FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
ORDER OF WORSHIP
3rd Sunday after Pentecost
June 29, 2025
PRELUDE
WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
-CAKE AND COFFEE after worship today to celebrate Richard & Dolores C’s 70th Wedding Anniversary which was on June 26. Please join us!
-HARVEST TABLE: Please remember to volunteer to help serve with LDS church on Monday, June 30th. The sign-up sheet is on the Volunteer Opportunities bulletin board.
-TUESDAY MORNING COFFEE GROUP at 9:30ish AM at First Lutheran Mission Coffee House.
-THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY at 9:30 AM in the FPC Center Meeting Room.
-CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED on July 4th, Independence Day
-PEACEFUL PINES DEVOTIONS on July 6, 2:00 PM. All are welcome!
CALL TO WORSHIP
Come, people of God—let us follow Jesus,
not only when it’s easy, but even when the path is hard.
We come, seeking courage to follow Christ with all our hearts.
The world says, “Take it easy.” But Jesus says, “Take up your cross.”
We come to live by the Spirit and love our neighbors as ourselves.
Let us worship the Lord, who is always worth it in every step of the journey.
*OPENING HYMN #826 (red) “Lift High the Cross”
Refrain:
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim
Till all the world adore his sacred name.
Come, Christians, follow where our Savior trod,
the Lamb victorious, Christ, the Son of God.
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim
Till all the world adore his sacred name. [Refrain]
All newborn servants of the Crucified
Bear on their brow he seal of Christ who died.
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim
Till all the world adore his sacred name. [Refrain]
O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree,
Your death has brought us life eternally.
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim
Till all the world adore his sacred name. [Refrain]
So shall our song of triumph ever be:
Praise to the Crucified for victory.
Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim
Till all the world adore his sacred name. [Refrain]
*CALL TO CONFESSION
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Gracious God, we confess that we like comfort. We prefer safe answers and easy paths. We turn away from hard truths and avoid the cost of true discipleship. You call us to follow, but we hesitate. You ask us to love our neighbor, but we judge instead. You invite us to bear fruit, but we remain rooted in fear. Forgive us. Set our hearts on your cross again. Give us courage to follow, grace to grow, and love that looks like yours. In Jesus’ name we pray, 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.
CHILDREN’S SERMON
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION AND SCRIPTURE READINGS
Psalm 27:1–3, 11–14 (responsive)
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh--
my adversaries and foes—they shall stumble and fall.
Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident.
Teach me your way, O Lord,
and lead me on a level path because of my enemies.
I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!
Galatians 5:1, 13-15, 22-25
1For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
13For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. 14For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 15If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
22…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.
Our Gospel reading is Luke 9:51-62
51When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52And he sent messengers ahead of him.
On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; 53but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" 55But he turned and rebuked them. 56Then they went on to another village.
57As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." 58And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."
59To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." 60But Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." 61Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home." 62Jesus said to him, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."
SERMON Is Your Faith Comfortable or Are You Called to More?
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (adapted from The Confession of 1967)
We believe the Church gathers to praise God, hear God’s Word, baptize, share the Lord’s Supper, pray for the world, enjoy fellowship, receive instruction and strength, organize its life, and be renewed and reformed to respond to the needs of the time. The Church then disperses to serve God wherever its members are—in work, play, private life, and society. Their prayer and study are part of worship. Their witness is evangelism. Their daily actions are the Church’s mission. The quality of their relationships shows the Church’s faithfulness. Each member is the Church in the world, gifted by the Spirit and responsible for their witness. They receive guidance and support from the community and help guide the Church in turn.
*HYMN OF RESPONSE #729 (red) “Lord I Want to Be a Christian”
Lord, I want to be a Christian in my heart, in my heart;
Lord, I want to be a Christian in my heart.
In my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be a Christian in my heart.
Lord, I want to be more loving in my heart, in my heart.
Lord, I want to be more loving in my heart.
In my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be more loving in my heart.
Lord, I want to be more holy in my heart, in my heart.
Lord, I want to be more holy in my heart.
In my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be more holy in my heart.
Lord, I want to be like Jesus in my heart, in my heart.
Lord, I want to be like Jesus in my heart.
In my heart, in my heart,
Lord, I want to be like Jesus in my heart.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Concerns: Jan J, Ella L, Judy Se, JoAnn G, Dean H, Owen and Lydia (Arlyce T’s great- grandchildren)
Our homebound or in care members: Richard & Dolores C, Bob F (Pat caregiver), Jan J, Darwin L (Jeanne caregiver), Marlys M, Bob O (Nancy caregiver), Rose P, Joyce R, Steve VB, Dee W (Please reach out and call)
This Week’s Prayer Families: Steve & Carrie VB, Dee W, Skip W
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.
HYMN #469 (red) “Lord Listen to Your Children Praying”
Lord, listen to your children praying.
Lord, send your Spirit in this place.
Lord, listen to your children praying.
Send us love; send us power; send us grace.
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 #697 (red) “Take My Life”
Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
take my moments and my days;
let them flow in ceaseless praise,
let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of thy love;
take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee,
swift and beautiful for thee.
Take my voice and let me sing
always, only, for my King;
take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from thee,
filled with messages from thee.
Take my silver and my gold;
not a mite would I withhold;
take my intellect and use
every power as thou shalt choose,
every power as thou shalt choose.
Take my will and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine.
take my heart, it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne,
it shall be thy royal throne.
Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure store.
take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee,
ever, only, all for thee.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
