FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
ORDER OF WORSHIP
3rd Sunday of Easter
April 14, 2024
PRELUDE I Surrender All, arr. R.J. Root
WELCOME
ANNOUNCEMENTS
-CHRISTIAN EDUCATION AND FELLOWSHIP will meet today Sunday, April 14, following worship.
-BLADE ARTICLES are due Monday, April 15, for the May/June issue.
-TUESDAY MORNING COFFEE GROUP at 9:30ish AM at First Lutheran Mission Coffee House.
- PIECES AND PRAYERS Tuesdays at 1:30 PM at the FPC Quilting Room.
-THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY at 9:30 AM in the FPC Center Meeting Room.
-SISTERHOOD will meet Thursday, April 18 at 11:30 AM at the First Lutheran Mission Coffee House.
-MEN’S BROTHERHOOD will meet Thursday, April 18 at 5:30 PM at the church lounge.
-WORSHIP COMMITTEE will meet next Sunday, April 21, following worship.
– ‘PENTECOST SPECIAL OFFERING’ (Children at Risk, Youth, Young Adults)-. donations are being accepted April 1 through May 19. Please use the envelopes by the offering plates or write ‘Pentecost; on check memo. Thank you for your generosity!
SPECIAL MUSIC: The Easter Song (choir)
CALL TO WORSHIP
Friends of God, believe this – God loves us.
We are the beloved!
May the truth of this great love, shine through our worship today,
And renew our sense of purpose.
All: We come today to worship our risen Savior, who gives us strength for the journey, and a promise of new life!
*OPENING HYMN #488 (Blue): The God of Abraham Praise
The God of Abraham praise, who reigns enthroned above;
Ancient of Everlasting Days, and God of Love;
The Lord, the great I Am, by earth and heaven confessed;
We bow and bless Your holy name, forever blest.
Your spirit still flows free, high surging where it will;
In prophet’s word You spoke of old and You speak still.
Established is Your law, and changeless it shall stand,
Deep writ upon the human heart, on sea, or land.
You have eternal life implanted in the soul;
Your love shall be our strength and stay, while ages roll.
We praise You, living God! We praise Your holy name;
The first, the last, beyond all thought, and still the same.
*CALL TO CONFESSION
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION Holy God, We confess that sometimes we struggle with living as you have called us to live. We act, then expect immediate results and worry when we don’t see them. Help us to be patient. We think that we will earn your love through works, when in truth you give us your love without condition. Help our hearts to be grateful. We don’t always listen to you, as we make our daily decisions. Help us to make better choices. As we remember the cross, give us strength where we are weak so that the choices we make reveal to the world that we are your faithful people. We pray this in the name of Christ our Savior, 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
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Almighty God, we ask you to clear our minds and hearts of all the things that may prevent us from hearing your word. Prepare our hearts to be ready to accept your truth. In Jesus name, Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Genesis 12:1-4a
1Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
4So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him.
Romans 4:1-5, 13-17
1What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? 2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” 4Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. 5But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness.
13For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation. 16For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us 17as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”) — in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.
Gospel Reading: John 3:1-17
1 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with that person.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ 8 The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?
11 “Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen, yet you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
17 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him.
SERMON Only Have Faith Robby Flint
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (responsive) adapted from Psalm 121
L: I lift up my eyes to the hills; from where will my help come?
C: My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
L: He will not let my foot be moved; he who keeps me will not slumber.
C: He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
L: The LORD is my keeper; the LORD is my shade at my right hand.
C: The sun shall not strike me by day, nor the moon by night.
L: The LORD will keep me from all evil; he will keep my life.
C: The LORD will keep my going out and my coming in from this time on and forevermore.
*HYMN OF RESPONSE #282 (Blue): If Thou but Trust in God to Guide Thee
If thou but trust in God to guide thee
Through hopeful heart through all thy ways
God will give strength, whate’er betide thee,
To bear thee through the evil days.
