The First Presbyterian Church at Caldwell

326 Bloomfield Avenue

Caldwell, NJ 07006

973-228-0310

www.firstprescaldwell.org

August 30, 2020

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

REFLECTION

"It is important to tell at least from time to time the secret of who we truly and fully are—even if we tell it only to ourselves—because otherwise we run the risk of losing track of who we truly and fully are and little by little come to accept instead the highly edited version which we put forth in hope that the world will find it more acceptable than the real thing." - Frederick Buechner

PRELUDE

“Solemn Melody”

Sir Walford Davies (1869 – 1941)

WORDS OF WELCOME

CALL TO WORSHIP & OPENING PRAYER

SUMMER HYMN SING

“What a Friend We Have in Jesus” (Hymn No. 465, St. 1 & 3)

What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sings and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit; O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge; take it to the Lord in prayer!

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In his arms he’ll take and shield thee; thou wilt find a solace there.

“Every Time I Feel the Spirit” (Hymn No. 66)

Every time I feel the Spirit moving in my heart I will pray,

Yes, every time I feel the Spirit moving in my heart I will pray.

Upon the mountain, when my Lord spoke, out of God’s mouth came fire and smoke.

Looked all around me, it looked so fine, till I asked my Lord if all was mine.

Every time I feel the Spirit moving in my heart I will pray,

Yes, every time I feel the Spirit moving in my heart I will pray.

Jordan River, chilly and cold, it chills the body but not the soul.

There is but one train upon the track. It runs to heaven and then right back.

Every time I feel the Spirit moving in my heart I will pray,

Yes, every time I feel the Spirit moving in my heart I will pray.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (In Unison)

Wise God, you know too well that our selfish pride causes us to imagine how poor we are. We are convinced we do not have enough: enough honor, enough respect, enough recognition, enough to live on. And so, in our poverty of spirit, we cannot help but cling to more than we need. Protect us from the arrogant desire to be better than others. By your grace, help us to be better to them in sharing; better for them in deed; better with them in understanding. We confess the need to be humble in the way of Jesus - a way that lifts up those with whom we have contact and leads us to practice servanthood. In the name of Jesus, we pray. 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. 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.

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

SPECIAL MUSIC

“Give Me Jesus”

arr. Tom Trenney

FIRST LESSON

Acts 5:1-11

GOSPEL LESSON

Luke 21:1-4

SERMON

“Dumbest People in the Bible – Ananias and Sapphira”

Rev. William Schram

HYMN No. 693, St. 1 & 2

“Though I May Speak”

GIFT OF LOVE

Though I may speak with bravest fire,

and have the gift to all inspire,

and have not love, my words are vain,

as sounding brass, and hopeless gain.

Though I may give all I possess,

and striving so my love profess,

but not be given by love within,

the profit soon turns strangely thin.

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. 693, St. 3

“Though I May Speak”

GIFT OF LOVE

Come, Spirit, come, our hearts control;

our Spirits long to be made whole

Let inward love guide every deed;

by this we worship, and are freed.

BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE

“Earth and All Stars”

arr. David N. Johnson

WORSHIP PARTICIPANTS

Rev. William Schram

Rev. Barbara Piercy

Susan Jones

Paul Salierno, Cantor

Emily Wynne, Soloist & Cantor

Ray Liptak & Rob Thiemann, AV Engineers