June 19, 2016
TATTOOS
I stood beside a young man this week at a fast food counter. He was a great deal younger
than I and had a colorful tattoo on his shoulder. I looked at it for a moment and made
out the face and crown of a queen. When he noticed my interest, I commented, “That’s an
interesting tattoo. Does it bother you when people like me look at it?” He replied in the
affirmative, that yes, he was bothered when people looked at his tattoo. So I apologized and
stopped looking.
A young woman behind a lunch counter had some interesting designs on her arm. She
volunteered that the tats were of the official state flowers of the states where she had lived.
She pointed out Tennessee and Florida, then Georgia. “That’s the magnolia,” she said, “the
state flower of Georgia.” I didn’t want to burst her bubble or discolor her tattoo, but I knew
then and know now that the Cherokee Rose, and not the magnolia, is our state flower.
I know that some tattoos are beautiful works of art, often saying something about the
persons who wear them. But I’m not sure what people with tattoos do when they decide that
they have made a mistake, don’t like the attention, or that they don’t know the state flower
of Georgia. I hear that removal is expensive and painful, but I have no personal knowledge.
What I do know is that we all have our tattoos. We are all marked by decisions and
actions through the years, some of which might bring unwanted attention, some that might be
completely wrong, and some that don’t represent us at all. The vicissitudes of life have had
their toll on us and we have the bruises and bumps to prove it.
We also know that the tattoos are difficult, if not impossible, to remove. We are the sum
of our actions and thoughts and those actions and thoughts have impact upon us. But there is
a place where we can rest from the pain, from the hurt, from the memory, and from the toil
that those tattoos represent. The church proclaims and lives God’s grace. The church is the
place where our sins are made “whiter than snow” and the scars and blemishes of the past
are smoothed away. We live in difficult times, times made even more difficult by the poor
choices we have made. But there is help, and we proclaim that help in this place every day.
And there is a place for you.
The Worship of God
Fifth Sunday after Pentecost (Green)
Father’s Day
Welcome and Parish Notices (8:55 a.m. and 11:10 a.m.)
Dr. Sam R. Matthews
Invitation to Worship
Rev. Brian Smith
In the morning, O Lord, you hear our prayers.
In the light of this day we praise your name.
Through the abundance of your steadfast love you have gathered us into your house.
In the holiness of your presence, we bow down to worship and adore you.
(Psalm 5)
Prelude
Reflection on ITALIAN HYMN
Brian Parks
Introit
Stand Up And Bless The Lord
ST. MICHAEL
*Hymn
Come, Thou Almighty King
Hymnal 61
*Affirmation of Faith
The Apostles’ Creed
Hymnal 881
I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord: who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born
of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried;
the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the
right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the
quick 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.
*Gloria Patri
Hymnal 70
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.
Anthem
Almighty God Of Our Fathers
Will James
Almighty God, God of our fathers immortal, holy, holy, Lord God of Israel.
Blessed art thou, the God of our fathers. Unto thy throne do we lift up our songs,
Lord, our creator. Great is thy name, the King of Kings. Our prayers ascend to thee.
Hear our pray unto thee. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name, thy
kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us our daily bread,
and deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever,
Amen.
Children’s Sermon
*Hymn
God Will Take Care Of You
Hymnal 130
Pastoral Prayer and The Lord’s Prayer
Rev. Elaine Wilder
Giving of God’s Tithes and Our Offerings
Offertory
Rhosymedre
(words found on Hymnal page 447)
Ralph Vaughan Williams
*Doxology
Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow
Hymnal 95
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*Scripture Lesson
Luke 8: 26-39
Sermon
THE DEMON
Dr. Matthews
Invitation to Christian Discipleship
*Hymn
*Benediction
*Postlude
Near To The Heart Of God
Hymnal 472
Alleluia, Amen
Carl Wiltse
Fireworks from “Water Music”
G.F. Handel
(*Those who are able, please stand)
GIFTS TO MFUMC: In honor of Al Rector by Gloria & Gary Miller.
