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! 

 

January 5, 2014 

Ten o’clock 

Second Sunday after Christmas 

Sunday Closest to Day of Epiphany 

_____________________________


GATHERING 


REFLECTION

Love is something if you give it away, give it away, give it away. 

Love is something if you give it away, you end up having more.


PRELUDE 

“Go, Tell It on the Mountain”

arr. Ron & Linda Sprunger


CALL TO WORSHIP

Arise, shine, for your light has come. 

Stand up, a new day is dawning, 

A new year is born, 

Fresh and clean. 

Arise, shine, for your light has come. 

Emmanuel, God is with us 

On every path we take, 

No matter where we go. 

Arise, shine, for your light has come, 

And the stars still shine 

Where Christ is present 

And voices sing in praise!


OPENING PRAYER


*HYMN no. 151 

“We Three Kings of Orient Are”

KINGS OF ORIENT

Lighting the candles today is Acolyte Henry Jones.


CONFESSION

CORPORATE CONFESSION

God of eternal hope, you place a light into every darkness and a star in every sky, and yet we prefer to walk in the darkness of despair and worry. We cover over the light of possibility with a flurry of worry. We walk bent over with care and concern and miss the reach of the stars. We fear the worst and distrust the best. We forge ahead on our own, not noticing your outstretched hand. We forget that there is never a moment that you are not with us, that your Son was called Immanuel, which means “God with us.” You bring a candle of hope, the light of peace, the radiance of joy. Shine your light on our path and walk with us through all our valleys. 


PERSONAL CONFESSION

We pray in the name of the One to whom the magi paid homage. 

Amen.


ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

...Friends, believe the good news.

In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.


*RESPONSE OF PRAISE no. 123 

“It Came Upon the Midnight Clear”

For lo, the days are hastening on, by prophets seen of old, 

When with the ever circling years shall come the time foretold, 

When peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendors fling, 

And the whole world give back the song which now the angels sing. 


PROCLAIMING AND RESPONDING


ANTHEM 

“Simon Zealotes” from JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR 

Westminster and Pilgrim Choirs 

Adriana Piercy, Choreographer

Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber &Tim Rice


TIME WITH THE CHILDREN

Please note: Children ages 2-5years old may leave to go to Kids Page in room A-9.


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. Please place the cards in the offering plate and the staff will include them with their prayers this week.


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 

“I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day” 

arr. Lloyd Larson


*RESPONSE OF THANKSGIVING no. 119 

“Hark The Herald Angles Sing”

Hail the heaven born prince of Peace! Hail the sun of righteousness! 

Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings. 

Mild he lays his glory by, born that we no more may die, 

Born to raise us from the earth, born to give us second birth. 

Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn king!” 


*PRAYER OF DEDICATION


SCRIPTURE 

Matthew 2:1-12

page 1, NT


SERMON 

“A Magic Penny”

Dr. Sommers


THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER 


INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE 


*HYMN OF PREPARATION no. 140 

“Once in Royal David’s City” 

IRBY 


GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING 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. 


THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD 

COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE 

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION 


GOING FORTH


*BENEDICTION


*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE

no. 143 “Angels, from the Realms of Glory”

REGENT SQUARE

Sages, leave your contemplations; brighter visions beam afar; 

Seek the great desire of nations; you have seen his natal star: 

Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn king!


*THE PEACE

The peace of Christ be with you.

And also with you.

Please exchange greetings of welcome and peace with your neighbor.

_____________________________


*Those who are able, please stand


†If you are new to our 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 10:00 service today, we hope you will join us for Coffee Hour in Room 120.


† The flowers this morning are given to the Glory of God and…

...to celebrate our Wedding Anniversary...57/57 by Richard and Edna.


† The red rose today celebrates the birth of…

...Anna Grace on December 23rd to Joe and Lisa DeLaura. She is the granddaughter of Tom and Barbara Everett. 


† Our thanks to Wally Brixner for preparing the Lord’s Table today. Our Communion servers are Wally Brixner, Paul Califf, Eleanor Casagrand, Carol DeFrance, Sue Jones, Chuck and Joyce McGrath, Lisa Stein, Bill Trafton and Sharon Witzel.


THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

AT CALDWELL

326 Bloomfield Avenue

Caldwell, New Jersey 07006

973-228-0310

www.firstprescaldwell.org