09-06-2015 Sunday Evening Bulletin.pub

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The Lord’s Day Evening September 6, 2015 Six O’clock

Welcome and Announcements Prelude Dear Lord Jesus, some days fleeing to Tarshish looks inviting. If I could offer you selective obedience, there’d be no problem; but the gospel is sending me to places and stories I’d rather not visit.

rejoicing heart. So very Amen I pray, in your holy and loving name. (Scotty Smith,

365 Everyday Prayers)

Call to Worship ............................................................ Psalm 139:7-12 MINISTER: Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? PEOPLE: If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! MINISTER: If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. PEOPLE: If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; ALL: the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.

I get Jonah’s struggle, but more importantly, you get mine. No one wrestled with doing the will of God more than you. No one’s been more honest about the price of obedience. But you were thinking about the great needs of others; I’m thinking about me, and how much I want a hassle-free, mess-free, conflict-free life.

Hymn 53 ................................................ Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

This is why it’s so easy for me to come to you today without editing my feelings, repackaging my angst, or spinning my thoughts; because I’m one of those people you were thinking about as you prepared to go to the cross. As you cried out, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing,” you had me in view. As you crushed the head of the serpent, you had me in mind. As you were raised from the dead, you had me in your heart. When you spoke the words to Mary, “Don’t be afraid,” it wasn’t just for her benefit, but for mine as well. I praise and bless you.

Selection of Hymns

Just talking to you, I feel better. It’s not that all of a sudden I now want to go to “Nineveh.” But I am feeling a little less inclined to break in line at the ticket counter to pay my fare to Tarshish. Thank you for being so welcoming, patient, and understanding. You paid our fare for a life in the new heaven and new earth, and you’ll walk with us every step of the way until that Day. Even as I’m not thrilled about my current and future assignments to “Nineveh”, to know that you are with us and for us is enough. Surprise me with the power of the gospel. Turn my resigned heart into a

Invocation ........................................................Dr. David Hatten Jussely

Prayer of Illumination Scripture Reading............................................................. Jonah 1:1-10 Sermon ...................................................................... Andrew Harwell “God Rescues Runaways” Hymn 599 ..............................................Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us Benediction Postlude

September 6, 2015 6:00 p.m.

Presbyterian Church in America Hattiesburg, Mississippi