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 24, 2016 

Ten o’clock 

5th Sunday of Easter

————————————————— 

 

GATHERING 

 

REFLECTION

That the powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a verse.                         

Walt Whitman

 

PRELUDE

Old Pastoral Hymn from Dalecarlia (Swedish Folk Melody)

arr. Oscar Lindberg (1887-1955) 

 

CALL TO WORSHIP

Jesus has given us a new commandment:
We are commanded to love one another.
Just as Christ has loved us,
So we ought to have love for one another.
By this, everyone will know we are Christ’s disciples:
By our love for one another.
Come, may we join our hearts in worship:
Worship God by loving one another.

 

 

OPENING PRAYER 

 

*HYMN NO. 620

Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven”         

Lauda Anima

Lighting the candles today is Acolyte Henry Jones.

 

 CONFESSION

     CORPORATE CONFESSION

     Almighty God, we confess that we have not loved one another. We confess that often we are jealous and bitter. We desire what others have, and are resentful. We ignore the needs of those around us to pine for the possessions and fame of others. Forgive us for not valuing what we have. Forgive us for not loving our neighbor as You have loved us. Forgive us for our selfishness, our greed, and our jealousy. Turn us back to serving You, and serving our neighbor.

 

     PERSONAL CONFESSION

     In the name of Christ, who loves us beyond life and death, we pray.

     Amen.

 

     ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

     ...Friends, believe the good news.

     In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

 

*RESPONSE OF PRAISE NO. 2158 Sing the Faith    

“Just a Closer Walk with Thee”      

I am weak, but thou art strong; Jesus, keep me from all wrong;

I’ll be satisfied as long as I walk, let me walk close to thee.

Just a closer walk with thee, grant it, Jesus, is my plea,

Daily walking close to thee: Let it be, dear Lord let it be. 

 

PROCLAIMING AND RESPONDING 

 

ANTHEM

“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”

Arr. Hugo Distler (1908-1942)

 

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.

  

SCRIPTURE                    

John 13:31-35    

Page 102, NT

 

SERMON                          

“Project!”

Rev. Don Brown

 

*HYMN NO. 757             

“Today We All Are Called to Be Disciples”  

   

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      

“Lift Thine Eyes” from ELIJAH         

Felix Mendelssohn (1908-1942)

Rachel Capizzi, Amanda Saito, Elsa Slater

 

  *RESPONSE OF THANKSGIVING NO. 710 “We Lift Our Voices”                  

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;

we are an offering.

 

  *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 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...

    ...David Wefferling by Lewis and Deborah Wefferling. 

 

† 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