Welcome to Norcross Presbyterian Church Come as you are. You won t be a stranger long. Chiming of the Hour Welcome and Announcements Passing of the Peace Prelude Call to Worship (from Phil 3.14) Celebration of Worship April 7, 2019 GATHERING One: Keep pressing on toward the goal. All: The heavenly call of God in Jesus Christ. Let us worship God. Hymn #451 (Glory To God Hymnal) Open My Eyes, That I May See A time for meditation Response to meditation (hymn # 582) Glory to God, whose goodness shines on me, And to the Son, whose grace has pardoned me, And to the Spirit, whose love has set me free. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. Amen. World without end, without end. Amen. World without end, without end. Amen. World without end, without end. Amen. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. Amen.
LITURGY OF THE WORD Prayer for Illumination (unison) God, source of all light, by your Word you give light to the soul. Pour out on us the spirit of wisdom and understanding that our hearts and minds may be opened. Amen. Hymn #468 (Glory To God Hymnal) In My Life First Reading Philippians 3.4b-14 If anyone else has reason to put their confidence in physical advantages, I have even more: 5 I was circumcised on the eighth day. I am from the people of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin. I am a Hebrew of the Hebrews. With respect to observing the Law, I m a Pharisee. 6 With respect to devotion to the faith, I harassed the church. With respect to righteousness under the Law, I m blameless. 7 These things were my assets, but I wrote them off as a loss for the sake of Christ. 8 But even beyond that, I consider everything a loss in comparison with the superior value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have lost everything for him, but what I lost I think of as sewer trash, so that I might gain Christ 9 and be found in him. In Christ I have a righteousness that is not my own and that does not come from the Law but rather from the faithfulness of Christ. It is the righteousness of God that is based on faith. 10 The righteousness that I have comes from knowing Christ, the power of his resurrection, and the participation in his sufferings. It includes being conformed to his death 11 so that I may perhaps reach the goal of the resurrection of the dead. 12 It s not that I have already reached this goal or have already been perfected, but I pursue it, so that I may grab hold of it because Christ grabbed hold of me for just this purpose. 13 Brothers and sisters, I myself don t think I ve reached it, but I do this one thing: I forget about the things behind me and reach out for the things ahead of me. 14 The goal I pursue is the prize of God s upward call in Christ Jesus. Second Reading Isaiah 43.16-21 The Lord says who makes a way in the sea and a path in the mighty waters, 17 who brings out chariot and horse, army and battalion; they will lie down together and will not rise; they will be extinguished, extinguished like a wick.
18 Don t remember the prior things; don t ponder ancient history. 19 Look! I m doing a new thing; now it sprouts up; don t you recognize it? I m making a way in the desert, paths[a] in the wilderness. 20 The beasts of the field, the jackals and ostriches, will honor me, because I have put water in the desert and streams in the wilderness to give water to my people, my chosen ones, 21 this people whom I formed for myself, who will recount my praise. Third Reading Matthew 6.9-13 Pray like this: Our Father who is in heaven, uphold the holiness of your name. Bring in your kingdom so that your will is done on earth as it s done in heaven. Give us the bread we need for today. Forgive us for the ways we have wronged you, just as we also forgive those who have wronged us. And don t lead us into temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. Sermon Prayer Rev. Dr. Matthew M. Fry Hymn #470 (Glory To God Hymnal) Affirmation of Faith (unison) There Is a Longing in Our Hearts The 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. Pastoral Prayers Silent Prayer Corporate Prayer 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. Offering LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST Offertory Doxology # 609 (Glory To God Hymnal) Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures high and low. Alleluia, alleluia! Praise God, in Jesus fully known: Creator, Word and Spirit one. Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Prayer of Thanksgiving (responsively) Leader: Let us give thanks to the LORD our God. People: It is right to give our thanks and praise. In our weakness, we have failed to be messengers of forgiveness and hope. Renew us, O Life Giver, that we may follow your commands and proclaim your reign of love. We pray this in the name of the one who embodied your reign of love, Jesus. Amen. Hymn #543 (Glory To God Hymnal) Charge and Blessing Postlude SENDING God, Be the Love to Search and Keep Me
This Week at NPC Sunday, April 7, 2019 9:30 A.M. NPC Sunday School Hour 11:00 A.M. NPC Worship Service 12:00-1 P.M. Kwang-Ya Bible Study, Covenant Room 1-2:30 P.M. Kwang-Ya Worship, Sanctuary 12:00 P.M. NPC VBS Planning Meeting 12:30 P.M. NPC Committee/Session Meetings Monday, April 8, 2019 6:30 P.M. Boy Scouts Tuesday, April 9, 2019 6:30 P.M. Community YOGA Class 7:00 P.M. Kwang Ya Counseling Class Wednesday, April 10, 2019 10:30 A.M. Kwang Ya Counseling Class 6:00 P.M. NPC Wednesday Night Dinner and Bible Discussion ( J.C. Superstar ) 8:00 P.M. Kwang Ya Bible Study Thursday, April 11, 2019 6:30 P.M. Community YOGA Class 7:00 P.M. Kwang Ya English Class Friday, April 12, 2019 8:30 P.M. Kwang Ya Prayer Meeting Saturday, April 13, 2019 Serving in the Church this Sunday, April 7th Counters: Ushers: Lay Readers: Communion: German Correa Carol MacGregor Joseph Crymes Diane Lewis Ken Birmingham Diane Lewis (Philippians 3:4b-14) Jo Crymes Jan Garland Bob Peterson Jan Garland (Isaiah 43:16-21) Joseph Crymes Refreshments: Jan Garland Ringing of Hour: Joseph Crymes & Carol MacGregor Serving in the Church next Sunday, April 14th Counters: Ushers: Lay Readers: Acolyte: German Correa Tim Rado Nicole Griep Ken Birmingham Ken Birmingham Bill Brown (TBD) Cynthia Correa TBD German Correa (TBD) Refreshments: BJ Steele Ringing of Hour: Joseph Crymes & Carol MacGregor
Announcements VBS informational meeting today (right after worship). VBS is another important way we help the Norcross Co-op and the community. Stay for the brief meeting and find out more! NPC Committee and Session Meetings are TODAY beginning at 12:30pm Palm Sunday is next week. Please join us for this joyous beginning to Holy Week at NPC! One Great Hour of Sharing offering will be collected. Matt is currently delivering a sermon series about The Resurrected Church. Matt thinks these will be important sermons, and invites everyone to come. Don t miss it! Jesus Christ, Superstar! During Lent, Wednesday Night activities will feature a lesson about the classic movie Jesus Christ, Superstar. Come for dinner and stay for this great learning opportunity! A Memorial Service for long-time NPC member, Helen Harris, will be held on Saturday, April 20 at 11:00am Let s Go! Joy Connection Lionheart Theatre, Friday, May 3, Pump Boys and Dinettes. A musical set in Grand Ole Opry country will be our destination for an entertaining evening of country western songs, performed on guitars, piano, bass, and kitchen utensils. See the poster in the narthex to sign up and read more about this play. Suitable for all ages. Contact Carol MacGregor to reserve your ticket. NPC will be recognizing our graduates on Graduate Sunday, May 19. Please let us know if a member of the NPC family will be graduating from High School or College this Spring! This year s Hunger Walk/Run is on 4/28/19. Search online Hunger Walk Run 2019 Atlanta for more info and to register. April Birthdays Tanya Caldwell 4/4, Martha Correa 4/12, Kelly Bartlett 4/15, Nathan Smith 4/20, Matt Fry 4/29 Holy Week April 14 Palm Sunday (11:00 am worship service) April 18 Maundy Thursday (6:30pm - an evening service with communion) April 19 Good Friday (6:30pm a solumn evening service) April 21 Easter Sunday
9:30am Potluck Brunch 11:00am Worship Service