FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
ORDER OF WORSHIP
4th Sunday of Easter
April 21, 2024
PRELUDE ‘Wondrous Love’, arr. Godon Young
WELCOME
ANNOUNCEMENTS
-WORSHIP COMMITTEE will meet today Sunday, April 21, 20 minutes after worship
-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.
-CONGREGATIONAL MEETING will be April 28th following worship for the purpose of electing a deacon and revising the by-laws to reflect the new committee structure.
-MISSION/OUTREACH COMMITTEE will meet April 28th following the Congregational Meeting.
-SPRING CONCERT – ADVENT CAPELLE- at First Presbyterian Church on May 5th at 3:00 PM. Free Will Offering will be taken and all donations will go to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, directed to disaster assistance in the Philippines. Advent Capelle is a musical group whose members have roots in the Philippines.
– ‘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!
CALL TO WORSHIP
We gather to worship the Good Shepherd,
Who lays down his life for his sheep.
We gather to worship Jesus Christ,
Who calls us to lay down our lives for others.
Easter people, Christ is risen!
Christ is risen indeed!
*OPENING HYMN # 463 (Red) ‘How Firm a Foundation’
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in God's excellent Word!
What more can be said than to you God hath said,
to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
"Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
for I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
"When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
for I will be near thee, thy troubles to bless,
and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
"When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
my grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
the flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.
"The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no, never, no, never forsake."
*CALL TO CONFESSION
The proof of God’s amazing love is this: While we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Because we have faith in him, we dare to approach God with confidence. In faith and penitence, let us confess our sin before God and one another.
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION
O God, you have called us to love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. You have laid down your life for us and commanded us to lay down our lives for one another. Still, O Lord, we offer empty thoughts and prayers when the world needs our hands and our feet. We fail to share our lives with the world, hiding behind a myth of independence. Forgive us, we pray, and by your forgiveness, raise us to new life in you.
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Friends, believe this good news…though our risen Lord Jesus Christ, we are loved, forgiven, and free. Accept your forgiveness and live as God’s beloved people. Amen
*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
Psalm 23 (responsively)
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
3 he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
my whole life long.
1 John 3:16-24
16 We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers and sisters. 17 How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?
18 Little children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth. 19 And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him 20 whenever our hearts condemn us, for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God, 22 and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.
23 And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.
John 10:11-18
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
SERMON Scripture is Written for Our Benefit, Too! Susan Hugghins
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; 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 #459 (Red) O Word of God Incarnate
O Word of God incarnate, O Wisdom from on high,
O Truth, unchanged, unchanging, O Light of our dark sky,
we praise Thee for the radiance that from the hallowed page,
a lantern to our footsteps, shines on from age to age.
The church from you, dear Savior, received this gift divine,
and still that light is lifted on all the earth to shine.
It is the chart and compass, that, all life’s voyage through,
amid the rocks and quicksands, still guides, O Christ, to you.
O make your Church, dear Savior, a lamp of purest gold,
to bear before the nations your true light, as of old.
O teach your wandering pilgrims by this our path to trace,
till, clouds and storms thus ended, we see you face to face.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Concerns: John E, 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: Maxine D, Bill & Ann D, Mary E
Those Who Mourn: The family/friends of Bob Bartling and Barbara Diesen, Nancy & Bob Ohnstad in the passing of Bob’s sister, Richard and Dolores Canaday. in the passing of Dolores’s brother in law, 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.
OFFERING OF OURSELVES AND OUR RESOURCES
Through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, we have received immeasurable grace. May our offerings today of our selves and our resources reflect the grace we have received, and symbolize that we have committed our lives to the service of our risen Lord. The offering plates for your monetary donations are available at the exits of the sanctuary. We thank you for your generosity. Amen
*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 # 542 (Red) ‘God Be with You Till We Meet Again’
God be with you till we meet again;
loving counsels guide, uphold you,
with a Shepherd’s care enfold you;
God be with you till we meet again.
God be with you till we meet again;
unseen wings protecting, hide you,
daily manna still provide you;
God be with you till we meet again.
God be with you till we meet again;
when life’s perils thick confound you,
put unfailing arms around you;
God be with you till we meet again.
