First Presbyterian Church (USA) of Smithville
300 Burleson, Smithville, TX 78957
(512) 360-5231
As a Church we are committed to:
Glorifying God through worship
Welcoming all as children of God
Serving others in the light of God's love.
NEW CHANGES TO SERVICE DATES
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:
-SERVICE ON FEB 28 WILL BE ON FACEBOOK LIVE AND IN THE BUILDING. HANDBELL PRACTICE IS AT 10 A.M.
-THE SERVICE AT THE BROWN FARM IS AGAIN RESCHEDULED FROM SUNDAY FEB 28 TO SUNDAY, MARCH 7
The First Presbyterian Church (USA) of Smithville welcomes you to our online ministry. Our Church is a church filled with life, serving the community of Smithville and surrounding areas for over 140 years . . . and just a short, pleasant drive from Bastrop, Cedar Creek, Flatonia, and towns throughout Bastrop County. If you are searching for a Church home, we would be pleased to welcome you into our fellowship. New members are received by our Session upon letter of transfer from another Christian congregation, or by profession of faith or reaffirmation of faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Please come and visit us!
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:
-SERVICE ON FEB 28 WILL BE ON FACEBOOK LIVE AND IN THE BUILDING. HANDBELL PRACTICE IS AT 10 A.M.
-THE SERVICE AT THE BROWN FARM IS AGAIN RESCHEDULED FROM SUNDAY FEB 28 TO SUNDAY, MARCH 7
The First Presbyterian Church (USA) of Smithville welcomes you to our online ministry. Our Church is a church filled with life, serving the community of Smithville and surrounding areas for over 140 years . . . and just a short, pleasant drive from Bastrop, Cedar Creek, Flatonia, and towns throughout Bastrop County. If you are searching for a Church home, we would be pleased to welcome you into our fellowship. New members are received by our Session upon letter of transfer from another Christian congregation, or by profession of faith or reaffirmation of faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Please come and visit us!
Pastor Rev. Kris Brown and family:
sons- Henry & Alex and husband David.
We are open in our church building for the 11 AM service but we will continue to provide a Facebook Live video and post the video here. If you decide to attend in person, please wear a mask and observe social distancing. We will not be serving food or having the Social Hour at this time. The videos will be available here and on Facebook. There are lots of reasons why we are glad it's 2021. One of them is that it is our church's 150th birthday. We have set up a special committee to help plan events to celebrate. Why don't you join this committee? Let Harleigh Elliot or Pastor Kris know if you are interested. Monica Miller is collecting recipes for a planned cookbook celebrating this event. Please send them to her, along with a history, at we4blessed@gmail.com
Announcements:
The Feb. 21st Service is now on the video page and Facebook.
Here is the bulletin and prayer list for the 21st:
Service for the Lord’s Day
First Presbyterian Church
Smithville, Texas
February 21, 2021 11:00AM
1st Sunday in Lent
Welcome and Announcements
Welcome to First Presbyterian Church. We are glad you have joined us on the Lord’s Day to worship God. If you are looking for a church home, please speak with our pastor, or one of our elders.
* Next Sunday our services will be at the Brown’s farm in McDade. The address is 1336 Old highway 20, McDade, Texas. Services will begin at 11:00. You may bring a picnic lunch if you wish to eat on the g rounds following the services.
*Bell Choir practice is at 10:00 on Sundays. Please come if you would like to be a part of our worship.
* For our church’s 150th Anniversary, we are attempting to produce a cookbook. Please send all your recipes to Monica Miller.
Happy Birthday: Lisa Maresh (22)
Call to Worship
L: Welcome to the time of covenant renewal. The God of our salvation greets us here.
P: We are reminded of God’s promises to us; we remember the promises we have made.
L: Sense the Spirit descending on us now. Hear God’s welcoming voice.
P: Surely God is with us. We can hear God calling our names.
L: See the rainbow in the sky. Wonder at God’s steadfast love.
P: All creation proclaims the wonders of God. We come together to learn what God wants to teach us.
L: Our first hymn is “What Wondrous Love is This”
What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul, what wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul, to bear the dreadful curse for my soul!
When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down, when I was sinking down, sinking down;
When I was sinking down beneath God’s righteous frown, Christ laid aside his crown for my soul, for my soul, Christ laid aside his crown for my soul!
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on, and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on!
