First Sunday in Lent, March 1, 2020

 “Now. Now. Now.”

 John 12:20-36 (NRSV) (The Message)

• 8:08 a.m. – Contemporary Worship with Communion
• 9:00 a.m. – Breakfast served
• 9:45 a.m. – Sunday School
• 11:00 a.m. – Traditional Worship with Communion
  • Liturgist – Angie Arnold
  • Ushers – Carol and Dudley Barnes
  • Communion Servers – Carol and Dudley Barnes and Angie Arnold

Mission of the Month –Our new monthly mission emphasis for March will be the Children’s Hope Alliance. The Alliance is the ministry of the Barium Springs Home for Children and the Grandfather Home for Children, two residences that provide hope and healing for at-risk and hurting children and families. We still have two more days of our  blanket drive for Church World Service. Every year for the past decade without exception we have increased the number of blankets we have provided for this critical ministry. So far, we have raised $2,595—closing in on our goal of $3,351. Another $756 given and we will surpass our goal! Let’s see if we can do it! Blankets are $10 each and you can purchase them by writing a check to OPC with the designation “blankets.”

Announcements:

• 2nd – 10:00 a.m. – Presbyterian Women’s Circle meets at the church
• 3rd – 7:00 p.m. – Choir Practice. New people always welcome!
• 4th
  • – 10:30 a.m. – The Real Witness: Paul: An Apostle’s Journey by Douglas Campbell at Uptown 101 Bistro
  • – 12:00 p.m. – Midweek Prayer
  • – 6:00 p.m. – OPC Men’s Monthly Supper followed by our Annual Lenten Bible Study—Soft Hearts in a Hard World: a Study of 1 Thessalonians
• 5th – 5:30 p.m. – The Real Witness: Paul: An Apostle’s Journey by Douglas Campbell at Tobacco Wood Brewing Co.
• 8th – Presbyterian Women’s Sunday
• 15th – “Lord of the Dance” choir cantata at Butner Presbyterian Church

Please note that the Presbyterian Women’s Circle will meet this coming Monday, March 2nd, at 10:00 a.m.

Also note that Sunday, March 8th will be Presbyterian Women’s Sunday at OPC. Come and worship while celebrating and receiving the gifts of the women that God blesses our community with!

Our local book begins reading Paul: An Apostle’s Journey, a biography of the man who authored more than one-quarter of the New Testament and a key witness to Jesus Christ resurrected. Come join old friends and make new ones all while indulging your reading pleasure. Please let Alan know if you are interested in attending.

On Wednesday, our Annual Lenten Bible Study will begin. And that night it will coincide with the OPC Men’s Supper. Come enjoy a delicious meal followed by a stimulating lesson and discussion—Soft Hearts in a Hard World: A Study of 1 Thessalonians.

On Sunday, March 15th, there will be a Lenten season cantata, “Lord of the Dance,” performed by several local choirs including our wonderful OPC choir. The performance will be at Butner Presbyterian Church

Calling all kids to Sunday School! This winter and spring we will be learning the church’s oldest and simplest confession: The Apostles’ Creed. It promises to be fun and exciting and utterly true. Come at 9:45am this Sunday!

Prayers for: Becky and Isabella Baird, Michael Boyd, Ann Currin, Linda and Mike Diamond, Randy Downey, Julie Gaydon, Diane and Fred Heath, Hannah Hobgood, Sue Huggins, Barbara Laurent, Will Newcomb,  Greg and Kellie Price,  Kathy Webb

Happy Birthday to: Jane Boyd – March 2nd; Walter Gould – March 3rd; Julie Oakley – March 6th

“Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth;
break forth, O mountains, into singing!
For the Lord has comforted his people,
and will have compassion on his suffering ones.

But Zion said, ‘The Lord has forsaken me,
my Lord has forgotten me.’
Can a woman forget her nursing child,
or show no compassion for the child of her womb?
Even these may forget,
yet I will not forget you.
See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands;
your walls are continually before me.
Your builders outdo your destroyers,
and those who laid you waste go away from you.
Lift up your eyes all around and see;
they all gather, they come to you.
As I live, says the Lord,
you shall put all of them on like an ornament,
and like a bride you shall bind them on.” (Isaiah 49:13-18 NRSV)

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