FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
ORDER OF WORSHIP AND COMMUNION
3rd Week of Lent
March 3, 2024
PRELUDE Jesus, Lover of My Soul; Joseph Parry
WELCOME
ANNOUNCEMENTS
-CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR BOB BARTLING – Visitation will be on Sunday, March 3 from 3-5 PM at Eidsness Funeral Home and the Celebration of Life Service will be held at First Presbyterian Church on Monday, March 4 at 2 PM with reception following in the Fellowship Hall.
-TUESDAY MORNING COFFEE GROUP meets 9:30ish AM at First Lutheran Mission Coffee House.
-PIECES AND PRAYERS will meet on Tuesdays at 1:30 PM in the quilting room.
-FINANCE COMMITTEE will meet via Zoom on Tues. March 5 at 6:30 PM.
-WEDNESDAY LENTEN LUNCH & WORSHIP will be held at the First Lutheran Activity Center at 11:30AM—Pastors Robby & Donna Flint from First Presbyterian will provide the message following the meal. Please enter and park on the West side of the building. Volunteers to help serve requested- please see Donna. More information is on the bulletin board.
-LENTEN SOUP SUPPER will be held on March 6 at 5:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall. The Flints will be supplying the meal—come and enjoy! A short program by Christian Ed will follow the meal.
-THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY at 9:30 AM in the FPC Center Meeting Room.
–‘ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING’ SPECIAL OFFERING- donations are being accepted February 14 through March 31. Please use the envelopes by the offering plates or write ‘One Great Hour’ on check memo. Thank you for your generosity!
CALL TO WORSHIP
Only the hungry search for bread. Only the thirsty look for water.
This is a place for those who are hungry and thirsty in spirit.
Only those who yearn for a deeper life will seek it.
This is a place for those who yearn for something more.
So let us come here today with our hunger and thirst,
and our heart-felt yearnings,
and let the God of life satisfy our souls.
*OPENING HYMN #482 (Blue) Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty
Praise ye the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear; now to His temple draw near,
join me in glad adoration!
Praise ye the Lord, who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth;
Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen how thy desires e’er have been
granted in what He ordaineth?
Praise ye the Lord! O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him!
Let the amen sound from His people again;
gladly for aye we adore Him.
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of wisdom, we come before you in humility. Too often we choose our own way, discern our own path, without looking to you. We ignore the prompting of your Holy Spirit, and choose what is easiest, most comfortable, or requires the least from us. Please forgive us for our narrowmindedness. Soften our hearts of stone, that we might instead have hearts of flesh to perceive your call in our lives. Then please give us the courage to act on your calling. We pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
*GLORIA PATRI (on screen)
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.
SPECIAL MUSIC He Sent His Son Donna, Mary, and Nancy
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE READINGS
First Reading Exodus 20:1-17
1Then God spoke all these words:
2I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; 3you shall have no other gods before me.
4You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, 6but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.
8Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. 9For six days you shall labor and do all your work. 10But the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God; you shall not do any work — you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns.
11For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it.
12Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
13You shall not murder.
14You shall not commit adultery.
15You shall not steal.
16You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
17You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
Psalm 19:7-11,14 (Read Responsively)
7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the decrees of the LORD are sure,
making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
the ordinances of the LORD are true
and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey,
and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 22:34-37
34 When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35 and one of them, an expert in the law, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the Word of God for the People of God
Thanks be to God.
SERMON “A mirror, a fence, and a guide”
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH -- Titus 3:4-7 (in unison)
When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
CELEBRATION OF HOLY COMMUNION
INVITATION TO THE TABLE
HYMN #515 (Blue) Now to Your Table Spread
Now to Your table spread we come, each one in faith
that You alone provide the words of life and death:
in wine and bread, in promised food
we find Your loving heart, O God.
Hands of the world stretch out Your mystery to touch
in longing to believe a truth beyond our reach,
to sing in joy, to cry in grief,
to know Your meaning for our life.
Here is our common wealth in sharing what is good,
as though all humankind around one table stood,
this bread to break, this wine to taste:
one people in the name of Christ.
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.
…By your Spirit make us one with Christ,
that we may be one with all who share this feast,
united in ministry in every place.
As this bread is Christ’s body for us,
send us out to be the body of Christ in the world.
…Send us to befriend the lost, to serve the poor,
to reconcile our enemies, and to love our neighbors.