In memory of Dean Kates by Barbara Moses.
In memory of James Manning by Delinda & Charles Kilgore.
In memory of Lynn Gabler by the Lindell DeJarnett Sunday School Class.
Holy Communion served in the Latimer Chapel at 10 a.m.
This week at MFUMC
HOSPITALIZED: Stella Bolen
FLOWERS: The flowers in the Sanctuary today are given to the Glory of God
and in loving memory of Rachel Holman by Mr. and Mrs. Cody Holman.
Great American Family Picnic. Celebrate
Independence Day with family and friends in
the Park on Polk. Make your reservation for a
pre-determined lawn space or table for
a picnic dinner, two reserved parking spots,
access to organized activities, and the best
seats in town for the holiday fireworks show.
Visit www.greatamericanfamilypicnic.com to
register. Proceeds benefit MUST Ministries.
(Forrest Cate, ext. 7806)
Summer Youth Activities. Here are a few
ways to stay connected with the Fusion Family
all summer long!
 Tuesday Lunch Crew
 Mission Fridays
 Summer Theme Nights (Color War,
Olympics, Hunger Games, Pirate Night)
Visit www.mariettafumc.org/events for more
information. (Jessica Ferguson, ext. 7822)
Mission Mondays. All rising 4 th-6th graders are
invited to Mission Mondays in June and July.
We will do a group mission project at the
church and then walk to the Square for lunch
and dessert. The dates are June 20 and 27,
and July 11 and 18 from 10 a.m. to 1
p.m. Meet in the Welcome Center lobby
outside the Family Life Hall. The only cost is
lunch and dessert. (Kelly Duncan, ext. 7812)
Save the date for the annual Back Pack
Event. Saturday, July 23 in the Family Life
Hall. Help prepare backpacks with school
supplies to support Marietta City Schools and
MUST Ministries for students in need. This is a
service opportunity for all ages. (Forrest Cate
ext. 7806)
June Food Drive. It’s time to re-stock the
Food Pantry. Lists of needed items will be
available at donation boxes at each elevator
and at the Reception Desk. (Forrest Cate,
ext. 7806)
We invite you to serve with our Parking
Ministry on Sunday mornings in half-hour
and one-hour shifts from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30
p.m. Help members with difficulty walking to
and from worship and Sunday School. Training
is provided. (Forrest Cate, ext. 7806)
Help pack lunches for the MUST Summer
Lunch Program Thursdays at 10 a.m. in
the Lower Room. To learn more about this
vital summer program and to volunteer,
visit
www.mariettafumc.org/summerlunch.
(Forrest Cate, ext. 7806)
Worship Leaders
Senior Minister:
Dr. Sam R. Matthews
Associate Ministers:
Rev. Elaine Wilder
Rev. Brian Smith
Elementary Summer Camps. Spots are still
available in our elementary-age day camps!
 Martial Arts, June 20-24. Half-Day (9 a.m.
to 1:30 p.m.)
 Builder Bunch Lego Camp, July 11-15. Full
Day (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
 Our Daily Bread Cooking Camp,
July
18-21. Half-Day (9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.)
(Kelly Duncan, ext. 7812)
Save the Date: Schoolhouse Rock Live. July
14-17, MFUMC’s Jubilation Drama Ministry will
present this piece of musical theater based on
the smash-hit cartoon series from the 70s.
The show will include “Conjunction Junction,”
“I’m Just a Bill” and other toe-tapping favorites. Tickets will go on sale Sunday,
June 26. (Brian Parks, ext. 7809)
Director of Music:
Bryan Black
11:15 a.m. Service:
Crucifer: Chandler Fike
Organist:
Brian Parks
Pianist:
Brenda Brent
56 Whitlock Ave. Marietta, GA 30064 770-429-7800 www.mariettafumc.org