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!

October 8, 2017

Ten o’clock

18th Sunday after Pentecost

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GATHERING

REFLECTION

“When it comes to God and faith and religion, I have some hunches… but I only know two things to be true — 1.) I am God’s beloved child. 2.) So is everyone else.”

— Glennon Melton

PRELUDE

“A Joyful Alleluia”

Cynthia Dobrinski

First Church Ringers

CALL TO WORSHIP

We seek to love as Jesus loved – in a way that excludes no one,

In a way that brings the reality of your reign to bear on the affairs of this world.

Urge us to love boldly, realizing that the cost of love gives it value,

The power of love is unlimited when faith sets it free.

*HYMN NO. 515

“I Come with Joy”

Dove of Peace

Lighting the candles today is Acolyte Charlene Pace

CONFESSION

CORPORATE CONFESSION

Gracious and compassionate God, who alone can guide us into a life that finds the true freedom of faithfulness, we confess that, by attitudes and actions, we have allowed ourselves to benefit from injustices to others. We have kept multitudes of your children shackled with chains of prejudice or stereotype. We have applauded our own decency while refraining from deep spiritual self-appraisal. Forgive us and set us free indeed.

PERSONAL CONFESSION

In the name of the liberating Christ,

Amen.

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

...Friends, believe the good news.

In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

*RESPONSE OF PRAISE NO. 639

“O Sing a New Song”

O Sing a New Song

PROCLAIMING AND RESPONDING

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

Acts 10:19-35

Page 121, NT

SERMON

“A Really Big ‘But’”

Rev. Todd Shumpert

*HYMN NO. 318

“In Christ There Is No East or West”

St. Peter

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

“Turn Me Around”

Traditional Spiritual, arr. Earlene Rentz

Westminster Choir

*RESPONSE OF THANKSGIVING NO. 399

“God Welcomes All”

Themba Amen

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

GOING FORTH

*HYMN NO. 769

“For Everyone Born”

For Everyone Born

*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 10:00am service today, we hope you will join us for Coffee Hour in Room 120.

†The red rose this morning celebrates the birth of…

….Emily Elizabeth Van Doren on September 22, 2017 to Chet and Amanda (Everett) Van Doren. Maternal Grandparents are Tom and Barbara Everett. Paternal Grandparents are Craig and Lori Van Doren.

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

...in memory of John & Mary Holda, parents, by John and Liz Holda

...in memory of Marion Schuetz, by her family.

† 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, Lynn Ely, 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.

THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

AT CALDWELL

326 Bloomfield Avenue

Caldwell, NJ 07006

973-228-0310