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be, and through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on, and through eternity I’ll sing on!
Call to Confession
L: In our day, we cannot escape temptation, for it comes in so many forms, from so many sources. As Jesus was tempted, so are we. But we have yielded to temptation, and Jesus did not. Sometimes we do not even recognize the sins into which we have slipped. We seek to recall them now. Repent, and believe in the good news. Let us confess our sins to God and one another.
Confession of Our Sins
Have mercy on your church, O God, for we forget the covenant into which you call us. We muddle along in our self-serving schemes rather than waiting on your word. We follow the path of least resistance without seeking your higher way. We forget our Baptism into a faith community built on trust and forgiveness. We turn from the vision of heaven to the treacherous hell of competing egos. O God, we turn to you to lead us to a new day. According to your steadfast love, forgive us, we pray. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
L: God is faithful to the covenant, even when we forget. In mercy and steadfast love, God lifts us above the sins of our youth and the transgressions of today. Christ brings us to God that we might receive a new spirit and a good conscience. We are God’s beloved children who are welcomed into God’s realm right here, right now, in the midst of life.
P: Thanks be to God.
First Reading of Scripture (unison) Psalm 25:1-10
To you, O lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me.
Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
Make me to know you ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long.
Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O Lord!
Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
Second Reading of Scripture 1 Peter 3:18-22
Time for the Children of Our Church
The Passing of the Peace
L: Our next hymn is “Spirit Working in Creation”
Spirit, working in creation, bringing order out of strife;
Come around God’s gathered people, giving harmony and life,
Spirit, speaking through the prophets so the voice of God was heard;
Come, inspire, alert your people to this day’s prophetic word.
Spirit, driving to the desert even God’s Anointed One;
Come to us in trial and testing that God’s will in us be done.
Spirit, breathed on the disciples, giving peace where there was fear;
Come among us, touch us, send us, making Jesus’ presence near.
Spirit, wind and flame, empowering fearless witness to the lost;
Come, unite, renew your wonders as of a new Pentecost!
Praise and glory, Holy Spirit, for your love on us out poured,
Giving honor to the Father and proclaiming Jesus Lord.
Gospel Reading Mark 1:9-15
Sermon Rev. Kris Brown “God’s Direction”
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Prayers of the People
L: Our closing hymn is “Christ Be My Leader”
Christ be my leader by night as by day;
Safe through the darkness, for he is the Way.
Gladly I follow, my future his care,
Darkness is daylight when Jesus is there.
Christ be my teacher in age as in youth,
Drifting or doubting, for he is the Truth.
Grant me to trust him, though shifting as sand,
Doubt cannot daunt me, in Jesus I stand.
Christ be my Savior in calm as in strife,
Death cannot hold me for he is the Life,
Nor darkness nor doubting nor sin and its stain
Can touch my salvation; with Jesus I reign.
Blessing
Prayer Requests
Our Church Members
Cara Sweeney Tristyn Herrington-Altmeyer Pat Brown
Byron Westerman Ruth Whitehead Monica Miller
Kathleen Bennatt Dorothy Dillon Gloria Hurta
Hoyt Johnson Sophie Morgan Kelly Hubley
Sydney Hernandez
Our Family and Friends
Kamryn Helgren M’linda Lord Brady Reardon
Jake Tabor Micah Bowie Sara Vuoso
Raelyn Williams Sharen Couchman Chris Brown
Nancy Glenn Frances Morrison Kathy Rukenbrod
David Luna Sue Patterson Mary Laird
Kenneth Haunschild Julie Hurt Nelson Scheler
Darrell Sander Pat Groze Walter Pfiester
Bill Batty Dawn Walters Janis Riebe
Kimberly Olson Barbara Stephens David Johnson
Sylvia Rushing Kathy Nielsen Naomi Stark
Ferrell Coon Sandra Richardson Travis Klaerner
Anthony Maddox Elia Escalonte Chris Maresh
Jason Balister Janice Damari Julie Eilers
Ann Martin Bettie & Stan Williams John & Minerva Sandoval
Heather Davis Vicki Henry Samantha Phillips
Stuart Johnson Annette Starr Jerry Aplin
Virginia Royston Shirley Isler Lanice Hunger
Michael Hays McKenzie Pettit Hannah Measles
Robin Lively Byron Burns Taylor Simoneaux
Rev. General Smith