WORSHIP OF GOD
Sunday, March 10, 2024 at 11 a.m.
PRELU DE His Eye Is on the Sparrow arr. Cranfill SPdL Orchestra; Richard Rogers, director
CHORAL CALL TO WORSHIP
HYMN NO. 281 Love Divine, All Loves Excelling BEECHER
WELCOME & INVOCATION
Dr. Dock Hollingsworth
CONFESSION OF SIN & Rev. John Uldrick ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Leader: Merciful God, You pardon all who truly repent and turn to You. We humbly confess our sins and ask Your mercy. We have not loved You with a pure heart, nor have we loved our neighbor as ourselves. We have not done justice, loved kindness or walked humbly with You, our God. Have mercy on us, O God, in Your loving-kindness. In Your great compassion, cleanse us from our sin.
People: Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us. Do not cast us from Your presence, or take Your Holy Spirit from us. Restore to us the joy of Your salvation and sustain us with Your bountiful Spirit through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Leader: Know that in Jesus, God embraces you, forgives you and strengthens you to live a renewed life.
People: Thanks be to God!
HYMN NO. 405 Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us BRADBURY
ANTHEM Majesty Hayford
Men’s Choir; SPdL Orchestra
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Robert Suggs
OFFERTORY Amazing Grace arr. Goeller
SPdL Orchestra; Richard Rogers, director
DOXOLOGY (HYMN NO. 706)
Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow
WORSHIP OF GOD
Sunday, March 10, 2024 at 11 a.m.
SCRIPTURE Judges 10:6–17 Jennifer Uldrick (p. 199 in your pew Bible)
HYMN NO. 503 Lord, Speak to Me, That I May Speak CANONBURY
SERMON Jephthah and the Baals Dr. Hollingsworth
WORSHIP OF GOD
Sunday, March 10, 2024 at 11 a.m.
WE'RE "PEOPLE PEOPLE"
FOR GUESTS WE HAVEN'T MET YET
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
Rev. Jonathan Hall
HYMN OF RESPONSE NO. 509 TRUST AND OBEY Trust and Obey
Those wishing to join Second-Ponce today are invited to come down front at this time.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT Dr. Hollingsworth
BENEDICTION Dr. Hollingsworth
POSTLUDE Fugue in C Minor Wilhelm Friedemann Bach Jack Mitchener, organ
LEADING OUR OFFERTORY PRAYER
You probably know Robert Suggs as an active member of our young adult ministry, but did you also know he is both a fourth-generation Atlantan and Second-Ponce member? Robert's love for God and our church family drives his service on the Worship and Leadership Councils as Chair and member, respectively. Robert works for the Community Organized Relief Effort, a non-profit bringing immediate aid and recovery to underserved communities. He is the son of Second-Ponce members, Gayle and Rob Suggs.
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.
MORE GOOD STUFF
EVERYONE IS AN "INSIDER" AT SPDL
We're pulling back the curtain on some experiences and words you'll encounter today.
• Doxology: The Doxology is a short hymn of praise. We use it as transition music when children leave the Sanctuary for Kids Worship.
• Clifton Strengths: Clifton Strengths—both an individual assessment tool and a team success resource—is used by Second-Ponce to understand our personal giftedness, recognize gifts in others and leverage the combination of all gifts to the glory of God.
• Invocation: The first prayer of the service invoking the spirit of God to be with us as we worship.
• Lent/Lenten Season: A period of 40 days beginning on Ash Wednesday and ending on the Saturday before Easter. Sundays are not counted because Sunday always celebrates Jesus’ victory over sin and death.
• Realm: Our church database for event registration, financial giving, member directory and record-keeping.
• SPdL: An abbreviation for Second-Ponce de Leon. We pronounce it "Spee-duhl."
• SPdLU: An acronym for Second-Ponce de Leon University, our Wednesday evening time of adult discipleship.
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.
SIGN UP ON SITE OR HELP US FUNDRAISE
Sunday, March 10 | Noon–4 p.m. Event begins at 2 p.m.
The Missions Council invites you to join the Second-Ponce team! You can register onsite for $35/walker and $45/runner. If you're unable to join us today, we encourage you to donate toward our $2,000 fundraising goal. Visit www.spdl.org/ missions to learn more!
RSVP FROM YOUR SEAT
Sign up for SPdL events on our website at www.spdl.org/rsvp or scan this code.
GOOD STUFF COMING UP
TUFF ENOUGH TO STUFF? Egg Stuffing Party for the Community Egg Hunt
The Community Council wants to know, "Which came first, the candy or the egg?" Help us answer the age-old question by joining one of our egg stuffing parties! There are two egg stuffing events, so pick one or come to both:
• Wednesday, March 13 | 4 p.m. | Fellowship Hall | Before supper
• Sunday, March 17 After worship | Fellowship Hall | Lunch provided No RSVP required. Come when you can and stay as long as you like. Reach out to the Community Council if you have questions: community@spdl.org.
