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!

February 15, 2015

Ten o’clock

Transfiguration of the Lord

GATHERING

SENTENCES OF SCRIPTURE (Mark 9:2-3)

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them.

PRELUDE

“Chorale”

Ola Gjeilo (2014)

CALL TO WORSHIP

Let the light shine out of darkness.

God of all glory, gather us in.

Let the light shine out of darkness.

Lord Jesus Christ, shine in our hearts.

Let us worship God.

OPENING PRAYER

*HYMN NO. 12

“Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise”

ST. DENIO

Lighting the candles today is Acolyte Ian Flanagan.

CONFESSION

CORPORATE CONFESSION

God who comes to make all things new, we have tried so hard to make things right with you and other people according to our own standards, unwritten laws of our own making. We assume habits of eating and drinking and dressing, trends of culture and conscience, levels of education and vocation, all to prove our worth.

Yet you tell us that our standards do not ultimately matter, that our worth to you comes not through what we do, but through what you have done for us in Jesus Christ. Forgive us when we live by our ways rather than by your grace. Help us to die to our laws so that we, too, might live to you. Give us the joy of new life that comes with Christ’s liberation.

PERSONAL CONFESSION

For we pray in Jesus’s name,

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”

FIRST SONG

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

ANTHEM

“How Sweet The Sound”

Arr. John Leavitt

Chancel Choir

Paul Salierno, Conductor

Kris George, Accompanist

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

Mark 9:2-9

Page 41-42, NT

SERMON

“The Luminescent Disciple”

Dr. Sommers

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH

from “A Brief Statement of Faith”

In life and in death we belong to God. Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, we trust in the one triune God, the Holy One of Israel, whom alone we worship and serve.

We trust in Jesus Christ, fully human, fully God. Jesus proclaimed the reign of God: preaching good news to the poor and release to the captives, teaching by word and deed and blessing the children, healing the sick and binding up the brokenhearted, eating with outcasts, forgiving sinners, and calling all to repent and believe the gospel. Unjustly condemned, Jesus was crucified, suffering the depths of human pain. God raised this Jesus from the dead, breaking the power of sin and evil, delivering us from death to life eternal.

In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit, we strive to serve God in our daily tasks and to live holy and joyful lives, even as we watch for God’s new heaven and new earth, praying, “Come, Lord Jesus!”

*HYMN NO. 193

“Jesus, Take Us to the Mountain”

UNSER HERRSCHER

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

“What Wondrous Love is This?”

JOEL RANAY

*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

*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.

*POSTLUDE

“I'm Gonna Sing/Ain't-a That Good News” arr. Larry Shackley

*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 loving memory of…

... Charles M. Weigand by his wife, Hanna Weigand and family

… John R. Wilcox, pastor of First Presbyterian from 1954-1967, by Laura Ingersoll

†Special thanks to Kris George & Paul Salierno for their musical leadership at today’s service.

† We express our sympathy as a Christian family to …

… Eleanor Casagrand on the death of her brother, Walter Hugg, on February 11, 2015.

†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, Toni Hartman, Bill Hayden, Edith Jipp, Roger Jones, Alex Lopus, Olga Muller, Marilyn O’Connell, Barbara Piggery, Dave Reimer, Louise Ritscher, Laura Winter and Clarence 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