AGAPE LOVE This month we celebrate Valentine’s Day and focus on the topic of love. The greatest love of all is agape

love. It is God’s kind of love, the love most mentioned in the New Testament (see John 3:16). The

Greeks (whose language was used to write the New Testament) actually had several words for love. For

human or friendship love they used phileo. For the love between a man and a woman, they used eros. But

for an all-surpassing, self-giving love, they used agape. That is the kind of love most associated with God

Himself. God-like love is eternal and enduring, sacrificial and forgiving. It gives of itself over and over

again and gladly serves others. Agape is the purest and most powerful kind of love and it comes from

God. This month, take time to reflect upon agape love. And be inspired by the bulletin board beautifully

decorated by our Worship Committee in our narthex as well as the images of love shown by Jesus.

Calendar for the week

Sunday, February 16th 8:45 a.m. - Adult Sunday School 10:00 a.m. - Worship w/Communion/ Youth Sunday School 11:00 a.m. - Coffee Fellowship 11:15 a.m. - Worship Committee Meting 3-5 p.m. - FPU meets in Berean Hall 3-5 p.m. - JAM begins at UMC

Monday, February 17th

7:00 p.m. - Love Team Meeting (Deacon's & Mission)

Tuesday, February 18th 5-6 a.m. - Yoga 10:00 a.m. - Mission Sewing 6:00 p.m. - PNC Meeting

Wednesday, February 19th

6:30-8:30 p.m. - Confirmation Field Trip

Thursday, February 20th 5-6 a.m. - Yoga 6-7 p.m. - Yoga

Saturday, February 22nd

9-10:30 a.m. - Mobile Pantry

Sunday, February 23trd 8:45 a.m. - Adult Sunday School 10:00 a.m. - Worship/Youth Sunday School 11:00 a.m. - Coffee Fellowship

First Presbyterian Church February 16, 2020

Jesup, Iowa

6th Sunday After Epiphany

January 20th, 2019

Faith, Fellowship and Love

Come Grow with us!

Head of the Church Jesus Christ

Ministers Members of the Church

Preacher Rev. John White

Musician Praise Team

Lector Fern Bunnell

Usher Tammy Miller

The Order for the Worship of God February 16th, 2020 6th Sunday After Epiphany

Welcome! We are glad you can join us for worship.

Greetings

Prelude Praise Team

*Call to Worship

L: The King is throwing a party, and we're all invited!

P: Let us enjoy the God of the feast this day and rejoice in God's love

L: Revel in Christ's friendship, live in the freedom of the Spirit.

P: For the banquet is nearly ready. And by his grace we are summoned to come!

*Song of Praise #358 “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” (vs.1-3)

Prayer of Confession and Renewal (all) Almighty God, you have set before us the path of life. But we confess that we have not always wanted to walk that path. We are sometimes like children testing the boundaries, ignoring Your Voice until fear finally makes us stop. Or, sometimes we are like rebellious youth, demanding to be cut loose, not believing how wise your ways truly are. But most of all, we as adults think we have it all figured out. We stubbornly do what we want, only to make a mess of things and regret them later. Mothering and fathering God, remind us that we are always Your children and that we need your guidance all the time. Help us to submit to you, seek your ways and walk down the path with you by our side. In the name of the One who is our companion in life. Amen.

Words of Forgiveness

Song of Response #463 “Revive Us Again” (vs. 1 & 4)

*Passing of the Peace

Sharing the Vision and Mission

Prayer for Illumination

Scripture Lesson: Matthew 22:1-14

Sermon “Tough Questions: Would a Loving God Send Someone to Hell?”

Offering Our Gifts to God

Offertory Song #702 “We Come as Guests Invited” (vs. 1-3)

The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

Invitation and Communion Prayer

One: The Lord be with you.

All: And also with you.

One: Lift up your hearts.

All: We lift them to the Lord.

One: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Words of Institution

Sharing Bread and Cup

Closing Prayer

*Hymn of Sending # 499 “He Leadeth Me” (vs.1-3)

*Blessing

*Postlude

EPIPHANY We are in the church season of Epiphany. Epiphany fits between the seasons of

Christmas and Lent. The term epiphany means "to show" or "to make known". In Western

churches, the coming of the wise men is remembered as well as the Baptism of Jesus in the

Jordan River. It is a time of revealing Christ's belovedness as God’s Son as well as the Light of

the World. The first Sunday of Epiphany is marked by the color white and thereafter by the color

green for growth and increasing knowledge.

