First Congregational Church of North Collins, Sunday, September 28, 2014

First Congregational Church of North Collins

Conservative Congregational Christian Conference

337-9811 Church Office / 337-4303 Parsonage

Pastor / Teacher Derek S. Yoder

http://fccnc.blogspot.com

Sunday, September 28, 2014   

Sunday School 9:30 am           Family Worship Service 10:45 am

Wait in Prayer                  Worship in Reverence                  Depart to Serve

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

Choral Introit …………………………………… Lord, Speak to Me That I May Speak

*Call to Worship ………………………………………………………… Psalm 41:1-13

*Hymn of Adoration & Praise #699 ……………………………… Like a River Glorious

*Invocation

 Worship Through Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs

*Hymn of the Month #506……………………… As When the Hebrew Prophet Raised

*Hymn #177 …………………………………… O Could I Speak the Matchless Worth

Scripture Lessons

Old Testament……………………………  Nehemiah 11:1-36 (Pew Bible pg 768-770)

New Testament ……………………………………  Mark 6:45-56 (Pew Bible pg 1563)

Memory Verse ………………………………..……  2 Corinthians 5:17-20 (see insert)

Fellowship of Welcome

Sermon Text …………………………………………………  Ecclesiastes 2:10-11

Sermon ………………………………………………………………  Derek Yoder

Back to the Garden?

Wisdom doesn’t respond to real life by avoiding it,

nor by seeking to control it.

  It presses on with faith (and Jesus) into the future.

*Hymn of Faith #591 ………………..…………………..……………… Jesus Calls Us

Prayer Requests and Testimonies

Pastoral Prayer

Tithes and Offerings

Offertory

*Doxology …………………………………… Praise God from Whom All Blessing Flow

*Benediction                                                           

*Congregation invited to stand

  

Get the most out of the service by asking about our special listening devices. Pick up one in the back or see an usher for help. If yours isn’t working properly, don’t be bashful about raising your hand to ask for assistance.

  

Announcements

Join us TONIGHT at the First Church of Evans for a special “Christ in the Feast of Tabernacles” presentation sponsored by Jews for Jesus.  The 6:30 pm program is meant to enrich our understanding of the gospel by exploring its Jewish roots.  There is no cost to attend, but a freewill offering will be taken up.

Next Sunday, we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper.  If you would like to participate but are unable to be here, see Derek or one of the Elders to arrange another time.  Don’t be shy about taking full advantage of this important gesture of unity with Christ and his body.  We are NOT planning to have a fellowship meal following the service.

Evelyn Falk will celebrate her 103^rd birthday on Tuesday!  Don’t forget to sign the card in the back or offer her other gestures of our love.

This afternoon at 2:00 pm, Derek will offer a brief prayer of dedication for bricks along the memorial walkway at Schoolhouse #8.  All are welcome to attend.

Calendar

Wednesday, October 1^st

Choir practice at the church at 6:00 pm.

Join us at the church for Bible study and prayer at 7:00 pm.  We’re making our way through the great themes of Genesis.  We’re in Chapter 2 and studying the significance of God’s garden of delights (Eden).  It’s a great time to join us!

Sunday, October 5^th 

3DYouth Group meets at First Church of Evans at 6:00 pm for life lessons from Mark followed by football camp and refreshments.  Don’t forget, the 2014 Chili Bowl with MPB is right around the corner on October 19^th!

Sunday, October 12^th 

Join us at the Doles’ for our 3^rd Sunday Night Out of the season.  Plan to gather around 4:00 pm.  Hot dogs will be provided.  Attention discussion group members:  If yo’ve been reading Powlison’s Speaking Truth in Love, plan to meet at 3:00 to discuss Part 1 (pp.1-98).

Sunday, November 2^nd

Plan now to join Jim Raub and our friends from area churches at 6:30 pm as we host our annual fall Singspiration, a seasonal favorite for many.

Sermon Notes

BACK TO THE GARDEN?  Wisdom doesn’t respond to real life by avoidance, nor by seeking control.  It presses on with faith and Jesus to the future.

1.    Utopian dreamers have always been looking for a world that’s simpler and kinder than the one we’ve go.  Joni Mitchell’s Woodstock isn’t a “Christian” song, but it expresses this same longing in biblical language.  What does she mean by “going back to the garden”?

2.   DO YOU REMEMBER?  How would you summarize Solomon’s introductory poem in Eccl 1:3-11?

3.    DO YOU REMEMBER?  How would you summarize the next section (Eccl 1:12=18)?

4.    What does Solomon mean by the “pleasure test”?  When he mentions wine, is talking about drunkenness?  If not, what is he talking about?

5.    Derek suggests that the “pleasure test” isn’t so much an expression of fatalism (“Let’s eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”) as it is avoidance.  What does he mean?

6.    It’s true that we sometimes respond to the frustrations of life by avoiding them.  Can you think of some examples?

7.    Beginning in Eccl 2:4ff., Solomon describes his ambitious building project.  What’s he up to?

8.    In our passage this morning, Solomon lays out two prospective paths of wisdom.  What are they?  Why does he eventually reject both?

9.    So, what does wisdom look like in a world like ours?