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 7th, 2019

Ten o’clock

5th Sunday of Lent

GATHERING

REFLECTION

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

— Leo Buscaglia

PRELUDE “Elegy” Op. 24

Gabriel Fauré Arr. Virginia Andrews

CALL TO WORSHIP

Callie Onjian, Lay Reader

We gather to share in the gospel of Christ:

to lean on the story of God’s great love.

We gather to answer the call of Christ:

to walk the road that leads to a cross.

We gather to be the body of Christ:

to serve the one who is our Head.

We gather to follow the way of Christ:

to sing praises to our God!

OPENING PRAYER

*HYMN NO. 645

“Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above”

Mit Freuden Zart

The regal divine imagery here will not be new to most singers, but some may not expect the third stanza’s image of God as mother. Yet it is part of God’s self-description in Isaiah 66:13. This Bohemian Brethren tune resembles both Genevan psalm tunes and French folk songs. Serving as Acolyte today is Eliana White

CONFESSION

CORPORATE CONFESSION

Holy Source of New Life, you promise to set us free from paths of fear, doubt, and denial.

Yet we resist your invitation, seeing only what we must give up if we are to follow the path of Jesus.

You call us to have faith in your sustaining presence and power, but your call takes us beyond anything we can see or touch.

We fear placing our trust in things beyond our control.

We doubt that you can bring water to the dry places of our lives or replace our suffering with joy.

Forgive us when we turn away from your promise of abundant life.

Heal us and lead us home, Holy One.

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

Taizé Chant

The kingdom of God is justice and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Come, Lord, and open in us, the gates of your kingdom.

PROCLAIMING AND RESPONDING

TIME WITH THE CHILDREN

Please note: Children of all ages will worship with their families in the Sanctuary on the first Sunday of each month for Church Family Worship.

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.

MINUTE FOR MINISTRY

11th Annual Golf Tournament Diane Joy

OFFERING

OFFERTORY

“Here I am, Lord”

arr. Craig Courtney

Chancel Choir

*RESPONSE OF THANKSGIVING NO. 607

“Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow”

Old Hundredth

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

SCRIPTURE

Philippians 3:4b-14

Page 186-187, NT

SERMON

“On the Right Track”

Dr. Sommers

THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE

*HYMN NO. 223

“When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”

Hamburg

This familiar text from the beginning of the 18th century grew out of Isaac Watts’ desire to give Christians the ability to sing about gospel events. It is set here to a very restrained tune from the early 19th century inspired by the patterns of Gregorian chant.

GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING 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.

THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD AND COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE

MUSIC DURING COMMUNION

“Seufzer, Tränen, Kummer, Not”

(Sighs, Tears, Anguish, Trouble) from Cantata BWV 21 J.S. Bach

Rae Gabrielle de la Crétaz, Soloist

(Sung in loving memory of her parents, Robert and Doris de la Crétaz)

TRANSLATION: Sighs, tears, anguish, trouble, anxious longing, fear and death gnaw at my constricted heart, I experience misery, pain.

PRAYER

GOING FORTH

*BENEDICTION

*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE NO. 543

“God, Be the Love to Search and Keep Me” (st. 5)

*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 Malcolm Haddad and Billy Slater for preparing the table for the Lord’s Supper. Our Communion servers this week are: Jeannine Archibald, Darcy Asche, Stephen Cornman, Lisa Edwards, Kris George, Kaitlyn Heun, Bob Hodge, Ron Masson, Lydia Spinelli, and Steve Urban

†We express our sympathy as a Christian family to…… ...Neil and Sally Garland and their family on the death of Neil’s mother, Eugenia, on March 22, 2019

†We are glad you have chosen to worship here today! Please come again! For more information about our church, please visit our website: www.firstprescaldwell.org. An information packet is available at the rear of the sanctuary and an Usher or one of the Greeters that you met as you came in will be glad to provide you with more information.

† 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. † 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, Harry Coppens, Ray Corbin, Jay Courter, Catherine Fleming, Alice Gibson, Gordon Gibson, Bill Hartman, Sandra Harvey, Bill Hayden, Don Hultz, Christopher Kerwin, Edna Lawshe, Dottie Leonard, Marge Lucas, Thelma Mitchell, Barbara Piggery, Louise Ritscher, Richard Rose, Erwin Rosin, Barbara Romaine, Bob Scarrillo, Debbie Wefferling, Laura Winter and Helena Wispelwey.

† Notary Service is available in the church office. Sundays from 9am-12pm.