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!

March 3rd, 2019

Ten o’clock

Transfiguration of the Lord

GATHERING

REFLECTION

“We go to the Bible to be astonished, to be amazed at God and Christ and the cross and grace and the gospel.”

John Piper

PRELUDE

“Canon in B Major, Op. 56, No. 6”

Robert Schumann (1810 - 1856)

CALL TO WORSHIP

We gather together to worship God.

We gather because we have seen:

the bush was aflame,

and yet it was not consumed.

There were just five small loaves,

and yet there was bread leftover.

We gather because we have heard

God’s voice in mighty thunder,

and in sighs too deep for words.

God called Jesus “Beloved” on a mountaintop,

and God has called our names.

We have seen. We have heard.

God is here. Let us worship God together!

OPENING PRAYER

*HYMN NO. 611

“Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”

Hymn To Joy Serving as Acolyte today is Summer Staehle

CONFESSION

CALL TO CONFESSION

The presence of God surrounds us, and yet too often we go about our daily lives oblivious to the power of Holy Spirit moving in our midst. Let us together confess the ways in which we are blind to God’s ever-present care.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

God of rainbows and puddles,

lover of snow-showers and clear blue skies,

we confess to you and to one another

the many ways we fail to live the lives you want for us.

We make ourselves busy with many things,

and neglect to listen to your voice.

All too often we see the worst in the world around us,

and look past your signs of hope.

We are quick to voice our dissent with one another,

and refuse to see your face

in the persons with whom we disagree.

We focus on our own hurts, anger, and disappointments,

and close our hearts to your transforming grace.

O Holy Light of the world, forgive us.

Open our eyes to your endless possibilities.

Give us courage to listen for your call to us.

Take our hearts of stone, and make them new again with your holy love.

PERSONAL CONFESSION

Through the grace of Jesus Christ, we pray.

Amen.

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

Do not be afraid. God’s light has come into the world and has scattered the darkness; the morning star rises in our hearts. Rejoice! For God does not hold our sins against us, but embraces us as God’s own beloved. Friends, believe the good news.

In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

*RESPONSE OF PRAISE NO. 626

“As the Deer”

As the Deer

PROCLAIMING AND RESPONDING

TIME WITH THE CHILDREN

Please note: Following Time With The Children, the children will remain until the end of worship in the pews designated for each class. Each class will share what they have learned during February Foundations in the course of the service.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (6th and 7th grade class)

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.

OFFERING

OFFERTORY

“He is The Rock”

Michael Barrett

Chancel Choir

*RESPONSE OF THANKSGIVING NO. 607

“Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow”

Old Hundredth

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

SCRIPTURE

Psalm 23 (led by 3rd grade class)

Pages 474,475, OT

Luke 9:28-36 Page 65, NT

SERMON

“Only Thou Art Holy”

Dr. Sommers

*HYMN NO. 643

“Now Thank We All Our God”

Nun Danket Alle Gott

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH

The Apostles’ Creed (led by 5th grade class)

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. (*or universal)

THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE

*HYMN NO. 190

“Swiftly Pass the Clouds of Glory”

Geneva

GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AND THE LORD’S PRAYER (led by K-1st grade class)

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.

THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD AND COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE

(thanks to the 2nd grade class for preparing the communion elements)

PRAYER

GOING FORTH

*BENEDICTION

*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE NO. 175

“Seek Ye First”

Lafferty

*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

† Thank you to the 2nd Grade Communion Class and their teacher Amy Kolb for preparing the table for the Lord’s Supper. Our Communion servers this week are: Teresa Akersten, Eleanor Casagrand, Stephen Cornman, Lisa Edwards, Kris George, Donna Heun, Kaitlyn Heun, Robert Hodge, Brian Johnson, Lydia Spinelli.

†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:

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