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 29, 2015

Ten o’clock

PASSION/PALM SUNDAY

 

SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY

 

GATHERING

 

REFLECTION

“Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

...Sometimes it causes me to tremble...tremble...tremble…”

African American Spiritual

 

PRELUDE

Toccata on“Hosanna, Loud Hosanna” 

Arr. Gilbert M. Martin

 

CALL TO WORSHIP

We come to prepare for the holiest of weeks.

We journey through praise, with joy on our lips; we travel through betrayal and death.

Jesus leads us through this week, and we will follow, for his is the life we long for, the Word which sustains us.

We wave palm branches in anticipation, we lay our love before him.

Setting aside all power, glory, and might, he comes: modeling humility and obedience for us all.

Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed is the One who brings us the kingdom of God. 

 

OPENING PRAYER

 

*HYMN NO. 196

“All Glory, Laud, and Honor”

VALET WILL ICH DIR GEBEN

Lighting the candles today is Acolyte Alexis Chiappetta.

 

 

CONFESSION

     CORPORATE CONFESSION

Ever constant God, mixing love and hope together, you pave the way to the kingdom, but we prefer to stub our toes on the potholed roads of temptation. You touch the cup of grace to our lips, but we seem to hunger for the ashy taste of bitterness. You beg us to learn the songs of salvation, but we hum along with the chorus that sin plays in the background of our lives. Have mercy upon us, God of Holiness. As you come to us, you bring healing for our brokenness, peace for our troubled lives, hope for our doubting minds. May we empty ourselves of everything which keeps us from following you, so we may receive these gifts, and more, from Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. 

 

PERSONAL CONFESSION

For it is in Jesus’ name 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

“Hosanna Sing to Our Great King”

Trevor Manor

Youth Club Choir

Handbell 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. Please place the cards in the offering plate and the staff will include them with their prayers this week.

 

 MINUTE FOR MINISTRY
Youth Mission Golf Outing

Liz Moore, Ron Masson and Ed Haversang

 

OFFERING

OFFERTORY

“Hosanna”

Michael W. Smith

Arr. Michael Barret

Youth Club Choir

Skylar Fortgang, Drums

Nick Barone, Bass

 

*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

John 12:9-19

Page 100, NT

 

SERMON

“Will You Be There” 

Rev. Don Brown

 

*HYMN NO. 198

“Ride On! Ride On in Majesty!”

ST. DROSTANE

 

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.

  

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.

 

†Special thanks to Garrett Jones of Codey Jones Funeral Home for supplying palms to our church.

 

†We express our sincere sympathy as a Christian Family to Wendy Busby and Amy Eller on the death of their mother, Norma Clover, on March 24, 2015.

 

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

…Dorothy McConnell by her daughter, Dotti Leonard

…Nancy McGruther by her family

…Doris Dusinberre by her friend, Arline Pressl

 

†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, Mary Hugo, 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