Don't forget that 9:30 is our Sunday school, adult group and fellowship time.
Worship starts at 10:45 with a congregational meeting to follow the service. Please join us and invite a friend to come along.

Glor to God Hymnal Project

Good Friday Activity

Mark your calendars now and join us on Good Friday, March 29, 2013, for this year's "walking" Stations of the Cross.

We will begin at noon at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church at 828 Commercial and make our way to Sacred Heart Church at 102 Exchange. It usually takes about an hour to make the walk. We will be praying stations at the courthouse, the county jail, and other locations through downtown. We will pray "Scripture-based" stations. Congregations are invited to come and join us for the walk. Pastors are invited to lead individual stations.

If you are interested in leading any of the stations or if you have any questions, please contact Fr. Rich Warsnak at Sacred Heart Church at richw@sacredheartemporia.org or at (620) 342-1061 x201.

Come Sing Praises to God

This week we will again sing a selection from the soon to be released new Presbyterian Hymnal, "Glory to God."  This week we will sing "Source and Sovereign, Rock and Cloud.  Each verse is about the Triune God. 

We will also have a soloist this week and the children's choir will also be present.

The message will be about the Triune God and our relationship with God through our Baptism and what that meas for our call to Christ's ministry.

Here is the link to the Youtube video:

Scripture Study for Jan 27th Worship

Here are the scripture references for preparation for this week's worship.

First Reading Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10

¹all the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had given to Israel. ²Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month. ³He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law.

⁵And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. ⁶Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

⁸So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

⁹And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. ¹⁰Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our LORD; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

Psalm Psalm 19

¹The heavens are telling the glory of God;

and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.

²Day to day pours forth speech,

and night to night declares knowledge.

³There is no speech, nor are there words;

their voice is not heard;

⁴yet their voice goes out through all the earth,

and their words to the end of the world.

In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,
⁵which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,

and like a strong man runs its course with joy.

⁶Its rising is from the end of the heavens,

and its circuit to the end of them;

and nothing is hidden from its heat.

⁷The law of the LORD is perfect

reviving the soul;

the decrees of the LORD are sure,

making wise the simple;

⁸the precepts of the LORD are right,

rejoicing the heart;

the commandment of the LORD is clear,

enlightening the eyes;

⁹the fear of the LORD is pure,

enduring for ever;

the ordinances of the LORD are true

and righteous altogether.

¹⁰More to be desired are they than gold,

even much fine gold;

sweeter also than honey,

and drippings of the honeycomb.

¹¹Moreover by them is your servant warned;

in keeping them there is great reward.

¹²But who can detect their errors?

Clear me from hidden faults.

¹³Keep back your servant also from the insolent;

do not let them have dominion over me.

Then I shall be blameless,

and innocent of great transgression.

¹⁴Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable to you,

O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

Second Reading 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a

¹²For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — Jews or Greeks, slaves or free — and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

¹⁴Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. ¹⁵If the foot would say,"Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. ¹⁶And if the ear would say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. ¹⁷If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. ¹⁹If all were a single member, where would the body be? ²⁰As it is, there are many members, yet one body. ²¹The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." ²²On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; ²⁴whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, ²⁵that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. ²⁶If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.

²⁷Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. ²⁸And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. ²⁹Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹But strive for the greater gifts.

Gospel Luke 4:14-21

¹⁴Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. ¹⁵He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

¹⁶When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, ¹⁷and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: ¹⁸"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, ¹⁹to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." ²⁰And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. ²¹Then he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

Happy New Year

People will be making New Year's resolutions over the course of the next few days.  Many of the resolutions will have to do with health issues, relationship issues and things to change for the new year. 

Although working toward improvement is well and good, most fail to understand why most resolutions fail.  We tend to be self-centered enough to believe that we can resolve to make the changes without the help of a forgiving savior. 

I would suggest to you that along with making those resolutions, take time to pray to ask God to help you discern the best way to move forward and ask for understanding and guidance as well as strength to be successful at any goal you might establish. 

We will celebrate the new year with the Lord's Supper this Sunday (Jan 6th). We would invite you to join us in worship and the celebration of the gifts that God has given us.

A Prayer for Healing

A Prayer For Healing Posted on December 14, 2012 by Gary Smith God, we have heard it, sounding in the silence: News of the children lost to this world’s violence. Children of promise! Then without a warning, Loved ones are mourning. Jesus, you came to bear our human sorrow; You came to give us hope for each tomorrow. You are our life, Lord God’s own love revealing. We need your healing! Heal us from giving weapons any glory; Help us, O Prince of Peace, to hear your story; Help us resist the evil all around here; May love abound here! By your own Spirit, give your church a clear voice; In this world’s violence, help us make a new choice. Help us to witness to the joy your peace brings, Until your world sings! HERZLIEBSTER JESU: Johann Crueger, 1640 (Ah, Holy Jesus) Hymn text copyright © 1999 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for free use of this hymn in worship.

Seminary Tour

Take a tour of our Presbyterian Seminaries.

Tuesday Stress Reliever

Here's something guaranteed to help get you out of the Tuesday afternoon doldrums.