Mt. Hope United Church of Christ

2400 Mt. Hope Church Road, Whitsett, NC 27377

Office: 336-697-1561 - Fax: 336-697-1449

Rev. J. Lloyd Spencer, Pastor

Phone: 336-420-6030 (cell); 336-447-4169 (home)

E-mail: jlspencer1@triad.rr.com

Church Email: mthope@triad.rr.com

Church Website: www.mthopeucc.com

Mt. Hope United Church of Christ at Worship Fourth Sunday after Epiphany 11:00 a.m. Service January 31, 2016

Silent Reflection: What does commitment require of us? We never really know, but there will always be a

cost to committing ourselves to something important.

*Prelude

Bring In The Light

Welcome and Announcements

*Choral Call to Worship “Sanctuary”

Lord prepare me

To be a Sanctuary,

Pure and Holy,

Tried and True;

With Thanksgiving,

I'll Be a Living

Sanctuary

For You.

*Congregational Call to Worship Leader: We have come to seriously consider the message of Jesus.

People: We claim that he really makes a difference.

Leader: Listen to the message of Jesus. Consider the message of Jesus. Let the message of Jesus make

a mark on our lives as we come together.

*Prayer of Understanding (In unison): We come today as we do so many other days. Often we wonder

if this day will be any different. In our hearts we remember the words and deeds of Jesus but too

often they remain Jesus’ words and deeds. Help us understand what those words and deeds mean

to us. Help us understand what they can mean to others. We know in our hearts that once we

understand there can be no turning back. Jesus’ words and deeds are meant for our lives. Our

prayer is that our hearts and souls are truly penetrated by the power of Jesus’ message. This is

our prayer for the sake of Jesus’ ministry. Amen.

*Hymn (in back of bulletin) “Joy Has Dawned”

*Passing the Peace

Children’s Moment

Prayers of the People – A Pastoral Prayer – The Lord’s Prayer (debts)

Dedication of our Gifts, Tithes and Offerings to God

Offertory

Doxology “Give Thanks”

Prayer of Dedication

Reading of the New Testament Revelation 2: 9-11 Connor Chapmon

Anthem

Reading of the Scriptures Genesis 12: 1-5 Devin Knowles

Sermon

*Hymn # 677 (GH) “They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love”

*Benediction

Choral Benediction “Threefold Amen”

*Carrying the Light to the World

*Postlude

*Indicates “please stand” for those who are able.

Opportunities for Worship and Service

Today, January 31

9: 45 a.m., Sunday School

11: 00 a.m., Worship

Monday, February 1

9: 00 a.m., Quilters meet

Tuesday, February 2

7: 00 p.m., Good Earth Garden Club

Wednesday, February 3

6: 45 p.m., Handbell Choir Rehearsal

7: 30 p.m., Choir Rehearsal

Thursday, February 4

6: 30 p.m., Creative Worship Team Meeting

7: 00 p.m., Meals4Kids Volunteers

7: 00 p.m., High Lonesome Strings Jam Session

Sunday, February 7 – Collecting for Greensboro Urban Ministry

9: 45 a.m., Sunday School

11: 00 a.m., Worship

Monday, February 8

9: 00 a.m., Quilters Meet

7: 00 p.m., Music & Worship Ministry Team Meeting

Tuesday, February 9

1: 30 p.m., Willing Workers Circle Meeting

7: 00 p.m., Mary/Martha Circle Meeting

Wednesday, February 10 – Ash Wednesday

7: 00 p.m., Ash Wednesday Service

Choir Rehearsal following the service

Thursday, February 11

7: 00 p.m., Consistory

Welcome to our Visitors: We extend a special welcome to those of you who are visiting with us today. If

you are visiting for the first time we would ask you to fill out a visitor’s card located in your pew and place

it in the offering plate as it passes. If you would like for our pastor to call upon you, do indicate that request

as well. Do know that we are blessed by your presence here today! We hope to see you again next Sunday!

Nursery Workers for January 31st Christina Oliver Dorie Whitman

Greeters for January: January 31 Bob and Dottie Deeter

Garden Club: The Good Earth Garden Club will meet Tuesday, February 2nd, at 7:00 here at the church in

the new fellowship hall.

Music and Worship Team: The Music and Worship Ministry Team will be meeting on Monday, February

8th, at 7: 00 p.m. in the choir room.

Communion: We will be observing the sacrament of Holy Communion on Sunday, February 14th.

Greensboro Urban Ministry: We are collecting for Urban Ministry on Sunday, February 7, and again on

February 14th. May God bless as you give to this much needed ministry.

The Creative Worship Team (CWT) wants to thank everyone who has been reading scriptures during the

11 o'clock worship services. Also, we want to thank everyone who will read scriptures in the future! We

hope you are finding this to be a meaningful experience!

February scripture readers include:

February 7: Jeff and Sue Holt

February 14: Dottie Dexter and Pat Huizinga

February 21: Lorie Arrington and Brenda Currie

February 28: Bill and Elizabeth Craft

The CWT has something new to share with you that we are very excited about! It will be a great

addition to our services! We will reveal the new part of the service on February 7th, so hope you can be

there!

Youth Fundraising: We still have 26 old hymnals if anyone would like to purchase one. They are $5 each.

Also we still have a few Mount Hope T-shirts left. 1 small, 1 medium and 4 large shirts, they are $15 each.

Please see Gloria Apple. Thanks for supporting the youth.

Condolences: Our Christian sympathies go out to the Pat Levens on the death of her sister, Rachel

McFarland, and also to Rocky Royal on the death of his brother, Clem. Please keep both of these families

in your prayers.

