! e m o c Wel F irst P resbyterian C hurch F or C h r i s t in the H eart of C harlotte Order of Worship Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost September 23, 2018 9 and 11 a.m. You are invited to use the time before the service to prepare your heart and mind for worship. In consideration of others, please silence your cell phones. Preparation Prelude Words of Welcome God of Grace Ivey Ringers Adoration arr. Kevin McChesney The Reverend Katherine Kerr Choral Call to Worship Christopher Tye O come, ye servants of the Lord, and praise his holy name. From early morn to setting sun, his might on earth proclaim. His laws are just, and glad the heart. He makes his mercies known. Ye people, come and bow before his throne. *Hymn No. 49 The God of Abraham Praise leoni
Large-print hymnals and Bibles are available. Please let an usher know if you would like one. We believe that God put the wiggle in children, and all are welcome in worship regardless of their ability to sit still. If you d like to step out of the sanctuary with your child, please feel free to visit the chapel (to the right of the sanctuary) where the service is streaming. Parker is the daughter of Taylor and Kyle Shirkey. Sloan is the daughter of Wendy and Brad Norvell. First Church is a worship education experience for children in kindergarten through 2nd grade. During First Church, children participate in and lead a simplified worship service that follows the same order as our service in the sanctuary. The 11 a.m. service is televised over WSOC-TV, Channel 9 this morning and streamed live at www.firstpres-charlotte.org. Call to Confession Confession The Reverend Katelyn Gordon Cooke Prayer of Confession One: Gracious God, it is your nature to be welcoming. From the beginning, you have created places of welcome for us, you have given us this world to be our home, and you have surrounded us with people to be our community. All: We confess that we are not always as quick to offer the same kind of welcome to others. Those places in our lives that could be places of welcome our homes, our churches, and our hearts we tend to close off and protect from anyone we do not know. Where we are tempted to be exclusive and fearful, help us to be hospitable and curious. By your Spirit, give us spirits of welcome and openness. One: In silent prayer, let us confess to God the things we choose not to speak aloud. Assurance of Pardon One: Friends, believe the good news. All: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. *Response (Hymn No. 441) nettleton Hear the good news of salvation: Jesus died to show God s love. Such great kindness! Such great mercy! Come to us from heaven above. Jesus Christ, how much I love you! Jesus Christ, you save from sin! How I love you! Look upon me. Love me still and cleanse within. Sacrament of Baptism Sacrament of Baptism (9:00 a.m.) Parker Thompson Shirkey (11:00 a.m.) Sloan Riley Norvell *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. Children in kindergarten through 2nd grade may leave for First Church. They will return to the sanctuary during the last hymn. Younger children may go to the nursery. Prayer for Illumination Proclamation Scripture Psalm 96:1-9 pew Bible pg. 550 One: This is the word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God. Anthem Immortal, Invisible arr. Eric Thiman Immortal, invisible, God only wise, in light inaccessible hid from our eyes, most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days, almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise. Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light, nor wanting, nor waiting, Thou rulest in might: Thy justice, like mountains high soaring above; thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love. To all, life thou givest, to both great and small. In all life thou livest, the true life of all. We blossom and flourish like leaves on the tree, and wither and perish; but naught changeth thee. Great Father of Glory, pure Father of Light, Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight; all laud we would render: O help us to see tis only the splendor of light hideth thee. Amen.
