Pentecost

Lord, the Pentecost story falls on our ears as such a peculiar story! And we confess that our reaction convicts us. We know too little about being filled with the Spirit, and do not trust ourselves to be recipients of such a holy gift. Offered a vision of your heavenly glory, we prefer what is earthbound and familiar. Inspired, we too quickly fade. Lifted up, we want to stay put. Blessed ourselves, we resist the responsibility of being a blessing to others. Entrusted with your gospel, we are too timid to testify. Forgive us, we pray, and give us the time and courage we need to fully amend our lives.

Assurance of Pardon

All Stand

Passing of the Peace: …I beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling… eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called into the one hope… one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all… Ephesians 4:1-4

All Sit

Following the children’s time, those in K-3^rd grade may recess down the aisle to meet their Children’s Church leaders.

O Spirit of the Living God, true Light and Fire divine, descend upon the church once more, and make it truly Thine. Fill her with love, with joy and power, with righteousness and peace, till Christ shall dwell in human hearts, till sin and sorrow cease. Blow, Wind of God, with wisdom blow until our minds are free, free us from the clouds of doubt which blind our eyes to Thee. Burn, Holy Fire, inspire our lips with flaming love and zeal to preach to all the great good new, God’s glorious love reveal. Teach us to speak Your living word of truth that all may hear the language all may understand when love speaks loud and clear, till those of every age and race shall blend their creeds in one, and earth shall form one family by whom God’s will is done. Amen. –Henry H. Tweedy (1868-1953)

We trust in God the Holy Spirit,
      everywhere the giver and renewer of life.
   The Spirit justifies us by grace through faith,
      sets us free to accept ourselves and to love God and neighbor,
      and binds us together with all believers
      in the one body of Christ, the church.
   The same Spirit
      who inspired the prophets and apostles
      rules our faith and life in Christ through Scripture,
      engages us through the Word proclaimed,
      claims us in the waters of baptism,
      feeds us with the bread of life and the cup of salvation,
      and calls women and men to all ministries of the church.
   In a broken and fearful world
   the Spirit gives us courage
      to pray without ceasing,
      to witness among all peoples to Christ as Lord and Savior,
      to unmask idolatries in church and culture,
      to hear the voices of peoples long silenced,
      and to work with others for justice, freedom, and peace.
   In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit,
       we strive to serve Christ in our daily tasks
       and to live holy and joyful lives,
       even as we watch for God's new heaven and new earth,
       praying, Come, Lord Jesus!

WELCOME VISITORS! We invite you to pick up a Visitor’s Packet on your way out, either in the narthex or on the table on the right in the downstairs entrance hall. Ushers will be standing by to help you find them. Always know that a cordial greeting is extended by ministers, officers, and congregation.

Brass/Woodwind Ensemble: Alto Saxophone-Bradley Thomison, Clarinet-Lydia Suh,

String Ensemble: Violin- Hannah Suh, Alex Oldham, Deborah Flynn, Jennifer King, Priscilla Suh, Samuel Kernohan, Viola-Ruben Flynn, Cello-Lydia Suh

DEACONS OF THE WEEK this week will be Herb Simmons and Jean Harris. Deacons assist the Pastors in caring for our congregation. You may contact them through the church office: 843-4707.

FLOWERS AT THE COMMUNION TABLE are given to the glory of God and in memory of Joan Lundahl Goodwin by her children and grandchildren.

BETWEEN WORSHIP SERVICES TODAY punch and cookies will be served in Fellowship Hall in honor of Pentecost.

NEW ADULT CLASSES The Old Testament from Scratch in Fellowship Hall: This class provides an overview of the Hebrew Bible which allows us to put stories of the Old Testament together to see the “big picture” of salvation history. Also, The Interaction of Science and Religion Through the Centuries in the Conference Room: A DVD-based course with classes lead by Dr. Dudley Bryant (physics), Dr. Rodney King (biology), and Dr. Warren Campbell (civil engineering) who will provide some scientific context for each lesson.

SIGN-IN SHEETS IN PEW PADS are vitally important in the ministry of this church. Please do not forget to sign your name, address and any change in phone number or e-mail address. Also, be certain that a visitor on your pew is given the opportunity to sign so that the office may send a welcoming letter.

LECTIONARY FOR NEXT SUNDAY, May 18: Genesis 1:1-2:4a; Psalm 8:1-9; 2 Corinthians 13:11-13; Matthew 28:16-20.

THE YOUTH GROUP WILL NOT BE MEETING today. We will resume next week with visiting artists Angie Alexieff, Rita Rudloff, and Susan Webb. We will be working on pieces for the Youth Art Show opening in September in our Fellowship Hall. Come prepared to be messy! We will meet at our usual time, 5-7pm in the youth room. Dinner will be served. Bring a friend!

Morning Prayer will continue held each Friday at ten in the morning in the 10^th Street Parlor. We will use two different kinds of prayer practices that we have been/will be learning together: Lectio Divina and Centering Prayer. If you are new to these ancient spiritual practices you are not alone—this is a brand new thing to most of us. Come and learn and grow closer to God through prayer. Hot tea will be served and candles lit!

