“The friendly church with a place for you”

505 S. Tyndall Parkway

Panama City, Florida 32404
850-785-7081

We are a nurturing church family, believing and witnessing

to the Gospel of God’s love by sharing our faith in Jesus Christ
and ministering to the needs of the community and world.

February 18, 2018 –

First Sunday in Lent
 OUR DAY OF WORSHIP
THEME FOR THE DAY: On Ash Wednesday the church began its journey toward
baptismal immersion in the death and resurrection of Christ. This year, the Sundays in Lent
lead us to focus on five covenants God makes in the Hebrew Scriptures and to use them
as lenses through which to view baptism. First Peter connects the way God saved Noah’s
family in the flood with the way God saves us through the water of baptism. The baptismal
covenant is made with us individually, but the new life we are given in baptism is for the
sake of the whole world.

WE WELCOME ALL who are in worship this morning, especially those who might be our
guests. If you are looking for a Church Home, we ask that you consider Parkway and
speak with the Pastor. We are in the Lenten Season leading us toward Easter.

CALL TO WORSHIP

L / From water to wilderness:

C /God’s covenant continues; God’s kingdom comes near.
L /On stone and in hearts:
C /God’s covenant continues; God’s kingdom comes near.
L /From the ancestor of nations to the Son lifted up:
C /God’s covenant continues; God’s kingdom comes near.
L /We follow Jesus on the Lenten path,
C /for where he is, we would be also.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

L / Let us pray: Holy God, heavenly Father, in the waters of the flood you saved the
chosen, and in the wilderness of temptation you protected your Son from sin. Renew us in
the gift of baptism. May your holy angels be with us, that the wicked foe may have no
power over us, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C / Amen.
+HYMN “ A Mighty Fortress Is Our God ”
 AS WE CONFESS OUR SINS AND HEAR THE PARDON
(Please remain standing for the confession)
+ CALL TO CONFESSION
L / God’s bow has been hung in the clouds—a unilateral disarmament in spite of our sin.
God remains faithful to the covenant of steadfast love, even when we are unfaithful.
Without fear, then, we confess our sins.

SILENCE FOR REFLECTION AND SELF-EXAMINATION

+ PRAYER OF CONFESSION
C / God of mercy, we begin this Lenten season in confession. We do not live
according to your ways, but according to our own. We condone violence,
participate in systems of injustice, and use power to our own advantage at the
expense of others. Forgive us, we pray, when we are tempted to follow paths
other than those you set before us. Teach us your commandments; help us to
turn from evil in its many guises, and turn us toward your kingdom drawing near.
In covenantal love, remember us, we pray, and be for us, once more and always,
an ark of safety and new life. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

+ DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS

P / Almighty and merciful God, …..

+ RESPONSIVE HYMN: “Gloria Patri”

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.

+ SHARING THE PEACE

P / The peace of the Lord be with you.

C / And also with you.

CHILDREN’S SERMON AND CHURCH

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Pastor: Gracious God, in rushing waters and in dry wilderness, in every season and
circumstance, we need your sustaining word. By the power of your Holy Spirit,
proclaim the good news among us today so that we may repent and believe and see
anew how the time is fulfilled and the kingdom has come near; in Jesus Christ your
Son, our Savior. Amen.

THE FIRST READING: The rainbow, sign of God’s covenant Genesis 9:8-17
8God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9“As for me, I am establishing my
covenant with you and your descendants after you, 10and with every living creature
that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with
you, as many as came out of the ark. 11I establish my covenant with you, that never
again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be
a flood to destroy the earth.” 12God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make
between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future
generations: 13I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant
between me and the earth. 14When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen
in the clouds, 15I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every
living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy
all flesh. 16When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting
covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17God
said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me
and all flesh that is on the earth.”

