We Gather Together to Worship Our God
Gathering Hymn: Songs of Faith #1 Ancient of Days
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.
- Following worship, Communicants’ Class begins. Meal will be provided.
- 6:00 pm, Piedmont Area “Who Is the Holy Spirit?” community group at Allen and Karen’s.
This Week:
- 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.
- 6:00 pm, Friday, Men’s Evening.
- 8 am, Saturday, Men’s Prayer-time and Bible Study.
General:
- 5:30 pm, April 14th, Young Adult Bible Study at Jay and Kayla’s. (Address in bulletin) Meal provided.
- 5:30 pm, April 14th, “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, April 15th, Session Meeting.
- April 21st, we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper.
- 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.
- 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 (Please RSVP with your name to the church office or Carey N.) and Thursday, April 25th: 9:00 – Noon, Worship, & Session II
Responsive Call to Worship: 1 Peter 2: 4 – 6, 9 – 10
Leader: As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture:
All: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
Leader: You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Prayer of Adoration
Hymn of Praise: Hymnal #347 The Church’s One Foundation
We Confess Our Faith
Responsive Reading: The Apostles’ Creed
We Confess Our Sin
Call to Confession: From 1 John 1: 8 – 9
Leader: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just. He will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. In humility and faith let us confess our sin to God.
Silent Confession of Sin
Corporate Prayer of Confession: Based on Psalm 23
All: Oh Lord, You are our Shepherd, but we often aren’t satisfied in you and we sinfully desire more. Instead of resting in green pastures, we are restless. Instead of following Your lead, we stir the waters. And as we walk through the valleys, our hearts are often taken with fear. But, in Jesus, You offer a feast of grace, more than enough to satisfy our souls. Through Him, we count on forgiveness and look to Your goodness and mercy all the days of our lives, for the same Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead dwells within Your people, Amen.
Responsive Assurance of Pardon: From Ephesians 1: 7, Psalm 103: 8 – 12
Leader: In Christ we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.
All: The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Hymn of Assurance: Hymnal #693 Blessed Assurance
We Give Thanks To The Lord
Tithes and Offerings
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.
A Final Warning Romans 16: 16 – 20
A copy of the sermon notes is available: 4-7-24 sermon notes
Audio Only:
Hymn of Response: Hymnal #355 We Are God’s People
We Are Dismissed with God’s Blessing
Benediction
Hymn: Step By Step