FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
ORDER OF WORSHIP
4th SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
FEBRUARY 1, 2026
PRELUDE O Master, Let Me Walk With Thee, arr. Gilbert M. Martin
WELCOME
ANNOUNCEMENTS
-WORSHIP AT PEACEFUL PINES today, February 1 at 1:00-- all are welcome!
-TUESDAY MORNING COFFEE GROUP at 9:30ish AM at First Lutheran Mission Coffee House.
-THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY at 9:30 AM in the Center Meeting Room
-MISSION/OUTREACH COMMITTEE meets on Thursday, 11:45 AM following Bible Study
-CE/FELLOWSHIP COMMITTEE meets next Sunday, February 8 following worship service
-VOLUNTEERS NEEDED-on Wednesday February 25 at 10:30 AM, FPC and LDS churches will be serving at the Lenten Luncheon at First Lutheran Church. Helpers would be appreciated!
CALL TO WORSHIP
We come to worship the God who chooses the weak and lifts up the lowly.
We come trusting not in our wisdom, but in the grace made known through Jesus Christ.
Come, let us worship the Lord.
OPENING HYMN: #401 (red) “Here in This Place”
Here in this place the new light is streaming; now is the darkness vanished away;
see in this space our fears and our dreamings brought here to you in the light of this day.
Gather us in, the lost and forsaken; gather us in, the blind and the lame;
call to us now, and we shall awaken; we shall arise at the sound of our name.
We are the young, our lives are a mystery. We are the old who yearn for your face.
We have been sung throughout all of history, called to be light to the whole human race.
Gather us in, the rich and the haughty; gather us in, the proud and the strong;
give us a heart, so meek and so lowly; give us the courage to enter the song.
Here we will take the wine and the water; here we will take the bread of new birth.
Here you shall call your sons and your daughters, call us anew to be salt for the earth.
Give us to drink the wine of compassion; give us to eat the bread that is you;
nourish us well, and teach us to fashion lives that are holy and hearts that are true.
Not in the dark of buildings confining, not to some heaven, light years away:
here in this place the new light is shining; now is the kingdom, and now is the day.
Gather us in and hold us forever, gather us in and make us your own;
gather us in, all peoples together, fire of love in our flesh and our bone.
*CALL TO CONFESSION and *PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Loving God, we confess that we often rely on our own wisdom and strength. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We struggle to trust the way of humility and grace, and we resist the wisdom of the cross. Forgive us, we pray. Renew our hearts and minds, that we may boast not in ourselves, but in you alone, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON
*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.
CHILDREN’S SERMON The Voice of God: The Ten Commandments
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION and SCRIPTURE READING
Prayer for Illumination:
Psalm 15
1 O LORD, who may abide in your tent?
Who may dwell on your holy hill?
2 Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right,
and speak the truth from their heart;
3 who do not slander with their tongue,
and do no evil to their friends,
nor take up a reproach against their neighbors;
4 in whose eyes the wicked are despised,
but who honor those who fear the LORD;
who stand by their oath even to their hurt;
5 who do not lend money at interest,
and do not take a bribe against the innocent.
Those who do these things shall never be moved.
Epistle Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:18, 23–29, 31
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
…but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God.
…as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Gospel Reading (Responsive) Matthew 5:1-12
1When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
SERMON Comfortable Words, Uncomfortable
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH -The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
*HYMN OF RESPONSE #738 (red) “O Master Let Me Walk with Thee”
O Master, let me walk with thee
in lowly paths of service free;
tell me thy secret; help me bear
the strain of toil, the fret of care.
Help me the slow of heart to move
by some clear, winning word of love;
teach me the wayward feet to stay,
and guide them in the homeward way.
Teach me thy patience, still with thee
in closer, dearer company,
in work that keeps faith sweet and strong,
in trust that triumphs over wrong.
In hope that sends a shining ray
far down the future's broadening way;
in peace that only thou canst give,
with thee, O Master, let me live.
