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 15, 2019
9:30am
3rd Sunday of
Advent
GATHERING
REFLECTION
“It's not the
honors and not the titles and not the power that is of ultimate importance.
It's what resides inside.”
Fred Rogers
PRELUDE
“Lost in the
Night”
Finnish Folk
Tune
arr. Cathy Moklebust Chancel
Handbell Choir
CALL TO
WORSHIP
Liturgist: Betty Resch, Elder Clerk of Session
LIGHTING OF THE
ADVENT CANDLE AND OPENING PRAYER
*HYMN NO. 93
“Lift Up Your
Heads, Ye Mighty Gates”
Truro
Serving as Acolyte
today is Ella Flanagan
CONFESSION
You have taught us
to be patient and promised to supply our needs, O God. Yet we grow weary of
waiting and restless with our wants. We blame our troubles on brothers and
sisters, withholding from them the tolerance and care you have shown to us. O God, forgive our indulgence and help us to stand firm. In
Christ you showed patience with the world in spite of
the cross. Teach us to be patient, that in Christ we may have endurance in spite of our need.
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
“Let All Who Are
Thirsty Come”
Taizé Chant
Let all who are
thirsty come,
Let all who wish receive the water of life freely.
Amen, come Lord
Jesus,
Amen, come Lord.
PROCLAIMING AND
RESPONDING
ANTHEM
“Prepare Ye”
Allen Pote Pilgrim
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. 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 for the People.
SCRIPTURE
Ezekiel 37:1-14
Page 759, OT
Luke 4:18
Page 57, NT
SERMON
“Finding Ourselves
Again!”
Rev. Don Brown
*HYMN NO. 100
“My Soul Cries Out
with a Joyful Shout”
Star of the
Country Down
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
“When God is a
Child”
Joan Collier, arr.
Tim Osiek
Chancel Choir
*RESPONSE OF
THANKSGIVING NO. 143 St.4
“Angels, from the
Realms of Glory”
All
creation,
join in praising God the Father, Spirit, Son, Regent Square 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. 113
“Angels We Have
Heard on High”
Gloria
*BENEDICTION
*CONGREGATIONAL
RESPONSE NO. 88 St. 7
"O Come, O
Come, Emmanuel"
O come, Desire of
nations, bind Veni Emmanuel All peoples in one heart
and mind; Bid envy, strife, and discord cease; Fill the whole world with
heaven’s peace. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel
*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
†Our sympathy as a
Christian family to… …...Joyce
McGrath on the death of her sister, Pamela Harmon on December 8, 2019.
…..Tim Hemesath on the death of his father, Norbert Bernard Hemesath on December 8, 2019 …..Rev. Barbara Piercy on the death
of her father, Charles H. Evans on December 11, 2019
†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.
† 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, Alice Brackmann, Harry Coppens, Ray Corbin,
Jay Courter, Catherine Fleming, Neil Garland, Diane Hanley, Sandra Harvey, Bill
Hayden, Ann Hicock, Brian Johnson, Sandy Johnson,
Edna Lawshe, Marge Lucas, Joe Martin, Fred Page, Mimi
Page, Kaye Prasad, Louise Ritscher, Richard Rose, Bob
Scarrillo, Ginny Schmidt, Marlene Todd, Debbie Wefferling 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. STEPHEN MINISTERS are
confidential caregivers available in times of need. For more information about
Stephen Ministry call 973-228-0310 Ext.
235.