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!

May 28, 2017

Ten o’clock

7th Sunday of Easter

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GATHERING

REFLECTION

As I listen, the great chorus of life and joy begins again, and amid the awful orchestra of seen and unseen powers and destinies of good and evil our trumpets sound once more a note of daring, hope, and will.

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

on the occasion of Memorial Day, 1864

PRELUDE

CALL TO WORSHIP

On this Memorial Day weekend, we come before God, not to glorify war,

but to honor and celebrate those who walked into the chaos and evil that is war, and lost their lives:

those who were civilians and those who were military;

those who were friends and those who were enemies;

None who have waded through evil, death and sorrow are untouched in body, mind or spirit;

Yet they are beloved of God.

Praise God for God’s faithfulness.

Praise the Lord.

OPENING PRAYER

*HYMN NO. 331

“God of the Ages, Whose Almighty Hand”

National Hymn

This hymn was generated by 19th-century centennial celebrations: the words by the Declaration of Independence and the music by the adoption of the United States Constitution. Despite these origins, no specific nation is mentioned in this hymn of praise and prayer for peace.

Lighting the candles today is Acolyte Matthew Califf

CONFESSION

CORPORATE CONFESSION

God of every nation, as we remember those that gave their lives in service to their country, let us be stirred to action in their memory. We confess that we have not done all that is possible to promote peace and justice in our world. We have not loved our neighbors, let alone our enemies. Forgive us for failing to live up to your commandments. Empower us to work for your kingdom in this world, and welcome us by your grace into your kingdom in the next.

PERSONAL CONFESSION

Through Christ our Lord, we pray.

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 “May It Be” arr. Mark Brymer

Chancel Choir & Westminster Ensemble

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

Leviticus 7:1-6, 37-38 page 89, OT

Hebrews 10:1-4, 11-17 page 210, NT

SERMON

“Love Is Sacrificial Action”

Dr. Sommers

*HYMN NO. 833

“O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go”

St. Margaret

This intense hymn of commitment to God (addressed as Love, Light, and Joy) closes with an invocation of the ultimate testimony to those attributes (the Cross). The composer, a Scotsman, named this specially-composed tune for the 11th-century patroness of Scotland.

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

*RESPONSE OF THANKSGIVING NO. 710

“We Lift Our Voices”

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

GOING FORTH

*HYMN NO. 340

“This Is My Song”

Finlandia

The first two stanzas of this hymn were written between the 20th century’s two world wars and focus on the theme of international peace. The third stanza, by another author and added later, uses the language of the Lord’s Prayer to voice a distinctly Christian perspective.

*BENEDICTION

*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE NO. 175

“Seek Ye First”

*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.

†The flowers this morning, are given to the glory of God in memory of Stewart and Edith Heuston by Barbara Heuston

†FLOWER DONORS for the sanctuary are needed for the following dates: July 2 and 30, August 20, September 3 and 24, October 1 and 29 and November 5. If you would like to donate flowers in memory or in honor of someone, please fill out a form and return to the office.

† 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:

…Neil Aharrah, Harry Coppens, Bill Hayden, Edith Jipp, Christopher Kerwin, 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