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 8, 2015
Ten o’clock
3rd Sunday in Lent
GATHERING
REFLECTION
“Holding on to anger is like
grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the
one who gets burned.” Gautama Siddharta (Buddha)
563-483 BCE
PRELUDE
“Aria”
Christopher Willibald Gluck
(1714-1787)
CALL TO WORSHIP
Gather
round, we have come for worship.
We may have come as dry and thirsty
souls longing for refreshment and hope.
Lord
Jesus, may the Holy Spirit come upon us now.
In our worship, may we be blessed
and may we find the peace which passes all understanding.
OPENING
PRAYER
*HYMN NO. 172
“Blest Are They”
IRREGULAR
Lighting
the candles today is Acolyte Matthew Califf.
CONFESSION
CORPORATE CONFESSION
Lord Jesus
Christ, as your followers
we are
called to be people shaped by your servant life—
one that is
so much at odds with accepted lifestyles of today.
We confess
how easy it is to be drawn into these worldly lifestyles
and we need
your constant help to make our behavior consistent with yours.
Forgive us
when our words have been less than truthful—
inform us with your Spirit
so that we speak the truth—your truth—at all times.
(silence)
Forgive us
for using anger to manipulate and to control -
direct us with your Spirit
that we might handle our anger responsibly.
(silence)
Forgive us
when our actions have lacked total integrity -
mold us with your Spirit
so that all our dealings are carried out honestly and
ethically.
(silence)
Forgive us
when our words have been thoughtless and offhand -
instruct us with your Spirit
so that our words truly bring grace to those who hear.
(silence)
Renew us
with your Spirit
so that our words and actions bring you pleasure and not pain.
(silence)
Fall afresh on us, O Holy Spirit,
and make our lives true reflections of Jesus’ life,
so that we live, love, and forgive
as graciously and compassionately as did he. 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
“Ave Verum Corpus”
W. A. Mozart (1756-1791)
Chancel Choir
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. Please
place the cards in the offering plate and the staff will include them with
their prayers this week.
MINUTE
FOR MINISTRY
Stephen
Ministry
Adele
Roemer
SCRIPTURE
Page 35, NT
SERMON
“Anger Management”
Dr. Sommers
*HYMN
NO. 307
“God of Grace and God of Glory”
CWM
RHONDDA
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
Meditation
on “Wondrous Love”
Arr.
Gilbert M. Martin
*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.
*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…
...William
Hogentogler by daughter Joyce and Chuck McGrath
…
Edward Czuba by Martin Vander Molen
†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, Edith Jipp, Roger Jones,
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
www.firstprescaldwell.org