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!
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February 23, 2014
Ten o’clock
7th Sunday in Ordinary Time
GATHERING
REFLECTION
“To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.”
— Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968)
PRELUDE
Prelude and Fugue in D Major
G. F. Handel
CALL TO WORSHIP
Olivia Carrara, Lay Reader
We gather for worship as children of God.
We come to remember who and whose we are.
We gather for worship to be renewed in our faith.
We come with hearts open to receive God's love.
We gather for worship to catch a vision of what might be.
We come ready to change what is.
We gather for worship in gratitude for all we have been given.
With thanksgiving, we lift our voices in songs of praise.
OPENING PRAYER
*HYMN no. 401
“Here in This Place”
GATHER US IN
Lighting the candles today is Acolyte Jessica Day.
CONFESSION
CORPORATE CONFESSION
O God, who loves us when we are at our worst -- when we have injured our health, when we have mistreated our friends and families, when we have hated ourselves and complained about you -- teach us how to love with your love. Let us begin by caring for ourselves -- for our health, for our spirits, for our welfare and our joy. Then, out of the fullness of self, let us reach out to others, caring for their health and spirits and welfare and joy. Show us how the death and resurrection of Christ are related to all of this -- to forgiveness of our sins and fullness of life and the desire to follow him by giving ourselves for others. And grant, O God, that, leaving behind the old self and all its negativism, we may rise to newness of life in you, so that we see and feel and taste and hear the wonders of our existence in the world, and live in excitement and gratitude and humility.
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. 71
“Surely, It Is God Who Saves Me”
Surely, it is God who saves me; I will trust and not be afraid.
For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, and God will be my Savior.
PROCLAIMING AND RESPONDING
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.
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.
ANTHEM
“Turn, turn, turn”
Pete Seeger
arr. Robert DeCormier
SCRIPTURE
page 33
SERMON
“A Lonely Place”
Dr. Sommers
*HYMN no. 175
“Seek Ye First”
LAFFERTY
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
CHORAL RESPONSE no. 471
“O Lord, Hear My Prayer”
HEAR MY PRAYER
O Lord, hear my prayer, O Lord, hear my prayer.
When I call, answer me. O Lord, hear my prayer.
O Lord, hear my prayer. Come and listen to me.
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 Want Jesus To Walk With Me”
arr. Richard Billingham
*RESPONSE OF THANKSGIVING no. 607
“Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow”
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Christ, all people here below;
Praise Holy Spirit evermore;
Praise Triune God, whom we adore. Amen.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
GOING FORTH
*HYMN no. 547
“Go, My Children, with My Blessing”
AR HYDY NOS
*BENEDICTION
*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE no. 175
“Seek Ye First”
Seek ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness,
And all these things shall be added unto you. Allelu, alleluia!
*THE PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you.
And also with you.
Please exchange greetings of welcome and peace with your neighbor.
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*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 in loving memory of…
...my mother, Audrey Callahan by Marcia Fricke.
...John H. and Downey C. Brundage from the Brundage Flower fund.
†The white rose today celebrates the life of Evelyn Martin and remembers the promise of the resurrection in her death on February 16, 2014. Our sympathy and prayers to her family and many friends.
†You will find CDs of the 10:00AM Worship Service at the back of the church along with CD’s of other recent services. Keep the CD for your own use, pass it on to your friends and neighbors or return them for re-use by other people. Just another way to share news about our Church!
†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:
…Harold Kuhefuss, Doris Brixner, Bill Hayden, Marilyn O’Connell, Louise Ritscher, Barbara Piggery, Olga Muller, Laura Winter, and Harry Coppens.
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.
THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
AT CALDWELL
326 Bloomfield Avenue
Caldwell, New Jersey 07006
973-228-0310
www.firstprescaldwell.org