THIRD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH July 11, 2021

GATHERING AND PREPARING TO WORSHIP GOD

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Leader: Christ is risen! People: He is risen indeed!

PRELUDE “Psalm XVIII” Benedetto Marcello

Readying Our Hearts (A time of silent prayer and reflection in preparation for worshiping God together.)

CALL TO WORSHIP (selections from Psalm 68)

Leader: Sing to God, sing praise to His name, extol Him who rides on the clouds -- His name is the LORD -- and rejoice before Him. People: A Father to the fatherless, a Defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. Leader: God sets the lonely in families, He leads forth the prisoners with singing; People: Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Leader: Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign LORD comes escape from death. People: Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord, to Him who rides the ancient skies above, who thunders with mighty voice. Leader: You are awesome, O God, in Your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to His people. People: Let us praise our God!

INVOCATION

*OPENING SONG: #60 “I Will Sing of the Mercies”

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever, I will sing, I will sing. I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever, I will sing of the mercies of the Lord. With my mouth I will make known Your faithfulness, Your faithfulness; With my mouth I will make know Your faithfulness to all generations. I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever, I will sing of the mercies of the Lord.

All the hosts of the angels sing God’s praise forever for the things He has done. All the hosts of the angels sing God’s praise forever, all the hosts of the angels sing God’s praise. Who can be compared to God in faithfulness, in faithfulness? Who can be compared to God in faithfulness to all generations? I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever, I will sing of the mercies of the Lord.

SCRIPTURE READING: Ephesians 2:1-10 (Pew Bible pp. 1818-1819)

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who 1

is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions -- it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Leader: This is the word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison prayer after silent confession)

Almighty God, You have raised Jesus from the grave and crowned Him Lord of all. We confess that often we do not bow before Him or acknowledge His rule in our lives. Often we go along with the ways of the world and fail to give Him the glory He deserves. Gracious Father, bring new life where we are worn and tired; new love where we have become hard-hearted; forgiveness where we feel hurt and where we have brought hurt; and the joy and freedom of Your Holy Spirit where we are prisoners of our selfish concerns. Deliver us from our sinful inclinations that we may be Your faithful people, obeying the commands of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all and head of the church, His body. Amen. (adapted from The Worship Sourcebook, 2004 CRC Publications)

ASSURANCE OF PARDON (adapted from Romans 5:1-2, 5)

Leader: Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God – the forgiveness of our sins through the sacrifice of our Savior, Jesus the Christ -- through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. People: And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God – the one true God who offers eternal life to all who come to Him in faith. Leader: And hope in God will not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. *All: (Gloria Patri) Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.

ENCOUNTERING GOD THROUGH GOD’S WORD

SCRIPTURE READING: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (Pew Bible p. 1840)

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, 2

who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Leader: This is the word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

*SONG: “Give Us Clean Hands” Charlie Hall Acoustic Worship Team

Verse We bow our hearts we bend our knees Oh Spirit come make us humble We turn our eyes from evil things Oh Lord we cast down our idols

Chorus Give us clean hands give us pure hearts Let us not lift our souls to another Give us clean hands give us pure hearts Let us not lift our souls to another And oh God let us be a generation that seeks That seeks Your face oh God of Jacob And oh God let us be a generation that seeks That seeks Your face oh God of Jacob

SCRIPTURE READING: John 5:24-30 (Pew Bible pp. 1654-1655)

“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out -- those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.”

Leader: This is the word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.

SERMON: “”

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RESPONDING TO GOD’S WORD THROUGH AFFIRMATION, OFFERING, AND PRAYER

*SONG OF REFLECTION AND RESPONSE: #356 “I Will Sing of My Redeemer”

I will sing of my Redeemer and His wondrous love to me; On the cruel cross He suffered from the curse to set me free.

Refrain: Sing, O sing of my Redeemer, with His blood He purchased me, On the cross He sealed my pardon, paid the debt, and made me free.

I will tell the wondrous story how, my lost estate to save, In His boundless love and mercy He the ransom freely gave. (Refrain)

I will praise my dear Redeemer, His triumphant power I’ll tell, How the victory He giveth over sin and death and hell. (Refrain)

I will sing of my Redeemer and His heavenly love for me; He from death to life hath brought me, Son of God, with Him to be. (Refrain)

THE CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER AND OFFERING

Invitation

Affirmation of Faith: The Nicene Creed

(The first official doctrinal statement of the whole Christian church, it developed from the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325, was later revised at the Council of Constantinople in A.D. 381, and was finally adopted at the Council of Chalcedon in A.D. 451. The form below is a contemporary English version.)

