Sunday, June 7, 2020
ANNOUNCEMENTS

Our next “car church” will be Sunday, June 14 at 9 am, weather permitting, and will include the option of lawn seating for those who feel comfortable being outside their cars. Please bring your own blanket/chairs. We will continue to honor social distancing.

The men's Monday morning breakfast group has resumed on Mondays at 7:30 am on the patio of the Longleaf Golf Course clubhouse . The current study is James Bryan Smith's "The Good and Beautiful Community." If you are interested in joining the group, please contact Chip Burroughs at burrodl78@gmail.com.
PRELUDE

"Italian Hymn"
Darlene Skinner
SILENCE

Set a timer for 5 minutes and use a breath prayer.
On the inhale, mentally say: “Let me be born...”
On the exhale: “…anew.”
OPENING WORD (John 3:8-9)

[Jesus said,] “ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?”
OPENING HYMN

"Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty"
Torin Wright & Darlene Skinner
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,
only Thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
perfect in power, in love and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea,
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity.
SPECIAL MUSIC

“Holy is the Lord"
Tory Wright & Darlene Skinner
OFFERING

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son. We rejoice that we are heirs of this great gift. Out of gratitude for all God has given us, we in turn give back to God’s world around us. Click here to offer your efforts toward building up our community, and also consider giving financially online or by mailing a check to the church.
SECOND SONG

“Draw Me Close"
the Connections Praise Band
SCRIPTURE LESSON
John 3:1-17

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

MESSAGE

"So Loved God the World"
by Pastor Sarah
CLOSING HYMN

"Wonderful Words of Life"
Torin Wright & Darlene Skinner
Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life;
let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life;
words of life and beauty teach me faith and duty.

Refrain: Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.

Christ, the blessed one, gives to all wonderful words of life;
sinner, list to the loving call, wonderful words of life;
all so freely given, wooing us to heaven. Refrain

Sweetly echo the gospel call, wonderful words of life;
offer pardon and peace to all, wonderful words of life;
Jesus, only Savior, sanctify forever. Refrain
CLOSING PRAYER
Lord, we ask for your help.

Help us renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of our sin.

We thank you for your freedom. Help us accept the freedom and power you give us to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves.

Lord Jesus Christ, we confess you as our Savior. Help us put our whole trust in your grace. We promise to serve you as our Lord, in union with the Church, which you have opened to people of all ages, nations, and races.

Let our eyes be opened to our own inner violence and our need for your healing, even as it makes us terribly uncomfortable. Let your peace replace the anxiety that lives within us and comes out of us in defensiveness and quick judgments. Bind us together in a harmony only you could bring. Thank you for your beautiful Body, made up of many members, all united under one Head. We submit to your headship and leadership now and always. Amen.