WORSHIP OF GOD Sunday, February 4, 2024 at 11 a.m.
PRELUDE
arr. Cranfill
Thine Is the Glory
SPdL Orchestra; Richard Rogers, director
WORSHIP OF GOD Sunday, February 4, 2024 at 11 a.m.
SCRIPTURE
CHORAL CALL TO WORSHIP*
HYMN NO. 493
HYMN NO. 315
SERMON
Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above MIT FREUDEN ZART
WELCOME & INVOCATION SCRIPTURE
Dr. Dock Hollingsworth Psalm 147:1–11; 20c
Rev. John Uldrick
People: Praise the Lord! How good it is to sing praises to our God; for He is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting. Leader: The Lord builds up Jerusalem; He gathers the outcasts of Israel.
Leader: He determines the number of the stars; He gives to all of them their names. People: Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; His understanding is beyond measure. Leader: The Lord lifts up the downtrodden; He casts the wicked to the ground. People: Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; make melody to our God on the lyre. Leader: He covers the heavens with clouds, prepares rain for the earth, makes grass grow on the hills. People: He gives to the animals their food, and to the young ravens when they cry. Leader: His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor His pleasure in the speed of a runner; but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His steadfast love. People: Praise the Lord!
ANTHEM
I Will Sing the Wondrous Story
WONDROUS STORY
Promise of Joy
Martin, arr. Adams
Sanctuary Choir; SPdL Orchestra; Alexandria Haines, cello; Russell Wilson, oboe
OFFERTORY PRAYER OFFERTORY
Amanda Payne Sonatina in C Major SPdL Orchestra
DOXOLOGY (HYMN NO. 706) Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow
arr. Akers OLD 100TH
Children K–5 may leave during this time for Kids Worship. Parents, please pick up your children in room C-305 of the Children's Building after the service.
PASTORAL PRAYER
Clara Payne
Have Thine Own Way, Lord
ADELAIDE
Patience, Grasshopper
Rev. Caroline Smith
HYMN OF RESPONSE NO. 57
FINLANDIA
Be Still, My Soul
Those wishing to join Second-Ponce today are invited to come down front at this time.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT
Dr. Hollingsworth
BENEDICTION
People: He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.
HYMN SHEET
Isaiah 40:21–31
(p. 582–583 in your pew Bible)
Rev. Jonathan Hall
POSTLUDE
Rev. Smith Toccata on “Great Day” Jack Mitchener, organ
Adolphus Hailstork
*In honor of Black History Month, our February Choral Calls to Worship will be verses from Lift Every Voice and Sing.
WELCOME, REV. CAROLINE SMITH We're excited to welcome Rev. Caroline Smith, Senior Pastor of Parkway Baptist Church in Duluth, to the Second-Ponce pulpit! Originally from west Texas, she received two degrees from Baylor University (BA in Religion and MA in Social Work) and her Masters of Divinity from George W. Truett Theological Seminary. She, along with her husband, Josh, have served God's people globally from California to South Africa, where in Johannesburg, Caroline ministered with local Indian Baptist conventions and served as the Pastor and counselor for a children’s home. The Smiths are the proud parents of two sweet children, Bella and Noah. LEADING OUR OFFERTORY PRAYER Amanda Payne—an active Deacon and member of the Executive Committee—joined Second-Ponce with her husband, Aaron, over 15 years ago. Aaron and Amanda share community and support with their peers as co-hosts of the Thursday night Parents Connect small group. Their precious daughters, Clara and Emily, are active in the Kids' Club children’s ministry. Originally from Blue Ridge, the Payne family enjoys returning to their hometown to spend time outdoors. The flowers on the Communion Table are given in honor of JANE BRANCH for her 100th birthday, February 7. They are given by Gary and Debbie Branch.
