May 3, 2020 – LINK TO YOUTUBE CHANNEL

WE GATHER TO WORSHIP

SHARED CONCERNS AND RITE OF CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

THE CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: We are pulled in many directions.People: Many duties and tasks seek to lay claim on our lives.Leader: This day, in this place, let service to God be our choice.People: This day, in this place, we open our hearts and spirits to God.Leader: Blessed be the God of creation who has called us

here.People: Praise be to God who sustains and nurtures our lives. Amen.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION - unisonGod of Israel and God of Jesus Christ, we would not be here if you had not chosen to touch our lives with your love. We cannot hide our wonder that you should choose to enter our world and our lives in person - in Jesus. Yet we confess that we sometimes have trouble in our decision-making when faced with questions of whether we wholeheartedly serve you or not. We are often tempted to put other than you first in our lives, when we are faced, often daily, with choices that affect how we live as your faithful people, choices about how we share the gifts you have given us. Lord forgive us when our choices lead us astray and empower us to faithfulness.

TIME OF SILENT CONFESSIONASSURANCE OF PARDON

WE RECEIVE GOD’S WORD

PRAYER OF INVOCATION

FIRST LESSON: Joshua 24: 14-1814 ‘Now therefore revere the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15Now if you are unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day

whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.’

16 Then the people answered, ‘Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods; 17for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; 18and the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God.’

SECOND LESSON: Acts 17: 1-9 1After Paul and Silas had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three sabbath days argued with them from the scriptures, 3explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, ‘This is the Messiah, Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you.’ 4Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. 5But the Jews became jealous, and with the help of some ruffians in the market-places they formed a mob and set the city in an uproar. While they were searching for Paul and Silas to bring them out to the assembly, they attacked Jason’s

house. 6When they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some believers before the city authorities, shouting, ‘These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, 7and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus.’ 8The people and the city officials were disturbed when they heard this, 9and after they had taken bail from Jason and the others, they let them go.

SERMON: “Drafted” Rev. Jonathan W. Bunker

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Psalm 231 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;he leads me beside still waters;3 he restores my soul.He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil;for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.6 Surely* goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life,and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD my whole life long.

WE RESPOND AND GIVE THANKS

Sacrament of the Lord’s SupperInvitation to the Table

Great Prayer of ThanksgivingLeader: Let us pray. The Lord be with you.People: And also with you.Leader: Lift up your hearts.People: We lift them up to the Lord.Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.People: It is right for us to give thanks and praise.

LORD’S PRAYER (Traditional)Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and glory, forever. Amen.

Words of Institution and Sharing the Bread and the Cup

OFFERING OF TITHES AND GIFTS

PRAYER OF DEDICATIONBENEDICTION

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Cancelation of All Church Activities: In compliance with Governor Northam's stay-at-home order, the Session has canceled all face-to-face activities at the church through June 10th. This date may be revised by further orders issued by the Governor’s Office.

Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper: The Session has authorized the celebration of the Sacrament of Communion in our on-line worship this Sunday, May 3rd. We encourage you to participate. All you will need is some bread (of any description) and some grape juice (though any juice or even water will suffice.) We believe the power of the Sacrament is not in the physical elements but what God’s Spirit does in and through those elements. Together we will eat the bread and drink from the cup of salvation and remember the length our God went to save us. It sounds like a good thing to do at a time like this.

Wednesdays with Jonathan: Wednesday evening Vesper Services will continue this week. Join Jonathan at 7:00 PM on our YouTube Channel for a time of scripture reading and

devotion. We will continue this practice throughout our season of social distancing.

Masks: The CDC is recommending that everyone wear masks when going into public buildings. We want to make sure that all of our members and friends have at least one mask to wear. If you need one please call Jonathan and we will arrange to get you one.

Food Distribution: On May 21 and 22 we are responsible for providing volunteers for the Clarke County Food Distribution. Over the next several weeks we will be collecting medium- to large-size boxes for the packing of food orders. They can be dropped off at the church. We will need volunteers:

Thursday, May 21: In the afternoon the food will be delivered to Duncan and we will meet to unload the food into the church and to pack the food orders.

Friday, May 22: In the morning we will need a smaller number of volunteers to load food orders into recipients’ cars. There will be no person-to-person contact with the recipients. For more information contact Kay Ferrebee.

Backpack Buddy Collection: Thank you to everyone who participated in this month’s Backpack Buddy Collection. Your generosity is making a difference in our community.

Social Distancing and Lunch with the Pastor: I am willing to meet up for a lunch date Monday through Thursday at a time convenient to you. I will have a pizza delivered to your home and one to me and then will call you to chat while you eat yours and I eat mine (it doesn’t have to be pizza). We have to be apart from one another, but that just might mean we have to find new ways to be together. By the way, I have not copyrighted this idea; I encourage you to make it your own. Send a friend a Pizza and when it arrives, give them a call and have a lunch conversation. It’s just one way we can be the church in the midst of this. Let me know if you try it and how it goes.

BPC Social Distancing Family Album: Each week we will be collecting pictures of how members of our Church Family are passing their time in this period of Social Distancing. I hope you enjoy the ones included with this bulletin. I encourage you to take one or two yourselves this week and email them to me at the church so we can include them next week. Please share your Photos. All the pictures we receive are also being placed in a Photo Album on the Church’s Facebook Page.

These Days Devotionals: We have a number of the April-May-June These Days Devotionals available in the Church Kitchen.

Drop by Monday-Thursday between 9:00-3:00 and grab you one. Pass this time of Social Distancing by daily drawing near to the Lord.

Stewardship: In the midst of this crisis Berryville Presbyterian Church stands on the foundation of the congregation’s commitment to faithful stewardship as we seek to minister to the community around us and respond to needs as they arise. The Session recognizes the difficulties of our circumstances but asks that if at all possible, you continue in your support our ministry. Offering donations can be sent to the church P.O. Box (#46) attention of the Treasurer.

Betsy Arnett Betty NovoveskyRobert Cerwinsky Dennis & Anna PayneAnn Godfrey Debra RoganMary Green Joan SchneiderOrra Welsh Andrey SemenyukLynda Aubrey Berenice Schwartzbeck

Cathy Bealor Frank StodolskiApril Brothers Mary StodolskiJonathan Cardi Randy WilliamsEarlene ConeStephanie DulaneyCathy DillowBobby DukeGinny DunnAl Dunsmore MISSIONARIES:Jimmy Fagens Mark Hare & Jenny Bent serving inBob Ferrebee Costa RicaCheryl HockmanRick Jones MILITARY:Jeanie Kaiser Jacob Arthur; Kyle Money;Barbara Leszczynska Maggie Beyer; Jordan Morgan;Janet Light Brooke & Luke Bisig; Bryce MungerLynelle MarpleMia Mazzacolli & TommyChet & Miriam MeyersChloey Neely