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!

February 19, 2017

Ten o’clock

7th Sunday in Ordinary Time

—————————————————

GATHERING

REFLECTION

Living Lord, thank you for helping me carry the burdens of life this day. Now, I’m going to turn all, yes all, my burdens over to you this night knowing that you can bear them alone while I sleep. I will meet you in the morning and we will begin another day together.

PRELUDE

“God Will Take Care of You”

Walter S. Martin

Arr. Cindy Berry

CALL TO WORSHIP

We are your children.

We have heard you in the winds, seen you in the sunrise; we have felt your kindness in the season.

Great Spirit, we know you! We hear you speak!

We know this very moment you are near to us as the air that surrounds us and fills our lungs with life.

Be with us, Great Spirit. Show us the way you would have us go!

OPENING PRAYER

*HYMN NO. 2

“Come, Thou Almighty King”

Italian Hymn

Lighting the candles today is Acolyte Holly Bruchac

CONFESSION

CORPORATE CONFESSION

Creator, patient Teacher, persuasive Spirit, you are tireless in speaking to us, but we find it easy to close our minds, to refuse to hear what would require painful change, to reject the truth because it is convenient. Forgive deliberate denseness of mind, fearful resistance to change, stubborn insistence that our way is the best way. Continue your speaking until we hear. Try new parables on us until we think and understand. Argue with us until we do your will. Bring us new life, God, so that the spirit of Christ may shine in us.

PERSONAL CONFESSION

Lord, strengthen our faithfulness.

Amen.

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

...Friends, believe the good news.

In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

*RESPONSE OF PRAISE NO. 71

“Surely, It Is God Who Saves Me”

PROCLAIMING AND RESPONDING

ANTHEM

“Who at My Door Is Standing?”

Irish Folk Tune

Chancel Choir arr. K. Lee Scott

Paul Salierno, Conductor

Jessica Goodson, Accompanist

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 13:31-36; page 102, NT

Matthew 11:28-30 page 11, NT

SERMON

“Burden Bearers”

Dr. Sommers

*HYMN NO. 306

“Blest Be the Tie That Binds”

Dennis

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

“In the Garden”

C. Austin Miles

arr. Mark Hayes

*RESPONSE OF THANKSGIVING

NO. 607 “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow”

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

GOING FORTH

*HYMN NO. 753

“Make Me a Channel of Your Peace”

Prayer of St. Francis

*BENEDICTION

*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE NO. 175

“Seek Ye First”

Lafferty

*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 Charles M. Weigand, by Hanna Weigand and family

….in memory of John R. Wilcox, pastor from 1958-1967, from Laura Ingersoll

….in celebration of the 1st wedding anniversary of Adele and Jim Tierney

† 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, Ann Hicock, 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

THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

AT CALDWELL

326 Bloomfield Avenue

Caldwell, NJ 07006

973-228-0310