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!

July 30, 2017

Ten o’clock

8th Sunday after Pentecost

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GATHERING

REFLECTION

A missional theology...applies to the whole of life of every believer. Every disciple is to be an agent of the kingdom of God, and every disciple is to carry the mission of God into every sphere of life. We are all missionaries sent into a non-Christian culture.

— Alan Hirsch

PRELUDE

“This Is My Father’s World”

Franklin L. Sheppard

Arr. Rebecca Moore

CALL TO WORSHIP

One: You call us, Lord, to share your story,

Many: to follow where you lead,

to live as you live, to love as you love

to preach the good news of God’s Kingdom

of justice and joy, of peace and hope.

One: If we are to share your story, Lord, then we have to invite you to share ours, to be part of all we do and say.

Many: We can’t share your story if we’re not prepared to let you into our story.

One: Come into our lives, into our stories, and into our worship, Lord. Broaden our minds, strengthen our convictions,

Many: lead us the way you want us to go,

ALL: So we, too, may be faithful partners with you in establishing the kingdom of God.

OPENING PRAYER’

*HYMN NO. 401

“Here in This Place”

Gather Us In

Lighting the candles today is Acolyte Matthew Califf

CONFESSION

CORPORATE CONFESSION

Gracious God, have mercy upon us as we make our confession. You teach us compassion, and we practice prejudice and bigotry. You implore us to trust you, while we create idols. You send Christ to proclaim your kingdom, yet we fret over matters as though you cared not at all. Forgive our compulsion to control our own destiny. Forgive us as you deliver us from self-deception.

PERSONAL CONFESSION

In the name of Jesus Christ,

Amen.

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

...Friends, believe the good news.

In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

*RESPONSE OF PRAISE NO. 227

“Jesus Remember Me”

Remember Me

PROCLAIMING AND RESPONDING

ANTHEM

“Shepherd Of My Heart”

Mark Baldwin & Dick Tunney

Sarah Solie, Solo

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 124.

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 13:31-33, 44-52

Page 14, NT

SERMON

“The Kingdom of God”

Dr. Sommers

*HYMN NO. 22

“God of the Sparrow”

Roeder

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 “My Tribute” Andrae Crouch arr. Phillip Keveren

*RESPONSE OF THANKSGIVING NO. 710 “We Lift Our Voices” Offering

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

GOING FORTH

*HYMN NO. 543

(stanzas 1-4)

“God Be the Love to Search and Keep Me”

Green Tyler

*BENEDICTION

*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE NO. 543 (stanza 5)

“God Be the Love to Search and Keep Me” Green Tyler

*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 Lemonade on the Lawn.

†Thank you to Jessica Goodson for her musical leadership in worship this morning. Musicians, Noel and Barbara Piercy are traveling with 5 college students from the congregation (Erin Bogert, Patrick Citrano, Anastasia Meccia, Dominic Meccia, Hannah Ploch) on a Taizé retreat. The first part of the trip is a visit to Amsterdam to learn more about the Dutch Resistance during WWII. Today they are worshiping at the English Reformed Church in Amsterdam. The church was founded as an English speaking congregation in 1607 and is part of the Church of Scotland (Presbyterian) and the Protestant Church of the Netherlands.

† 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, Jay Courter, Ruth Evans, Bill Hayden, Janet Jelly, Edith Jipp, Christopher Kerwin, Barbara Piggery, Louise Ritscher, Emil Schnell, Marlene Todd, 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