – Leader and Congregation We have failed to love all of God’s children, including ourselves. We have failed to accept the beautiful blue-black, chocolate, honey-colored, caramel, beige, caféau-lati, yellow, vanilla, and white colors that You have given to all of Your people. We have failed to love our kinky, nappy, crinkly, curly, and straight hair. We have refused to see Your Spirit in others, whether through round, slanted, almondshaped, black, brown, green, or blue eyes. Forgive us of our shortcomings. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. The Hymn of Assurance #477 “Lift Every Voice and Sing” *The Church Covenant *The Prayer of Thanksgiving and Confession *The Prayer Response The Musical Rendition The Concerns of the Church/Recognition of Visitors #94 “Near the Cross” LEADER: As we come to the Lord’s Table, let us come with a spirit of humility and penitence. PEOPLE: Compassionate God, have mercy on us we pray. LEADER: Let us examine ourselves: our thoughts, our actions, our motives, and our attitudes toward others. PEOPLE: O Holy God, have mercy and forgive us our shortcomings. LEADER: Help us to remember our responsibility to our families and our neighbors, our stewardship to You, and the work You have given to our hands. PEOPLE: O Living God, we stand in need of Your grace, strength, and mercy. LEADER: As we eat the bread, which represents Your body, which is the True and Living Bread, open our eyes to recognize the intimacy that You yearn to share with us. PEOPLE: O Loving God, teach us to love You above all else. *The Living Word LEADER: As we prepare to drink the wine, which represents Christ’s bloodshed for us, we thank You for the new covenant, “Love ye one another,” which is written on our hearts. Let us rejoice because our names are written in heaven. The Music of Invitation #211 “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” *Holy Communion (The Lord’s Supper)* The Music of Praise *The Invitation/Altar Call Leader: The Lord is with thee. People: The Lord is with our members in healthcare facilities, recovering at home, and those needing continued prayer. The Lord is with all of us as we pray. ALL: Abide in us, Savior and Redeemer. Fill us with the life-giving power of Your Spirit now and forever. Amen. Church Covenant *The Ordinance of Communion LEADER: Depart to Serve *Ushers and Worshipers please DO NOT walk during this time. Close the doors. Blessings In Giving “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35(b)) When we give sacrificially above and beyond what is comfortable and easy, we are expressing our faith and trust in God to provide for us and our family. God expects a continuation of giving even if we are absent for some reason. We are trying to assist you in this effort to support GPBC. You can pay your tithes/offerings on the church website. Go to: www.greaterprovidence.org, scroll down to donations and complete the financial giving form. Thanking you in advance. Pastor Gibson Three RESPONSE: We do now in the presence of God, angels, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ. We engage, therefore, by the aid of The Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge and holiness; to give it a place in our affections, prayers, and services above every organization of human origin; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrine. LEADER: Ways of Joining Our Fellowship If at some point, you are led to join us, membership may be obtained the following ways: By Baptism: This applies to new converts who join the church and have never been baptized. It also applies to persons of another faith who have not been baptized by immersion. By Letter: If you currently belong to a Baptist church in the CharlotteMecklenburg area, North Carolina, or out of state, you may join by asking your current church to write us a letter indicating your membership and baptism by immersion. By Christian Experience: If you belong to another church in the CharlotteMecklenburg area, North Carolina, or out of state, you may join by Christian Experience if you were baptized by immersion to indicate your acceptance of Christ. Counselors are available after service to explain the plan of salvation and how you can accept Christ through this church. Why Do We Celebrate Black History Month? Black History Month is celebrated in the month of February all over America. Carter G. Woodson, a historian and professor established the Negro History Week in 1926 to commemorate the efforts and work of African Americans to the American society. In 1976, the revelry was extended for the entire month and celebrated all over America. Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of The Father, and of The Son, and of The Holy Spirit. To contribute cheerfully and regularly as God has prospered us, towards its expenses, for the support of a faithful and evangelical ministry among us, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel throughout the world. In case of difference of opinion in the church, we will strive to avoid a contentious spirit, and if we cannot unanimously agree, we will cheerfully recognize the right of the majority to govern. RESPONSE: We also engage to maintain family and secret devotion; to study diligently the Word of God; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintance; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be kind and just to those in our employ, and faithful in the service we promise others; endeavoring in the purity of heart and good will towards all men to exemplify and commend our holy faith. LEADER: We further engage to watch over, to pray for, to exhort and stir up each other unto every word and work; to guard each other’s reputation, not needlessly exposing the infirmities of others; to participate in each other’s joys, and with tender sympathy bear one another’s burdens and sorrows; to cultivate Christian courtesy. RESPONSE: To be slow to give or take offense, but always ready for reconciliation being mindful of the rules of the Savior in the eighteenth chapter of Matthew, to secure it without delay; and through life, amid evil report, and good report, to seek to live to the glory of God, who hath called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. ALL: When we remove from this place, we engage as soon as possible to unite with some other church, where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word. Amen. GET UP, GET DRESS, SHOW UP AND NEVER GIVE UP! FREE CLASSES – Alpha Fitness will start February 2nd, at 6:45 p.m. (Mondays only – ages 13 & up). FEBRUARY The Leadership for Women Ministry invites all women to our first book discussion in 2015 on “Don’t Die In The Winter: Your Season Is Coming” by Dr. Millicent Hunter on Saturday, February 7th at 12:00 p.m. in the Lower Fellowship Hall. Chapters discussed will be Introduction and Chapter 1. Our Facilitator will be Sister Deborah Lewis. The First Responders Ministry in collaboration with the Community Blood Center of the Carolinas will host a Blood Drive on Sunday, February 8th from 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. in the lower parking lot. Please sign up to donate on the list posted on the table in the hallway. For all individuals signing up to donate, your name will be entered for a chance to win a pair of movie tickets or a $25.00 gift card. Please see Deborah Lewis or Wanda Clark for more information. One unit can save many lives! It’s that time again for the Valentine’s Day Gala on Saturday, February 14th. This is a family fun event. Join us for food, music and fun in the Family Life Center from 5:00–7:00 pm. Please register to attend on the sign-up sheet on the table in the hallway outside the sanctuary or contact Gena Hoursey for more information. Show your love. If you have a picture of you and your sweetheart, a young loving family or of a younger you, and would like to share it with the congregation, please submit it for the Valentine’s Bulletin Board. 2 rd 3         4 th 5 th                                       th th 8 th 9 10 th 11 th Please notify the church office, Gene Bennett or Justina Smith during bereavement, sickness and hospitalization of our members. 