Scripture Genesis 12:1-8 pew Bible pg. 10 Sermon Places of Welcome The Reverend Pen Peery Musical Interlude All Are Welcome Trevor Cook Ivey Ringers *Hymn No. 301 Let Us Build a House two oaks first stanza only Let us build a house where love can dwell and all can safely live, a place where saints and children tell how hearts learn to forgive. Built of hopes and dreams and visions, rock of faith and vault of grace; here the love of Christ shall end divisions: all are welcome; all are welcome in this place. Prayers of the People Stewardship of Life Stewardship Presentation of Tithes and Offerings Response The Reverend Katherine Kerr Offertory Anthem God of Grace arr. Paul Langston God of grace and God of glory on thy people pour thy power. Crown thine ancient church s story; bring her bud to glorious flower. Grant us wisdom; grant us courage for the facing of this hour. Lo! The hosts of evil round us scorn thy Christ, assail his ways! Fears and doubts too long have bound us; free our hearts to work and praise. Grant us wisdom; grant us courage for the living of these days. Set our feet on lofty places; gird our lives that they may be armored with all Christ-like grace in the fight to set men free. Grant us wisdom; grant us courage, that we fail not man nor thee. Amen. *Doxology (Hymn No. 606) old hundredth 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. *Prayer of Dedication and 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. Sending Forth *Hymn No. 317 In Christ There Is No East or West mc kee Congregational Meeting (11 a.m.) *Charge and Benediction *Benediction Response Amen Peter Lutkin Postlude Now Thank We All Our God Johann Sebastian Bach The sanctuary flowers are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of Charles Walter Patterson by the Patterson and Beall families. The rosebuds in the sanctuary celebrate the births of Ashling Everly Ryan, daughter of Sean and Julie Ryan; Charlotte Jo Reschly, daughter of Scott and Marla Reschly; and John William Edwards, son of John and Laura King Edwards. Part of our offering today goes to the Ten-Cents-A-Meal program, a hunger relief and at-risk youth ministry of the Presbytery of Charlotte. Children and families will pass baskets after the offering plates to collect this offering. The sympathy of the congregation is expressed to Melanie Twyne on the death of her mother, Nell Sizemore. Today there will be a Congregational Meeting immediately following the 11 a.m. service to elect officers for the class of 2021. A time of personal prayer is offered following both services. If you would like to pray with a pastor or a member of our prayer team, please meet them in the sanctuary overflow area after the 9 a.m. service or in the chapel following the 11 a.m. service. * Please stand if you are able.
We are glad you are with us today! We welcome all to First Presbyterian Church as we worship together, knowing that each of us is a beloved part of the body of Christ. Our Pastors Pendleton B. Peery Senior Pastor ppeery@firstpres-charlotte.org Katelyn Gordon Cooke Associate Pastor for Christian Formation kcooke@firstpres-charlotte.org Katherine C. Kerr Senior Associate Pastor for Congregational Ministry and Care kkerr@firstpres-charlotte.org Charles C. Williamson Parish Associate cwilliamson@firstpres-charlotte.org William P. Young, III Director of Music Ministries wyoung@firstpres-charlotte.org Are you interested in joining our church? Contact Lucy Caldwell Membership Coordinator lcaldwell@firstpres-charlotte.org Pastor on call If you have a pastoral emergency outside of regular church hours, dial 704.927.0256 for the on-call voicemail. Your call will be returned promptly. 200 West Trade Street Charlotte, NC 28202 www.firstpres-charlotte.org 704.332.5123 News and Announcements Worship Welcome Sermon Series A new sermon series on Welcome begins today with Places of Welcome. Subsequent sermon topics are: September 30 Challenges of Welcome October 7 Tables of Welcome October 14 Fruits of Welcome Reception for Katelyn Gordon Cooke September 30 12:15 p.m., WFH We hope that you ll join us next Sunday in Wood Fellowship Hall for refreshments after the service as we celebrate Katelyn s ministry at FPC. Learn MS and HS Parent Night: When Smart Teens Make Poor Choices September 23 6:00-7:45 p.m., WFH Jonathan Hetterly, M.A, LPC of Southeast Psych, will lead a discussion with parents of middle school and high school youth to offer guidance on how to effectively communicate with teenage children. For more information and to RSVP, please check the youth newsletter or contact Director of Youth Ministries Natalie Raygor (nraygor@firstpres-charlotte.org). Covenant Groups Hey FPC Young Adults! Are you looking for a small group at FPC? Sign up to be part of a Covenant group! Covenant groups are small groups of 8-12 people, and they meet once or twice a month starting later this month through December. For more information, check the Young Adult newsletter on the church website or email the Reverend Katelyn Gordon Cooke (kcooke@firstpres-charlotte.org). Church in the Mountains November 9-11 Montreat Join your church family for a weekend of fellowship, conversations, music, and food. Singer, songwriter and author David LaMotte will be our keynote speaker, and pastor-artist Lisle Gwynn Garrity will lead a special program for children. For details and registration information, visit the Events page at the bottom of any page on the church website or pick up a brochure in the historical lobby. Care Flu Shot Clinic Wednesday, September 26 12:00 p.m. As we head back to school and into flu season, you can get your flu vaccination here at First Presbyterian Church in Room P209. Contact Parish Nurse Kristin Foster (kfoster@firstprescharlotte.org) with questions. Serve Eastern North Carolina Mission Trip and Hurricane Florence relief October 17-21 Kinston, NC Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is on the ground giving aid and support to those affected by Hurricane Florence. The Global Missions Committee has approved sending $10,000. If you would like to make an additional contribution, please contact Presbyterian Disaster Assistance at http://bit.ly/pdarelief. If you would like to be a part of the FPC mission trip to Kinston to assist with hurricane cleanup, call Kenny Archie (704.777.1105) or contact David Burton (704.363.8551). Project Backpack September - June Provide a weekend food bag (individually or with a group) for a child at Westerly Hills Academy each week from September-June. Sign up under Tickets & Signups on the Now@First page on the website. Save the Date for the Fall Fest October 21 3:00-5:00 p.m. Bring a friend, a neighbor, a cousin everyone s invited to be part of the fun and fellowship at the annual Fall Fest at FPC. We ll have games for all ages, music and a trunk or treat. Costumes are welcome. Details will be coming soon on the church website. FPC to Host On the Table CLT October 24 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., WFH On Wednesday, October 24, First Presbyterian Church joins organizations throughout the area to host On the Table CLT, a communitywide conversation about ways to make the Charlotte area more connected, dynamic and opportunity-rich for all. Sign up now at http://bit.ly/fpcottclt.
*Hymn No. 49 1 The God of Abraham praise, who reigns enthroned above, the Ancient of Eternal Days, the God of love! The Lord, the great I am, by earth and heaven confessed, we bow before your holy name, forever blest. 2 Your spirit still flows free, high surging where it will. In prophet s word you spoke of old and you speak still. Established is your law, and changeless it shall stand, deep writ upon the human heart by your strong hand. The God of Abraham Praise 3 Your goodly land we seek, with peace and plenty blest, a land of sacred liberty and Sabbath rest. There milk and honey flow, and oil and wine abound, and trees of life forever grow with mercy crowned. 4 You have eternal life implanted in the soul; your love shall be our strength and stay, while ages roll. We praise you, living God! We praise your holy name: the first, the last, beyond all thought, and still the same! *Hymn No. 317 1 In Christ there is no east or west, in him no south or north, but one great fellowship of love throughout the whole wide earth. 2 In Christ shall true hearts everywhere their high communion find; his service is the golden cord close-binding humankind. In Christ There Is No East or West 3 Join hands, disciples of the faith, whate er your race may be. All children of the living God are surely kin to me. 4 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 earth. *Hymn No. 301 Let Us Build a House 1 Let us build a house where love can dwell and all can safely live, a place where saints and children tell how hearts learn to forgive. Built of hopes and dreams and visions, rock of faith and vault of grace; here the love of Christ shall end divisions: Refrain: all are welcome; all are welcome; all are welcome in this place. 2 Let us build a house where prophets speak, and words are strong and true, where all God s children dare to seek to dream God s reign anew. Here the cross shall stand as witness and as symbol of God s grace; here as one we claim the faith of Jesus: (Refrain) 3 Let us build a house where love is found in water, wine, and wheat; a banquet hall on holy ground where peace and justice meet. Here the love of God, through Jesus, is revealed in time and space; as we share in Christ the feast that frees us: (Refrain) 4 Let us build a house where hands will reach beyond the wood and stone to heal and strengthen, serve and teach, and live the Word they ve known. Here the outcast and the stranger bear the image of God s face; let us bring an end to fear and danger: (Refrain) Let us build a house where all are named, their songs and visions heard and loved and treasured, taught and claimed as words within the Word. Built of tears and cries and laughter, prayers of faith and songs of grace; let this house proclaim from floor to rafter: (Refrain)