The First Presbyterian Church at Caldwell
326 Bloomfield Avenue
Caldwell, NJ 07006
973-228-0310
www.firstprescaldwell.org
August 16, 2020
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
REFLECTION
“Researchers
found that greed is actually viewed more favorably in upper-class communities.
'We reason that increased resources and independence from others cause people
to prioritize self-interest over others’ welfare and perceive greed as positive
and beneficial, which in turn gives rise to increased unethical behaviour,’ the researchers concluded."
Researcher Paul Piff,
a social psychologist at the University of California, Berkeley
PRELUDE Variations on “Kum Ba Yah” arr. John A. Behnke
WORDS OF WELCOME
CALL TO WORSHIP & OPENING
PRAYER
SUMMER HYMN SING
“Lift High the Cross” (Hymn No. 826, St. 1 & 4)
REFRAIN
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim
Till all the world adore his sacred name.
Come Christians, follow where our Savior trod,
The Lamb victorious, Christ, the Son of God. REFRAIN
So shall our song of triumph ever be;
Praise to
the Crucified for victory. REFRAIN
“My Hope is Built on Nothing Less” (Hymn No. 353, St.
1 & 4)
My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and
righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on
Jesus’ name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; all other ground
is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
When he shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in
him be found,
Dressed in his righteousness alone, faultless to stand
before the throne.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; all other ground
is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (In Unison)
Gracious God, we pray this day for a faith that enables us to
live, work, and pray in ways that let you use us. We confess, Compassionate
God, those behaviors that prevent you from leading and using us. We confess to
doing what we know better than to try. We practice individual and collective
self-centeredness that insists on its own way; that ignores the guidance of
others; that approaches life with a “me first” attitude; that rationalizes
giving in to temptation; that trusts my power to overwhelm problems. God, help
us break patterns of misbehavior. Help us break the chains of sin that bind us.
Help us break cycles of selfishness and violence that you can then use us as
willing partners in loving, caring and reconciling. In
Jesus’, name. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Friends,
hear the Good News! All who are moved by the Spirit of God are children of God.
We
are heirs of God's splendor with Jesus Christ.
Friends,
believe the Good News!
In
Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
HYMN No. 700, St. 1 “I’m Gonna Live
So God Can Use Me” I’M GONNA LIVE
I’m gonna live so (live so) God
can use me
Anywhere, Lord,
anytime! (anytime!)
I’m gonna live so (live so) God
can use me
Anywhere, Lord (my Lord,) anytime! (anytime!)
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
SPECIAL
MUSIC “I’ll Walk with God” Nicholas Brodzsky
Paul Salierno, Solo
OLD
TESTAMENT LESSON Judges 16:4-6, 16-20, 27-30
HYMN No. 700, St. 2 “I’m Gonna Live
So God Can Use Me” I’M GONNA LIVE
I’m gonna work so (work so) God
can use me
Anywhere, Lord,
anytime! (anytime!)
I’m gonna work so (work so) God
can use me
Anywhere, Lord (my Lord,) anytime! (anytime!)
GOSPEL LESSON Luke 23:34-35
SERMON “Dumbest People in the Bible - Samson” Rev. William
Schram
SPECIAL MUSIC “I’ve Got Peace Like a River”
arr. Patricia Cota
Joelle Piercy, Handbells
HYMN No. 700, St. 3 “I’m Gonna Live
So God Can Use Me” I’M GONNA LIVE
I’m gonna pray so (pray so) God
can use me
Anywhere, Lord,
anytime! (anytime!)
I’m gonna pray so (pray so) God
can use me
Anywhere, Lord (my Lord,) anytime! (anytime!)
PASTORAL PRAYER & 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.
HYMN No. 757, St. 4 “Today We All Are Called to Be Disciples”
KINGSFOLD
May we in service to our God act out the living
word,
And walk the road the saints have trod till all have
seen and heard.
As stewards of the earth my we give thanks in one
accord
To God who calls us all to be disciples of the Lord.
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE “Andante
Maestoso” arr.
J. Michael Case
WORSHIP PARTICIPANTS
Rev. William Schram
Rev. Barbara Piercy
Susan Jones
Paul Salierno, Cantor
& Soloist
Joelle Piercy, Handbell Soloist & Cantor
Ray Liptak & Rob Thiemann, AV Engineers