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!

January 21, 2018

Ten o’clock

3rd Sunday after Epiphany

Ordination/Installation of Officers

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GATHERING

REFLECTION

“...there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but... because one’s conscience tells one that it is right.”

Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

PRELUDE

“Antiphon III”

Marcel Dupré (1886-1973)

GREETING AND LITANY FOR MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY

We remember the conviction of Martin Luther King Jr. that “freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.”

Therefore, let us pray for courage and determination by those who are oppressed. . .

We remember Martin's warning that “a negative peace which is the absence of tension” is less than “a positive peace which is the presence of justice.”

Therefore, let us pray that those who work for peace on our world may cry out first for justice. . .

We remember Martin's insight that “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly.”

Therefore, let us pray that we may see nothing in isolation, but may know ourselves bound to one another and to all people under heaven. . .

We remember Martin's lament that “the contemporary church is often a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound. It is so often the arch-supporter of the status quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of the church, the power structure of the average community is consoled by the church's silent and often vocal sanction of things as they are.”

Therefore, let us pray that neither this congregation nor any congregation of Christ's people may be silent in the face of wrong, but that we may be disturbers of the status quo when that is God's call to us. . .

We remember Martin's hope that “dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear-drenched communities and in some not-too-distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all their scintillating beauty.”

Therefore, in faith, let us commend ourselves and our work for justice to the goodness of almighty God.

*HYMN NO. 339

“Lift Every Voice and Sing”

Lift Every Voice

Lighting the candles today is Acolyte Charlotte Popat

PROCLAIMING AND RESPONDING

ANTHEM

“O Lord, We Sing Thy Praise”

J.S. Bach (1685-1750)

arr. Richard Marlow

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.

MINUTE FOR MINISTRY

Facing Racism Taskforce

SCRIPTURE

Luke 4:16-30

page 57, NT

SERMON “The Beloved Kingdom” Dr. Sommers

*HYMN NO. 379 (stanzas 1, 3, 5)

“We Shall Overcome”

We Shall Overcome

OFFERING

OFFERTORY

“Beautiful City” from GODSPELL

Stephen Schwartz

Madison Borys, Solo

ORDINATION AND/OR INSTALLATION OF RULING ELDERS AND DEACONS

Introduction

*Hymn of Dedication No. 69 (stanza 1)

“I, the Lord of Sea and Sky”

Here I Am

Constitutional Questions of the Officers-Elect

Constitutional Questions of the Congregation

Prayer of Installation and Laying on of Hands

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.

Declaration of Ordination/Installation

GOING FORTH

*HYMN NO. 69 (stanzas 2-3)

“I, The Lord of Sea and Sky”

Here I Am

*BENEDICTION

*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE

NO. 379 (stanza 2)

“We Shall Overcome”

We Shall

Overcome

*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.

† 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