Here ends our reading

Psalmody Psalm 25:1-10
L / Let us begin together.
All: Your paths, O LORD, are steadfast love and faithfulness.
L / 1To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul.
C / 2My God, I put my trust in you; let me not be put to shame, nor let my
enemies triumph over me.
L / 3Let none who look to you be put to shame; rather let those be put to shame who are
treacherous.
C /4Show me your ways, O LORD, and teach me your paths.
L / 5Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; in you have I
trusted all the day long.
C /6Remember, O LORD, your compassion and love, for they are
from everlasting.
L /7Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions; remember me according to
your steadfast love and for the sake of your goodness, O LORD.
C /8You are gracious and upright, O LORD; therefore you teach sinners in your
way.
L /9You lead the lowly in justice and teach the lowly your way.
C /0All your paths, O LORD, are steadfast love and faithfulness to those who keep
your covenant and your testimonies.
All: Your paths, O LORD, are steadfast love and faithfulness.

THE SECOND READING Saved through water Peter 3:18-22

Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to
18

bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, 19in which
also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, 20who in former times did not
obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in
which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. 21And baptism, which this
prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to
God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into
heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject
to him.
Here ends our reading
THE ANTHEM Sanctuary Choir

THE HOLY GOSPEL: The temptation of Jesus in the wilderness for forty days
Mark 1:9-15
9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the
Jordan. 10And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart
and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11And a voice came from heaven, "You are
my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."12And the Spirit immediately drove him
out into the wilderness. 13He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he
was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.14Now after John was arrested,
Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15and saying, "The time is
fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near, repent, and believe in the good news."

L / This is the Word of the Lord!

C / Thanks be to God!
+HYMN “ Guide Me Ever, Great Redeemer ”
SERMON “Chocolate Cake, Flooded Waters, and Baptism.” PASTOR RIC

APOSTLES’ CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus
Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the
virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he
descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he
is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the
dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

INVITATION TO THE OFFERING

L/ Because we believe that in Jesus Christ, God’s time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God
has come near, we respond in tangible ways. By doing acts of justice and compassion and
by sharing our resources, we bear witness to the good news of the gospel. The offering is
received in gratitude to God.
C / Blessed be God forever.

THE OFFERING OFFERTORY ANTHEM THE DOXOLOGY

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

L / God of steadfast love and faithfulness, we are humbled as we try to do what is right
and to walk in your ways. Receive, we ask, these offerings, and use them for your own
good purposes in the church and in all creation. We pray in Jesus Christ. Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

CURRENT: Carol Forehand, Faye Jackson, Marge Lily, Marilyn Sandell, IdaMae Fleming,
Myrt Shoemaker, Richard Cook, Marianne Bacen, Millie Miller, Pastor Reid, Bill Lawson,
Alan Stone.

CONTINUING: Tony Abbott, Ed Brown, Pastor Reid, Doris Dixon, Ida Mae Fleming, Anne
Freeland, Mary Gordon, Anna Jones, Lee Masters, Chris Meek, Marty Reed, Joan
Scherer, Marilyn Schubert, Marge Smith, Jean Olson, Rhema Drayton.

HOMEBOUND: Darol Keefer, Gordon Merkel, Model Richardson, Bertie Shuster, Alan
Stone, Barbara VonNyvenheim, Jackie Hogan

Happy Birthday
Doris Dixon 2/23
Sue Dadisman 2/24
Shannon Mueller 2/27
Jack Brawley 3/02
Tom Martin 3/03

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be
done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as
we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us
from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever.
Amen.
+HYMN “ I Danced in the Morning”
Household Prayer: Morning
God of ancient covenants, your steadfast love and faithfulness are still new every morning. I
thank you that I can begin this day in the confidence of your abiding love and unending
mercy. Help me to treat others— family, friends, coworkers, classmates, and even
strangers— with love and mercy in our encounters today.
When I disappoint or am discordant, help me to show love to others. Open my eyes to the
places, people, and circumstances in which your kingdom has come near. I pray in the name
of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, my Savior. Amen.
Household Prayer: Evening

God of peace, as the day draws to a close and the evening draws in around me, I think of the
creatures of the earth that also seek rest in the hours of the night. You love them even as you
love me, and your covenant faithfulness covers all of us. So, with the birds of the air, the
beasts of the field, and the tiny ones who burrow in the ground, I offer you all thanks and
praise: for your unending goodness; for the beauty of our home, the earth; for your gift of life
instead of a deserved destruction. As your colorful bow now rests in the clouds, so may we
color the earth with the ways of peace until all creation rests with you in completeness. In
Christ’s name I pray. Amen.

