We Gather Together to Worship Our God
Prelude: It is Well With My Soul (In the setting of Chopin’s Prelude in C minor) Phillip Bliss
Gathering Hymn: Songs of Faith #22 Living Waters
Announcements:
Today:
- 9:00 Sunday School for all ages. Pre-k – 7th meet downstairs, the High School class meets in the Fireside Room, and the Adult Class meets in the Sanctuary.
- 10:30 Worship in the sanctuary.
- 5:30 pm, Tonight, Young Adult Bible Study at Jay and Kayla’s. (Address in bulletin) Meal provided.
- 5:30 pm, Tonight, “Who Is the Holy Spirit?” community groups at the church. We will enjoy a fellowship potluck together and sing as a large group. Then we will break into smaller groups for study and prayer.
- 6:00 pm, Tonight, Piedmont Area “Who Is the Holy Spirit?” community group (address in bulletin).
This Week:
- 5:00 pm, Monday, Session Meeting.
- 4:30 pm, Wednesday, Music Practice.
- 5:00 pm, Wednesday, Son Light Puppeteer practice.
- 5:30 pm, Wednesday, Kids’ Quest for grades pre-k-4th and the Middle School Youth for grades 5th-7th begin. Meal provided.
- 6:15 pm, Wednesday, High School Youth Group at the Community Center for grades 8th-12th. Meal provided.
- 6:15 pm, Wednesday, “The Study of Eschatology”
- 6 am, Thursday, Men’s Prayer-time and Bible Study.
- 8 am, Saturday, Men’s Prayer-time and Bible Study.
General:
- April 21st, we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper.
- Following worship, April 21st, Communicants’ Class meets. Meal will be provided.
- 6:00 pm, April 21st, Kids’ Quest Program.
- 6:30 pm, April 22nd, Mercy Ministry Team Zoom Only meeting. Please let Daniel B. know if you have any questions.
- April 24th-26th, Presbytery.
- Please see the sign up in the Foyer today to sign up to bring snacks and desserts to share or to sign up as a volunteer to help serve the meals.
- For the Men, you are invited to attend the Wednesday evening meal and hear Chris Vogel speak about growing and vibrant churches at the Community Center at 6 pm. For meal planning purposes, please sign up using the bulletin insert today.
- For the Women, you are invited to attend the Wednesday evening meal and hear Janet LaRocque speak about the Titus 2 Tapestry at 5:30 pm. For meal planning purposes, please sign up using the bulletin insert today.
- For Families, you are invited to attend the Thursday evening meal at 6 pm with a time of worship following. It is planned for Jay Heeren to bring the evening message. For meal planning purposes, please sign up using the bulletin insert today.
- 8:45 am, May 3rd, MOPS meets at the church.
- 9 am – noon, June 3rd-6th, Vacation Bible School for ages pre-k –7th! Please register ahead of time.
- Women, Please Join Us: Janet LaRocque will be sharing “The Titus 2 Tapestry” which will include covenantal discipleship, intergenerational gospel culture through Titus 2 discipleship ministry models, and all the ways women’s ministry foundations strengthen the church at presbytery:
Women of FCC, you are invited to come be a part of these gatherings on Wednesday, April 24th: 5:30 – 8:00 Dinner, worship, and Session I. and on Thursday, April 25th: 9:00 – Noon, Worship, & Session II
A Moment for Ministry: Women’s Ministry Team
Responsive Call to Worship: From Psalm 46
Leader: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
All: Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
Leader: There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.
All: The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Leader: Come, behold the works of the Lord. “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
All: The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Prayer of Adoration
Hymn of Praise: Hymnal #699 Like A River Glorious
We Confess Our Sin
Responsive Call to Confession: From the First Catechism Questions 105 – 108
Leader: What is the tenth commandment?
All: The tenth commandment is “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”
Leader: What does the tenth commandment teach you?
All: To be content with whatever God chooses to give me.
Leader: Can you keep the Ten Commandments perfectly?
All: No. Since the fall of Adam, the only One who has been able to do this is Jesus.
Leader: Of what use are the Ten Commandments to you?
All: They teach me what is pleasing to God, and how much I need a Savior.
Leader: Knowing we do not measure up to God’s righteous standard, sinning against God in thought, word, and deed, let us come and confess our sin because our God is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Silent Confession of Sin
Corporate Prayer of Confession:
All: Gracious God, You have made us for Yourself. Therefore, our hearts are restless until we rest in You. We hear this. We know this. And yet, we often demand instant conveniences and prioritize personal agendas over our relationship with You. Forgive us, and let us hear again the invitation to come to You, especially when the burdens are heavy, for in You is our rest, our redemption, our renewal, and our resurrection, through Christ our Lord, Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: Hebrews 8: 10 -12
Leader: This is the covenant I will establish declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.
Hymn of Assurance: Hymnal #94 (1,2,3,4,6) How Firm A Foundation
We Give Thanks To The Lord
Tithes and Offerings
Offertory: What A Friend/ Joseph M. Scrivener
Written as a poem in 1855 to comfort his ailing mother in Ireland while he was in Canada. Born in 1820, educated at Trinity College in Dublin, and was engaged to be married when the evening before the wedding, his fiancé drowned. Shortly after moving to Canada to become a teacher, he became engaged again and she died shortly before their marriage. Joseph used his tragedies to empathize with the elderly and poor. He used his time to saw wood for the stoves of those who were handicapped or elderly.
Doxology
We Hear God Speak
Small Talk
(Following this time, a nursery is available, Toddlers’ Church for ages 2-4, and Children’s Church for ages 5-8.)
Prayer of God’s People
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, The power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
Lessons From Rome Romans 16: 1 – 15
A copy of the sermon notes is available: 4-14-24 sermon notes
Audio Only:
Hymn of Response: Songs of Faith #7 O Church Arise
We Are Dismissed with God’s Blessing
Benediction
Hymn: Step By Step
Postlude: Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross/ Wm. Doane