REALM & CLIFTON STRENGTHS HELP DESKS
Two opportunities: Wednesday, March 13 and Sunday, March 17
Have questions about Realm? Need a Realm account? Need support for your Clifton Strengths account? Drop by and visit Karen at one or both help desk opportunities:
• Wednesday, March 13 | 4:30–6 p.m. & 7–7:30 p.m. | Fellowship Hall
• Sunday, March 17 9:30–10 a.m. & 12–12:30 p.m. | By the Library You can also email Karen with questions about Realm or Clifton Strengths at kharwell@spdl.org.
SUPPER & SPDLU | Five-Week Series: Hope in Glory
Wednesday, March 13 | Supper: 5 p.m. SPdLU: 6 p.m. | Meal: $8/adult; $5/child Join us for our mid-week fellowship! On the menu: Corned beef and cabbage, carrots, potatoes, salad and dessert. After supper, Rev. John Uldrick will lead our current discipleship series—“Hope in Glory”—with part four: "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” and “I thirst.” In this series, we'll walk through the seven last words of Christ. RSVP for the meal by Noon, Monday, March 11.
COMMUNITY EGG HUNT
Saturday, March 23 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Egg hunting in waves Cost: Free Grab your baskets and your buddies and hop on down to our annual Community Egg Hunt! This free and fun event is open to everyone and includes inflatables, food, a raffle, games, face painting, a balloon artist and crafts. Children will hunt eggs in two waves by age. Don't miss this highly anticipated community gathering and invite your friends, too!
EASTER LILIES FOR LOVED ONES
$25/each | Deadline: Sunday, March 24
Sponsor an Easter lily in recognition (honor or memory) of loved ones. Use the hard copy forms (available in the Welcome Center) or contact Vicki McCaskey in the church office (vmccaskey@spdl.org or 404.591.4344). The deadline for purchase is Sunday, March 24. A commemorative list of honorees will be included with the Easter worship bulletin.
LENTEN SEASON AT SECOND-PONCE
Below is a Lenten season reflection on the crosses and colors adorning the Second-Ponce campus.
SORROW TO CELEBRATION by Rev.
John UldrickImages are important, aren’t they? Can you think of visuals that deliver powerful messages in your own life? What about a red and black ‘G’ or a gold and black yellow jacket? Just a glimpse of those images unearths the pride, emotion and history of hundred-years-old institutions … and plenty of football game memories!
The empty cross is a strong symbol, too, isn’t it; an image more meaningful for Christians than anything collegiate, cultural or familial. During Lent, two crosses appear on our church campus in preparation for Easter—one by the Welcome center entrance and the other on our front lawn. Both crosses are plain and empty because we serve a Risen Lord, but in the next few weeks, you’ll notice them draped in purple, then black and eventually white. These colored visual cues are images of Kingship and passion (purple) during Lent, sacrifice, sorrow and loss (black) around Good Friday and resurrection and everlasting life (white) on Easter Sunday! Hallelujah!
Speaking of Easter Sunday, Second-Ponce has a tradition of “flowering the cross”—covering it in fresh blooms and greenery—as a visual reminder of rebirth, fragrance and new life. We encourage each household to bring flowers and attach them to the Welcome Center cross before worship. After the service, this living cross becomes a beautiful backdrop for Easter photos, and there will be refreshing lemonade, too!
As we journey to Easter, may the symbol and colors of the empty cross prepare our hearts to boldly celebrate the Risen Christ and exuberantly share the love of our Savior!
PUT THESE EVENTS ON YOUR CALENDAR
Maundy Thursday
Thursday, March 28
Supper at 5 p.m. Discipleship at 6 p.m.
On the Menu: BBQ pulled pork, baked beans, coleslaw, rolls, salad, dessert. RSVP by Noon, Monday, March 25.
SUNDAY, MARCH 10
2 p.m. Hunger Walk/Run
MONDAY, MARCH 11
Noon Fellowship Supper RSVP Due
TUESDAY, MARCH 12
11:30 a.m. Prime Timers' Lunch
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13
9:30 a.m. BSF Women's Bible Study
4 p.m. Egg Stuffing Party
4:30 p.m. Realm/Clifton Strengths Help Desk
5 p.m. Fellowship Supper
6 p.m. Adult Discipleship (SPdLU)*
6 p.m. Activities for Children & Youth
7 p.m. Realm/Clifton Strengths Help Desk
Community Good Friday Service
Friday, March 29 | Noon
Hosted by The Cathedral of Christ the King No RSVP needed
Service details: www.spdl.org/goodfriday
WEEK AT A GLANCE
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13
7:05 p.m. Sanctuary Choir Rehearsal
THURSDAY, MARCH 14
8:30 p.m. Parents Connect Zoom
FRIDAY, MARCH 15
Youth Mission Madness (March 15–17)
SUNDAY, MARCH 17
9:15 a.m. Coffee & Fellowship
9:30 a.m. Realm/Clifton Strengths Help Desk
9:45 a.m. Bible Study and Sunday School
11 a.m. Worship*
12 p.m. Egg Stuffing Party
12 p.m. Realm/Clifton Strengths Help Desk
*This event is available in person and online via Zoom, YouTube or Facebook; check event details)
DISCIPLESHIP MISSIONS
Growing in Christ and community–sharing God's love in the world.
March 10, 2024