McKenzie will be in the office:

Monday – 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday – 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Wednesday – 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Thursday – Off
Friday – 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
 OUR STAFF AT PARKWAY
Pastor – The Rev. Dr. Richard M. Connor, Sr.
Pastor Emeritus – The Rev. Reid Cameron
Administrative Asst – Miss McKensie Creamer
Director of Music – Mrs. Cathy Connor
Organist – Mrs. Lanelle Alford
Youth Directors – Mrs. Angie Worcester and Mr. Stuart
Guilford

OUR SESSION
President - Mrs. Jean Olson
Secretary/Clerk - Mrs. Angie Worcester
Treasurer - Mr. Ed Brown
Remaining Session Members:
Mrs. Linda Bonacasa
Mr. Al Borovich
Mr. Mitch Connor
Mr. Bruce Davis
Mrs. Mary Lou Edwards
Mrs. Mandy Kuchta
Mrs. Jamette Minchew
Mr. Robert Worcester
 Scripture Thoughts
Beginning something new often emerges from ending something else. So it is that this first
Sunday in Lent—as we enter into the time of heart-wrenching renewal—centers in
cataclysmic shifts. The flood waters in Noah’s story end with God’s rainbow covenant. The
baptismal waters of Jesus’ baptism end with God’s angels protecting Jesus in the
wilderness. Each of these stories shows death in water (drowning in the flood and in
baptismal waters) changing the characters’ status and identity. Noah receives the promise
from God to uphold life rather than destroy it. Jesus is revealed to be “the Beloved.” The
destruction unleashed by powerful forces ushers in God’s promises and guidance. The
stories maintain that when we are faced with the trials of endings we also receive God’s
assurance of protection from utter desolation.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

THE ELDER OF THE MONTH is now
responsible for securing ushers for the
worship service. If you would like to
serve as an usher during February,
please speak with All Borovich.
THE FOOD PANTRY is collecting peanut
butter for the month of February. Please
bring your jars of peanut butter and
place them on the wooden cross in the
narthex.

THE FOOD PANTRY will be open on

PLEASE HELP PROVIDE SUPPERS for
our youth on Wednesday nights. Simple
is enough – pizza, hot dogs, spaghetti,
any other kind of pasta dish. We have
between 10 and 15 each week. You may
sign on the sheet in the Cameron Hall or
speak with Angie or Stu for more
information. Monetary donations will also
be appreciated.
Thursday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. We
will also be packing bags on Wednesday
at 9:00 AM. If you can help on one or
both of these days, that would be great!
LOOKING FOR SOME MORE HELP!
We are in need of four more Children’s
Church leaders. It requires you to do
Children’s Church once every other
month. Please speak with Angie
Worcester or Pastor Ric if you are
interested.
 THIS WEEK’S MINISTRY CALENDAR
Today - First Sunday In Lent
9:00 AM – Sunday School For
Adults
10:00 AM – Worship
11:00 AM – Time of Fellowship
Fellowship Time is important to the
life of the congregation. We
always want to provide wonderful
treats during this time. If your last
name begins with would you
please bring goodies for next
Sunday’s fellowship.

Monday - 7:00 PM – AA in Skipper’s Nest

If you don’t see your birthday or
anniversary please call the office
Tuesday –
@ (850) 785-7081, so McKenzie
can update correct information.
Wednesday - 9:00 AM – Pack Bags For
Food Pantry
All hymns & liturgy in this bulletin
12:30 PM – Wednesday Workers
are used by permission from
5:30 PM – Youth
copyrights purchased by Parkway
5:30 PM – Bell Choir Rehearsal
Presbyterian Church
6:30 PM – Sanctuary Choir
Rehearsal
Attendance last Week:
7:00 PM – AA in Skipper’s Nest
68
THURSDAY - 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM –
Food Pantry
Call Us ...
SATURDAY - 7:00 PM – AA in Office #:(850)785-7081
Skipper’s Nest
Office Fax #: 763-5101

NEXT SUNDAY – Second Sunday in Lent Pastor’s #: 960-7222

9:00 AM –Sunday School
For Adults
10:00 AM – Worship
11:00 AM – Time of Fellowship