Oakhurst Presbyterian Church USA

Graduate Sunday, Commissioning, Centennial Focus

June 12, 2022

Order of Worship

Prelude                 Rev. Dr. Lisa Allen-McLaurin

WE GATHER

Welcome and Announcements                            Rev. Amantha Barbee                                                   

Call to Worship                    Rev. Heather Chase

We come today, representing all the majesty of creation

Diverse and beautiful, blessed and beloved, all made in the image of the Creator of all things

We come today, called to this time and this place by an infinite God.

Who hears our cries and responds with love and mercy.

We come today:  Transgender, Nonbinary, Bisexual, Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Intersex, Gay, Queer, Ally

We come today, knowing you will listen and answer our needs.

We come today to deliver our joined prayers of hope.

We come today, a people mourning still our losses, still recovering from the ravages of the Covid-19 pandemic and the pandemic of institutionalized racism that has plagued our world for too many centuries.

We come today, knowing you care for us

We come today, knowing that even when others reject us, your arms are open to offer comfort.  We come. Declaring the Sanctity of Life and the Dignity of All                

Invocation                    

High School Senior Recognition         Rev. Heather Chase

Opening Hymn       Come, Christians, Join to Sing #267

100th Anniversary Focus                                   Jackie Randolph

OUR HUMANITY

Remembering our Baptism & Confession of Sin       Rev. Amantha Barbee

Siblings in Christ,  our baptism is the sign and seal of our cleansing from sin, And of our being grafted into Christ. Through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ, the power of sin was broken and God’s kingdom entered our world. 

Through our baptism we were made citizens of God’s kingdom, and freed from the bondage of sin. 

Let us celebrate that freedom and redemption through the renewal of the promises made at our baptism. 

I ask you, therefore, once again to reject sin, to profess your faith in Christ Jesus, and to confess the faith of the church, the faith in which we were baptized.  

In Baptism you called us to turn away from sin and to turn towards the cross of Jesus but we often stray and ignore your call.

Lord, in your mercy. We confess that we hold on to the past and allow it to be an idle god blocking what you are offering us new. It is easier for us to look back instead of trust forward.

In baptism you united us with all the baptized who confess your name;

but we foster division in the church. We refuse to live as one people,

and so fail to witness to your reconciling love before the world.

Lord, in your mercy. In baptism you call us to ministry in all realms of life,

but we refuse the struggle to know your will; we do not nurture the ways of peace;

we allow enmity and hatred to grow among us, putting neighbor against neighbor,

and nation against nation.

In baptism you gave us the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us, but we rely on ourselves,

and refuse to trust your direction. We spurn your eternal wisdom, preferring the luring ways of the world.

Lord, in your mercy. We willingly deny, ignore, mistrust, and divide people because you made us diverse and we refuse to accept that we are all made gay, straight, from different ethnic backgrounds, male, female, transgenger, and in your image. We have prefered to allow labels to define your magnificence. Forgive us for dishonoring your created ones by thought or by deed. 

Have mercy upon us, O Lord and forgive us for our iniquities.

In Jesus’ name, Amen

Forgiveness of Sins               

Passing of the Peace                                             

   THE WORD

Prayer of Illumination                                                                                                   Jane Royall

Old Testament Reading:              Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31       

Anthem             Speak to My Heart               Donnie McClurkin                        

New Testament Reading:                       John 16:12-15            Rev. Amantha Barbee                     

Sermon:                   We Can’t Handle the Truth           

  IN RESPONSE TO THE WORD

Commissioning Youth Mission Trip Participants and Tim McNinch             Rev. Amantha Barbee

Prayers of the People         Text Your Prayer Requests to: 404-551-3791                  Rev. Heather Chase

The Lord’s Prayer  

Tithes and Offerings                  

You may give online at oakhurstpcusa.org/give ~ PayPal oakhurstpcusa@gmail.com ~ CashApp $oakhurstpcusa ~ Mail 118 2nd Ave. Decatur, GA 30030.

Song of Praise                                             Completely Yes           Andre Crouch

Doxology - Prayer of Thanksgiving

Praise God from whom all blessings flow

Praise Christ all people here below

Praise Holy Spirit ever more

Praise Triune God, whom we adore

Charge & Benediction

Sending Song                     Sweet, Sweet Spirit                                                             There's a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place,

And I know that it's the Spirit of the Lord;

There are sweet expressions on each face,

And I know they feel the presence of the Lord.