Who trust God’s unchanging love
Builds on the rock that nought can move.
Only be still and wait God’s leisure
In cheerful hope, with heart content.
To take whate’er thy Keeper’s pleasure
With all discerning love hath sent.
No doubt our inmost wants are clear
To One who holds us always dear.
Sing, pray, and swerve not from God’s ways,
But do thine own part faithfully,
Trust the rich promises of grace,
So shall they be fulfilled in thee.
God never yet forsook at need
The soul secured by trust indeed.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Concerns: Betty (Judy’s sister), Dolores C, Carol G.
Joy: Wedding of Quincy Flint and Summer Bias on April 20 in Florida (Robby and Donna’s son)
Our homebound or in care members: Richard and Dolores C, Bob & Jan J, Delores K, Darwin L (Jeanne as caregiver), Bob O (Nancy as caregiver), Rose P, Joyce R, Steve VB, Dee W (Please reach out and call)
This Week’s Prayer Families: Richard & Dolores C, Ginny C
Those Who Mourn: The family/friends of Bob Bartling, Barbara Diesen, Nancy & Bob Ohnstad in the passing of Bob’s sister, and all who have lost loved ones
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.
RECOGNITION OF THE SENIOR OF THE YEAR Dee Watson
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 #536 (Blue): Lord Make Us More Holy
Lord, make us more holy,
Lord, make us more holy,
Lord, make us more holy, until we meet again.
Holy, holy, holy, until we meet again.
Lord, make us more loving,
Lord, make us more loving,
Lord, make us more loving, until we meet again.
Loving, loving, loving, until we meet again.
Lord, make us more patient,
Lord, make us more patient,
Lord, make us more patient, until we meet again.
Patient, patient, patient, until we meet again.
Lord, make us more faithful,
Lord, make us more faithful,
Lord, make us more faithful, until we meet again.
Faithful, faithful, faithful, until we meet again.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE Hosanna, Loud Hosanna, arr. R.J. Root
ORDER OF WORSHIP
3rd Sunday of Easter
April 14, 2024
PRELUDE I Surrender All, arr. R.J. Root
WELCOME
ANNOUNCEMENTS
-CHRISTIAN EDUCATION AND FELLOWSHIP will meet today Sunday, April 14, following worship.
-BLADE ARTICLES are due Monday, April 15, for the May/June issue.
-TUESDAY MORNING COFFEE GROUP at 9:30ish AM at First Lutheran Mission Coffee House.
- PIECES AND PRAYERS Tuesdays at 1:30 PM at the FPC Quilting Room.
-THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY at 9:30 AM in the FPC Center Meeting Room.
-SISTERHOOD will meet Thursday, April 18 at 11:30 AM at the First Lutheran Mission Coffee House.
-MEN’S BROTHERHOOD will meet Thursday, April 18 at 5:30 PM at the church lounge.
-WORSHIP COMMITTEE will meet next Sunday, April 21, following worship.
– ‘PENTECOST SPECIAL OFFERING’ (Children at Risk, Youth, Young Adults)-. donations are being accepted April 1 through May 19. Please use the envelopes by the offering plates or write ‘Pentecost; on check memo. Thank you for your generosity!
SPECIAL MUSIC: The Easter Song (choir)
CALL TO WORSHIP
Friends of God, believe this – God loves us.
We are the beloved!
May the truth of this great love, shine through our worship today,
And renew our sense of purpose.
All: We come today to worship our risen Savior, who gives us strength for the journey, and a promise of new life!
*OPENING HYMN #488 (Blue): The God of Abraham Praise
The God of Abraham praise, who reigns enthroned above;
Ancient of Everlasting Days, and God of Love;
The Lord, the great I Am, by earth and heaven confessed;
We bow and bless Your holy name, forever blest.
Your spirit still flows free, high surging where it will;
In prophet’s word You spoke of old and You speak still.
