First Presbyterian Church For Christ in the Heart of Charlotte Founded in 1821 Order of Worship September 3, 2017 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 From All That Dwell arr. Franklin Ashdown Words of Welcome Choral Call to Worship Adoration The Reverend Katelyn Gordon Williams/ed. Young This is the day the Lord hath made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Amen. *Hymn No. 327 From All That Dwell Below the Skies lasst uns erfreuen
Large-print hymnals and Bibles are available. Please let an usher know if you would like one. Call to Confession Prayer of Confession Confession The Reverend Katherine Kerr One: Holy God, we confess that we have failed to be the people you call us to be. All: We know you desire for us to come together in unity, but we look for ways that we might create distance from others. One: We presume to know what s right for ourselves and for others, and we forget to seek your guidance first. All: We prioritize being right over being kind, and we hurt others with our words and our actions. One: We let the world define success for us, and we neglect our relationship with you. All: We write off people whom we deem undeserving or unworthy, and we fail to see your image in their faces. One: By your Spirit, help us to be people who are known for our love, service, and humility. All: Help us to be a community that reflects your grace, boldness, compassion, and mercy. 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. A time of silence will be kept. Susannah and Clara are the daughters of Scott and Katie Curry. The 11 a.m. service is televised over WSOC-TV, Channel 9, this morning and streamed live at www.firstpres-charlotte.org. *Response (Hymn No. 581) gloria patri Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen. Sacrament of Baptism Sacrament of Baptism Susannah Rose Curry Clara Belle Curry *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 and above are encouraged to remain in worship. Younger children may go to the nursery. Prayer for Illumination Proclamation Scripture Psalm 133 pew Bible pg. 575 One: This is the word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God.
Anthem Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me K. Lee Scott Gracious Spirit, dwell with me, I would gracious be; help me now Thy grace to see, I would be like Thee; and, with words that help and heal, Thy life would mine reveal; and, with actions bold and meek, for Christ, my Savior, speak. Truthful Spirit, dwell with me, I would truthful be; help me now Thy truth to see, I would be like Thee; and, with wisdom kind and clear, Thy life in mine appear; and, with actions brotherly, speak Christ s sincerity. Holy Spirit, dwell with me, I would holy be; show Thy mercy tenderly, make me more like Thee; separate from sin, I would and cherish all things good, and whatever I can be give Him who gave me Thee. Mighty Spirit, dwell with me, I would mighty be; help me now Thy pow r to see, I would be like Thee; gainst all weapons hell can wield, be Thou my strength and shield; let Thy word my weapon be, Lord, Thine the victory. Gracious Spirit, dwell with me, I would be like Thee! Scripture Romans 12:1-5 pew Bible pg. 161-162 Sermon The Reverend Katelyn Gordon The Good Things Presbyterians Don t Talk About *Hymn No. 318 In Christ There Is No East or West st. peter Prayers of the People Stewardship of Life Russia Presentation of Tithes and Offering Response The Reverend Erika Funk We believe that there are truths and forms with respect to which [people] of good character and principles may differ. And in all these we think it the duty both of private Christians and societies to exercise mutual forbearance toward each other. Book of Order, F-3.0105 The sympathy of the congregation is expressed to David McConnell and his family on the recent death of his mother, Lynda R. McConnell. Offertory Anthem With a Voice of Singing Martin Shaw With a voice of singing declare ye this, and let it be heard, Alleluia. Utter it even unto the ends of the earth. The Lord hath delivered His people, Alleluia. O be joyful in God, all ye lands, O sing praises to the honour of His name, make His praise to be glorious. *Doxology 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. *Hymn No. 733 *Charge and Benediction Sending Forth We All Are One in Mission es flog ein kleins waldvogelein *Benediction Response Amen danish Postlude Grand Choeur Théodore Dubois A time of personal prayer is offered following both services. If you would like to pray with a pastor and a member of our prayer team, please meet them in the chapel following the 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 Erika Funk Associate Pastor for Mission efunk@firstpres-charlotte.org Katelyn M. Gordon Associate Pastor for Christian Formation kgordon@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 We worship in ways that speak of God s majesty, mystery and love. The Fall Sermon Series For Christ in the Heart of Charlotte begins on Kickoff Sunday, September 10. Additional sermons in the series are: September 17: Serving Our City September 24: Welcome October 1: Life Together October 8: