The

First Baptist Church Henderson, North Carolina

At Worship

SUNDAY MORNING July 26, 2020 ELEVEN O’CLOCK AM

Eighth Sunday After Pentecost

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 David Cole

THE CHIMING OF THE TRINITY

THE INVOCATION Bert Long

THE PRELUDE Festival Prelude on THAXTED Gustav Holst, arr. David Andrew Pettit

THE CALL TO WORSHIP (based on Psalm 105) Bert Long

O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples.

Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works.

Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.

Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually.

Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles and judgments,

O offspring of his servant Abraham, children of Jacob.

The Lord is mindful of his covenant forever, the covenant that he made with

Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac, which he confirmed to Israel as an

everlasting covenant,

Saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance.”

Praise the Lord!

THE HYMN OF PRAISE God Is Here! ABBOT’S LEIGH

THE PSALTER LESSON: Psalm 119:129-136 Bert Long

129 Your decrees are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them. 130 The unfolding of

your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. 131 With open mouth I

pant, because I long for your commandments.

132 Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your custom towards those who love your

name. 133 Keep my steps steady according to your promise, and never let iniquity have

dominion over me. 134 Redeem me from human oppression, that I may keep your

precepts. 135 Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes. 136 My

eyes shed streams of tears because your law is not kept.

THE CALL TO CONFESSION Ronald Cava

THE PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Holy One, you call us to find your kingdom already hidden in our world—in tiny,

transforming possibilities; in beauty that calls us to surrender all; in complicated choices

that call for wisdom.

We confess that we are not always aware of places you might be at work. We confess

that we do not always make ourselves available to join in building your kingdom. We

confess our tendency to focus on our own needs more than the needs of others. Help us to

consider our lives, and the many competing needs that confront us. Like Solomon, we ask

for discernment and wisdom, that our choices may reflect generosity and the common

good. Help us to be open to you and your guidance.

In the name of the One who calls us to seek, Jesus, the Christ. Amen.

THE ASSURANCE OF PARDON

Friends, God’s word gives light and understanding to all, leading us in the way of

justice, compassion, and peace. God is already at work in our hearts and the hearts of our

neighbors. We give thanks for God’s grace and forgiveness, which frees us to find the

kingdom of heaven even in unexpected places on earth.

THE EPISTLE LESSON: Romans 8:26-39 Tammy Hight

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we

ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27And God, who

searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for

the saints according to the will of God. 28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are

called according to his purpose. 29For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be

conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large

family. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he

also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. 31 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32He

who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him

also give us everything else? 33Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God

who justifies. 34Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised,

who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. 35Who will separate us

from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or

nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written, ‘For your sake we are being killed all day

long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.’ 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For

I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor

things to come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will

be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

THE GLORIA WESTMINSTER ABBEY

THE GOSPEL LESSON: Matthew 13:44-52

44 ‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found

and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 ‘Again, the

kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; 46on finding one pearl of

great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

47 ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught

fish of every kind; 48when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into

baskets but threw out the bad. 49So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come

out and separate the evil from the righteous 50and throw them into the furnace of fire,

where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

51 ‘Have you understood all this?’ They answered, ‘Yes.’ 52And he said to them,

‘Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the

master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.’

THE SERMON Hidden in Plain Sight Amy Russell

THE HYMN For the Splendor of Creation THAXTED

THE CALL TO PRAYER Kaitlyn Burton

THE MORNING PRAYER AND THE LORD’S PRAYER

A CELEBRATION OF OUR GIFTS Mark Hopper

THE DOXOLOGY Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow LASST UNS ERFREUEN

THE BENEDICTION Amy Russell

THE HYMN OF RESPONSE Open My Eyes, That I May See SCOTT

THE POSTLUDE I Love to Tell the Story William Fischer, arr. Emma Lou Diemer

Assisting with worship leadership today is Deacon of the Week Bert Long.

Music for this morning’s service is offered by trombonist Jack Hopper and choral singers

Maggie Clark, Cindy Clark, Andy Dickerson, and David Cole.

This morning’s Prayer of Confession and Assurance of Pardon are by Rev. Susan Blain and

are adapted and used with permission.

The flowers which beautify the sanctuary this morning are given to the glory of God and in

loving memory of Donna Powers who would have celebrated her birthday on July 29, Rock

Powers, and Mary Sue Powers by Preston Powers.

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 Cole, Associate Minister of Music and Organist

Tammy C. Hight, Director of Childhood Discipleship

Kaitlyn Burton, 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 Morning Worship

Recording Posted on Facebook and Link Sent via Email

11:00 Virtual Sunday School – Worship Roundtable

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

Channel 24

2:00 PM Worship Service Aired on WIZS – 100.1 FM and 1450 AM

6:30 Driveway Book Club – A Discussion about Race

WEDNESDAY 10:00 AM “Sacred Reading” Online Weekly Video Call