Established is Your law, and changeless it shall stand,
Deep writ upon the human heart, on sea, or land.
You have eternal life implanted in the soul;
Your love shall be our strength and stay, while ages roll.
We praise You, living God! We praise Your holy name;
The first, the last, beyond all thought, and still the same.
*CALL TO CONFESSION
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION Holy God, We confess that sometimes we struggle with living as you have called us to live. We act, then expect immediate results and worry when we don’t see them. Help us to be patient. We think that we will earn your love through works, when in truth you give us your love without condition. Help our hearts to be grateful. We don’t always listen to you, as we make our daily decisions. Help us to make better choices. As we remember the cross, give us strength where we are weak so that the choices we make reveal to the world that we are your faithful people. We pray this in the name of Christ our Savior, 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
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Almighty God, we ask you to clear our minds and hearts of all the things that may prevent us from hearing your word. Prepare our hearts to be ready to accept your truth. In Jesus name, Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Genesis 12:1-4a
1Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
4So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him.
Romans 4:1-5, 13-17
1What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? 2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” 4Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. 5But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness.
13For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation. 16For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us 17as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”) — in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.
Gospel Reading: John 3:1-17
1 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with that person.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ 8 The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?
11 “Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen, yet you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.
17 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him.
SERMON Only Have Faith Robby Flint
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (responsive) adapted from Psalm 121
L: I lift up my eyes to the hills; from where will my help come?
C: My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
L: He will not let my foot be moved; he who keeps me will not slumber.
C: He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
L: The LORD is my keeper; the LORD is my shade at my right hand.
C: The sun shall not strike me by day, nor the moon by night.
L: The LORD will keep me from all evil; he will keep my life.
C: The LORD will keep my going out and my coming in from this time on and forevermore.
*HYMN OF RESPONSE #282 (Blue): If Thou but Trust in God to Guide Thee
If thou but trust in God to guide thee
Through hopeful heart through all thy ways
God will give strength, whate’er betide thee,
To bear thee through the evil days.
Who trust God’s unchanging love
Builds on the rock that nought can move.
Only be still and wait God’s leisure
In cheerful hope, with heart content.
To take whate’er thy Keeper’s pleasure
With all discerning love hath sent.
No doubt our inmost wants are clear
To One who holds us always dear.
Sing, pray, and swerve not from God’s ways,
But do thine own part faithfully,
Trust the rich promises of grace,
So shall they be fulfilled in thee.
God never yet forsook at need
The soul secured by trust indeed.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Concerns: Betty (Judy’s sister), Dolores C, Carol G.
Joy: Wedding of Quincy Flint and Summer Bias on April 20 in Florida (Robby and Donna’s son)
Our homebound or in care members: Richard and Dolores C, Bob & Jan J, Delores K, Darwin L (Jeanne as caregiver), Bob O (Nancy as caregiver), Rose P, Joyce R, Steve VB, Dee W (Please reach out and call)
This Week’s Prayer Families: Richard & Dolores C, Ginny C
Those Who Mourn: The family/friends of Bob Bartling, Barbara Diesen, Nancy & Bob Ohnstad in the passing of Bob’s sister, and all who have lost loved ones
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.
RECOGNITION OF THE SENIOR OF THE YEAR Dee Watson
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 #536 (Blue): Lord Make Us More Holy
Lord, make us more holy,
Lord, make us more holy,
Lord, make us more holy, until we meet again.
Holy, holy, holy, until we meet again.
Lord, make us more loving,
Lord, make us more loving,
Lord, make us more loving, until we meet again.
Loving, loving, loving, until we meet again.
Lord, make us more patient,
Lord, make us more patient,
Lord, make us more patient, until we meet again.
Patient, patient, patient, until we meet again.
Lord, make us more faithful,
Lord, make us more faithful,
Lord, make us more faithful, until we meet again.
Faithful, faithful, faithful, until we meet again.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE Hosanna, Loud Hosanna, arr. R.J. Root