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 17, 2016 

Ten o’clock 

4th Sunday of Easter

————————————————— 

 

GATHERING 

 

PRELUDE

Reflections on “The Heart of Worship”

arr. Jerry Ray 

Chancel Handbell Choir

 

CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader:  The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims God's            handiwork.

People: Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge.

Leader: There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard.

People: Yet their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the     world. 

 

OPENING PRAYER 

 

*HYMN NO. 17 “Sing Praise to God, You Heavens!” Wie Lieblich Ist Der Maien 

Lighting the candles today is Acolyte Illiana Acosta 

 

LITANY OF PRAISE AND CONFESSION

Praise to you, O God, source of all waters. For vast oceans, flowing rivers, and gentle rains we give you thanks.

Forgive our careless waste and polluting ways.

Help us to cleanse, conserve, and share; teach us to care for the gift of water.

Come and heal your people. Come and heal the waters.

Praise to you, O God, creator of the dry land. For mighty mountains, rolling hills, and fertile prairies we give you thanks.

Forgive our wanton carelessness and violent ways.

Help us to sow, till, and harvest with care; teach us to live gently on the land.

Come and heal your people. Come and heal the land.

Praise to you, O God, breath of life and maker of air. For wind and wave, breath and breeze, light and life we give you thanks.

Forgive our heedless acts and selfish ways.

Help us to live justly, simply, and wisely; teach us to care for the gift of air.

Come and heal your people. Come and heal the air.

Praise to you, O God, Lord and Giver of Life. Your love sustains planet earth and by your hand all things living are fed.

Forgive our neglect and abuse of your gifts.

Help us to serve, defend, and restore your creation.

Help us care for your people. Help us care for the earth.

 

Creator of the earth and all living things, maker of the sky and the air and the breath of life, God of all that is: we are your servant people, created out of the clay of the earth itself. We forget that we are your creatures and we play at being gods. We neglect the work of stewardship that you have provided for our occupation and our joy. We have used, abused, and abandoned those things that you have created for your delight. You have created a fragile world in a perfect and delicate balance. Thinking too much of our own importance we have upset the balance.  We ask your forgiveness, Holy and Righteous God. We yearn to join with the mountains and valleys, the rocks and the birds of the wild ocean waters in singing your praises. Amen

 

Declaration of Hope

“Stand at the crossroads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.” (Jeremiah 6:16)

We are standing at a crossroads. Together let us seek the good way and find rest for all of God's creation.

 

 

*RESPONSE OF PRAISE NO. 14  

“For the Beauty of the Earth”                 

For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies,

for the love which from our birth over and around us lies:

Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise. 

 

PROCLAIMING AND RESPONDING 

 

ANTHEM

“Hymn of Creation”

Arr. Dan Forrest

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               “Fellowship Fund”            Eugene and Doug Jones

 

RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERS AND SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM

We welcome Jennifer Fout into the life and ministry of this congregation, and we welcome into the family of God through baptism Jonathan Ricardo Jimenez, son of Ricardo and Robin (Loiacono) Jimenez, born on November 12, 2015; and Graham Winnick Fout,

son of Jared and Jennifer Fout, born on January 11, 2016.

Assisting in the baptisms today is Elder Rich Heun.

 

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH**            The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,  And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.  I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.  Amen.

 

*HYMN NO. 177               “I Will Come to You”                You Are Mine

 

SCRIPTURE                      Psalm 8; Matthew 21:33-41      Pages 466, OT and 22, NT

 

SERMON                           “Give the Earth a Hug”                    Dr. Sommers        

 

*HYMN NO. 19            “God of Great and God of Small”  

   

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. After the 10:00am service today, we hope you will join us for lemonade on the lawn.

 

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

    ...Carl E. Thyren by Jean Thyren.

 

† 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, Ann Boney, Harry Coppens, Bill Hayden, Edith Jipp, Dolores Jones, 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