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! 


September 28, 2014

Ten o’clock

16th Sunday after Pentecost 

______________________________


GATHERING 


REFLECTION 

“Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of the city, each with staff in hand because of their great age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets” (adapted from Zechariah 8:4-5, and part of The Pittsburgh Project’s Vision Statement)


PRELUDE 


CALL TO WORSHIP

There's a song in every silence.

There's a dawn in every darkness.

There's a child in every parent. 

There's a hope in every child. 

God has planted a saving possibility in every moment, a rainbow in every storm.

Here in worship, we gather our songs and our silence, our laughter and our excuses and offer them to God. 

And hope is reborn, joy is rekindled and the dawn comes again and again. 

Praise the Lord!


OPENING PRAYER


*HYMN no. 705

“You Are Holy” 

Lighting the candles today is Acolyte Billy Slater.


CONFESSION

CORPORATE CONFESSION 

On the shores of our lives, O God, you beckon us to follow you. You invite us to leave our comfortable boats and journey in mission with you. Yet, we hear your call differently. Some of us are too busy to really listen to you. Some of us want a different assignment; we can't believe that you would ask this of us. Some of us think we are not worthy, have nothing to offer. Some of us are not ready to risk following you. We are not yet trusting. On the shores of our lives, you beckon and call; if we follow, we may not know success, but we will surely know great love and peace in the arms of God. Let us be courageous enough to say, “Here I am, send me.”


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 strong-hold and my sure defense, and God will be my Savior.


PROCLAIMING AND RESPONDING


TIME FOR 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.


MINUTE FOR MINISTRY 

“Loving Generously” 

Stewardship Committee


COMMISSIONING OF 2014-2015 CONFIRMATION CLASS


SCRIPTURE

Zechariah 8:4-5

page 831


SERMON 

“The Pittsburgh Project Report”

Emily Brown 

Carolyn Maxwell 

Courtney Tannler 

Rose Schuchard 

Jaime Staehle


*HYMN no. 749

“Come! Live in the Light!”

WE ARE CALLED


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

“Our God’s God” 

Joseph M. Martin

Chancel Choir


*RESPONSE OF THANKSGIVING 

no. 609 

“Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” 

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; 

Praise God, all creatures high and low.

Alleluia, alleluia!

Praise God, in Jesus fully known:

Creator, Word, and Spirit one.

Alleluia, alleluia! 

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!


*PRAYER OF DEDICATION 


GOING FORTH 


*BENEDICTION 


*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE

no. 175

“Seek Ye First” 

LAFFERTY

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.

______________________________


*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. 


The flowers this morning, are given to the glory of God in memory of Audrey Callahan by her daughter, Marcia Fricke.


Our sympathy as a Christian family to Helga Berger on the death of her husband, Hans, on September 19, 2014


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:

… Harry Coppens, Phyllis Franciose, Bill Hayden, Ruth Hults, 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.


The Session has called a congregational meeting following worship on October 12th to provide an update on the status and disposition of the West Caldwell Campus. A town-hall style meeting is scheduled for today, September 28th, following the 10:00 service to provide specifics and answer questions.


THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 

AT CALDWELL 

326 Bloomfield Avenue 

Caldwell, New Jersey 07006 

973-228-0310 

www.firstprescaldwell.org