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.
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!
MEET PASTOR KRIS AND HER FAMILY - HUSBAND DAVID AND SONS ALEX AND HENRY
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. The video from June 6th is now available. If you attend in person, beginning June 6th, masks will no longer be mandatory and hymnals will be used.
The videos from Facebook Live 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.
Here is the bulletin for the June 13th service
Service for the Lord’s Day
First Presbyterian Church
Smithville, Texas
June 13, 2021 11:00AM
3rd Sunday after Pentecost
Welcome and Announcements
Welcome to First Presbyterian Church. We are glad you are worshipping with us today. If you are searching for a church home, please speak to our pastor or one of our elders.
* Anniversary Cookbooks are on sale at the church. The cost is $20. Please see Harleigh, Monica, or Jane for your copies.
Happy Birthday: Walter Winslett (16); Byron Westerman (18)
Call to Worship
L: It is good to give thanks to God! Come to make music to our Creator.
P: God knows our troubles and remembers our need. Our petitions are answered and our hearts’ desires fulfilled.
L: Declare God’s steadfast love and faithfulness. Seek God’s help in the sanctuary.
P: We know that God will help the anointed ones. Our pride is in God alone.
L: Listen for the voice of God, speaking to us again. How great is our God, our rock and defender!
P: God will respond when we call. We will bear fruit for God as long as life endures.
The Invocation
We turn to you, God of all worlds, knowing we can depend on you when earthly rulers stumble and fall, when other relationships are strained and broken, when we are faced with difficult challenges. It is good to sing your praises, even when we do not feel like singing. It is good to declare your faithfulness when we have been unfaithful. It is good to give thanks for when we do, we are reminded of the multitude of blessings we so often take for granted. Lead us in this time of worship. Amen.
L: Our first hymn is number 68, “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”
Come, thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above,
Praise his name – I’m fixed upon it – name of God’s redeeming love.
Here I raise to thee an altar, hither by thy help I’ve come,
And I hope, by thy good pleasure, safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God,
He, to rescue me from danger, bought me with his precious blood.
O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be.
Let my goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee,
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love,
Here’s my heart, O, take and seal it; seal it for thy courts above.
Call to Confession
L: Each of us has a mandate from God to give our best and bear fruit for God’s realm. We who gather in God’s house are called to be a faithful community in which all bow humbly before God, motivated by the love of Christ. This is a time to examine ourselves before our Creator. Let us confess our sins to God and one another.
Confession of Our Sins
God of all truth, who can stand before you? We judge by outward appearances, but you examine our hearts. We see what is on the surface, but you discern beauty deep within. We measure importance by paychecks, but you find value among those we deem lowly and insignificant. You offer us the deep and profound joy of living in your realm. We forget your promises and turn to pursuits that separate us from you and destroy community. We seek forgiveness and a new direction for our lives. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
L: All of us must stand before the judgment seat of Christ, today and every day. When we come with true penitence, we can win a victory over sin. Christ died for us, that we might no longer live only for ourselves. In Christ, we no longer regard others from a human point of view. We are a new creation. The old has passed away; the new has come. We can live confidently, urged on by the love of Christ, to joyous daring service.
P: Thanks be to God.
Gloria Patri Hymn No. 734
First Reading of Scripture 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13
Second Reading of Scripture 2 Corinthians 5:6-17
Time for the Children of Our Church
The Passing of the Peace
Hymn Number 43 “Majesty”
Majesty, worship his majesty; unto Jesus be all glory, honor, and praise.
Majesty, kingdom authority flow from his throne unto his own, his anthem raise.
So exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus; magnify, come glorify Christ Jesus, the King,
Majesty, worship his majesty; Jesus, who died, now glorified, King of all kings.
Reading from the Gospels Mark 4:26-34
Sermon Susan Guedry “Who is the Best?”
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
The Morning Offering
Offertory Invitation
L: God remembers our offerings of genuine thankfulness and regards with favor the sacrifices we make to extend God’s realm. We give, not out of compulsion, but with joy. Whatever our age or circumstances, we have something to give. Let us give thanks as we present our tithes and offerings.
Offertory
*The Doxology No. 34
*Prayers of Thanksgiving and Dedication
L: All that we have is yours, O God. What we present for the church’s use is no sacrifice. We are privileged to share good news in word and deed. May our common ministry be extended by the time and talents and treasure we invest. We would no longer live just for ourselves but for the realization of your reign among us. Let all things become new as we give our best. Amen.
L: Our closing hymn is number 384 “Rock of Ages”
Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee;
Let the water and the blood, from thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure, save from wrath and make me pure.
Not the labors of my hands can fulfill thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know, could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone; thou must save and thou alone.
Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to thee for dress, helpless, look to thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly; wash me, Savior, or I die!
While I draw this fleeting breath, when my eyes shall close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown, see thee on thy judgment throne;
Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee.
Blessing