CENTRAL TIME
Curious. Caring. Classic.
Spartanburg's First Church, Founded 1837

We welcome everyone to join in worship
through our live stream Sunday mornings
at 9:00 am on the church's Facebook page.
You can also find the service at a later time
on the church's website. 
Due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases, we will continue worshipping outdoors at 9:00 AM. We will worship between the parking garage and the Education Building around the portico. We will provide some chairs, but please feel free to bring your own chair.
The Servant Leader
by Tom Norrell

Like you, I watched as a white police officer shot an unarmed African-American man in the back seven times. I then saw the sad but understandable rioters response. Domestic violence and suicide is rising in the pressure cooker of COVID-19. Isolation and unemployment remind ourselves that Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers." The peace Jesus was referring to is of course the Hebrew notion of "Shalom." We translate Shalom as the word peace, but it means much more. Shalom or Peace is not just the absence of war. Peace is the absence of violence. It is also inner peace and a broad justice that makes for peace. The word "maker" in peacemaker implies that peace is something we must do rather than a state of nature that we seek. Here are a few suggestions I would like to offer to help you live in Shalom and be a Shalom maker:

INNER PEACE

1) Seek integrity. Integrity simply means matching your words to your actions or living by the code of ethics you profess. The first big step is to actually develop a personal code of ethics. Write down five commandments for moral living and place them in your wallet or purse. You'll find yourself reading them over and over again.

2) Learn to forgive yourself. This is not easy to do but we do need to let go of past sins for which we have been forgiven by God, long ago.

3) Make and take time to reflect on your life, to think and to make short term plans. Thinking and being are as important as doing.

AVOID VIOLENCE

4) Vow never to strike or harm another person except to defend the lives of others.
5) Enforce a "no raising of voices" rule in your home, car and office.
6) Reconcile with any family member with whom you have disagreements or hostility. This is especially important with your parents.
7) Write letters to your enemies in which you ventilate your anger completely. Burn the letter, don't send it!

(to be continued next week)

Order of Worship for Sunday, August 30, 2020

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Lectionary: Exodus 12:1-14; Gospel of Matthew 18:15-20

Paige M. Wolfe, Liturgist Tom Norrell, Preacher

Vocal Quartet
Anna Neely, soprano Sarah Monroe, alto
Keith Jones, tenor Al Jeter, bass

Greeting and Announcements
Prelude
Introit

Call to Worship:
Minister: This is the day that the Lord has made.
People: We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Minister: This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh.
People: And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: and whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
 
Opening Prayer

Confession of Faith:

We believe in the one God, creator and sustainer of all things, the source of all goodness and beauty, all truth and love.

We believe in Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh, our teacher, example, and Redeemer, the Savior of the world. 

We believe in the Holy Spirit, God present with us for guidance, for comfort, and for strength.
We believe in the forgiveness of sins, in the life of love and prayer, and in grace equal to every need.

We believe in the Word of God found in the scripture, tradition, reason and experience.

We believe in the church, we who are united in the living Lord for the purpose of worship and service.

We believe in the reign of God as the divine will realized in human society, and in the family of God, where we are all brothers and sisters. 

We believe in the final triumph of righteousness and in the life everlasting. Amen. 

 
Old Testament Lesson: Exodus 12:1-14
*Gospel Lesson: Matthew 18:15-20

Pastoral Prayer: The Lord's Prayer

Anthem: Draw Us In the Spirit's Tether - Harold Friedell
              
Sermon: Higher Ethics by Tom Norrell, Pastor
 
Response to the Word:
O God, be with us when conflict occurs. Cause us to listen in the context of your forgiving love. Change our perceptions. Change our behavior. Amen.

Benediction
Choral Response
Postlude: Brian Dailey, pianist  


*Please stand for the reading of the Gospel.
__________________________________

You are invited to join the Upper Room Sunday school class on
Sunday mornings at 10:30 AM on Zoom. If you want to join, click
the link below and enter the meeting ID and password!