***************************

REMEMBERING OUR BAPTISM The pouring of water into the Baptismal Fount is a reminder of God’s great covenant of love we see in the sacrament of baptism. In the Old Testament, we see the sacrament foreshadowed in the waters of creation, in the cleansing of the earth in the flood and in the exodus escape. In the New Testament, baptism marks the cleansing of our sins through Christ as we repent and are welcomed into a new community of faith, starting a new life in Christ. Jesus commanded: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” And so, we rejoice in this new covenant of grace, offer it to others and take heart that we forever belong to Him!

Prayer Requests

Concerns

For God’s Spirit to inspire us into a new year of ministry.

For Dale Lorenz as he recovers from a heart incident.

For Karen Morrissey's friend Mark, he received news of pancreatic cancer.

For Jade who is now blind following an illness but hope of her sight returning. (Family of Betty & Dale Lorenz)

For Norman, Betty Venem's brother following stints being placed this week.

For strength and hope for Kevin Kiler as he returns to Mayo for further treatment.

For Barb Meister's great grandson, Jemell (5 yrs old) has a birthmark on his leg that his doctor will biopsy in April to determine if there is cancer underneath.

For comfort and company for those in assisted living: Helen Blad, Vivian Kaster.

For Diane Reed, sister of Judy Fratzke, Good News: 50% of the cancer is gone!

Ongoing Prayers

For ongoing love and support through health concerns - Ashley VanHemert, Brett Zuck, Myndi Ocampo, Jan Harkin, Roberta Coleman

If you have a prayer concern please fill out the prayer request card from the pew and put it in

the offering plate or contact Shelly Hanson at fpc2@jtt.net or 319-827-1701.

*Be sure to indicate if the concern is to be shared with the congregation or remain private.

PASTOR JOHN’S CONTACT INFORMATION: 825 Hawley Street, Jesup, IA 50648. Ph: 920-319-9971 Email: crstm.john@gmail.com

SHELLY HANSON'S CONTACT INFORMATION: Office 319-827-1701, fpc2@jtt.net cell phone: 319-415-1602

Ways to Get Involved In our Church

and Help Our Community

ASH WEDNESDAY We will be holding a joint Ash Wednesday service at 7pm with the Barclay Presbyterian congregation.

PER CAPITA FOR 2020 is $36.95 Please be sure when you pay your per capita that you indicate on your check or envelope that this is where the payment is to be applied.

PERSONAL INFORMATION UPDATING We are updating the directory. If you have new contact info (address, phone numbers, e-mail address) please let the office know asap. Also pleases check the list on the table in the narthex for birthday & anniversary information. If your name is not listed please add it if you wish to have your birthday announced in the bulletin and newsletters.

WEATHER POLICY In the event that worship would need to be canceled due to weather, we would make the following attempts to notify you. Watch for a notification on KWWL, email or phone call if you are signed up for calling post. We will do our best to get the cancellation out soon enough to keep everyone safe so you do not have to travel when the roads are bad. ease note: the call from Calling Post comes from a 405 area code number.

THE JESUP BAGGERS The next meeting of the Jesup Baggers will be on February 12th, @ 1:30 at Winding Creek Meadows in Jesup. All are welcome to come join in our mission to make sleeping mats for the homeless. Since starting in September we have made 10 mats and have processed over 10,000 bags. This keeps the bags out of the landfill and repurposes them to a good use. We have collection containers at Farmers State Bank in Jesup and Gilbertville, Jesup Public Library, New Accent Barber Shop in Raymond, Winding Creek Meadows, St. Athanasius Church and First Presbyterian Church. Thank you to all who have donated their time and bags.

VBS will be held July 19th-23rd at the American Lutheran Church. We are planning a VBS planning meeting for Sunday, March 22nd at 3pm at the American Lutheran Church. At this Meeting we will look over the curriculum (Great Big Beautiful World), reflect on last year, talk registration, and more. We invited anyone and everyone interested in helping to join us!