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!
December 14, 2014
Ten o’clock
Third Sunday of Advent
GATHERING
PRELUDE
“Infant Holy, Infant Lowly”
Arr. Noel Piercy
First Church RIngers
CALL TO WORSHIP
Something
stirs deep within us –
A longing, a hope,
A thirst
for joy,
A hunger for peace,
A yearning
for blessing.
We know deep within
That our
hopes and fears
Will be met by angel songs and a
heralded birth.
It is
Advent –
Season of waiting, hoping, yearning.
Advent –
Come, Lord Jesus, come.
LIGHTING
OF THE ADVENT CANDLES
Lighting the second Candle of Advent are members
of the Session.
*RESPONSE
NO. 137
“He Came
Down”
He came down that we may have (hope)
(peace);
He came down that we may have (hope)
(peace);
He came down that we may have (hope)
(peace);
Hallelujah forevermore.
OPENING PRAYER
*HYMN NO. 104
“O Lord, How Shall I Meet You”
VALET WILL ICH DIR GEBEN
Lighting
the candles today is Acolyte Alyssa White.
CONFESSION
CORPORATE CONFESSION
Holy God, every Advent, a voice
calls us to walk the straight path. Whether it is John’s booming call to
repentance, or Mary’s song of blessing, you call us to faithful living. Holy
God, with your gentle gaze, help us look deep within — help us examine our
lifestyles: our comfort with ease while others struggle for bread, our tendency
to blame the victim for being poor or homeless, our perpetual busyness which
keeps us from taking time to see or listen to the hurts. Forgive us when we
give only what we no longer want. Forgive us for needing a tax deduction to
encourage our giving. Holy God, let the prophetic words turn our lives to seek and
do your will, now during Advent and always.
PERSONAL CONFESSION
In whose
name we pray.
Amen.
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
...Friends,
believe the good news.
In
Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
*RESPONSE OF PRAISE NO. 90
“Wait For The
Lord”
Wait
for the Lord, whose day is near.
Wait
for the Lord; be strong; take heart! (x2)
PROCLAIMING AND RESPONDING
ANTHEM
“Noel, Noel A
Boy is Born”
Natalie Sleeth
Youth Choir Ensemble
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.
SCRIPTURE
Page 53 NT
SERMON
“Faith or Fear”
Dr. Richard Sommers
HYMN NO. 100
“My Soul Cries Out with a Joyful Shout”
STAR
OF THE COUNTY DOWN
OFFERING
OFFERTORY
Recitative:
“Behold, A Virgin Shall Conceive"
Air and
Chorus: “O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings to Zion”
G.F. Handel (1685-1759) from Messiah
Chancel Choir
Jill Colavita,
Soloist
*RESPONSE OF THANKSGIVING NO. 121
“O Little Town of Bethlehem”
ST. LOUIS
O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;
cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us; abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
GOING FORTH
HYMN NO. 123
“It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”
CAROL
BENEDICTION
CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE
The kingdom of God is justice and
peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Come, Lord, and open in us, the
gates of your kingdom.
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:
...Harry Coppens, Bill Hayden, Ruth
Hults, Edith Jipp, Roger Jones, Alex Lopus, Olga Muller, Marilyn O’Connell, Barbara Piggery,
Louise Ritscher, Laura Winter and Clearance 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 FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
AT CALDWELL
326 Bloomfield Avenue
Caldwell, New Jersey 07006
973-228-0310
www.firstprescaldwell.org