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!

November 26, 2017

Ten o’clock

Christ the King

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GATHERING

REFLECTION

“Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,

Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me.”

— St. Patrick

PRELUDE

Psalm 19 “The Heavens Declare”

Benedetto Marcello

Arr. Dennis Janzer

CALL TO WORSHIP

Give thanks to God who spread a cloud for a covering and gave fire to light the night.

Who opened the rock and water gushed forth and flowed through the desert sands.

Seek the Lord and the strength only God can give, a presence that continually abides.

We will remember the wonderful works God has done, the miracles, and the judgments God made.

All: Let us worship God!

OPENING PRAYER

*HYMN NO. 263

“All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name”

Coronation

Lighting the candles today is Acolyte Kaci Pace

CONFESSION

CORPORATE CONFESSION

O Lord, we stock the food pantries, but brush aside those who hunger for friendship. We give away our hand-me-downs, but overlook those whose hopes have been stripped away. We glad-hand those just like us, but turn a deaf ear to neighbors who don’t sound like us.

Forgive us, Hope of the Ages. You persistently search for us in the side streets of the world, gathering us up and bringing us home, so we may be drenched in the waters of your bottomless pool of forgiveness, watched over by your Child, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

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. 48 “Rain Down” Rain Down

PROCLAIMING AND RESPONDING

ANTHEM

“Hallelujah, Amen”

from JUDAS MACCABAEUS

G. F. Handel

Chancel Choir

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 13:1-23

Page 13, NT

SERMON “Good Landing” Rev. Don Brown

*HYMN NO. 268 “Crown Him with Many Crowns” Diademata

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

“All Things Bright and Beautiful”

arr. Keith Kolander

*RESPONSE OF THANKSGIVING NO. 607

“Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow”

Doxology

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

GOING FORTH

*HYMN NO. 269

“Lead On ,O King Eternal!”

Lancashire

*BENEDICTION

*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE NO. 541

“God Be with You Till We Meet Again”

Randolph

*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.

†We express our sympathy as a Christian family to….

….Gloria Marcantonio and her family on the recent death of her husband, Lorenzo, on November 19, 2017.

† 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, Edith Jipp, Christopher Kerwin, Max Oehler, Barbara Piggery, Arline Pressl, Louise Ritscher, Richard Rose, Michael Sanok, 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