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 9, 2017

Ten o’clock

PASSION/PALM SUNDAY

SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY

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GATHERING

PRELUDE

“The Holy City”

Arr. Ellen Jane Loren

CALL TO WORSHIP

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love. Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest! Let us worship God.

OPENING PRAYER

*HYMN NO. 197

“Hosanna, Loud Hosanna” Ellecombe

Lighting the candles today is Acolyte Sally Capizzi

CONFESSION

Invitation

Let us come together to a moment of confession. Imagine Jesus entering our presence just as he entered Jerusalem some 2,000 years ago. Envision the palm branches, the donkey, the shouts of "hosanna." Understanding who he is and knowing who we are…we pray together...

Prayer

O God, you know us well. We are quick to speak of faith, but slow to live it fully. We shout “hosanna” as Jesus approaches, as did the people of Jerusalem many years ago; but we do not want him to come too close -- not close enough to really see…

Silent Confession

And we pray together…

O God, you know us well. We are quick to claim faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior; but, like the throng who greeted his entry into Jerusalem, we are fickle, slow to live fully and everywhere as faithful disciples. We know where we fail…

Silent Confession

And we pray together…

O God, you know us well. We are quick to want the blessings of faithfulness; but, like the Twelve who spent the last week with him, we are slow to accept the pain and suffering of authentic Christ-like living. Forgive our weakness and fear…

Silent Confession

Words of Assurance

The Lord brings light to those in darkness, forgiveness to those who truly confess, and pardon to all who seek to follow Jesus. Rejoice that the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever and ever. In the name of Jesus the Christ, receive the love that never dies and never fails. Amen.

*RESPONSE OF PRAISE NO. 196

“All Glory, Laud, and Honor” Valet Will Ich Dir Geben

PROCLAIMING AND RESPONDING

ANTHEM

“Hosanna!”

Victor C. Johnson

Children’s Choir (BLAZE)

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

Matthew 21:1-11

page 21, NT

SERMON

“The Lord Needs You”

Dr. Sommers

*HYMN NO. 462

“I Love to Tell the Story”

Hankey

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 High the Palms!”

Joseph M. Martin

Chancel Choir

*RESPONSE OF THANKSGIVING NO. 196

“All Glory, Laud, and Honor”

Valet Will Ich Dir Geben

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

GOING FORTH

*HYMN NO. 200

“A Cheering, Chanting, Dizzy Crowd”

Christian Love

*BENEDICTION

*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE NO. 543

“God, Be the Love to Search and Keep 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 located through the door to the left of the choir loft and left to the end of the hall.

†THE WHITE ROSE TODAY celebrates the life of First Presbyterian Church member Martha Tarjan and remembers the promises of the resurrection in her death on Tuesday, March 28, 2017. Our sympathy is extended to Martha’s family and friends. Martha was a 60 year member of Pleasantdale Presbyterian Church.

†Our sympathy as a Christian family to the Vanderberg family on the death of Margaret Vanderberg on March 25, 2017.

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

…my husband by Alice Brackmann

†Thank you to Janice Murphy for providing the palms and making the palm crosses for the Pleasantdale Campus.

†Thank you to members from the Worship Committee and friends for making the palm crosses we are receiving today at First Pres Caldwell. Special thanks to Garrett Jones of Codey Jones Funeral Home for supplying palms to our church.

† 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, Edith Jipp, Christopher Kerwin, Marge Lucas, Barbara Piggery, Louise Ritscher, Emil Schnell, 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