SERVICE OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
INVITATION TO THE TABLE
SPECIAL MUSIC “In Remembrance ” Donna Flint
1.In remembrance of Me eat this bread
In remembrance of Me drink this wine
In remembrance of Me pray for the time
When God's own will is done
In remembrance of Me heal the sick
In remembrance of Me feed the poor
In remembrance of Me open the door
And let your brother in let Him in
Take eat and be comforted
Drink and remember too
That this is My body
And precious blood shed for you shed for you
In remembrance of Me search for truth
In remembrance of Me always love
In remembrance of Me don't look above
But in your heart
Look in your heart for God
Do this in remembrance of Me
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you And also with you
Lift up your hearts We lift them to the Lord
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God It is right to give our thanks and praise.
…Therefore with all creation we sing your praise.
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and 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.
……Great is the mystery of faith:
Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again.
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.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION AND BREAKING OF THE BREAD
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Concerns: Dee, Kelly & Tami W, Duane & Kris, Bob O, Jessica (Dorothy W’s granddaughter)
Our homebound or in care members: Richard & Dolores C, JoAnn G, Jan J, Darwin L (Jeanne caregiver), Bob O (Nancy caregiver), Rose P, Joyce R, Steve VB, Dee W (Please reach out)
This Week’s Prayer Families: Sharon H, Nelda H, Dennis H & Carolyn C
Those Who Mourn: prayers for the families and friends of LaVonne Broksieck who passed away Jan. 14, Charles Emmett Foster (Bob Foster’s brother) who passed away Jan. 11, Robert (Bob) Fishback who passed away Dec. 7, Mike McCann who passed away Dec. 9, and Marlys Moore who passed away Dec. 17
OFFERING OF OURSELVES AND OUR RESOURCES
*DOXOLOGY
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.
Amen
*CLOSING HYMN #306 (red) “Blest Be the Tie That Binds”
Blest be the tie that binds
our hearts in Christian love.
The fellowship of kindred minds
is like to that above.
Before our Father's throne
we pour our ardent prayers.
Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,
our comforts and our cares.
We share our mutual woes;
our mutual burdens bear.
And often for each other flows
the sympathizing tear.
When we are called to part,
it gives us inward pain;
but we shall still be joined in heart,
and hope to meet again.
From sorrow, toil, and pain,
and sin we shall be free;
and perfect love and friendship reign
through all eternity.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE O Thou, in Whose Presence My Soul Takes Delight, arr. Gilbert M. Martin
ORDER OF WORSHIP
4th SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
FEBRUARY 1, 2026
PRELUDE O Master, Let Me Walk With Thee, arr. Gilbert M. Martin
WELCOME
ANNOUNCEMENTS
-WORSHIP AT PEACEFUL PINES today, February 1 at 1:00-- all are welcome!
-TUESDAY MORNING COFFEE GROUP at 9:30ish AM at First Lutheran Mission Coffee House.
-THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY at 9:30 AM in the Center Meeting Room
-MISSION/OUTREACH COMMITTEE meets on Thursday, 11:45 AM following Bible Study
-CE/FELLOWSHIP COMMITTEE meets next Sunday, February 8 following worship service
-VOLUNTEERS NEEDED-on Wednesday February 25 at 10:30 AM, FPC and LDS churches will be serving at the Lenten Luncheon at First Lutheran Church. Helpers would be appreciated!
CALL TO WORSHIP
We come to worship the God who chooses the weak and lifts up the lowly.
We come trusting not in our wisdom, but in the grace made known through Jesus Christ.
Come, let us worship the Lord.
OPENING HYMN: #401 (red) “Here in This Place”
Here in this place the new light is streaming; now is the darkness vanished away;
see in this space our fears and our dreamings brought here to you in the light of this day.
Gather us in, the lost and forsaken; gather us in, the blind and the lame;
call to us now, and we shall awaken; we shall arise at the sound of our name.
We are the young, our lives are a mystery. We are the old who yearn for your face.
We have been sung throughout all of history, called to be light to the whole human race.
Gather us in, the rich and the haughty; gather us in, the proud and the strong;
give us a heart, so meek and so lowly; give us the courage to enter the song.
Here we will take the wine and the water; here we will take the bread of new birth.
Here you shall call your sons and your daughters, call us anew to be salt for the earth.
Give us to drink the wine of compassion; give us to eat the bread that is you;
nourish us well, and teach us to fashion lives that are holy and hearts that are true.
Not in the dark of buildings confining, not to some heaven, light years away:
here in this place the new light is shining; now is the kingdom, and now is the day.