WORSHIP OF GOD Sunday, February 4, 2024 at 11 a.m. WE'RE "PEOPLE PEOPLE" FOR GUESTS WE HAVEN'T MET YET Welcome to church! Make yourself at home here! Settle in for a transformative and joyful hour of worship. We'd love to be helpful in your faith journey. There's a green card in the pew rack—I'm New Here. Use it to share as much information as you like and drop it in the offering plate. We understand that some people are hesitant to fill out church cards. It's true—a member of our pastoral staff will reach out, but you won't be flooded with calls, emails or requests. Engagement with us will be at your own pace; we just want to know who you are and how we can pray for you. FOR GUESTS WE KNOW & CHURCH MEMBERS Welcome back to church! Your presence is part of what makes Sundays at Second-Ponce so wonderful. If you're a guest who's ready to take the next step or a church member who wants to deepen your involvement, fill out the red pew card—I'm a Regular—and drop it in the offering plate. Let us know how we can help.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION EVERYONE IS AN "INSIDER" AT SPDL We're sharing definitions of a few words and visuals you may encounter today. • Councils: Our congregational leadership structure is divided into four councils named after each of our core values: Community, Discipleship, Missions and Worship. • Doxology: The Doxology is a short hymn of praise. We use it as transition music when children leave the Sanctuary for Kids Worship. • FriYAY: Several times a year, our Kids' Club meets on a Friday evening to have fun as a group and give parents a night out. We call it FriYAY because everyone is excited to participate! • Invocation: The first prayer of a worship service invoking the spirit of God to be with us as we worship. • Prime Timers: Our vibrant senior adult ministry • SPdL: An abbreviation for Second-Ponce de Leon. We pronounce it "Spee-duhl." • SPdLU: SPdLU—Second-Ponce de Leon University—is our Wednesday night time of adult discipleship where we study relevant topics or books of the Bible. CHILDCARE DURING WORSHIP We love to see children at Second-Ponce, and we have a Kids’ Club area just for them! It's one floor up from the Sanctuary, and our greeters will be happy to show you the way. In the Kids' Club, there’s a nursery and Kids Worship for babies–5th grade. You may take your children to the Kids' Club before the service or, if you prefer, they can stay with you in the Sanctuary for the entire hour or until the Doxology (when kids leave with children's ministry leaders). After worship, pick them up in the Kids’ Club. HOW TO JOIN Second-Ponce enthusiastically welcomes you to make a commitment to Christ and our community of faith. At any time during the Hymn of Response, simply walk to the front of the Sanctuary where a member of our ministry team will greet you with warmth and joy. If you're uncomfortable being "in the spotlight," but still want to join–that's ok! Speak with one of our ministers after worship and they'll walk you through an alternate plan.
MISSIONS TOCO HILLS MOBILE PANTRY Monday, February 19 | 12–4 p.m. | Toco Hills Community Alliance Toco Hills Community Alliance is looking for volunteers to help distribute food and water at their mobile pantry. As their partner, we want to help by sending a team of 5-10 of our folks to participate in this vital ministry. If you’re interested, contact Rev. Allie Osborne at aosborne@spdl.org.
RSVP FROM YOUR SEAT Sign up for SPdL events on our website at www.spdl.org/rsvp or scan this code.
COMMUNITY IT'S CANDY TIME Community Egg Hunt | Saturday, March 23 | 11 a.m.–1 p.m. | Free Event Our annual Community Egg Hunt will be here before we know it, and we need your help to begin preparations! We're collecting candy donations in designated bins in the Welcome Center. As you're able, please grab a few bags of individually wrapped goodies and bring them to church. YOUNG ADULT MARDI GRAS PARTY Tuesday, February 13 | 7:15 p.m. | Jonathan and Milligan Hall's Home Join us at Jonathan & Milligan Hall’s Young Adult Mardi Gras Party! A delicious and authentic NOLA dinner and desserts will be provided. RSVP to jhall@spdl.org by Sunday, February 11. Let the good times roll! PRIME TIMER'S VALENTINE'S LUNCH Thursday, February 15 | 11:45 a.m.–1:30 p.m. | Fellowship Hall | Cost: $10/person It's true—the Prime Timers' Valentine's lunch will be a day late this year. But that gives us 24 extra hours to plan! Join us Thursday, February 15 for MORE fun, MORE love, MORE friendship and MORE laughs! On the menu: chicken parm, penne pasta, salad, garlic bread and dessert. RSVP by Sunday, February 11. KIDS' CLUB VALENTINE'S FRIYAY | "LOVE GOD, LOVE EACH OTHER" Friday, February 16 | 5:30–9:30 p.m. | Ages 0–5th grade | $20/child Get ready for a fun-filled evening for kids that includes a meal, a Bible story, games and crafts while parents can enjoy some time together! Children ages 0–5th grade are welcome! Cost is $20/child and space is limited! Sign up by Wednesday, 2/14.