Sustaining Our Future Wednesday Worship resumes this week. Join us for a time of rest and renewal in the middle of the week with worship on Wednesdays from noon to 12:30 p.m. Share a table for lunch in Wood Fellowship Hall following the service at Eat@First. Lunch is $8 per person. The 9 a.m. Worship service and Formation classes for all ages resume on September 10. Everyone is invited to gather in Wood Fellowship Hall at 10 a.m., and we ll dismiss to individual classes from there. care We aim to provide support, prayer, love and acts of compassion as we seek to draw closer to one another in community. Potluck Picnic on the Lawn: Join us on Sunday, September 10 following the 11 a.m. service to mark the start of the fall program year. We will provide the fried chicken. You are invited to bring sides, desserts or bread based on the initial of your last name: A thru N: cold salads/vegetables O thru S: bread, biscuits, etc. T thru Z: desserts Dress casually and bring camp chairs or blankets for seating. Contact Holly Bryant, hollybryant02@gmail.com, if you have questions. PW Fall Gathering Luncheon, September 12. Presbyterian Women host their annual Fall Gathering Luncheon. The luncheon is open to all. Cost for the luncheon is $12 and the deadline to register is September 5. http://bit.ly/fpcpwgathering learn Through study at every age and stage, we aim to become more Christlike and deepen our relationship with our Lord. Learning and Growing in Life Together As Christians, we believe God calls us to community so that we might share our joys and sorrows and grow in our faith together. Time spent with neighbors, experiences shared with friends, meals around a table with loved ones this Life Together is the life God envisions for us. For the 2017-18 programming year, we will focus on how our Life Together enhances our faith. This fall, we invite you to commit to your faith journey of faith by participating in Formation for all ages as we focus on Life Together in small groups, Sunday classes, or special events. Book and Table: Beginning September 26 (and continuing on the 4th Tuesday of the month, 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.), Pen Peery will lead a men s Bible study on an upcoming sermon series. All are welcome and no pre-knowledge of the Bible is required! Following the Bible study, those who want to continue in fellowship over lunch can walk across the street to connect (or re-connect) with men who are part of our church community. Email Brent Torstrick (btorstrick@robinsonbradshaw. com) to RSVP for lunch and he will organize us in groups of four to share a meal. serve We go into the world to seek and serve and walk alongside our family in faith. Sign Up for Habitat Now: It s time to sign up for the Habitat for Humanity build which begins on September 16. Details are in the Tickets & Signups section of the Now@FPC page on the website, as well as in the Events listing at the bottom of every page on the website. Registration takes approximately five minutes and full instructions are in both places on the website. Hurricane Harvey Disaster Relief Your gifts are urgently needed now to support the communities devastated by this historic storm and those throughout the Gulf region who are still in the path of Harvey s torrential rains. The Global/Regional Mission Committee of FPC has committed $15,000 to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, our denomination's on the ground response program. If you would like to give please place cash or a check into one of the special blue envelopes found in the pews today. All gifts will be sent directly to PDA. More information can be found at www.pda.pcusa.org.
*Hymn No. 327 1 From all that dwell below the skies let the Creator s praise arise: Let the Redeemer s name be sung through every land, in every tongue. Alleluia! From All That Dwell Below the Skies 3 Eternal are thy mercies, Lord; eternal truth attends thy word: Thy praise shall sound from shore to shore, till suns shall rise and set no more. Alleluia! 2 In every land begin the song; to every land the strains belong: In cheerful sound all voices raise and fill the world with joyful praise. Alleluia! *Hymn No. 318 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. 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. 2 In Christ shall true hearts everywhere their high communion find; his service is the golden cord close-binding humankind. 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. 733 We Are All One in Mission 1 We all are one in mission; we all are one in call, our varied gifts united by Christ, the Lord of all. A single, great commission compels us from above to plan and work together that all may know Christ s love. 3 Now let us be united and let our song be heard. Now let us be a vessel for God s redeeming word. We all are one in mission; we all are one in call, our varied gifts united by Christ, the Lord of all. 2 We all are called for service to witness in God s name. Our ministries are different; our purpose is the same: to touch the lives of others by God s surprising grace, so every folk and nation may feel God s warm embrace.