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 19, 2015

Ten o’clock

3rd Sunday of Easter

 

GATHERING

 

REFLECTION (Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl)

“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature. As longs as this exists, and it certainly always will, I know that then there will always be comfort for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances may be. And I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.”

 

PRELUDE

Sonata in G Major

Cantabile & Allegro 

George Philipp Telemann (1681-1767)

Ashley McDowell, flute

 

CALL TO WORSHIP (from Psalm 65)

Praise is due to you, O God!

You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it; you provide the people with grain, for so you have prepared it.

You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth.

You crown the year with your bounty; the pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy.

The meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy. Praise the Lord!

The Lord’s name be praised!

 

OPENING PRAYER (written by St. Basil the Great—329-379AD)

O God, enlarge within us the sense of fellowship with all living things, our brothers, the animals, to whom thou gave the earth as their home in common with us. We remember with shame that in the past we have exercised the high dominion of [humankind] with ruthless cruelty, so that the voice of the earth, which should have gone up to thee in song, has been a groan of travail. May we realize that they live not for us alone but for themselves and for thee and that they love the sweetness of life. Amen.

 

 

*HYMN NO. 17

“Sing Praise to God, You Heavens!”

WIE LIEBLICH IST DER MAEN

Lighting the candles today is Acolyte Henry Jones.  

 

CONFESSION

     CORPORATE CONFESSION

O God of time and space, we confess we are running out of both. Species whirl into extinction faster than ever before; habitat created over millennia is destroyed in the blink of an eye. O God of time and space, we confess we are running out of both.

O God of hope and resurrection, we confess to despair that creates the denial of a Good Friday world. We tremble on the brink of the temptation to simply give up. O God of transformation, we confess to choosing Business as Usual because it is easier and because we don’t want to give up what we have and because we are afraid.

Remake us, O Creator. Transform us into new beings. Open us to your love which can open our eyes and our hearts. Give us courage to walk in your path with all creation. Forgive us and make us free, for healing and for hope. 

 

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

Psalm 150 (A Responsorial Setting)

Please join the choir on the refrain

“All creation join to say: Alleluia” 

 

PROCLAIMING AND RESPONDING

  

ANTHEM

“The Canticle of Brother Sun”

Grayston Ives

Text based on the song of praise by St. Francis of Assissi

Pilgrim, Westminster and Chancel Choirs

 

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.

   

MINUTE FOR MINISTRY

Spirituality Seminar

Pam Rotelle Robertson

 

SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM

We welcome into the family of God through baptism Derek Joseph Antunes, son of Alexander and Jodi Antunes, born on December 22, 2014.

 

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH The Apostles’ Creed (ecum)

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

 

*HYMN NO. 630

“Fairest Lord Jesus”

CRUSADERS’ HYMN

 

SCRIPTURE

Genesis 1:26-28, 31; 2:15

Page 1-2 

 

MINUTE FOR MINISTRY

Sustainable Action Day

James Heinegg

 

SERMON

“To Serve and to Preserve” 

Dr. Sommers

  *HYMN NO. 713

“Touch the Earth Lightly”

TENDERNESS

 

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

“Look at the World”

John Rutter

Pilgrim, Westminster and Chancel Choirs

 

*RESPONSE OF THANKSGIVING NO. 712

“As Those of Old Their Firstfruits Brought”

As those of old their first-fruits brought of vineyard, flock, and field

to God, the giver of all good, the source of bounteous yield,

so we today our first-fruits bring, the wealth of this good land:

of farm and market, shop and home, of mind and heart and hand.

 

*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 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 loving memory of…

… John Brackman given by his wife, Alice Brackman.

 

†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