Condolences: Our prayers and sympathies also go out to the family of one of our life-long members,

Howard Lambert, who went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, January 26th. Howard was a faithful and

well-loved member and will be greatly missed. His funeral service was held on Friday and he was buried

here at the church cemetery. Please keep the family in your prayers at this time.

Thank you: Thanks so much to my church family for the loving support you have given me and my family

the past few months. Your thoughts, prayers, cards, calls & generous assistance were very much

appreciated. Love, Betty Tucker

Soup Fundraiser: Boy Scout Troop 365 is having their annual soup fundraiser. Proceeds help send the

boys to camp and other expenses throughout the year. To place your order for the vegetable meat soup at

$6 per quart, please see Colby Arrington, Wade Greeson or Josh Apple. Soup will be made on February 5th

and pick up will be February 6th at Mount Hope Church. Thank you for your continued supporting of

Scouting!

Spring Gathering 2016, Creating a Welcoming Community: Hosted by the Western NC Association.

March 5, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at Mount Tabor UCC, 1002 E Holly Grove Rd., Lexington, NC

27292. Clergy, lay people and youth are invited to this educational opportunity focused on creating a

welcoming community within our Association, member churches, and communities. The cost is $5/person

or $20/group of 5 people. See the flyer posted in the breezeway for more details. Registration forms are

available in the church office. Registration deadline is February 19th.

The Howard Coble Center for Special Needs Open House: Come see what we’re all about! We welcome

all families who have children with sepcial needs to preview our center. February 13th – floating – 4:00 –

8:00 p.m. Who we are: A commujnity-based youth recreation program designed to benefit young people

from 5 – 19 years old with varying abilities and special needs. The program is free of charge and is fully

supported by donations and contributions of local citizens, civic and religious organizations, and business

partners.

Quilt Show: The Alamance Piecemakers Quilt Guild is having a quilt show at the village of Brookwood.

Dates are January 27 – January 31. Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday through Saturday and 1:00

p.m. – 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. No charge for admission. There is a boutique, demonstrations, quilting bee and

voting for viewers’ choice. If you have any questions, contact Cynthia Morris.

The “Mosiac Memories Cross” has been completed and the Photo Book of each piece will

be located in the parlor. Please go by and take time to write about the piece you gave or just

go and look at it. There are a lot of great stories in it. Thanks to everyone that gave pieces

for it and helped with this project.

The Mosiac Cross will be displayed soon. We are in the process of getting glass to cover it

to protect the items in it.

Collecting the following Items to put in “care packages”

for the Homeless:

(Updated 1/4/16)

Toothpaste Toothbrush

Bar of soap Small deodorant (men’s)

Wash cloth Small package of baby wipes

Lip balm Socks (men’s)

Bottle water

Quart Size Zip Lock Bags (to separate hygiene items from other items)

Gallon size Zip Lock bags (to place all items in)

Snack bar (ex: pack of nabs, pack of peanuts, trail mix, beef jerky, pudding cups, apple sauce, etc.)

Specialty item for the Month:

February – Travel mugs

Distribution:

This is an on-going project.

Distribution will be during 9:30 – 10:45 am, on the last Sunday of each month.

12/27/15 32 bags

1/31 /16 50 bag goal

Thank you for your support!

Youth Coordinators for project:

Emily Smith Karly Smith Ashlyn Chapmon

Health Care Center

Ashton Place Evelyn Neese

Clare Bridge (Burlington) Helen Whitesell

Clapps Nursing Center Coy Amick (# 703) Clapps Nursing Center Robert Ingold

Emeritus Mary Frances Jones Golden Living Center Melvin May

Greensboro Retirement Center Denny Ingold

Murdoch Center Dreama Greeson

Ralph Scott Home Betty Kim Settlemyre

Mt. Hope Military Connections

Scott Amick Kyle Gerner

Christopher Bahleda Grant Harden

David Blakesley, Jr. Jenny Hartney

Jason Cherry Richard Hartney Michael Clapp Clint Moore Timothy Coble Megan Moore Blake Craft Lance Rettinger Dr. Charles Ellis Chris Shepherd Josh Ellis Ken Thompson

Members

Cleo Barker Betty Neese

Tim Craven (leukemia) Ray Neese, Sr. (home)

Cindy Hamlett Nancy Phipps

Joe Hughes (surg. 1/25) Diz & Doris Reece

J.W. Johnson Carol Sawyer

Betty Kime Irene Sharpe

Karen Kirkman J.R. Shoffner

Priscilla Lowe Fred & Helen Smith

Pat Levens Rev. Spencer

Linda May Doris Walsh

Robert Mellinger Jim Wimbish (home)

Nancy Wimbish

Friends & Relatives

Curtis Connor-surgery-husband of Shirley Connor

Dylan & Abby Greeson – nephew & niece of

Christina Oliver

Lynn Hale – grandmother of Kate Craft

Kirby Hart –MCH- stroke – husband of Bertie

Larry Johnson - cancer - father of Dana Johnson

Kim Loftis – cancer – friend of Bob & Dottie

Deeter

Ruth Moore – Aunt of Brenda Currie

Tonya Nesbit – friend of Karen Kirkman

Rosa Sawyer– mother of Janet Ellis – Moses Cone

Kim Shoffner – daughter of J. R. Shoffner –

Randolph County Rehab

Mary Simmons – cancer – friend of Patsy

Moore and Becky Stafford – Home

Bruce Tanner – lymphoma – friend of Bill &

Elizabeth Craft

Jeff Tucker – cancer – son of Betty Tucker

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Choir Director / Organist Tim Hucks

Sound Bennie Gerner/Byron Greeson