First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights. A congregation of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Organized in Heritage

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1 First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights A congregation of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Organized in 1855 Heritage So let us stop worrying about how much love we ought to spend on our neighbour and how much on God. The answer is incomparably more on God than on ourselves, and on our sisters and brothers as much as on ourselves. But in reality, the more we love God, the more we love ourselves. We are loving God and our neighbour out of the one and same love. Augustine SERVICE FOR THE LORD S DAY THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT FEBRUARY 28, :00 AM Choose love. Be the light. Change the world. First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights 302 N. Dunton Avenue Arlington Heights, IL mail@fpcah.org

2 The prelude is your invitation to quiet preparation for the worship of Almighty God. GATHERING AS GOD S PEOPLE PRELUDE Blessed Assurance Dale Wood, arr. Morrone Simple Gifts Dale Wood, arr. Morrone Heather Manzella, flute; Michelle Fielder, oboe; Joan Morrone, horn WELCOME Alex Lang CALL TO WORSHIP One: Trust in the Lord and do good. All: Then we will enjoy security. One: Take delight in the Lord. All: Then we will be given the desires of our hearts. One: When we commit our ways to the Lord, All: then God will act. One: Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for God. All: Then we will know God in our worship and in our work. HYMN 366 Love Divine, All Loves Excelling Hyfrydol CALL TO CONFESSION Adam Ryerson PRAYER OF CONFESSION God of love, we confess to you and to each other that we have fallen far short of the complete and generous love of Jesus. Through our foolishness we have not only stumbled, but caused those around us to fall with us. Our willfulness leads to our corruption and the corruption of others. Here and now, holy God, we acknowledge our sins, turn with dismay from them, and pray for your saving grace to once more rehabilitate our lives, that we may go forth, able to love friends and enemies as you have invited us to do. SILENT CONFESSION in Jesus name we pray. Amen. WORDS OF FORGIVENESS RESPONSE (Hymn 555) O Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world; have mercy on us, Lamb of God, and grant us your peace. PASSING THE PEACE One: The peace of Jesus Christ be with you. All: And also with you. One: Let us share the peace of Christ with one another. COMMUNITY LIFE

3 HEARING GOD S WORD PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION Adam Ryerson ANTHEM We Shall Overcome arr. Roy Ringwald We shall overcome, We shall overcome some day; Ho, deep in my heart I do believe. We shall overcome some day. We ll walk hand in hand, We ll walk hand in hand someday; Oh, deep in my heart I do believe We shall overcome some day. The Lord will see us through, The Lord will see us through some day; Oh, deep in my heart I do believe We shall overcome some day. We are not afraid, We are not afraid today; Oh, deep in my heart I do believe. We shall overcome some day. We shall live in peace, We shall live in peace some day; Oh, deep in my heart I do believe, We shall overcome some day. Chancel Choir SCRIPTURE READING Luke 6:27-36 (Pew Bible, p. 838) Adam Ryerson The Word of the Lord/Thanks be to God! SERMON Enemies Alex Lang TIME OF SILENT REFLECTION AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (A Brief Statement of Faith, 10.4) In a broken and fearful world the Spirit gives us courage to pray without ceasing, to witness among all peoples to Christ as Lord and Savior, to unmask idolatries in Church and culture, to hear the voices of peoples long silenced, and to work with others for justice, freedom, and peace. In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit, we strive to serve Christ in our daily tasks and to live holy and joyful lives, even as we watch for God s new heaven and new earth, praying, Come, Lord Jesus! HYMN 795 Healer of Our Every Ill Healer of Our Every Ill GIVING THANKS TO GOD PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE 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 OFFERTORY Join Hands! Roy Ringwald Join hands! In Christ there is no East or West, In Him no South or North, But one great fellowship of love Throughout the whole wide world. Join hands! In Him shall true hearts everywhere Their high communion find; His service is the golden cord close binding all mankind. Join hands! Join hands, then, brother of the faith, Whatever your race may be! Who serves my Father as a son Is surely kin to me. Join hands! In Christ now meet both East and West, In Him meet South and North, All Christly souls are one in Him, Throughout the whole wide world. Join hands! Chancel Choir

4 DOXOLOGY (Hymn 606) 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. PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING GOING FORTH IN GOD S NAME HYMN 450 Be Thou My Vision Slane BENEDICTION Alex Lang POSTLUDE Toccata Paul Laubengayer Please stand as you are able. Preaching: Alex Lang Ushers: Peter Bukowski (head usher), Linda Byus, Bob Harrald, Jeff Martinka, Frank Morrone Flowers: The children of Gordon and Vivian Palmer In honor of Gordon and Vivian s 60th wedding anniversary Pastors: Alex Lang,, Judy Hockenberry, TC Anderson Director of Music Programs: Adam Hendrickson Associate Director of Music Adult Choirs: Alan Wellman Associate Director of Music and Organist: Chris Urban

5 WELCOME, GUESTS! Thank you for worshiping with us this morning. Please sign the Friendship Pad and pass it along the pew, and introduce yourself to those around you after the service. Then stop by the Welcome Center in the Narthex to pick up information that will acquaint you with our church services and programs. If you have questions, members of the Welcomers Corps will be there to answer them. You are also invited to join the conversation on Facebook, at facebook.com/fpcah, and Twitter, We look forward to connecting with you again. CHILD CARE Children of all ages are warmly welcomed and encouraged to participate in worship. Child care is available (infants through age four) in the Christian Education Wing (8:15 am 12:15 pm). We encourage 3- and 4-year-olds to participate in Preschool Sunday School, offered from 9:45 to 10:45 am. CLASSES FOR ALL AGES From September through May, Sunday morning Christian education classes are held for all ages. These include classes for preschool, elementary, middle school, and high school students, as well as education and discussion groups for adults. Children s and youth education, as well as adult classes, take place from 9:45 to10:45 am. Check the adult education brochure for course titles, dates, and times. To learn more, visit fpcah.org or call the church office at SPECIAL ASSISTANCE Large print bulletins, large print hymn packets, and hearing amplifiers are available from the ushers. WORSHIP BAGS Worship bags for young worshipers (ages 3-12 years) are available outside the Sanctuary and in the Chapel. The bags contain items designed to guide active participation in the service and learning about worship. Please return the bags to the basket as you leave. IMPORTANT WORSHIP REMINDERS Please silence cell phones and refrain from taking photos or recording worship services. A weekly webcast of the services are available at fpcah.org/webcast. Audio CD recordings of 11:00 am worship are available in the church office. To download a podcast of today s sermon, visit the Worship page at fpcah.org.