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 10, 2016 

Ten o’clock 

3rd Sunday of Easter

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GATHERING 

 

PRELUDE “The Heart of Worship” arr. Jerry Ray 

 

CALL TO WORSHIP

We gather together to worship the Lord, the Missionary God.
We worship our God, who gathered a people to himself to be a blessing to the nations.
We worship our Friend to the friendless and Healer of the broken-down.
We worship the risen Lord, who came to seek and save the lost.
We worship Jesus, who touched the untouchable and loved the unlovable.
We worship a Savior who prayed for us, that the world would know we are his by our love for one another.
And so, let us worship … in unity and in love.
We gather together for worship, and together we go out on mission.

 

OPENING PRAYER 

 

*HYMN NO. 300 “We Are One in the Spirit” They’ll Know We Are Christians 

Lighting the candles today is Acolyte Billy Slater 

 

CONFESSION 

CORPORATE CONFESSION 

Jesus, before you were crucified, you prayed that we would be one, and that the world would know we are yours by our love for one another. We confess that we have failed. Instead of seeking unity, we have gossiped. Instead of seeking to serve one another, we serve only our own interests. Instead of embracing the outsider, we isolate ourselves away from the world. God, save us from seeking redemption in such small ways. Lift our eyes to see your movement and work in the world. Give us the joy of finding your mission for us and joining the movement of the Spirit.  Make us one, Lord, here, there and everywhere.

 

PERSONAL CONFESSION 

In the name of our risen Savior. 

Amen. 

 

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS 

...Friends, believe the good news. 

In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. 

 

*RESPONSE OF PRAISE NO. 240 “Alleluia, Alleluia! Give Thanks” 

Alleluia, alleluia!  Give thanks to the risen Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia!  Give praise to his name.

Jesus is Lord of all the earth.
He is the King of creation.

 Alleluia, alleluia!  Give thanks to the risen Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia!  Give praise to his name.

 

PROCLAIMING AND RESPONDING 

 

ANTHEM

“The Journey is Our Home”

Allen Pote

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. 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

“Youth Mission Golf Tournament”

Bev Johnson

 

SCRIPTURE

Genesis 1:1-13

Page 1 

 

SERMON

“And God Said It Was Good”

Jim Cummings,

Director of Experiential Learning, Urban Promise

 

*HYMN NO. 157 “I Danced in the Morning” Lord of the Dance

 

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            

“Hymn of Promise”                   

arr. John Carter               

 

  *RESPONSE OF THANKSGIVING NO. 240 “Alleluia, Alleluia! Give Thanks”      Alleluia No. 1

Alleluia, alleluia!  Give thanks to the risen Lord.

Alleluia, alleluia!  Give praise to his name.

Come let us praise the living God,

joyfully sing to our Savior.

 Alleluia, alleluia!  Give thanks to the risen Lord.

Alleluia, alleluia!  Give praise to his name.

 

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

 

GOING FORTH 

 

*HYMN NO. 192 “Lord, the Light of Your Love Is Shining” Shine, Jesus, Shine

 

*BENEDICTION 

 

*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE NO. 543 “God, Be the Love to Search and Keep Me” 

Christ in the eyes of all who see me,

Christ in the ears that hear my voice,

Christ in the hearts of all who know me:

O Christ, surround me; 

O Christ, surround me. 

 

*THE PEACE 

The peace of Christ be with you. 

And also with you. 

Please exchange greetings of welcome and peace with your neighbor. 

 

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*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.

 

†We welcome to the pulpit this morning Jim Cummings, Director of Experiential Learning at Urban Promise’s Camden, NJ location.  As Director of Experiential Learning, Jim leads all activities of the UrbanTrekkers program, which engages middle and high school youth in hands-on, outdoor learning experiences. In 2006, at the age of 53, Jim sold his small business and began working at UrbanPromise full time. Each year since, UrbanTrekkers has expanded to offer additional experiential opportunities, including hiking, kayaking, camping, and UrbanPromise's Urban BoatWorks program, which educates Camden youth in the craft of wooden boat-building. Jim believes the best way for young people to discover purpose and meaning is through education and strives to motivate his “Trekkers” to engage deeper in learning in all aspects of their lives.

 

†The red rose this morning celebrates the birth of…

    ...Reid Philip Eagle, son of David and Devon (Prater) Eagle on Sunday, March 27, 2016. Maternal Grandparents are Gretchen and Sanford Prater.

 

†FLOWER DONORS for the sanctuary are needed for the following dates: May 15, 22 and 29, June 5, July 3, 10 and 17, and August 21 and 28.  If you would like to donate flowers in memory or in honor of someone, please fill out a form and return to the office.

 

† 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:

    ...Alice Brackmann, Harry Coppens, Bill Hayden, Edith Jipp, Barbara Piggery, Louise Ritscher, Barbara Robison, 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