First Presbyterian Church For Christ in the Heart of Charlotte
Founded in 1821
Order of Worship
Second Sunday in Lent March 17, 2019 9 and 11 a.m.
This is God’s house and all are welcome! As you gather for worship, please take a moment to greet one another in the name of Christ.
Preparation
Prelude Psalm 34:6 Herbert Howells “I called to the Lord in my affliction, and he heard me and saved me from my troubles.”
Words of Welcome The Reverend Katherine Kerr Chiming of the Trinity Adoration
*Call to Worship (from Psalm 118) One: The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my victory. All: The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things! This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous to see. One: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. All: God’s steadfast love endures forever! *Hymn No. 645 “Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above” mit freuden zart Large-print hymnals and Confession Bibles are available. Please let an usher know if you would Prayer of Confession The Reverend Katherine Kerr like one. One: God, you provide beyond our imagination All: and yet somehow, not quite up to our expectation. We believe that God put the One: We desire so many things, forgetting your desires. wiggle in children, and all are All: We long to control what you do, how you act, and whom you favor. welcome in worship regardless One: But you call us to a feast full of guests we would never choose. of their ability to sit still. If All: Forgive us when we act as if your giving is restricted to our pleasure. you’d like to step out of the Forgive us when we try to ration your abundance. sanctuary with your child, Forgive us when we fail to share your generosity. please feel free to visit the One: Fill us again, O God, with your goodness, and nurture our faith, chapel (to the right of the All: that we may grow in your love. sanctuary), where the service One: In silent prayer, let us confess to God the things we choose not to speak aloud. is streaming. Response (Hymn No. 698, sung multiple times) take me as i am Take, O take me as I am; summon out what I shall be; set your seal upon my heart and live in me. We welcome Emily Chatham, Assurance of Pardon violinist, to worship this morning and are grateful to One: Friends, believe the good news. her for sharing her musical All: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. gifts with us. *Response (Hymn No. 581) 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.
Proclamation Prayer for Illumination
Scripture Psalm 63:1-8 pew Bible pg. 527 One: This is the word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God.
Anthem “Hear My Prayer” Moses Hogan O Lord, please hear my prayer in the mornin’ when I rise. It’s your servant bound for First Church is a worship glory. O dear Lord, please hear my prayer. O Lord, please hear my prayer. Keep me safe education experience for within your arms. It’s your servant bound for glory. O dear Lord, please hear my prayer. children in kindergarten When my work on earth is done and you come to take me home, just to know I’m bound through 2nd grade. During for glory, and to hear you say well done. Done with sin and sorrow, have mercy. Amen. First Church, children participate in and lead a Time With Children simplified worship service that Children in kindergarten through 2nd grade may leave for First Church. They will follows the same order as our return to the sanctuary during the last hymn. Younger children may go to the nursery. service in the sanctuary. Scripture Luke 13:1-9 pew Bible pg. 76
The 11 a.m. service is Sermon “The Gardener” The Reverend Pen Peery televised over WSOC-TV, Channel 9 this morning and *Hymn No. 696 “O God, You Are My God Alone” gratus streamed live at www.firstpres-charlotte.org. Response The sanctuary flowers are *Affirmation of Faith The Reverend Dr. Rebecca Davis given to the glory of God and (From A Brief Statement of Faith) in loving memory of Genie In life and in death we belong to God. Cooke by Katherine, Bill and Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,and the communion of the Caroline Kerr. Holy Spirit, we trust in the one triune God, the Holy One of Israel, whom alone we worship and serve. We trust in Jesus Christ, fully human, fully God. Jesus proclaimed the reign of God: preaching good news to the poor and release to the captives, teaching by word and deed and blessing the children, healing the sick and binding up the brokenhearted, eating with outcasts, forgiving sinners, We welcome Marian Carter, and calling all to repent and believe the gospel. Stephanie Kardon, Steve and Unjustly condemned for blasphemy and sedition, Jesus was crucified, suffering the Beth Lyon, Katie and Brian depths of human pain and giving his life for the sins of the world. Maxwell, Eric Pedersen, Kelly God raised this Jesus from the dead, vindicating his sinless life, breaking the power of sin and John Perry, Evan Roberts, and evil, delivering us from death to life eternal. and Emma Saxe into the full life of First Presbyterian Prayers of the People Church. We celebrate their Choir sings first, then congregation joins. commitment to membership and stewardship to God through this congregation.
The sympathy of the Stewardship of Life congregation is expressed to New Members (11 a.m.) Bob Billington on the recent Presentation of Tithes and Offerings death of his brother, Phil.
Offertory Anthem “My Jesus, I Love Thee” arr. Paul Sjolund My Jesus, I love thee; I know thou art mine. For thee all the follies of sin I resign. My gracious redeemer, my savior art thou; if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ‘tis now. I love thee because thou hast first loved me, and purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree. I love thee for wearing the thorns on thy brow; if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ‘tis now. In mansions of glory and endless delight I’ll ever adore thee in heaven so bright; I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow; if ever I loved thee, my Jesus, ‘tis now.
