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!

January 15, 2017

Ten o’clock

Second Sunday after Epiphany

—————————————————

GATHERING

REFLECTION

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.

— Martin Luther King, Jr.,

Letter from Birmingham, Alabama jail,

April 16, 1963.

PRELUDE

“Somebody’s Knockin’ at Y our Door”

arr. John Carter

CALL TO WORSHIP

God said: “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked?”

God said: “Give justice to the weak and the parentless child; maintain the right of the lowly and destitute.”

God said: “Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

God said: “I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Take away the noise of your songs; I will not listen to the melody of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”

RISE UP, O GOD, JUDGE THE EARTH;

FOR ALL THE NATIONS BELONG TO YOU!

OPENING PRAYER

*HYMN NO. 729

“Lord, I Want to Be a Christian“

I Want to Be A Christian

Lighting the candles today is Acolyte Will Capizzi

CONFESSION

CORPORATE CONFESSION

Most holy and merciful God: we acknowledge and confess our own slowness to do good, our blindness to injustice, and our complicity in deferring the dreams and hopes of the oppressed. We have refused to heed your call to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with you, our God.

We condemn racial injustice in our pronouncements, yet we cling to the advantages derived from inequity. When we ought to be ashamed of our failures, we prefer to cling to private, selfish, imprisoning desires. Indeed, we participate in our own oppression.

Help us to name our sin, to claim responsibility for our actions, and to change our behavior. In accordance with the command of Jesus Christ our Savior, shake us from our sleep with your imperative to do justice; move us to action with the compassion of your grace; and give us courage to pay the price, however painful or costly, that your justice may be done on earth, even as it is in heaven.

PERSONAL CONFESSION

In the name of our Liberating God and Savior, we pray.

Amen.

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

...Friends, believe the good news.

In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

*RESPONSE OF PRAISE NO. 792

“There Is a Balm in Gilead”

Balm in Gilead

There is a balm in Gilead

to make the wounded whole;

there is a balm in Gilead

to heal the sin-sick soul.

Sometimes I feel discouraged,

and think my work’s in vain,

but then the Holy Spirit

revives my soul again.

There is a balm in Gilead

to make the wounded whole;

there is a balm in Gilead

to heal the sin-sick soul.

PROCLAIMING AND RESPONDING

ANTHEM

“I Have a Dream”

Max Exner

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.

SCRIPTURE

Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 Page 592, OT

Galatians 3:26-28 Page 178, NT

SERMON

“Piety Beyond the Pew”

Dr. Sommers

*HYMN NO. 759

“O God, We Bear the Imprint”

Ebenezer

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

“Talk About a Child”

Traditional Spiritual

Jaime Maraviglia, Solo

*RESPONSE OF THANKSGIVING NO. 710

“We Lift Our Voices”

Offering

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

*HYMN NO. 834

“Precious Lord, Take My Hand”

Precious Lord

*BENEDICTION

*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE NO. 769

“For Everyone Born”

For Everyone Born

For everyone born, a place at the table,

to live without fear, and simply to be,

to work, to speak out, to witness and worship,

for everyone born, the right to be free,

and God will delight when we are creators

of justice and joy, compassion and peace:

yes, God will delight when we are creators

of justice, justice and joy!

*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 Coffee Hour in Room 120.

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

….John F. Gilmore by Mike & Joann LaBrunda

….my mother, Violet Karsten, by Barbara Heuston

† 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:

… Mary Ann Bainbridge, Harry Coppens, Bill Hayden, Edith Jipp, Marge Lucas, Barbara Piggery, Louise Ritscher, Emil Schnell, Marge Vanderberg, Laura Winter 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, NJ 07006

973-228-0310