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The First Presbyterian Church at Caldwell

326 Bloomfield Avenue

Caldwell, NJ 07006

973-228-0310

www.firstprescaldwell.org

September 6, 2020

Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Communion Sunday

REFLECTION

"That is the great joy of being chosen: the discovery that others are chosen as well ... Once we deeply trust that we ourselves are precious in God's eyes, we are able to recognize the preciousness of others and their unique places in God's heart.” - Henri J.M. Nouwen

PRELUDE Variations on “Down Ampney” (Come Down, O Love Divine)

arr. Jan Bender, Op. 47

WORDS OF WELCOME

CALL TO WORSHIP & OPENING PRAYER

SUMMER HYMN SING

“My Soul Cries Out with a Joyful Shout” (Hymn No. 100, St. 1 & 4)

My soul cries out with a joyful shout that the God of my heart is great,

And my spirit sings of the wondrous things that you bring to the ones who wait.

You fixed your sight on your servant’s plight, and my weakness you did not spur,

So from east to west shall my name be blest. Could the world be about to turn?

My heart shall sing of the day you bring. Let the fires of your justice burn.

Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near, and the world is about to turn.

Thought the nations rage from age to age, we remember who holds us fast;

God’s mercy must deliver us from the conqueror’s crushing grasp.

This saving word that our forebears heard is the promise which holds us bound,

Till the spear and rod can be crushed by God, who is turning the world around.

My heart shall sing of the day you bring. Let the fires of your justice burn.

Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near, and the world is about to turn.

“Will You Come and Follow Me” (Hymn No. 726, St. 1 & 5)

“Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?

Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same?

Will you let my love be shown; will you let my name be known/

Will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?”

Lord, your summons echoes true when you but call my name.

Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.

In your company I’ll go where your love and footsteps show.

Thus I’ll move and live and grow in you and you in me.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (In Unison)

Do we make you laugh or weep, Gracious God? We sing that we are one in your Spirit but cannot tolerate those who disagree with us. We talk of being one Body but fight over music or Bible versions or carpet colors. We affirm the giftedness of each person, but we heap honor on just a special few. Forgive us, Creative God, that we dismember your Body so easily. May the words of our mouths speak peace to the brokenness in our world; may the hopes of our hearts bring wonder to those in despair; and may our love embrace all who are around us, even as we have been welcomed by your grace in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

Broken, we are made whole; alone, we are welcomed into a family; forgiven, we are sent to serve.

Forgiven, restored, loved. This Cross is our constant reminder of God's presence in our lives, of God's grace which makes us new in every moment. Thanks be to God! Amen.

HYMN No. 300, St. 1 “We Are One in the Spirit” THEY’LL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS

We are one in the Spirit; we are one in the Lord;

We are one in the Spirit; we are one in the Lord,

And we pray that all unity may one day be restored:

And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love;

Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

SPECIAL MUSIC “My Heart Ever Faithful”(Cantata 68) J. S. Bach (1685 – 1750)

Translation: My faithful heart, frolic, sing, play, Your Jesus is near.

Gone with trouble. Gone with sorrow. I will only say my Jesus is here.

Rae Gabrielle de la Crétaz, Soloist

This solo is sung in remembrance of Rae’s parents, Doris and Robert de la Crétaz

OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Judges 12:1-6

GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 18:15-20

SERMON “Forgiveness and Community” Rev. William Schram

HYMN No. 300, St. 2 & 3 “We Are One in the Spirit” THEY’LL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS

We will walk with each other; we will walk hand in hand;

And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land:

And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love;

Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

We will work with each other; we will work side by side;

And we’ll guard human dignity and save human pride:

And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love;

Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

SACRAMENT OF COMMUNION

INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE

GREAT THANKSGIVING

HYMN NO. 565 “Holy, Holy, Holy” SANCTUS

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power, God of might,

Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest.

CONSECRATION & 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.

SHARING

HYMN NO. 604 “Lamb of God” AGNUS DEI

O Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

Grant us peace; grant us peace.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Move, O Breath of God, over those gathered in spirit for this meal. As the bread of hope heals our brokenness, may we go forth to be reconciled to those we have harmed. As the cup of grace quenches our thirst for hope, may we reach out to those whom the world has forgotten. As your peace fills our empty souls, may we bring that peace to our world. Amen

HYMN No. 300, St. 4 “We Are One in the Spirit” THEY’LL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS

All praise to the Father from whom all things come,

And all praise to Christ Jesus, God’s only Son,

And all praise to the Spirit who makes us one:

And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love;

Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE “How Firm a Foundation” arr. Marianne Kim

WORSHIP PARTICIPANTS

Rev. William Schram

Rev. Barbara Piercy, Noel Piercy, Susan Jones

Paul Salierno, Cantor & Rae Gabrielle de la Crétaz, Soloist

Ray Liptak & Rob Thiemann, AV Engineers