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!
April 12, 2015
Ten o’clock
2nd Sunday of Easter
GATHERING
REFLECTION
“It is absolutely crucial, to keep
in constant touch with what is going on in your own life’s story and to pay
close attention to what is going on in the stories of others’ lives. If God is
present anywhere, it is in those stories that God is present. If God is not
present in those stories, then they are scarcely worth telling.”
Fredrich Buechner
PRELUDE
“This Joyful Eastertide”
Arr. Emma Lou Diemer
CALL TO WORSHIP
Lay Reader: Alyssa Endres
Sing,
all people of God! Sing the good news:
God comes in with the dawn, to
awaken us with Joy's embrace.
Sing,
in every land, in every tongue! Sing the good news:
When our lives bottom out, God takes
us by the hand to lead us into the light.
Sing,
in heaven and on earth! Sing the good news:
Broken, hopeless, lost - we cry out
to God, who hears our hearts.
Sing,
all people of God!
We will sing the good news of
Easter!
OPENING
PRAYER
*HYMN NO. 41
“O Worship the King, All Glorious Above!”
LYONS
Lighting
the candles today is Acolyte Billy Slater.
CONFESSION
CORPORATE CONFESSION
We sing loud songs to you, O God,
trusting they will drown out our mean-spirited murmurs about those around us.
We hope you will turn a blind eye to our behaviors, while we imprison our
families and friends with impossible expectations. We pull a muscle stretching
to pat ourselves on the back, but our attitudes and actions towards the poor
and outcast of the world reveal we are not worthy to be called your children.
You never give up on us, You are quick to forgive us,
and quicker to offer us ways to share your name with everyone we meet. As you
continue to be loving and affirming towards us, let us go to share the good news
of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
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. 71
“Surely, It Is God Who Saves Me”
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
“Glorious Morning”
Michael Barrett
Chancel 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.
RECEPTION
OF NEW MEMBERS
We welcome into
the life and ministry of FPC the following and their families: Diane Barnes,
Randy Chiappetta, Bill Johnson and Brian and Sandy
Johnson.
OFFERING
OFFERTORY
“A Gaelic Blessing”
John
Rutter
Kelly Scheper, Solo
*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
Page 109, NT
SERMON
“Your Story”
Rev. Don Brown
THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
INVITATION
TO THE LORD’S TABLE
*HYMN
OF PREPARATION NO. 504
“We Come as Guests Invited”
WIE
LIEBLICH IST DER MAIEN
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 our
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 10:00 service
today, we hope you will join us for Coffee Hour in Room 120.
†The flowers this morning are given
to the glory of God in memory of…
...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, Bill Hayden, Mary Hugo, Edith Jipp, Roger
Jones, Marilyn O’Connell, Barbara Piggery, 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