Keep us faithful in your service until Christ comes in final victory
and we shall feast with all your saints in the joy of your eternal realm.
…Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honor are yours, almighty God,
now and forever, as we pray:
LORD’S PRAYER (on screen)
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
(come forward to receive the elements)
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Concerns:
Our homebound or in care members:
Richard C (Dolores as caregiver), Bob & Jan J, Darwin L (Jeanne as caregiver), Bob O (Nancy as caregiver),
Delores K, Rose P, Joyce R, Dee W (Please reach out and call)
This Week’s Prayer Families: Aaron & Tanya S & family Nara, Harry, Otto, & Lorcan; Richard & Judy S
Those Who Mourn: The family and friends of Robert (Bob) Bartling who passed away Feb. 24 and all who have lost loved ones
INVITATION TO OFFERING and PRAYER OF DEDICATION
*DOXOLOGY (on screen)
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. Amen.
*HYMN OF RESPONSE #412 (Blue) Eternal God, Whose Power Upholds
Eternal God, whose power upholds both flower and flaming star,
To whom there is no here nor there, no time, no near nor far,
No alien race, no foreign shore, no child unsought, unknown:
O send us forth, Thy prophets true, to make all lands Thine own!
O God of love, whose Spirit wakes in every human breast,
Whom love, and love alone, can know, in whom all hearts find rest:
Help us to spread Thy gracious reign till greed and hate shall cease,
And kindness dwell in human hearts, and all the earth find peace!
O God of truth, whom science seeks and reverent souls adore,
Who lightest every earnest mind of every clime and shore:
Dispel the gloom of error’s night, of ignorance and fear,
Until true wisdom from above shall make life’s pathway clear!
O God of beauty, oft revealed in dreams of human art,
In speech that flows to melody, in holiness of heart:
Teach us to turn from sinfulness that shuts our hearts to Thee,
Till all shall know the loveliness of lives made fair and free!
O God of righteousness and grace, seen in the Christ, Thy Son,
Whose life and death reveal Thy face, by whom Thy will was done:
Inspire Thy heralds of good news to live Thy life divine,
Till Christ has formed in every heart and every land is Thine!
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE Built on the Rock, Lindeman/Martin
ORDER OF WORSHIP AND COMMUNION
3rd Week of Lent
March 3, 2024
PRELUDE Jesus, Lover of My Soul; Joseph Parry
WELCOME
ANNOUNCEMENTS
-CELEBRATION OF LIFE FOR BOB BARTLING – Visitation will be on Sunday, March 3 from 3-5 PM at Eidsness Funeral Home and the Celebration of Life Service will be held at First Presbyterian Church on Monday, March 4 at 2 PM with reception following in the Fellowship Hall.
-TUESDAY MORNING COFFEE GROUP meets 9:30ish AM at First Lutheran Mission Coffee House.
-PIECES AND PRAYERS will meet on Tuesdays at 1:30 PM in the quilting room.
-FINANCE COMMITTEE will meet via Zoom on Tues. March 5 at 6:30 PM.
-WEDNESDAY LENTEN LUNCH & WORSHIP will be held at the First Lutheran Activity Center at 11:30AM—Pastors Robby & Donna Flint from First Presbyterian will provide the message following the meal. Please enter and park on the West side of the building. Volunteers to help serve requested- please see Donna. More information is on the bulletin board.
-LENTEN SOUP SUPPER will be held on March 6 at 5:30 PM in the Fellowship Hall. The Flints will be supplying the meal—come and enjoy! A short program by Christian Ed will follow the meal.
-THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY at 9:30 AM in the FPC Center Meeting Room.
–‘ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING’ SPECIAL OFFERING- donations are being accepted February 14 through March 31. Please use the envelopes by the offering plates or write ‘One Great Hour’ on check memo. Thank you for your generosity!
CALL TO WORSHIP
Only the hungry search for bread. Only the thirsty look for water.
This is a place for those who are hungry and thirsty in spirit.
Only those who yearn for a deeper life will seek it.
This is a place for those who yearn for something more.
So let us come here today with our hunger and thirst,
and our heart-felt yearnings,
and let the God of life satisfy our souls.
*OPENING HYMN #482 (Blue) Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty
Praise ye the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear; now to His temple draw near,
join me in glad adoration!
Praise ye the Lord, who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth;
Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen how thy desires e’er have been
granted in what He ordaineth?
Praise ye the Lord! O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him!