Sweet Holy Spirit. Sweet heavenly dove.

Stay right here with us, filling us with your love.

And for these blessings, we lift our hearts in praise.

Without a doubt we’ll know that we have been revived 

When we shall leave this place.

Worship Leaders today include: Rev. Amantha Barbee; Rev. Heather Chase, Associate Pastor; 

Rev. Dr. Lisa Allen McLaurin, Musician; Jacqueline Randolph and Jane Royall, Liturgists

Special guests today include: 

• Derek W. Bottoms is the grandson of Dr. Lawrence W. Bottoms.  He is married to Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former mayor of Atlanta, GA.  They are parents of four children.  Derek is Vice President of employment practices and Chief Officer of Diversity for Home Depot, after previously having worked for a law firm.
• Charis Andrews Hanberry is the daughter of Elizabeth and Jim Andrews.  Charis and her husband Dwayne Hanberry were married here in 1990.  Their Decatur son, David, is with them today.  And long-time OPC members will also remember Charis' brother, Bryan Andrews.

Presbyterians describe baptism as a sign and seal of the covenant of grace made by God through Jesus and extended to us. Baptism is one of two sacraments practiced by Presbyterians; Communion is the other. Today we are using the baptismal fonts that were gifts of the Andrews and Bottoms families to this church. In so doing, we remember the deep faith of these pivotal Saints, James Andrews and Lawrence Bottoms and we affirm that God’s Spirit will enable us to carry forward God’s will for the future of this congregation.

Recognizing current members who joined the church in the 1970s: Christine Callier, Harry Jefferson, Cheryl McKinzie, Mary Smarr, Ethel Steverson, Jackie Randolph, Elizabeth Wilson

We recognize our graduating high school seniors for their accomplishments

And pray the best for them in their next steps to achieve their goals and dreams. 

Lilly Ashe      Miriam Green       Ian McNinch       Tony Travillion       Anisa Travillion   

Please pray for our Middle School Youth & Chaperones 

As they travel to Asheville, NC today for a week of service.

Benjamin Patton Kate Kochel                  Tadesse Owens                                Erin Myers-Beck           Johnny Ashe       Jake Evans

Elinor McNinch Lydia Green                   Meredith Gordon  

                                                                 Susan Brown 

Special Commissioning for Tim McNinch

Asst Professor of Hebrew Bible at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis

Oakhurst Presbyterian Church (USA)

     118 Second Ave, Decatur, GA 30030

www.oakhurstpcusa.org

Happening this week at Oakhurst Presbyterian Church:

From Friday, June 17 through June 24th, Cheryl Hartman, Office Manager, will be out of the office attending the PCUSA General Assembly with very limited contact. Rev. Barbee is serving as a Resource Person for the General Assembly Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations and will be attending virtually. Please be patient with our communication during this time.

Sunday, June 12 High School Senior Recognition & Middle School Mission Trip Commissioning

12:30 pm Reparations Working Group

Monday, June 13 Middle School Mission Trip to Asheville

6:00 pm Rev. Barbee’s Monday Night Class - Antiracist Leadership - 6 pm on Mondays Zoom Meeting  

Tuesday, June 14 Middle School Mission Trip to Asheville

6:00 pm Gospel Choir - Contact Rev. Dr. Lisa Allen-McLaurin

Wednesday, June 15 Middle School Mission Trip to Asheville

4:30-5:30 pm Racial Justice Vigil - Stand with others who know Black Lives Matter

7:30 pm Chancel Choir - Contact Matthew Wauchope

Thursday, June 16 Middle School Mission Trip to Asheville

10:30 am Prayer Group - Contact Rev. Heather Chase  for more information 

4:30 pm Racial Justice Vigil

6:00 pm Worship Committee

Friday, June 17 Middle School Mission Trip to Asheville

Saturday, June 18 Middle School Mission Trip to Asheville

10-11:00 am Racial Justice Vigil - Stand with others who believe Black Lives Matter

Sunday, June 19 Juneteenth

9:45 am Well Chosen Words Class (info)

11:00 am Worship

2:00 pm New Members Class - contact Rev. Chase at heather.chase@oakhurstpresbyterian.org for more information. 

Check out the calendar on OneChurch to get more upcoming events

https://oakhurstpcusa.onechurchsoftware.com/events/calendar?month=10&year=2021