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!

 

March 1, 2015

Ten o’clock

2nd Sunday in Lent

 

GATHERING

 

REFLECTION

“Besides, Christians never say good-bye.” (Shelden Vanauken)

 

PRELUDE

“Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley”  

Dale Wood

 

CALL TO WORSHIP

We gather as God’s people in a world divided and distressed.

Yet we gather as one people, united by God.

We gather as God’s people, journeying to Jerusalem.

Yet we gather as one people, steadfastly traveling forward together.

We gather as God’s people, frightened by whirlpools of worry which threaten to spin us out of control.

Yet we gather as one people, following in the unfailing steps of Jesus the Christ, who is our hope. 

 

OPENING PRAYER

 

 

*HYMN NO. 226

“There in God’s Garden”

SHADES MOUNTAIN

Lighting the candles today is Acolyte Matthew Califf.

 

 

CONFESSION

     CORPORATE CONFESSION

O Lord of every light and dark corner of our existence, forgive our failings. We need the strength of your cleansing Spirit but often settle for sentimental words. We need to experience the power of the Christ in our lives, and we forget what it means to be baptized by the Spirit. Give us strength to acknowledge our weaknesses. O Lord, during these Lenten days, help us to grow in faith and find greater paths of service. It is so easy to just coast and take our faith for granted. Help us now, Lord, to live in hope and peace. 

 

PERSONAL CONFESSION

Through Christ our Lord we pray,

Amen.

 

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

...Friends, believe the good news.

In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

 

*RESPONSE OF PRAISE NO. 710

“We Lift Our Voices”

OFFERING

We lift our voices; we lift our hands;

we lift our lives up to you: we are an offering.

Lord, use our voices; Lord, use our hands;

Lord, use our lives; they are yours: we are an offering.

All that we have, all that we are, all that we hope to be, we give to you, we give to you.

We lift our voices; we lift our hands;

we lift our lives up to you: we are an offering. 

 

 

PROCLAIMING AND RESPONDING

  

ANTHEM

“Ask, Seek, Knock”

(Text: Matthew 7:7-8 & John 13:34-35)

Nancy Raabe

Youth Club Choir

 

TIME WITH THE CHILDREN

Please note: Preschool children, Kindergartners and 1st Graders will head down to Rooms A4 and A5 following the Time with the Children to participate in the Young Children and Worship Program.

 

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.

 

 OFFERING

OFFERTORY

Draw Us in the Spirit’s Tether”

Harold W. Friedell

Chancel Choir

 

*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

 

SCRIPTURE

1 Peter 1:3-9

Page 218, NT

 

 

COMMUNION MEDITATION

Dr. Sommers

 

THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE

 

*HYMN OF PREPARATION NO. 734

“Hope of the World”

DONNE SECOURS

 

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. 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.

 

† Thank you to the members of the Communion Class: Holly Bruchac, Annie Enslin, Mackenzie Goodson, Lucas Gumpel, Alyson Holmes, Ben Lattimer, Christian LoGrande, Charlene Pace, Gary Suda and their teacher, Amy Kolb for preparing the table for the Lord’s Supper. Our Communion servers this week are: Jeannine Archibald, Paul Califf, Eleanor Casagrand, Amy Eller, Susan J. Jones, Mike LaBrunda, Lynn Legg, Joyce McGrath, Laura Schalles and Dave Schmertz.

 

†The flowers this morning, are given to the glory of God in memory of…

… Mr. and Mrs. Archie Weith from the Weith flower fund

… John H. and Downey C. Brundage from the Brundage Flower fund

 

†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, Jeanne Fuller, Bill Hayden, Edith Jipp, Roger Jones, Alex Lopus, Marilyn O’Connell, Barbara Piggery, Dave Reimer, Louise Ritscher, Jim Tucker, 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

www.firstprescaldwell.org