Let the amen sound from His people again;
gladly for aye we adore Him.
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of wisdom, we come before you in humility. Too often we choose our own way, discern our own path, without looking to you. We ignore the prompting of your Holy Spirit, and choose what is easiest, most comfortable, or requires the least from us. Please forgive us for our narrowmindedness. Soften our hearts of stone, that we might instead have hearts of flesh to perceive your call in our lives. Then please give us the courage to act on your calling. We pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
*GLORIA PATRI (on screen)
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.
SPECIAL MUSIC He Sent His Son Donna, Mary, and Nancy
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE READINGS
First Reading Exodus 20:1-17
1Then God spoke all these words:
2I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; 3you shall have no other gods before me.
4You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, 6but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.
8Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. 9For six days you shall labor and do all your work. 10But the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God; you shall not do any work — you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns.
11For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it.
12Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
13You shall not murder.
14You shall not commit adultery.
15You shall not steal.
16You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
17You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.
Psalm 19:7-11,14 (Read Responsively)
7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the decrees of the LORD are sure,
making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
the ordinances of the LORD are true
and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey,
and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 22:34-37
34 When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35 and one of them, an expert in the law, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the Word of God for the People of God
Thanks be to God.
SERMON “A mirror, a fence, and a guide”
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH -- Titus 3:4-7 (in unison)
When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
CELEBRATION OF HOLY COMMUNION
INVITATION TO THE TABLE
HYMN #515 (Blue) Now to Your Table Spread
Now to Your table spread we come, each one in faith
that You alone provide the words of life and death:
in wine and bread, in promised food
we find Your loving heart, O God.
Hands of the world stretch out Your mystery to touch
in longing to believe a truth beyond our reach,
to sing in joy, to cry in grief,
to know Your meaning for our life.
Here is our common wealth in sharing what is good,
as though all humankind around one table stood,
this bread to break, this wine to taste:
one people in the name of Christ.
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.
…By your Spirit make us one with Christ,
that we may be one with all who share this feast,
united in ministry in every place.
As this bread is Christ’s body for us,
send us out to be the body of Christ in the world.
…Send us to befriend the lost, to serve the poor,
to reconcile our enemies, and to love our neighbors.
Keep us faithful in your service until Christ comes in final victory
and we shall feast with all your saints in the joy of your eternal realm.
…Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honor are yours, almighty God,
now and forever, as we pray:
LORD’S PRAYER (on screen)
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
(come forward to receive the elements)
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Concerns:
Our homebound or in care members:
Richard C (Dolores as caregiver), Bob & Jan J, Darwin L (Jeanne as caregiver), Bob O (Nancy as caregiver),
Delores K, Rose P, Joyce R, Dee W (Please reach out and call)
This Week’s Prayer Families: Aaron & Tanya S & family Nara, Harry, Otto, & Lorcan; Richard & Judy S
Those Who Mourn: The family and friends of Robert (Bob) Bartling who passed away Feb. 24 and all who have lost loved ones
INVITATION TO OFFERING and PRAYER OF DEDICATION
*DOXOLOGY (on screen)
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. Amen.
*HYMN OF RESPONSE #412 (Blue) Eternal God, Whose Power Upholds
Eternal God, whose power upholds both flower and flaming star,
To whom there is no here nor there, no time, no near nor far,
No alien race, no foreign shore, no child unsought, unknown:
O send us forth, Thy prophets true, to make all lands Thine own!
O God of love, whose Spirit wakes in every human breast,
Whom love, and love alone, can know, in whom all hearts find rest:
Help us to spread Thy gracious reign till greed and hate shall cease,
And kindness dwell in human hearts, and all the earth find peace!
O God of truth, whom science seeks and reverent souls adore,
Who lightest every earnest mind of every clime and shore:
Dispel the gloom of error’s night, of ignorance and fear,
Until true wisdom from above shall make life’s pathway clear!
O God of beauty, oft revealed in dreams of human art,
In speech that flows to melody, in holiness of heart:
Teach us to turn from sinfulness that shuts our hearts to Thee,
Till all shall know the loveliness of lives made fair and free!
O God of righteousness and grace, seen in the Christ, Thy Son,
Whose life and death reveal Thy face, by whom Thy will was done:
Inspire Thy heralds of good news to live Thy life divine,
Till Christ has formed in every heart and every land is Thine!
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE Built on the Rock, Lindeman/Martin