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!

March 5, 2017

Ten o’clock

1st Sunday in Lent

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GATHERING

REFLECTION

Lenten Journey of Love, Week 1: The Hand of Love

Write a letter this week (or a letter a day!)

to a friend, near or far away.

Tell someone how much you appreciate him or her.

PRELUDE

“Matins (Morning Prayer)” Cynthia Dobrinski

The Chancel Handbell Choir

CALL TO WORSHIP

Robert White, Lay Reader

We gather as God’s people in a world divided and distressed. Yet we gather as one people, united by God. We gather as God’s people, journeying to Jerusalem. Yet we gather as one people, steadfastly traveling forward together. We gather as God’s people, frightened by whirlpools of worry which spin us out of control. Yet we gather as one people following in the unfailing steps of Jesus the Christ, whose name we praise.

OPENING PRAYER

*HYMN NO. 166

“Lord, Who throughout These Forty Days”

St.Flavian

Lighting the candles today is Acolyte Daniel Barnes

CONFESSION

CORPORATE CONFESSION

Turning to you, O God, we confess that accounts of Jesus’ temptations are all too familiar. As he was encouraged to turn stones into bread, we are easily provoked into showing our own capabilities. As Jesus knew the lure of power and control, we witness and sometimes even participate in the corruption that comes with economic, political and spiritual power. As our Savior was asked to show his individual spectacular feats, we want to win applause by accomplishing miracles of our own. During this Lenten season of wrestling with temptations, give us the strength of Jesus to resist them. Forgive our failure to trust your love for us, the trait that most often leads us to prove ourselves, grab for power or act as though our lives are solo missions. With our Lord, may we learn to live out of your love, emptying ourselves of our need to control others, acting as part of your community of faith who constantly bear each other up.

PERSONAL CONFESSION

And let the people say,

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”

First Song

PROCLAIMING AND RESPONDING

TIME WITH THE CHILDREN

Please note: Following Time With The Children, children preschool through 1st grade may leave the sanctuary for Kids Page to be held in room A-5.

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. Please place the cards in the offering plate and the staff will include them with their prayers this week.

OFFERING

OFFERTORY

“Behold the Lamb of God” (Messiah)

G.F. Handel (1685-1750)

Chancel Choir

*RESPONSE OF THANKSGIVING NO. 710

“We Lift Our Voices”

Offering

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

SCRIPTURE

Matthew 4:1-11

page 3, NT

MEDITATION

Dr. Sommers

THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE

*HYMN OF PREPARATION NO. 537

“When at This Table”

Feastday

GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING 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.

THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD

COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

GOING FORTH

*BENEDICTION

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

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

hosted by James Phillips.

†Our thanks to Matthew Day for preparing the Lord’s Table today. Our Communion servers this week are: Barb Bruchac, Michael Bruchac, Eleanor Casagrand, Bonnie Chiapetta, Jeanette DePalma, Donna Heun, Bev Johnson, Ron Masson, Sanford Prater and Sue Tannler.

†The red rose this morning celebrates the birth of…

...Mabel Jaye Legg on February 24, 2017 to David and Courtney Legg. Maternal grandmother is Lynn Legg.

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

….in memory of our parents, Thomas & Elizabeth Biglin and Joseph & Anna Jones by the Jones Family.

†Our sympathy as a Christian family to…

… former member Felicity Freund on the death of her husband, Allan Freund, on February 21, 2017

… former member Jane Rhen on the death of her husband, George Rhen on February 25, 2017

† 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:

…Harry Coppens, Bill Hayden, Ann Hicock, Edith Jipp, Sue Olsen, Patricia-Jo Onjian, 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