Gather us in and hold us forever, gather us in and make us your own;
gather us in, all peoples together, fire of love in our flesh and our bone.
*CALL TO CONFESSION and *PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Loving God, we confess that we often rely on our own wisdom and strength. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We struggle to trust the way of humility and grace, and we resist the wisdom of the cross. Forgive us, we pray. Renew our hearts and minds, that we may boast not in ourselves, but in you alone, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON
*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.
CHILDREN’S SERMON The Voice of God: The Ten Commandments
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION and SCRIPTURE READING
Prayer for Illumination:
Psalm 15
1 O LORD, who may abide in your tent?
Who may dwell on your holy hill?
2 Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right,
and speak the truth from their heart;
3 who do not slander with their tongue,
and do no evil to their friends,
nor take up a reproach against their neighbors;
4 in whose eyes the wicked are despised,
but who honor those who fear the LORD;
who stand by their oath even to their hurt;
5 who do not lend money at interest,
and do not take a bribe against the innocent.
Those who do these things shall never be moved.
Epistle Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:18, 23–29, 31
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
…but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God.
…as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Gospel Reading (Responsive) Matthew 5:1-12
1When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
SERMON Comfortable Words, Uncomfortable
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH -The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
*HYMN OF RESPONSE #738 (red) “O Master Let Me Walk with Thee”
O Master, let me walk with thee
in lowly paths of service free;
tell me thy secret; help me bear
the strain of toil, the fret of care.
Help me the slow of heart to move
by some clear, winning word of love;
teach me the wayward feet to stay,
and guide them in the homeward way.
Teach me thy patience, still with thee
in closer, dearer company,
in work that keeps faith sweet and strong,
in trust that triumphs over wrong.
In hope that sends a shining ray
far down the future's broadening way;
in peace that only thou canst give,
with thee, O Master, let me live.
SERVICE OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
INVITATION TO THE TABLE
SPECIAL MUSIC “In Remembrance ” Donna Flint
1.In remembrance of Me eat this bread
In remembrance of Me drink this wine
In remembrance of Me pray for the time
When God's own will is done
In remembrance of Me heal the sick
In remembrance of Me feed the poor
In remembrance of Me open the door
And let your brother in let Him in
Take eat and be comforted
Drink and remember too
That this is My body
And precious blood shed for you shed for you
In remembrance of Me search for truth
In remembrance of Me always love
In remembrance of Me don't look above
But in your heart
Look in your heart for God
Do this in remembrance of Me
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you And also with you
Lift up your hearts We lift them to the Lord
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God It is right to give our thanks and praise.
…Therefore with all creation we sing your praise.
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and 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.
……Great is the mystery of faith:
Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again.
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.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION AND BREAKING OF THE BREAD
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Concerns: Dee, Kelly & Tami W, Duane & Kris, Bob O, Jessica (Dorothy W’s granddaughter)
Our homebound or in care members: Richard & Dolores C, JoAnn G, Jan J, Darwin L (Jeanne caregiver), Bob O (Nancy caregiver), Rose P, Joyce R, Steve VB, Dee W (Please reach out)
This Week’s Prayer Families: Sharon H, Nelda H, Dennis H & Carolyn C
Those Who Mourn: prayers for the families and friends of LaVonne Broksieck who passed away Jan. 14, Charles Emmett Foster (Bob Foster’s brother) who passed away Jan. 11, Robert (Bob) Fishback who passed away Dec. 7, Mike McCann who passed away Dec. 9, and Marlys Moore who passed away Dec. 17
OFFERING OF OURSELVES AND OUR RESOURCES
*DOXOLOGY
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.
Amen
*CLOSING HYMN #306 (red) “Blest Be the Tie That Binds”
Blest be the tie that binds
our hearts in Christian love.
The fellowship of kindred minds
is like to that above.
Before our Father's throne
we pour our ardent prayers.
Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,
our comforts and our cares.
We share our mutual woes;
our mutual burdens bear.
And often for each other flows
the sympathizing tear.
When we are called to part,
it gives us inward pain;
but we shall still be joined in heart,
and hope to meet again.
From sorrow, toil, and pain,
and sin we shall be free;
and perfect love and friendship reign
through all eternity.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE O Thou, in Whose Presence My Soul Takes Delight, arr. Gilbert M. Martin
