First Presbyterian Church
Sunday Morning Worship
November 20, 2022
Prelude “Air from Suite No. 3” J. S. Bach
Welcome & Community Sharing
* Call to Worship (Responsive)
Worship Christ, Eternal Son of God;
Honor Christ, Incarnate Son of Mary;
Serve Christ, Glorious Ruler of creation;
For to Christ belong the power and the glory of the Almighty.
Praise be to God!
* Hymn “Jesus, Remember Me” No. 599
* Call to Confession
With humble hearts, trusting in grace, let us confess our sins before God and one another.
* Prayer of Confession (Responsive)
Almighty God, you brought forth the world for the love of Christ, yet we have lived in rebellion and turned away from our created purpose. We have acknowledged the Lordship of Christ with our lips, but we have not honored him with our lives. We have served the idols of wealth and privilege; we have sought the protection of violence to oppose violence; we have lived in fear of death and loss; we have not loved our neighbors, nor sought reconciliation with our enemies. Therefore we pray: Break our rebellion will
Instruct our hearts in the ways of peace.
Expose our insincere thoughts.
Give us integrity in our quest for truth.
Release us from the fear of death.
Grant us courage in the face of evil.
Free us for joyful service in Christ our Lord.
Empower us to live as citizens of your kingdom.
For the sake of the world, in the name of Christ. Amen.
* Silent Confession
* Assurance of Pardon Colossians 1:13-14
God has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Through Christ our Lord, we are forgiven.
Thanks be to God.
* Gloria Patri No. 579
* Apostle’s Creed (Unison)
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended into Hell. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. AMEN.
Anthem “Simple Gifts” Shaker Tune, Arr. Coates
Children’s Sermon Colossians 1:11-20
(Afterward children may be dismissed to Sunday school.)
* Hymn “Psalm 46” No. 193
Newer Testament Reading: Luke 23:33-43
Pew Bible p.83 nt
33 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus[a] there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. [[34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”]][b] And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35 And the people stood by watching, but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah[c] of God, his chosen one!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him,[d] “This is the King of the Jews.”
39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding[e] him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah?[f] Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in[g] your kingdom.” 43 He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (NRSVUE)
Prayer of Illumination
Older Testament Reading: Jeremiah 23:1-6
Pew Bible p.681 ot
23 Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord. 2 Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord. 3 Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. 4 I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall no longer fear longer or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord.
5 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: “The Lord is our righteousness.” (NRSVUE)
Sermon Rev. Anna C. Gheen
Sharing God’s Gifts
With gratitude, let us offer ourselves and our gifts to God.
The Offering plate is in the Narthex. You may also choose to mail your offering to the church office, or give online through our website, cazpres.org.
* Doxology No. 592
* Prayer of Dedication (Unison)
Almighty God, receive our offering for the sake of Christ our Lord. Make us worthy stewards of your gifts and generous citizens of the kingdom of your Son, Jesus Christ, through whom we pray. Amen.
Prayers of Intercession
* Hymn “Christ, You are the Fullness” No. 346
* Benediction
Postlude “Nun Danket Alle Gott” Karg-Elert
* Please stand if you are able