12 th Sincere Sympathy and prayers are extended to Johnny Nicks and the Massey family in the loss of his brother, John Massey. The Homegoing Service was held Friday, January 30th, in Rock Hill, SC. 13 th 14 A. Pastoral Care – Members in Healthcare Facilities Jessie Coles @ Willow Grove; Mary Cromedy @ Brookdale Cotswold on Randolph Road; Rosa Meeks @ Presbyterian-Main; Clarence Black @ Golden Living Center, 2616 E. 5th St., Rm 120 15 Please come out and join the combined choirs of Greater Providence and Mayfield Memorial as they participate in the Toyota fan experience gospel showcase which will be held on February 26 at 8:00 p.m. at the Charlotte Convention Center. (All choirs please come to rehearsal on Feb. 17 & 19 at 7 p.m. – GPBC.) BEREAVEMENT, ILLNESS OR HOSPITALIZATION th C. Pastoral Continued Prayer Sisters: Laverne Anderson, Barbara Avery, Roberta Ballard, Sheryl Best, Dorothy Blackmon, Regina Blackmon, George & JoCarol Boyd, Shirley Caldwell, Catherine Cheek, Vera Clyburn, Joyce Culbreath, Cassandra Daniels, Jolene Davis, Laura Faison, Linda Fersner, Bobbie Floyd, Brenda Ford, Barbara Forston, Christine Fox, Doris Garnett, Dorothy Garnett, Lillie Garnett, Shirley Jackson, Annie Jones, Elizabeth Jones, Yvonne Leake, Alberta Lewis, Lorene Mackey, Aleatha Mason, Anna Mayers, Ola Mae McCoy, Juanita McRae, Shari Mobley, Laurancene Murphy, Arlene Overton, Daisy Perry, Pamela Perry, Mary Pillsbury, Geneva Pitts, Dorothy Reese, Mary Ann Sea, Iashia Simmons, Denise Summers, Geraldine Thomas, Eleanor Tribbett, Elizabeth Wade, Marva Waller, Natalie Wheeler, Brenda Wilson, Barbara Wise and Fifi Wright Brothers: Timothy Beamer, Clarence Black, Larry Boston, TC Cannady, Tim Ewing, Daryl Feimster, Floyd Ford, Fred Ford, Ricky Garnett, Lexie Houston, Randy Houston, Hubert King, Kenneth Locke, Howard Lue, Weldon Meeks, Samuel Overton, C. N. Parrish, Eric Pinckney, Harold Reese, Sr., William Waller and Frank Ware th th 16 th 17 B. Pastoral Care – Members Recovering at Home Sisters: Min. Deborah Cuthbertson, Lola Harris and Jackie Simmons Brother: Lawrence Holder Worship Leaders: February 8 – Deacons & Trustees (Color: Green) nd 6 th 7 The Toddler Group of the Youth Ministry will be collecting new gloves and mittens today until Sunday, February 15, 2015. These items will be donated to A Child’s Place. Please support us in our outreach project by placing your donations in the box in the vestibule. Please see Wanda Clark if you have any questions. th 18 th Alpha Fitness – 6:45 p.m. (Free) Intercessory Prayer Ministry – 7:00 a.m. Sr. Aerobic class, FLC – 9:00 a.m. PAC – 5:45 p.m. Youth Choir – 6:15 p.m. MEC – 7:00 p.m. Brotherhood Choir – 7:15 p.m. Rehearsal for the Black History Museum will be held in the Chapel after the Youth Mass Choir rehearsal for youth, teens & adults. See Donna Scott for more information. Hour of Power – Noon Bible Study – 7:00 p.m. Yarn Crafters – 10:30 a.m. Church Choir – 7:00 p.m. MEC – 7:00 p.m. Room In the Inn – 6:00 p.m. Women’s Bible Study – 12 Noon – Lower Fellowship Hall Hymn Choir – 12 Noon First Responders Blood Drive – 10:30 a.m. – Lower parking lot Intercessory Prayer Ministry – 7:00 a.m. Hampshire Hills – 6:00 p.m. Alpha Fitness – 6:45 p.m. (Free) MEC – 7:00 p.m. Intercessory Prayer Ministry – 7:00 a.m. Sr. Aerobic class, FLC – 9:00 a.m. Youth Choir – 6:15 p.m. MEC – 7:00 p.m. Brotherhood Choir – 7:15 p.m. Hour of Power – Noon New Members Class I – 6:30 p.m. Bible Study – 7:00 p.m. MLK Film for Youth – 7:00 p.m. Yarn Crafters – 10:30 a.m. MEC – 7:00 p.m. Room In the Inn – 6:00 p.m. Senior Missionaries – 10:00 a.m. SAMSON Ministry – 10:30 a.m. Valentine’s Day Gala – 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. (FLC) Marriage and Singles Enrichment Sunday Black History Play – 3:00 p.m. President’s Day – Church Offices Closed Sr. Aerobic class, FLC – 9:00 a.m. Rehearsal for All Choirs – 7:00 p.m. MEC – 7:00 p.m. Hour of Power – Noon Ash Wednesday New Members class II – 6:30 p.m. Bible Study – 7:00 p.m. Pastor Gibson’s birthday February Theme: “History Repeats Itself” – Ecclesiates 1:9 “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” Suggested Dress Attire for February nd 2 Sunday – Farming attire (jeans, shirts, straw hats, skirts, aprons, head wraps) rd 3 Sunday – 1950’s, 60’s, 70’s attire (hats, gloves and those fine Sunday dresses and suits) th 4 Sunday – “My Soul Looked Back and Wondered” (Your Sunday best mixed with red tie, hat, gloves, shoes, etc.) Greater Providence Baptist Church 8:00 and 11:00 A.M. Worship Services Sunday, February 1, 2015 “Grow Beyond Where You Are” 2 Peter 3:18 THE OFFICIAL CHURCH COLORS Red symbolizes the Holy Spirit White symbolizes purity and righteousness The GPBC Mission Statement Affirming the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, in the Church and Community through preaching, teaching, worship, fellowship, and service.