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!

September 3, 2017

Ten o’clock

13th Sunday after Pentecost

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GATHERING

REFLECTION

“Man is an able creature, but he has made 32,600,000 laws and hasn’t yet improved on the Ten Commandments.”

— Author Unknown

PRELUDE

“Voluntary”

William Boyce (1710-1779)

CALL TO WORSHIP (Romans 8)

The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought.

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God.

What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

You, who did not withhold your own Son, will you not also give us all things through him?

Let us worship God!

OPENING PRAYER

*HYMN SING

Lighting the candles today is Acolyte Charlene Pace

CONFESSION

CORPORATE CONFESSION

Gracious God, have mercy upon us as we make our confession. We question your judgment when your will conflicts with our own. We are reluctant to follow the course you prescribe. Our patience grows thin when you intrude in life’s journey, causing us to veer from the path we pursue. We seek to be faithful and obey your directions, but our own desires delay us in fulfilling your will. Have mercy upon us and deliver us from self-deception.

PERSONAL CONFESSION

In the name of Jesus 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”

First Song

PROCLAIMING AND RESPONDING

TIME WITH THE CHILDREN

Please note: There is no Kids Page this morning.

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

“The Lord Is My Shepherd”

Joe Cox and Jody Lindh

Amanda Lecuona, Soloist

*RESPONSE OF THANKSGIVING NO. 626

“As the Deer”

As the Deer

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

SCRIPTURE

Exodus 20:1-17

page 63, OT

MEDITATION

“Who’s In Your Corner”

Rev. Don Brown

THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE

*HYMN OF PREPARATION NO. 64

“I Long For Your Commandments”

Wohl, Denen Die Da Wandeln

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. 175

“Seek Ye First” Lafferty

Seek ye first the kingdom of God

and its righteousness,

And all these things shall be

added unto you. Allelu, alleluia!

*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 service today, we hope you will join us for Lemonade on the Lawn.

†Our thanks to Wally Brixner for preparing the Lord’s Table today. Our Communion servers this week are: Jeannine Archibald, Stephen Cornman, Jeanette DePalma, Donna Heun, Brian Johnson, Robert Maxwell, Joyce McGrath and Mark Schalles.

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

...in honor or our daughter Meredith’s birthday by Rich & Nancy Hauser

† 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, Rey Mercado, 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.

†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