First Baptist Church847 Cleveland Street Greenville, South Carolina 29601-4495 (864) 233-2527 www.firstbaptistgreenville.com

A Community of Believers. Each Member A Minister.Sunday morning worship service broadcasts:

WLFJ-AM 660 and FM 92.9

www.firstbaptistgreenville.com/watchlisten-live/

Links to view or listen to previous services are also available.

© 2017 First Baptist Church, Greenville, SC (all rights reserved)

Mary Carol AndersonYouth and Recreation

Bootie CothranMedia and Technology

Jim DantSenior Minister

Vivian HamiltonMusic and Worship

Priscilla HarrisChildren’s Music

Amy JoyeYouth Music

Jenna ManningChurch Operations

Dewanda MartinFirst Baptist Day School

Kyle MatthewsWorship Arts

Juli MorrowPreschool

Rosemary NewFirst Baptist Day School

Kendra PlatingPastoral Care

Becky RamseyChildren

Matt RollinsSpiritual Formation and

Outreach

Frank A. SmithNeighborhood Partnership and Christian Fellowship

Kathy StewartFirst Baptist Day School

Laura StoutMissions

Looking AheadSeptember 17, 11:30am

Church Conference with Youth Fundraiser Baked Potato Bar (Fellowship Hall)

September 17, 4:00pmVocare (Choir Room)

September 17No Sunday Night Live for Youth

September 19, 9:00amRoadrunners to Lunch at Dillard

House in Helen, GA

September 19, 12:00noonHop On Hop Off Tour of the Bible

(Fellowship Hall)

September 20Wednesdays at First Activities

September 23, 10:00am-12:30pmSpiritual Enrichment Event: Living

Your Faith 24/7 (Parlor)

September 24-30Senior Adults Travel to New

England

September 24, 9:00-10:15amBreakfast for New Members

(AYMC Lobby)

September 24, 10:30am (Fellowship Hall)

Acolyte DedicationBibles to Third Grade ChildrenJim Dant, Proclaimer

September 24, 3:00-5:00pmRob Welborn Seminar: High

School Seniors Essay Workshop

September 24, 4:00pmVocare (Choir Room)

September 24, 5:00-7:00pmSunday Night Live for Youth

September 26, 12:00noonHop On Hop Off Tour of the Bible

(Fellowship Hall)

September 27Wednesdays at First Activities

September 29, 5:30-9:00pmChildren’s Ministry Event: Denver

Downs

September 30, 2:00pm and 7:00pmGreenville Symphony Orchestra

Spotlight Series in Fellowship Hall (ticketed event)

Preston Cline and Sam Union are the acolytes today.

The South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Dr. David Hamilton, is our guest group of musicians. SCGSAH is a public, residential high school offering complete arts and academic curricula for gifted students from across the state. The SCGSAH Wind Ensemble offers students an opportunity to study and perform music written for large and small combinations of woodwind, brass and percussion instruments. The Wind Ensemble has presented concerts around the state performing at the Peace Center in Greenville, the Brooks Center in Clemson, the Verne Smith Auditorium at Greenville Tech, as well as other venues. In 2002 and 2003, the Wind Ensemble performed for President George W. Bush on his visits to Greenville, and in 2001 received the Concert Achievement Award from the S.C. Band Directors Association. The ensemble performs works from the standard repertory, spanning a period from the sixteenth century to the present.

Teresa Gray is the deacon providing the offertory prayer today. Teresa and her husband, David, are members of the Rose/Grace Class and are parents of two children, Ashley and Clark; a son-in-law, Alan Godwin; and a grandson, Holden.

The flowers in the Sanctuary are given in loving memory of Henry and Ruth Little by their family.

Musical selections today include: “Christ the Way of Life Possess Me” with lyrics by Timothy Dudley-Smith and music by K. Lee Scott, words © 1993 Hope Publishing Co. and music © 2005 Oxford University Press, Inc.; and “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” arranged by Mack Wilberg, © 1998 Oxford University Press, Inc.

The Creation artwork on display in the Narthex was painted by our preschool children. The prayer of confession is attributed to the U.N. Environmental Sabbath Program. The scent on the orders of worship is an essential oil, Sacred Mountain Oil (blend of Spruce, Ylang Ylang, Fir and Cedarwood). “The three conifer oils in this blend have been traditionally used by the North American Indians symbolically to represent the umbrella they create in protecting the earth and bringing energy in from the universe. At night, the animals in the wild lie under the trees for the protection, recharging, and rejuvenation the trees bring to them.” (Taken from The Reference Guide for Essential Oils App, © 2016 Abundant Health, LLC)

September 17, 2017

Ten Thirty O’clockChurch Conferenceand

Baked Potato Barfollowing worship

Financial Needs as of 9/16$1,778,849

Receipts as of 9/6$1,560,387

*Please stand as you are able. Please silence all electronic devices.Please contact an usher for a hearing aid receiver or magnifying glass.

Words of Welcome

Prelude “In Yonder Valley” arr. Frank Ticheli

Prayer for Worship Kendra Plating

O Giver of Life, we lift our hearts in love and praise. Open our hearts and minds that upon hearing your word today we may, as a garden after rain, bloom and flourish, sharing our bounty with your world. Amen.

*Processional Hymn 243 PERFECT LOVE “Hope of the World”

Welcome of Worshipers Jim Dant

Words of Dedication

Family Dedication

Jessie and Matthew Cobb with Savannah

Musical Offering “Take This Lovely Flower” arr. Frank Ticheli

Words of Faith

Old Testament Lesson Jeremiah 29:4-7 Kyle Matthews

Page 639 of the Bible in the pew rack

Call to Prayer “To You All Hearts Are Open” John Tirro

Please remain seated as you sing.

Sermon Creation and the Cross

Words of Commitment

*Invitation Hymn 185 HYFRYDOL “I Will Sing the Wondrous Story”

*Invitation to Offering Teresa Gray

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all their host by the breath of his mouth. He gathered the waters of the sea as in a bottle; he put the deeps in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of [God]. (Psalm 33:6-8)

Musical Offering “Simple Gifts” arr. Frank Ticheli

Introduction of New Members

Service and Fellowship of the Church

*Doxology (hymn 32) LASST UNS ERFREUEN

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below;

Alleluia! Alleluia!Praise God above, ye heav’nly host;

Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost.Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Words of Blessing

*Benediction

*Choral Benediction Response K. Lee Scott “Christ the Way of Life Possess Me”

Postlude “Shaker Dance” arr. Frank Ticheli

Our Service of Worship has ended.Our Worship through Service begins.

Prayer of Confession

We have forgotten who we are. We have alienated ourselves from the unfolding of the cosmos.

We have become estranged from the movements of the earth. We have turned our backs on the cycles of life.

We have sought only our own security, we have exploited simply for our own ends, we have distorted our knowledge, we have abused our power.

Now the land is barren, and the waters are poisoned, and the air is polluted.

Now the forests are dying, and the creatures are disappearing, and the humans are despairing.

We ask forgiveness. We ask for the gift of remembering. We ask for the strength to change.

Pastoral Prayer

*Children’s Hymn “We Utter Our Cry” LYONS

Hymn is printed on inserted page.

Children’s Sermon Becky Ramsey

Recognition of First Grade Children

Choral Worship arr. Mack Wilberg “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”

New Testament Lesson Revelation 22:1-2

Page 1008 of the Bible in the pew rack