CIRCLES The SUNDAY MORNING CIRCLE will meet today, May 11 at 9:45am. CIRCLE 9 will meet at 11:30am on Monday, May 12^th at the home of Sandy Franklin. Please bring a salad.

PRAYER SHAWLS The Prayer Shawl Ministry group will meet on Monday, May 12 at 10:00am in the Tenth Street Parlor. This will be the last meeting until the fall. All are welcome to attend.

GRADUATES Is there is a member of your family who is graduating this spring? Please send in information to the church office (name, school, photo if available) so that we may recognize him/her later in the month.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL JUNE 8-12^th This summer, June 8-12, our church will once again join with Christ Episcopal Church to create a Vacation Bible School Holyland Adventure for the youth of our community. Our church is hosting VBS this year, and many volunteers are needed. To learn how you can contribute to this exciting learning experience for our children, please contact VBS Director, Rebecca Simpson, by email at simpsonrebecca@bellsouth.net, or by phone at 796-4953. Shalom!

TEACHER TRAINING There will be a training meeting for Summer Sunday School teachers on Sunday, May 18th at 11:00am in the Conference Room. All Summer Sunday School teachers (K-5th grade) should attend. Childcare will be provided.

SIGN UP FOR MONTREAT A group is going to Montreat, North Carolina July 12-19^th. We have our own house and still a few spots available. Registration is confirmed with a $100 deposit. All rising 9^th graders through graduating 12^th are encouraged to participate in this memorable experience.

WHEN YOU LEAVE ANY ROOM in our church which has a sink, please make sure all faucets are turned off. This past Saturday a faucet was found running in the restroom on the top floor. (Faucets have been found left on before as well.) This not only increases our utility bill but could cause substantial property damage if a sink would overflow. Thank you for being extra attentive.

On Election Day (Tuesday, May 20^th) we will be having a VBS meeting in the Fellowship Hall at 11:30 a.m. Child care will be provided. Please feel free to bring your lunch. Tea, milk, and juice will be available. Please e-mail Rebecca Simpson if you have any questions: simpsonrebecca@bellsouth.net

Presbyterians DO care for God's creation!! We have sold 88 shopping bags with 82 more bags ordered. That makes a total of 170 bags made and bought by the members of our church. We will not be selling bags today but they will be available next Sunday May 18th for those who have previously ordered. Many thanks to our dedicated sewers---Jean Harris, Pat Reid, Vera Gramling, Lee McMichael, Karen Siedler, Linda Seagle, Winkie Huddleston, Cathy Reynolds, Sue Bryant, Hope Richards, Nancy Keyser, Nancy Moore, Ginger VanNess, Jan Campbell, Shirley Schoen and Susan Webb.

HOST FAMILIES NEEDED Senior High Mission Week is coming up June 2-6. It will be five days and four nights packed with lots of fun, mission work, and fellowship. Youth Groups from all over the Presbytery will be here. Terry Shoemaker from HOTEL INC (and better known for starting Upward Bound) and Laura Goodwin are planning lots of exciting opportunities. Rising 9^th –graduating 12^th graders are welcome. We are asking families to host kids in their homes. If you are interested, please email Laura Goodwin @ Lauragoodwin5@gmail.com, to see how you can plug in to the this exciting event.

ART TIMES THREE – A new exhibit in Fellowship Hall opened Friday, May 2, 2008 and features works by well-known Bowling Green artists, Colleen Hathaway, Marsha Heidbrink, and Delaire Rowe. The exhibit includes a wide variety of media from non-traditional quilts to mixed media and collage.

PRESCHOOL LEARNING CENTER NEWS! We still have a few spots available in our classes for the 2008-2009 school year. If you know a family looking for a quality Christian preschool experience for their child, please have them call Linda Hollifield at 746-0313 for more information.

Calendar of Events

Sunday, May 11

8:30 a.m. Worship

9:30 a.m. Pentecost reception

9:45 a.m. Sunday School

9:45 a.m. Sunday Morning Circle

11:00 a.m. Worship

5:00 p.m. Rainbow Ringers

Monday, May 12

10:00 a.m. Prayer Shawls

11:30 a.m. Circle 9

7:00 p.m. English Country Dancing

Tuesday, May 13

9:30 a.m. Staff Meeting

11:00 a.m. Special Care

12:00 p.m. Presbyterian Women Luncheon

5:00 p.m. Worship Ministry

6:00 p.m. Property Ministry

Wednesday, May 14

7:00 p.m. Chancel Choir

Friday, May 16

10:00 a.m. Morning Prayer

5:30 p.m. Girls’ Bible Study at the Suh home

Pastor	Dr. Matthew W. Covington
Associate Pastor	Beth Walden-Fisher
Director of Music	David Paul Gibson
Interim Director of Youth Ministries	Laura Goodwin
Organist	Thomas N. Moody
Administrator	Richard Barefoot
Treasurer	Steve Moore
Secretary	Cheryl Gregory
Director, Preschool Learning Center	Linda Hollifield
Custodians	Cedric Whitney
Sunday Sexton	Ruben Flynn

Gathering Around the Word

Striking of the Hour

Opening Hymn 426 Lord Speak to Me CANONBURY

Assurance of Pardon

All Stand

Passing of the Peace: …I beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling… eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called into the one hope… one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all… Ephesians 4:1-4

All Sit

Calendar of Events