*Doxology (Hymn No. 606) old hundredth Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise him all creatures here below;Praise him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
*Prayer of Dedication and The Lord’s Prayer A time of personal prayer Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be is offered following both done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our services. If you would like debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from to pray with a pastor or evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen. a member of our prayer team, please meet them
in the sanctuary overflow Sending Forth area after the 9 a.m. service *Hymn No. 839 “Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine!” assurance or in the chapel following the 11 a.m. service. *Charge and Benediction
*Benediction Response “God Be with You Till We Meet Again” randolph * Please stand if you are able. Postlude Fugue in G Minor Johann Sebastian Bach We are glad you are Coming up at FPC... We Worship with us today! Lent at First Presbyterian Church | through April 18 This Lent we will journey with Jesus toward the cross through the gospel of Luke. Along the We welcome all to way we will learn to what extent Jesus loves us, as well as what it means to follow him. First Presbyterian Church March 24: Lost Sheep/Coins/Sons (Luke 15) as we worship together, March 31: The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16) knowing that each of us is a April 7: Zaccheus (Luke 19) beloved part of the body of Christ. Easter Lilies on Sale | March 17- April 7 Honor or memorialize a loved one by purchasing a lily to adorn the sanctuary for Easter Sunday, April 21. You may order online by visiting bit.ly/Easterlilies2019 or by sending a check made out to First Presbyterian Church to Diane Maye, PO Box 1008, Huntersville, NC 28070. Be sure to indicate the name of the person you want to recognize and whether the lily is a memorial or an honorarium. Our Pastors Pendleton B. Peery Senior Pastor We Learn [email protected] Church-wide Lenten Study Katherine C. Kerr During Lent, our entire congregation is invited to read Henri Nouwen’s book Life of the Senior Associate Pastor Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World. Books will be available for sale on Sundays along for Congregational Ministry and Care with a companion booklet for all ages. [email protected] Rebecca L. Davis “It is impossible to compete for God’s love. God’s love is a love that includes all people - Parish Associate [email protected] each one in his or her uniqueness.” - Life of the Beloved Mary Margaret Porter 2019 Willard Lecture | Tuesday, May 7 | 7:00 p.m., Sanctuary Parish Associate [email protected] Tickets are available now for the 2019 Willard Lecture by Dr. Jonathan Haidt, a New York Times best-selling author whose TED Talks have been viewed more than three million times. Charles C. Williamson Tickets are $10 and can purchased here: bit.ly/Willard2019 Parish Associate [email protected] We Serve ______Sign up to be a HELPS tutor William P. Young, III Students at Westerly Hills Academy still need tutors. Training is available for tutors as part Director of Music Ministries of HELPS, a reading intervention program supported by both Read Charlotte and Augustine [email protected] Literacy Project. Tutors work with third-grade students for one hour per week, or tutoring “buddies” can sign up together for one shift every other week. Sign up online athttp://bit.ly/ Helpstutors or email Melissa Walker ([email protected]) with questions.
Are you interested in joining our church? We Care First Fruits Fellowship | Thursday, March 28 | 6:30 p.m., 2400 Park Road Contact Lucy Caldwell Membership Coordinator Join us for our monthly wine fellowship at Mere’s in Dilworth. Drop by between [email protected] 6:30-9:00 p.m. to meet new friends and old. All are welcome.
Come Play with Me | Sunday, March 31 | 3:00 p.m., Front Lawn Preschool children and their parents are invited to this fundraising festival for Lakewood Preschool. Admission and parking are free. Activities include games, a bounce house, a raffle, and a concert by Liz, Holly and the Jolly Lollies. Pastor on call If you have a pastoral emergency outside of regular church hours, dial 704.927.0256 for the on-call voicemail. Your call will be In Loving Memory of returned promptly. Patricia Riley Godley April 26, 1932 - March 10, 2019 200 West Trade Street Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, says the Spirit. Charlotte, NC 28202 Revelation 14:13 www.firstpres-charlotte.org 704.332.5123 *Hymn No. 645 “Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above” 1 Sing praise to God who reigns above, 3 The Lord is never far away, the God of all creation, but, through all grief distressing, the God of power, the God of love, an ever-present help and stay, the God of our salvation. our peace and joy and blessing, With healing balm my soul is filled, as with a mother’s tender hand and every faithless murmur stilled: God gently leads the chosen band: to God all praise and glory! to God all praise and glory!
2 What God’s almighty power has made 4 Thus all my toilsome way along God’s gracious mercy keepeth; I sing aloud thy praises, by morning glow or evening shade that all may hear the grateful song God’s watchful eye ne’er sleepeth. my voice unwearied raises. Within the kingdom of God’s might, Be joyful in the Lord, my heart; lo! all is just and all is right: both soul and body, take your part: to God all praise and glory! to God all praise and glory!
*Hymn No. 696 “O God, You Are My God Alone” 1 O God, you are my God alone, whom eagerly I seek, 3 Throughout the night I lie in bed and call you, Lord, to though longing fills my soul with thirst and leaves my body mind; weak. in darkest hours I meditate how God, my strength, is kind. Just as a dry and barren land awaits a freshening shower, Beneath the shadow of your wing, I live and feel secure; I long within your house to see your glory and your power. and daily as I follow close, your right hand keeps me sure.
2 Your faithful love surpasses life, evoking all my praise. Through every day, to bless your name, my hands in joy I’ll raise. My deepest needs you satisfy as with a sumptuous feast. So, on my lips and in my heart, your praise has never ceased.
*Hymn No. 839 “Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine!” 1 Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! 2 Perfect submission, perfect delight, O what a foretaste of glory divine! visions of rapture now burst on my sight; Heir of salvation, purchase of God, angels descending, bring from above born of his Spirit, washed in his blood. echoes of mercy, whispers of love. [Refrain]
Refrain: 3 Perfect submission, all is at rest, This is my story, this is my song, I in my Savior am happy and blest, praising my Savior, all the day long; watching and waiting, looking above, this is my story, this is my song, filled with his goodness, lost in his love. [Refrain] praising my Savior all the day long.