July 2, 2020

Let justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
[Amos 5:24]

Dear Friends,

Last Sunday was our first in-person worship service in 15 weeks. How many attended? There were 29 people in the sanctuary plus another 60 people worshiping online. In all, there were about 90 people worshiping live as well as an unknown number who watch the service at later times on Facebook.

If you intend to worship in person on Sunday, we ask that you again pre-register on the church website. We simply want to have an idea of how many to expect in worship.

Sunday is Communion Sunday. However, for those worshiping in person in the sanctuary, there will be no bread or juice. We also ask that worshipers do not bring their own from home. We will celebrate the Communion liturgy as normal, but without passing out the loaf and cup. Those worshiping online at home are encouraged to have bread and juice with them for Communion.

On Sunday, I will continue with my Summer Sermon Series Amos: Justice for All with the sermon entitled Gated. Is justice something that humans create, or does it come from God?

Technologically, FPC has come a long way since the start of coronavirus. If you would like to learn the details of who we are bringing you online worship, then go to the newest entry in the Pastor's Blog.

I look forward to seeing you all (virtually and personally) on Sunday. Stay well.

In Christ,

[DOWNLOAD SUNDAY BULLETINS]
For those worshiping online on Sundays, the worship bulletin is available for download. You can download a version to print at home, or you can download a version to view on a second screen (such a a phone or tablet). Bulletins are posted on Fridays. To access the downloads, you can 1) click here, or 2) go to the church website and click on the Worship menu (as shown below).

[HOW TO ZOOM]
Zoom is a video conferencing system that allows us to communicate remotely during this period of social distancing. Detailed information on how to use Zoom can be found on the FPC webpage.

[UPCOMING ZOOM MEETINGS]
Zoom Dial-up number: 1-312-626-6799

Sunday, July 5
10 am - Streaming Worship (join meeting)
meeting number: 959 167 376
password: 865280

Sunday, July 5
11 am - Book Club with Michael (join meeting)
Heaven and Hell
meeting number: 999 257 630
password: 315915

Wednesday, July 10
Noon - Bible Study with Sherard (join meeting)
The Book of Amos Chapter 5
meeting number: 478 485 019
password: 012901

Wednesday, July 10
6 pm - Virtual Youth Group (join meeting)
meeting number: 666 840 856
password: 175075

Thursday, July 11
6 pm - Bible Study with Michael (join meeting)
The Book of Hosea
meeting number: 999 257 630
password: 315915

Submit Your Mask Selfies: Help us advocate for a safer Wilson County by sending mask selfies to Kristy or Michael. We will feature your mask selfie on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

NaCoMe "Fresh Air Day": On Friday, July 17, our church will be taking a group of students to NaCoMe for a day of outdoor activities. This opportunity is open to all students grade 4-12. We will leave the church at 7am July 17 and return by 6pm. To sign up, contact Michael by July 10. (Safety Note: We will be the only group at NaCoMe on July 17 and appropriate safety precautions such as masks and increased sanitation will be enforced.)

In-Home VBS begins Friday, July 10 at 3 pm with a Zoom kickoff. There will be games, songs, and a short children's message. Please claim your VBS bag by Wednesday, July, 8.

How to reach Michael.
email: mjschulte.14@gmail.com
phone: 618-979-6320

An archive of sermons and bulletins
(audio and text) can be viewed here.

Amos: Justice for All (sermon series)

  Jul 5 - 4. Gated text | audio
  Jun 28 - 3. Clamor text | audio
  Jun 21 - 2. Chosen text | audio
  Jun 14 - 1. Trampled text | audio

  Jun 7 - Trinity Putty text | audio
  May 31 - Wine, Women, and Song of the Spirit text | audio
  May 24 - Waiting Well text | audio
  May 17 - Feed My Sheep text | audio
  May 10 - Net Gains text | audio