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through Him all things were made. For us and for our salvation He came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered death and was buried. On the third day He rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

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Words of Institution

Partaking of the Elements and the Giving of Our Offering

“Jesus, Teach Me” Vickie Tucker Courtney Mike Martin and Sal Scecchitano

(For those joining with us in the Sanctuary this morning, you are invited, as you come forward to receive the Communion Elements, and as you feel so led, to place your offering in one of the plates up front. For those unable to be with us physically, you are encouraged to partake of the elements in your home at this time. Also, as you are able, we invite you to set aside your offering as an act of personal dedication at this time, either to be mailed in, dropped off at the church, or brought in when you are able to join us in worship. Let this time be one of receiving from and offering yourself up to our Lord -- to the praise of His holy name.)

Prayer of Commitment

*Sung Response (Doxology)

Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise Him all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts, Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

SHARING OF JOYS AND CONCERNS

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.

BRINGING OUR WORSHIP INTO OUR WORLD

*CLOSING SONG: “All Things New” Cartee/Ingram Acoustic Worship Team

Verse 1 This old earth is fading, And our hearts are aching. So we let go of our possessions, leave behind our successes To take hold of one obsession, only Jesus.

Chorus So we watch and we wait and we hope and we pray You will come and make all things new. And we won’t be afraid as we long for the day You will come and make all things new. 5

Verse 2 We live here as strangers, in brokenness we labor. And we hold on with expectation for the day of our redemption Grateful still that You are patient with us, Lord. (Chorus)

Bridge Our struggle here cannot compare to what we have to gain. Our struggles here cannot compare to what we have to gain

Ending All things new, come and make all things new. All things new, come and make all things new. Come and make all things new.

*BENEDICTION (Romans 15:13)

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

POSTLUDE “March” Charles Gounod

Memory verse: John 5:24

“Very truly I [Jesus] tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him [the Father] who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. As a faith family we continue to support the work of Hope 7 in our local community (primarily the Albia area of Troy). If you would like to help support their work we encourage you to drop off non-perishable food items, toiletries and other hygiene items either at Third Church (and we will get the items to Hope 7), or at Hope 7 directly (M-W-Th 9:30-11:45), or call Sue Laz (518-892-4042) or John McAuley (518- 894-7771) to arrange for a pick-up.

2. We continue to collect new or gently used clothes for the Capital City Rescue Mission (CCRM). You may bring your items to the church or call Sue Laz to see about having someone pick them up for you. And, of course, if you wish you can bring your items directly to the CCRM.

3. Our Wednesday evening Bible study is at 6:45pm via Zoom. Our passage for study is John 5:31-40. To join the study go to the Zoom link below: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84268790436. The meeting ID is: 842 6879 0436. Also note that adult Sunday school has resumed at 9:15am (in person only). I hope many will join us as we continue our study of Systematic Theology – the examination of many of the basic doctrines of the Christian Church

4. Craft Supplies for Capital City Rescue Mission. The Women’s and Children’s shelter at the Mission is looking to stock an arts and crafts room for the children. They could use Elmer’s glue sticks, Elmer’s liquid glue, Craft or Tacky glue, chalk, dry erase markers, Crayola crayons, washable tempera paint (any color), modeling clay, and washable markers. Donations can be placed in the box in the narthex.

5. We will be conducting Worship Leader/Scripture Reader training on Sunday, July 25, following worship and Fellowship time (starting around 12:40pm). During this training we will review the role of worship assistant, offer direction on how to carry out that role, and supply/direct assistants to helpful resources for fulfilling their role. All interested in serving as a Worship Leader/Assistant are asked to attend this training.

6. As part of our worship on July 18th we will be including a dedication of our new (used) organ. It has been one year since the organ was first installed and used and it has certainly enhanced our music capabilities (or at least Sal’s). Special thanks to Sal, Andy, Bruce and others who helped remove the old organ and install the new one. Plan to join us for worship that day as we give thanks for God’s gracious provision of this instrument which we pray provides years of use at Third Church in our worship and service of the Lord.

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