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!

April 22nd, 2018

Ten o’clock

EARTH DAY 2018

4th Sunday of Easter

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REFLECTION

“The earth is for the circle of people. And since the earth is for the whole, no one individual can own any part of it. The earth belongs to the Creator, and is gifted to peoples”

— Chief Lawrence Hart (Southern Cheyenne)

GATHERING

PRELUDE

“Song of Joy”

Chancel Handbell Choir

Arnold B. Sherman

CALL TO WORSHIP

Serving as Lay Reader today is Sydney Thielmeyer

We have come here seeking to worship the God of all Creation.

We have come to stand on holy ground!

We have come to sing God’s praises, as trees and plants sing God’s praise with their blooming.

We have come to sing praises to our Creator!

We have come to experience the mighty rush of the Spirit like our surrounding flowing waters.

We have come to open ourselves to the Holy Spirit!

We have come to experience the God of Creation in this sacred space.

OPENING PRAYER

*HYMN NO. 760

“Bring Many Names” Westchase

Serving as Acolyte today is Charlotte Popat

CONFESSION

UNISON PRAYER

Holy God, We confess that for many of us the history of how we came to be here is more complex than we understand. We confess that we have lost our connection to our local habitat—to the names of the birds of the air, and the fish of the waters, and every crawling thing that you have created. We confess that we are a people who have lost our connection to the dirt under out feet. The very substance into which you breathed life. Transform us, O God, and give us roots. Empower us to discover the history of this sacred place where you have called us. Embolden us to reconcile with all children of God who called this place home, and to honor their care for the land. Help us to learn the seasons of this sacred place —to learn the native flowers and trees, native birds and wildlife. Open our eyes to the seeds that have been sown here for millennia and the intentional care you have taken in crafting our habitat. May we be rooted and grounded in the family of God in our midst. Amen.

PERSONAL CONFESSION

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

...Friends, believe the good news.

In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

*RESPONSE OF PRAISE NO. 581

“Glory Be to the Father”

Gloria Patri

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning,

is now, and ever shall be,

World without end. Amen, amen.

PROCLAIMING AND RESPONDING

ANTHEM

“God, My Shepherd, Walks Beside Me”

J. S. Bach (1685—1750)

Chancel Choir

Cynthia Welborn, Soloist

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. Please place the cards in the offering plate and the staff will include them with their prayers this week.

SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM

We welcome into the family of God through baptism Jake Robert Liberman, son of Eric Liberman and Lauren Kovacs, born November 14, 2017. Participating in the baptism today are Elder Elizabeth L. Resch and sponsor, William (Bill) Kovacs.

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen

*HYMN NO. 484

“Out of Deep, Unordered Water”

Rustington

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 104, paraphrased (OT, page 524 )

Matthew 5:9 (NT, page 4 )

Alice Gibson, Reader

SERMON

“Sense of Place”

Rev. Barbara Jo Piercy

*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

“The Lamb” (Text by William Blake, 1776)

Ron Barnett

Jack McHugh, Solo

*RESPONSE OF THANKSGIVING NO. 607

“Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow“

Old Hundredth

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Christ, all people here below;

Praise Holy Spirit evermore;

Praise Triune God, whom we adore. Amen.

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION & LITANY FOR EARTH DAY

(Based on Gen 1:12, 26-28 and Psalm 96:11-12)

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice!

Let the sea roar, and let the field exclaim!

The trees of the forest will sing for joy!

God cares for all of God’s creation.

When God began to create the heavens and the earth the earth was without shape, and it was dark over the deep sea while God’s Spirit swept over the face of the waters.

God created everything and called it “good.”

God created humanity in God’s own image to take charge and take care of the earth, the plants, and the animals.

From the smallest seed to the largest tree, from the smallest atom to the largest continent God, calls upon us to care for our good world.

It is our responsibility and great joy to care for our world.

Today on Earth Day 2018 we pledge our continued efforts to care for our world, to protect endangered animals, to secure safe drinking water for areas without it, to reduce our energy use, and to advocate for the protection of these resources and others. With God’s help we will care for God’s creation. Amen.

GOING FORTH

*BENEDICTION

*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE

NO. 611, stanza 1

Hymn to Joy

Joyful, joyful, we adore thee,

God of glory, Lord of love!

Hearts unfold like flowers before thee,

opening to the sun above.

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;

drive the dark of doubt away.

Giver of immortal gladness,

fill us with the light of day.

*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

†We are glad you have chosen to worship here today! Please come again!

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

…..in loving memory of David Wefferling by Lewis and Debbie Wefferling.

†Nursery care is provided for children up to 24 months in our Cradle Room during the 10:00AM Worship Service. There is Christian Education during the 10:00AM Worship Service. The Cradle Room and Rest Rooms are located through the door to the left of the pulpit then left down the hallway.

†You are respectfully requested to turn off all pagers and cell phones.

†Our church is equipped with a hearing assistance system. Please ask the usher for a receiver.

† 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:

… Maggie Bischoff, Eleanor Casagrand, Harry Coppens, Jay Courter, Ruth Evans, Bill Hayden, Edith Jipp, Christopher Kerwin, Dottie Leonard, Max Oehler, Barbara Piggery, Arline Pressl, Mary Lou Pryor, Louise Ritscher, Richard Rose, Bob Scarrillo, Rick Sommers, 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 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.

† Eleanor Casagrand would like to express, to the congregation, her gratitude for all the prayers, cards, notes & phone calls that have helped her through a difficult convalescence from her injury.

THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

AT CALDWELL

326 Bloomfield Avenue

Caldwell, NJ 07006

973-228-0310