          ...more sermons

[SESSION MEETING HIGHLIGHTS - June 14]
The Session held its Stated June Meeting on Sunday June 14 at 7:00 pm on Zoom.
Budget, Finance, and Stewardship Committee
• The repay schedule for the Payroll Protection Plan (PPP) loan is now 24 weeks from the date of the loan.
Building and Grounds Committee
• Repairs from the storm damage of May 2 have been mostly completed.
• The Session approved making repairs to the flat roof on the north side of the building and maintenance painting to metal railings, fire escape, and wood trim around the windows.
Christian Education Committee
• A one day VBS will be held in October using the curriculum ordered for this summer.
• A “take-home VBS bag” will be available at the end of June for use in July.
• A summer book club meets immediately after on-line worship on Sundays. The group will discuss the book The History of Heaven and Hell by Bart Ehrman.
Outreach Committee
• The drive-by food drive on June 7 was very successful collecting 761 food items and $485 for the Wilson County Help Center.
Worship Committee
• The Session approved purchasing additional audio/visual equipment to improving streaming worship services.
New Business
• The Session approved re-opening worship services in the sanctuary on Sunday, June 28 at 10:00 a.m. following the guidelines developed by the Reopening Committee.

[WORSHIP LITURGY]
Scripture - Amos 5:1-17
1    Hear this word that I take up over you in lamentation, O house of Israel:
2    Fallen, no more to rise, is maiden Israel; forsaken on her land, with no one to raise her up.
3    For thus says the Lord God: The city that marched out a thousand shall have a hundred left, and that which marched out a hundred shall have ten left.
4    For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: Seek me and live;
5    but do not seek Bethel, 1    and do not enter into Gilgal or cross over to Beer-sheba; for Gilgal shall surely go into exile, and Bethel shall come to nothing.
6    Seek the Lord and live, or he will break out against the house of Joseph like fire, and it will devour Bethel, with no one to quench it.
7    Ah, you that turn justice to wormwood, and bring righteousness to the ground!
8    The one who made the Pleiades and Orion, and turns deep darkness into the morning, and darkens the day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out on the surface of the earth, the Lord is his name,
9    who makes destruction flash out against the strong, so that destruction comes upon the fortress.
10    They hate the one who reproves in the gate, and they abhor the one who speaks the truth.
11    Therefore, because you trample on the poor and take from them levies of grain, you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not live in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine.
12    For I know how many are your transgressions, and how great are your sins— you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and push aside the needy in the gate.
13    Therefore the prudent will keep silent in such a time; for it is an evil time.
14    Seek good and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you, just as you have said.
15    Hate evil and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.
16    Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the Lord: In all the squares there shall be wailing; and in all the streets they shall say, ‘Alas! alas!’ They shall call the farmers to mourning, and those skilled in lamentation, to wailing;
17    in all the vineyards there shall be wailing, for I will pass through the midst of you, says the Lord.

Over the past several weeks, I have played the glorious organ music penned between 150 and 120 years ago by the illustrious Parisian composer Charles-Marie Widor. He created the genre of genuine "symphonies" for organ and was as influential a musician in his time as Bach was in his. During this immensely difficult time we are living through, I have given myself a titanic "COVID project" which is to learn all of the ten organ symphonies that were written by Charles-Marie Widor. This is the music that you will continue to hear over the next several weeks and it is not hyperbole to say that there are only a few select organists in America who play all ten of these masterfully. In my view, this music's essence is ethereal, powerfully emotional, and the type that resides on the highest of spiritual planes. Playing through these, in my mind, is like praying times 10!

PRELUDE:
Moderato Cantabile - Charles-Marie Widor
POSTLUDE:
The Star Spangled Banner - arr. Virgil Fox

[NEEDED FOR LOCAL MISSIONS]
FPC has two ongoing collections benefiting the following organizations:
1. Wilson County Schools Family Resource Center. We collect food and personal hygiene items for students whose families are struggling. Donations can be left in the plastic tub in the back hallway.
2. Wilson County Community Help Center.
Monetary donations are used to purchase food items for the Help Center. Write Help Center on your check.