DISCIPLESHIP SUPPER & SPDLU | SERIES FINALE Wednesday, February 7 | Supper at 5 p.m. | Discipleship at 6 p.m. | Fellowship Hall and on Zoom | Supper Cost: $8/adult; $5/child Join us for supper & SPdLU this week! On the menu: Burgers, hot dogs, French fries, baked beans, salad and dessert. After the meal, Rev. John Uldrick will conclude this series with The Lord's Prayer Part 5: For THINE Is The Kingdom, Power, and Glory. RSVP by Noon, Monday, 2/5. You can find recordings of past sessions on our website at www.spdl.org/faithresources. WOMEN'S RETREAT Friday–Sunday, March 8–10 | Pinnacle Retreat Center | Clayton, GA Cost: $170/person (double occupancy) Join us for fellowship, study and fun in the North GA mountains! Our special guest, Rev. Heather Webb, will lead us in exploring how we can apply Jesus' "I Am" statements from John's gospel to our daily lives. If you have questions or want to see the weekend's agenda, reach out to the retreat team at womensministry@spdl.org. There are so many "best things" about the Women's Retreat: spending quality time with church friends and getting to know the ladies better, learning with and from each other as we explore God's word, and being surrounded by the beauty of God's world for a weekend of stepping back from the routine and chaos of everyday life. —Gayle Suggs
ATLANTA COMMUNITY FOOD BANK HUNGER WALK/RUN Sunday, March 10 | Noon–4 p.m. | Event begins at 2 p.m. Pre-Registration: $30/walk; $40/run | Onsite Registration: $35/walk; $45/run The Missions Council invites you to join the Second-Ponce team for Atlanta Community Food Bank's annual Hunger Walk/Run. After worship, we'll change into our walk/run clothes and carpool to MARTA. You can purchase lunch at the event or make your own arrangements. Sign up by Friday, March 8. For more information, reach out to Drew Kelly, Missions Council Chair, at drewkellyatl@gmail.com or 678.480.0375.
WORSHIP ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE Wednesday, February 14 | Following Fellowship Supper (6:15 p.m.) | Chapel Join us as we begin the Lenten season with Ash Wednesday worship on February 14. After Fellowship Supper, we'll move to the Chapel and share in a deeply meaningful time together. Children and youth will participate in worship, but childcare will be available. MEN'S CHOIR Sunday, March 10 | During Worship | 11 a.m. | Sanctuary Sunday, March 10, our worship music will be led by a men's choir, and we'd love for you to join! SPdL women will be away at their retreat, so this is a great chance to showcase our bass, baritone and tenor voices. All men—even if you've never performed in the choir before—are welcome to participate! No experience needed; only a joyful spirit required. Reach out to Bill Gabbard, minister of music, for more information at bgabbard@spdl.org.
NEXT SUNDAY YOUTH PARENT MEETING Sunday, February 11 | After Worship | Youth Area After worship Sunday, February 11, youth and parents are invited to eat and meet as we look ahead to student ministry in 2024. The lunch entree and drinks will be provided and we're asking you to bring sides and/or desserts. RSVP to Jonathan by Thursday, February 8.
WEEK AT A GLANCE MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5 Noon Fellowship Supper RSVP Due WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7 9:30 a.m. BSF Women's Bible Study 5 p.m. Fellowship Supper 6 p.m. Adult Discipleship (SPdLU)* 6 p.m. Activities for Children & Youth 7:05 p.m. Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8 8:30 p.m. Parents Connect Zoom
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11 9:15 a.m. Coffee & Fellowship 9:45 a.m. Adult Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Combined Children & Youth Sunday School 11 a.m. Worship* 12 p.m. Women's Retreat Info Table 12:15 p.m. Youth Parent Meeting & lunch *This event is available in person and online (via Zoom, YouTube or Facebook; check event details)
Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church | 2715 Peachtree Road NE | Atlanta, GA | 30305 404.266.8111 | www.spdl.org | FB, IG & YT: @secondponce
Dynamic Intentional Joyful MISSIONS DISCIPLESHIP WORSHIP COMMUNITY
AFTER WORSHIP WOMEN'S RETREAT INFO & REGISTRATION TABLE Have questions about the Women's Retreat? Need help signing up? Stop by the registration table by the church library and the ladies there will get you all squared away!
IN THE LIFE OF OUR CHURCH
Focused
IN THE LIFE OF OUR CHURCH
Growing in Christ and community– sharing God's love in the world.
February 4, 2024
WELCOME TO WORSHIP We're glad you're here!
TODAY'S MESSAGE
Patience, Grasshopper Isaiah 40:21–31
Rev. Caroline Smith | Guest Preacher The prophet Isaiah reminds us to lift up our eyes and see the One who creates all things. Do you look to God and sometimes wonder if God sees you? God sees you; and sees you for who you are. God loves you; and loves you for who you are. You are loved, you are cherished, you are a child of God.
Second-Ponce Worship Team DR. DOCK HOLLINGSWORTH Senior Pastor REV. JOHN ULDRICK Associate Pastor JOY CALLAWAY Pianist ANNELIESE DEPENTHAL Music Ministry Intern BILL GABBARD Minister of Music
REV. JONATHAN HALL Minister of Community & Student Discipleship DR. JACK MITCHENER Organist REV. ALLIE OSBORNE Minister of Missions & Children's Discipleship RICHARD ROGERS Director of Orchestra