THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT CALDWELL

Our Purpose:

To help all people build life-transforming relationships with God and each other.

The members and friends of FPC welcome people from all backgrounds - - people of faith from throughout the world, people who profess no faith, Christians of all denominations and those who are searching for religious and spiritual meaning.

Welcome!

October 26, 2014

Ten o’clock

20th Sunday after Pentecost

GATHERING

REFLECTION

Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and will be repaid in full (Proverbs 19:17)

PRELUDE

“Shout to the North”

arr. Phillip Kevern

Katie Kreil, Piano

CALL TO WORSHIP

All that we have is the Lord’s — oceans and mountains, sun and rain — life itself.

All that we are comes from God and, as God’s people, we are shaped by the working of the Holy Spirit among us.

All that we give is already the Lord’s.

We are God’s stewards, returning what is rightfully the Lord’s.

In coming to us as Jesus, the Christ, we are rich beyond measure.

Let us worship the Lord, as beloved children of God.

OPENING PRAYER

*HYMN NO. 612

“We Praise You, O God”

KREMSER

Lighting the candles today is Acolyte Ian Flanigan.

CONFESSION

CORPORATE CONFESSION

Merciful God, we acknowledge that we are impressed by things that do not matter to you. We confuse intelligence with wisdom, positions of influence with integrity, looks with character, and money with dignity. Generosity, kindness, humility and servanthood are more to your liking, but we confess that we do not always honor these characteristics. We push for the accolades, the praise, the recognition of our peers. All the while, Lord, we are full of self-doubt, afraid of being exposed as a phony, as being less than we pretend to be. We live in the shadow of an illusion of our own making, yet we feel powerless to stop the charade. Forgive us, Lord. Heal our brokenness, forgive our stubbornness and pride, and by your grace, renew a right heart, mind, and spirit within us.

PERSONAL CONFESSION

In Christ’s name we pray.

Amen.

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

...Friends, believe the good news.

In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

*RESPONSE OF PRAISE NO. 710

“We Lift Our Voices”

We lift our voices; we lift our hands; we lift our lives up to you: we are an offering. Lord, use our voices; Lord, use our hands; Lord, use our lives; they are yours: we are an offering. All that we have, all that we are, all that we hope to be, we give to you, we give to you. We lift our voices; we lift our hands; we lift our lives up to you: we are an offering; we are an offering.

PROCLAIMING AND RESPONDING

ANTHEM

“Cantate Hodie!”

Mary Lynn Lightfoot

Pilgrim Choir

PARISH LIFE

Members, friends and visitors, please sign the Friendship Pad in each pew and pass it to the person next to you. The last person will pass the pad back to the first person, who will then please place the sheet in the offering plate. Worshipers are invited to use the cards in the pew racks for prayer requests so we may share one another’s joys and concerns. The ushers will collect the cards during the hymn following the sermon and they will be offered during the Prayers of the People.

TIME WITH THE CHILDREN

Please note: Children through 7th grade may leave the sanctuary for Sunday School following the Time with the Children. Please exit through the doors on either side of the Choir loft.

MINUTE FOR MINISTRY

Strengthen Our Sisters

Ellen Johnson

SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM

We welcome into the family of God through baptism Kellan James Bailey, son of Yuriah and Lori Bailey, born on April 24, 2014. Assisting in the baptism today is Elder Nancy McCarthy.

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH The Apostles’ Creed (ecum)

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.

*HYMN OF DEDICATION

“God Claims You”

SERMON

“Kind”

Dr. Sommers

*HYMN NO. 766

“The Church of Christ Cannot Be Bound”

MC KEE

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

OFFERING

OFFERTORY

“Joy in the Morning”

arr. Lloyd Larsson

Chancel Choir

*RESPONSE OF THANKSGIVING NO. 647

“Give Thanks”

Refrain: Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy one, give thanks because he’s given Jesus Christ his Son.

And now let the weak say, “I am strong”; let the poor say,

“I am rich because of what the Lord has done for us.”

(Repeat refrain)

Give thanks. Give thanks.

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

*TEACHING MOMENT

GOING FORTH

*BENEDICTION

*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE NO. 543

“God Be the Love to Search and Keep Me”

God, be the love to search and keep me; God, be the prayer to move my voice; God, be the strength to now uphold me: O Christ, surround me; O Christ, surround me.

*THE PEACE

The peace of Christ be with you.

And also with you.

Please exchange greetings of welcome and peace with your neighbor.

*Please rise in body or in spirit

†If you are new to the church...Welcome! We’re glad to have you here. Please ask an usher to direct you to Visitor packets at the rear of the church. They can be found on the table near the usher’s closet under the balcony stairs. After the 10:00am service today, we hope you will join us for Coffee Hour in Room 120 located through the door to the left of the choir loft and left to the end of the hall.

†Your prayers of intercession are requested for those members and friends known to be currently or recently hospitalized or who continue to need our prayers and support:

… Ann Boney, Harry Coppens, Bill Hayden, Ruth Hults, Edith Jipp, Roger Jones, Olga Muller, Marilyn O’Connell, Barbara Piggery, Louise Ritscher, Rob Thiemann, Laura Winter and Helena Wispelwey. The church office will be happy to verify their home addresses for you should you wish to send them words of encouragement or get well wishes.

† It is easy to join our mailing list! Just text FPC to 42828 and follow the prompt to send your e-mail address by text message.

THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

AT CALDWELL

326 Bloomfield Avenue

Caldwell, New Jersey 07006

973-228-0310