God be with you till we meet again;
keep love’s banner floating o’er you,
smite death’s threatening wave before you;
God be with you till we meet again.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE ‘Toccata for a Joyous Occasion’, Gordon Young
ORDER OF WORSHIP
4th Sunday of Easter
April 21, 2024
PRELUDE ‘Wondrous Love’, arr. Godon Young
WELCOME
ANNOUNCEMENTS
-WORSHIP COMMITTEE will meet today Sunday, April 21, 20 minutes after worship
-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.
-CONGREGATIONAL MEETING will be April 28th following worship for the purpose of electing a deacon and revising the by-laws to reflect the new committee structure.
-MISSION/OUTREACH COMMITTEE will meet April 28th following the Congregational Meeting.
-SPRING CONCERT – ADVENT CAPELLE- at First Presbyterian Church on May 5th at 3:00 PM. Free Will Offering will be taken and all donations will go to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, directed to disaster assistance in the Philippines. Advent Capelle is a musical group whose members have roots in the Philippines.
– ‘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!
CALL TO WORSHIP
We gather to worship the Good Shepherd,
Who lays down his life for his sheep.
We gather to worship Jesus Christ,
Who calls us to lay down our lives for others.
Easter people, Christ is risen!
Christ is risen indeed!
*OPENING HYMN # 463 (Red) ‘How Firm a Foundation’
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in God's excellent Word!
What more can be said than to you God hath said,
to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
"Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
for I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
"When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
for I will be near thee, thy troubles to bless,
and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
"When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
my grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
the flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.
"The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no, never, no, never forsake."
*CALL TO CONFESSION
The proof of God’s amazing love is this: While we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Because we have faith in him, we dare to approach God with confidence. In faith and penitence, let us confess our sin before God and one another.
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION
O God, you have called us to love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. You have laid down your life for us and commanded us to lay down our lives for one another. Still, O Lord, we offer empty thoughts and prayers when the world needs our hands and our feet. We fail to share our lives with the world, hiding behind a myth of independence. Forgive us, we pray, and by your forgiveness, raise us to new life in you.
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Friends, believe this good news…though our risen Lord Jesus Christ, we are loved, forgiven, and free. Accept your forgiveness and live as God’s beloved people. Amen
*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
Psalm 23 (responsively)
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
3 he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
my whole life long.
1 John 3:16-24
16 We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers and sisters. 17 How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?
18 Little children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth. 19 And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him 20 whenever our hearts condemn us, for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God, 22 and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.
23 And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.
John 10:11-18
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
SERMON Scripture is Written for Our Benefit, Too! Susan Hugghins
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; 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 #459 (Red) O Word of God Incarnate
O Word of God incarnate, O Wisdom from on high,
O Truth, unchanged, unchanging, O Light of our dark sky,
we praise Thee for the radiance that from the hallowed page,
a lantern to our footsteps, shines on from age to age.
The church from you, dear Savior, received this gift divine,
and still that light is lifted on all the earth to shine.
It is the chart and compass, that, all life’s voyage through,
amid the rocks and quicksands, still guides, O Christ, to you.
O make your Church, dear Savior, a lamp of purest gold,
to bear before the nations your true light, as of old.
O teach your wandering pilgrims by this our path to trace,
till, clouds and storms thus ended, we see you face to face.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Concerns: John E, 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: Maxine D, Bill & Ann D, Mary E
Those Who Mourn: The family/friends of Bob Bartling and Barbara Diesen, Nancy & Bob Ohnstad in the passing of Bob’s sister, Richard and Dolores Canaday. in the passing of Dolores’s brother in law, 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.
OFFERING OF OURSELVES AND OUR RESOURCES
Through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, we have received immeasurable grace. May our offerings today of our selves and our resources reflect the grace we have received, and symbolize that we have committed our lives to the service of our risen Lord. The offering plates for your monetary donations are available at the exits of the sanctuary. We thank you for your generosity. Amen
*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 # 542 (Red) ‘God Be with You Till We Meet Again’
God be with you till we meet again;
loving counsels guide, uphold you,
with a Shepherd’s care enfold you;
God be with you till we meet again.
God be with you till we meet again;
unseen wings protecting, hide you,
daily manna still provide you;
God be with you till we meet again.
God be with you till we meet again;
when life’s perils thick confound you,
put unfailing arms around you;
God be with you till we meet again.
God be with you till we meet again;
keep love’s banner floating o’er you,
smite death’s threatening wave before you;
God be with you till we meet again.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE ‘Toccata for a Joyous Occasion’, Gordon Young