Meeting ID: 815 9104 7549
Password: 778963
Meditation in Central Park
August 30, 7:00 PM
Feeling stressed about the virus and its health, economic and social effects? Join John Simmons at 7:00 PM on Sunday in Central Park for a time of meditation and mindfulness activity designed to deal with stress. There is room to practice social distancing. John is certified as a Mind Body Skills Trainer by the Center for Mind Body Medicine in Washington DC. In the past 12 years, John has led dozens of workshops using mindfulness to help cancer patients, patients with chronic pain, patients with post traumatic stress disease and people with varying degrees of anxiety and mild to moderate depression. There will be no fee and no meditation experience is required. The experience will be open to anyone.
Handbell Choir
Central's handbell choir, the Carillon, will start rehearsals again on Wednesday, September 9 at the usual time - 6:20 PM. Tables have been set up so that each ringer will be at least six feet away from every other ringer, and wonderful music is already waiting in the folder.

Handbell folks are already used to wearing gloves, so now we'll add masks to our equipment! Please wear your personal mask to rehearsal. If anyone has questions about rehearsal times or handbell ringing in general, please call Al Jeter at 585-7308.

Fall Schedule
September 14-November 6



Lucy Woodhouse, Director

Save the Date!
(special offering) September 13, 2020
OPEN DOORS FOR CHILDREN IN NEED Epworth Children’s Home goes above and beyond providing food and shelter for children who have experienced abuse, neglect and tragedy. It provides children with tutoring, counseling, health care, fun activities, and the spiritual formation they need to heal and gain a sense of belonging. Through the ministry of Epworth Children’s Home we open our doors to these children, surround them with comprehensive care and provide them with the opportunity to transform their lives. On Sunday, September 13th our congregation will stand with Epworth to break the cycle of abuse, neglect and shame through our collection of the Annual Epworth Work Day Offering. Without the support of churches like ours, Epworth could not provide transformational care for children in need. We invite you to give generously to the children who call Epworth home. For more information, please visit Epworth on the web at www.epworthchildrenshome.org. 

Prayers and Concerns
Eric Guest - SRMC - member of Elaine and Andy Crosland's family
Martha Hardin - White Oak Nursing Home
Jennie Montgomery - SRMC - recovering from surgery on August 25
Becky Smith - scheduled for surgery today
Kathy Worley -recovering from surgery (home)
COVID-19 Office Hours
Monday-Wednesday: 9:00 AM-Noon
Friday: 9:00 AM-Noon
Telephone (864) 582-7263  Fax 582-6944
Tom Norrell, Senior Pastor (864) 384-2779
Paige M. Wolfe, Minister of Christian Ed. and Programs  (864) 710-7363
August Birthdays
27 Elaine Crosland
30 Paul Wood; Tyler Wyatt


SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS
 
2- Betsy Bragg, Monnie Cannon
3- Bob Monson
5- Elaine Cabaniss, Emily Rawlinson
6- Sarah Harrelson, Jack Lawrence, Edith Rowell, Molly Wilkes
7- Doris Greene, Jack Williams
9- John Harrelson
10- Sheri Johnson, Kevin Parris
12- Deb Morrow
13- Erin Hurlbert
16- Joy Spencer
17- Robby Crocker, Julie DiMarco, Clelon Milner
19- Geneva Aycock, Helen Sloan
21- Thomas Diangikes
26- Sue Lowe
27- Rosa Senn
 
MEMORIALS August 23, 2020

To Drew Lands by Bill Fitch, Fred and Lucy Herren, Gladys Hudgens, Al Jeter, Sam and Joy Knight, Sue Lowe, Keith and Louise Parris, Bob and Sue Perrin, Jim and Jane Proctor, Wes and Jeannette Robison, Helen Sloan, The Upper Room Sunday School Class

To Allison Ratterree by The Mary-Martha Circle, Janet Wilson

To Faye Smith by Janet Wilson

Central Time August 26, 2020
Curious. Caring. Classic.
Spartanburg's First Church, Founded 1837
Please text “Central” to
(864) 661- 4726 if you would like to
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