The

First Baptist Church Henderson, North Carolina

At Worship

SUNDAY MORNING October 4, 2020 ELEVEN O’CLOCK AM

Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost World Communion Sunday

The liturgical color today is green.

Green is the color of growth while the church is on mission during the season of Pentecost.

THE GREETING Kari Martin THE CHIMING OF THE TRINITY THE INVOCATION Mary Jo Wilson THE PRELUDE The Heavens Are Telling Ludwig van Beethoven THE CALL TO WORSHIP Mary Jo Wilson

To your table you bid us come. You have set the places, you have poured the wine, And there is always room, you say, for one more. And so we come. Running, limping, carried, we come. Singing your song in every language, speaking your name in every tongue, in conflict and communion, in discord and desire, we come. O God of Wisdom, we come.

THE HYMN OF PRAISE Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation WESTMINSTER ABBEY

THE PSALTER LESSON: Psalm 19 Tammy Hight

1 The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. 2 Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard; 4 yet their voice* goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.

In the heavens* he has set a tent for the sun, 5 which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, and like a strong man runs its course with joy. 6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them; and nothing is hidden from its heat.

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the decrees of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple; 8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eyes; 9 the fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and drippings of the honeycomb.

11 Moreover by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 12 But who can detect their errors? Clear me from hidden faults. 13 Keep back your servant also from the insolent; do not let them have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

THE CALL TO CONFESSION Tammy Hight

Psalm 23 tells us that God makes a table for us in the midst of our enemies. Yet, we are so often hesitant to sit, scared of our enemies, of our brothers and sisters who we have made into enemies. Here, on World Communion Sunday, we confess our sins together so that we might also sit together at the table of our God.

THE PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Almighty God, mother of mercy, father of grace: You have called us to one table, but we have pursued our own course. You have promised us the abundance of all creation, but in our greed, and in our envy, the world goes without. You have promised us the bread of life itself, but in our pride, and in our arrogance, the world goes hungry. You have promised us the waters of peace and justice, but in our violence, and in our discord, the world goes thirsty. And now we are famished, too, Lord. Have mercy on us. Forgive us, again.

THE ASSURANCE OF PARDON

Hear the good news. God has prepared a place for you at the table. And the table will be wide. And the welcome will be wide. And the arms will open wide to gather us in.

THE PROPHETIC LESSON: Isaiah 5:1-7 Kari Martin

1Let me sing for my beloved my love-song concerning his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. 2He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; he expected it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes. 3And now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. 4What more was there to do for my vineyard that I have not done in it? When I expected it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes? 5And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. 6I will make it a waste; it shall not be pruned or hoed, and it shall be overgrown with briers and thorns; I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. 7For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the people of Judah are his pleasant planting; he expected justice, but saw bloodshed; righteousness, but heard a cry!

THE GLORIA WESTMINSTER ABBEY

THE GOSPEL LESSON: Matthew 21:33-46

33‘Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watch-tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. 34When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. 35But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. 37Finally he sent his son to them, saying, “They will respect my son.” 38But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, “This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.” 39So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?’ 41They said to him, ‘He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.’

42Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the scriptures: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes”? 43Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. 44The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.’

45When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. 46They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet.

THE SERMON Keepers of the Vineyard Ronald Cava

THE CELEBRATION OF GIFTS Amy Russell THE DOXOLOGY Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow LASST UNS ERFREUEN

THE CALL TO PRAYER David Allen THE MORNING PRAYER AND THE LORD’S PRAYER THE MUSIC FOR WORSHIP Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence Brian Henkelmann

Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and with fear and trembling stand. Ponder nothing earthly minded, for with blessing in his hand Christ, our God, to earth descendeth, our full homage to demand.

King of kings, yet born of Mary, as of hold on earth he stood, Lord of lords, in human vesture, in the body and the blood, he will give to all the faithful his own self for heavenly food.

At his feet the six-winged seraph; cherubim, with sleepless eye, veil their faces to the Presence, as with ceaseless voice they cry, Alleluia, Lord Most High!-Liturgy of St. James

THE BLESSING OF THE ELEMENTS Ronald Cava

THE HYMN OF RESPONSE You Satisfy the Hungry Heart FINEST WHEAT

THE POSTLUDE Sent Forth by God’s Blessing Phil Young

Sent forth by God’s blessing, our true faith confessing, the people of God from this dwelling take leave. The supper is ended. Oh, now be extended the fruits of this service in all who believe. The seed of his teaching, receptive souls reaching, shall blossom in action for God and for all. God’s grace did invite us, God’s love will unite us to work for God’s kingdom and answer the call.

With praise and thanksgiving to God ever-living, the tasks of our everyday life we will face. Our faith ever sharing, in love ever caring, embracing God’s children of each tribe and race. With your feast you feed us, with your light now lead us; unite us as one in this life that we share. Then may all the living with praise and thanksgiving give honor to Christ and his name that we bear. -Omer Westendorf

Assisting with worship leadership today is Deacon of the Week Mary Jo Wilson. Music for this morning’s service is offered by violist Lisa Doherty and choral singers Cindy Clark, Maggie Clark, Andy Dickerson, and James Johnson. This morning’s Call to Worship is adapted from Jan Richardson’s “Table Blessing” from In Wisdom’s Path. The confession is adapted from “And the Table Will Be Wide” in Painted Prayerbook. The flowers which beautify the sanctuary this morning are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of Dr. and Mrs. W.W. Noel, Mr. and Mrs. William W. Noel, Jr., and Dr. Robert F. Noel by their families.

The First Baptist Church Henderson, North Carolina Ronald S. Cava, Senior Minister

Amy S. Russell, Associate Minister Mark L. Hopper, Minister of Music and Organist

David G. Cole, Associate Minister of Music and Organist Tammy C. Hight, Director of Childhood Discipleship

Kari Martin, Pastoral Intern David Allen, Pastoral Intern

Linda O’Brien, Financial Secretary Tammy Manning, Ministry Support Coordinator

Amber Jones, Administrative Support Coordinator Robert Snow, Custodian

Marion D. Lark, Senior Minister Emeritus Philip M. Young, Composer-in-Residence

Telephone (252) 438-3172 Fax (252) 438-3710

www.fbchenderson.net fbchurch@fbchenderson.net

Opportunities for Worship and Service

SUNDAY

9:00 AM Virtual Sunday School – Host: Amy Russell 10:00 Virtual Sunday School for 1st-5th Graders 10:00 Jane Fleming Class (The Russell Home)

11:00 Morning Worship Recording Posted on Facebook and Link Sent via Email

11:00 Previous Sunday’s Worship Service Aired on Spectrum Channel 24

2:00 PM Drive Through Communion 5:00 Middle & High School Youth Meetings 5:35 Worship Service Aired on WIZS – 100.1 FM and 1450 AM

MONDAY 11:00 AM Phillips Labyrinth Available in Jeffcoat Room until 1pm

WEDNESDAY 10:00 AM Sacred Reading Weekly Video Call 11:00 Phillips Labyrinth Available in Jeffcoat Room until 1pm

THURSDAY 10:00 AM Brotherhood of the Traveling Bible Study