March 3 - 9 AM Connect Service

9 a.m. Connect Worship Service - March 3, 2024

Third Sunday in Lent / Lord’s Supper 

Rev. Ginny Ellis

Gathering and Welcome - Kevin Clark 

1st Gathering Song: “Rising” - FPC Praise Band 

2nd Gathering Song: “Open the Eyes of My Heart” - FPC Praise Band                                                                 

Call to Worship  - Diedra Flora 

“This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel. 

       I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. 

I will be their God and they will be my people. 

       They will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.”  So declares the Lord. 

We come to worship this covenant-making God. 

The Peace Candle and Passing the Peace - Diedra Flora 

      …The peace of Christ be with you. / And also with you.           

Response: “Doxology (Amen)” - FPC Praise Band   

Moment for All Ages - Ginny Ellis 

Worship Song: “Good, Good Father” - FPC Praise Band  

Presentation of our Gifts – Invitation and Prayer  - Kyle Brinkman

…Let us pray the Unison Prayer of Dedication:  

O God, as we come to receive your gifts of bread and cup, we bring gifts for the church to use in your name. These gifts came from your own hand, and we return them to you. Use them, even as you use us, to accomplish your purposes in Jesus Christ, the Head of the church and the Lord of our lives, for we are yours, we ourselves along with all we have. Amen.

Offertory Song: “Offering” - FPC Praise Band 

Prayer for Illumination - Kyle Brinkman                                                                                                                   

First Scripture: Exodus 20:1-17 - Kyle Brinkman

Sermon Scripture: John 2:13-20 - Ginny Ellis   

Sermon: “Covenant of Law: Setting a Framework” - Ginny Ellis

Sacrament of the Lord's Supper - Ginny Ellis

Invitation 

The Great Thanksgiving  

The Lord be with you. / And also with you. 

Lift up your hearts. / We lift them to the Lord. 

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. / It is right to give our thanks and praise. 

Prayer of Consecration 

Words of Institution 

Breaking of the Bread  

Prayer of Thanksgiving:                  

Gracious God, you have made us one with all your people in heaven and on earth. You have fed us with the bread of life, and renewed us for your service. We give ourselves to you, and ask that our daily living may be part of the life of your Kingdom. May our love be your love reaching out into the life of the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Announcements (for complete list, please see below) - Ginny Ellis

Final Song: “How Can I Keep From Singing” - FPC Praise Band 

Benediction - Ginny Ellis

Praise Band tag 

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Announcements:

Today, March 3

  • A Stephen Minister is available at the close of this service

  • We are collecting candy and eggs (and candy-filled eggs!) for our upcoming Easter Egg Hunt on Palm Sunday, March 24.

Monday, March 4

  • Lectio/Visio Divina, 10 a.m. via Zoom

  • Faith & Fiction, 4 p.m., Room N-123 

Wednesday, March 6

  • Praise Band Rehearsal, 7 p.m., Youth Center

Thursday, March 7

  • Bell Choir Rehearsal, 6 p.m., Choir Room

  • Chancel Choir Rehearsal, 7 p.m., Choir Room 

Friday, March 8

  • Men’s Bible Study, 8 a.m., Room N-123

  • Men's Lunch Bible Study, 12 p.m., via Zoom  

Sunday, March 10

  • Childcare available 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Pickups, Room S-203

  • Faith Journey class meets at 9:45 a.m. in Room S-202

  • Power Hour class meets at 10 a.m. in the Youth Center

  • “Next” Adult class meets at 10 a.m. in Room S-100

  • Presbyterianism class meets at 10:10 a.m. in the Church Office Conference Room 

Upcoming Events:

  • Sunday, March 17, 10:10 a.m., New Member Inquirer’s Class, Church Office Conference Room

  • Sunday, March 17, 1:30 p.m., Outing to the Tampa Bay Automobile Museum

  • Wednesday, March 20, 5:30 p.m., Beach Drive Forum, “The Dynamic History of St. Petersburg’s Marine Science Complex” by Peter R. Betzer, PhD

Amy McCutcheon