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!

December 30, 2018

Ten o’clock

1st Sunday after Christmas

GATHERING

REFLECTION

“Only the weak are cruel. Gentleness can only be expected from the strong.”

- Leo Buscaglia

PRELUDE

Call to Worship (Psalm 148)

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise God in the heights!

All the shining stars praise you, O God, for you commanded and they were created.

Praise the Lord from the earth, young men and women alike, old and young together!

Let everyone praise the name of the Lord, for your glory is above earth and heaven.

*HYMN NO. 108

“Of The Father’s Love Begotten”

Divinum Mysterium

Serving as Acolyte today is Gordon Bruchac

CONFESSION CORPORATE CONFESSION

How patient You are with us, Loving Creator, and how hard we find it to put up with the foolishness of others. In humility, You became one of us, and we keep wanting everything to be about us. You model a life of meekness in service to others, and we are convinced life is all about power and success. All creation sings of Your kindness, while we hurl angry words at those we say we care about the most. Yet, rather than becoming frustrated with us, You continue to forgive us. Clothe us with Your love, we pray, so we might be more compassionate towards others. Touch us with Your grace, so we might become more gentle people. Fill us with that peace which longs to reside in our hearts, even as we seek to continue our journey with the Child of Bethlehem, 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 HYMN NO. 71

"Surely, It Is God Who Saves Me"

First Song

Surely, it is God who saves me; I will trust and not be afraid. For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, and God will be my Savior.

PROCLAIMING AND RESPONDING

ANTHEM

“A Hallelujah Christmas”

Leonard Cohen

Melissa 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. The ushers will collect the cards during the hymn following the sermon and they will be offered during the Prayers of the People.

SCRIPTURE

John 8:1-11

Pages 94-95, NT

SERMON

“Fruit of the Spirit - Gentleness”

Rev. Don Brown

*HYMN NO. 291

“Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness”

Spirit

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

*RESPONSE OF THANKSGIVING NO. 143

“Angels, from the Realms of Glory”

Regent Square

All creation, join in praising God the Father, Spirit, Son, evermore your voices raising to the eternal Three in One: Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ, the newborn king!

GOING FORTH

HYMN NO. 128

“Infant Holy, Infant Lowly”

WŻŁOBIE LEŻY

*BENEDICTION

*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE HYMN NO.121 St. 4

"O Little Town of Bethlehem"

ST. Louis

O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us; abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel

*THE PEACE

The peace of Christ be with you.

And also with you.

Please exchange greetings of welcome and peace with your neighbor.

*Please rise in body or in spirit

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

†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.

†You are respectfully requested to silence all cell phones. Our church is equipped with a hearing assistance system. Please ask the usher for a receiver.

† The flowers this morning, are given to the glory of God… … In memory of Eugene Schneider, by Liz and John Holda

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, Thelma Campbell, Harry Coppens, Ray Corbin, Jay Courter, Catherine Flemming, Gordon Gibson, Sandra Harvey, Bill Hayden, Christopher Kerwin, Edna Lawshe, Dottie Leonard, Barbara Piggery, Louise Ritscher, Richard Rose, Erwin Rosin, Bob Scarrillo, Rick Sommers, Debbie Wefferling, Laura Winter and Helena Wispelwey.