First Presbyterian Church For Christ in the Heart of Charlotte Founded in 1821 Order of Worship January 21, 2018 9 a.m. 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 Grave-Adagio from Symphony in c minor Felix Mendelssohn Words of Welcome Adoration *Call to Worship One: O come, let us worship and bow down, All: let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! One: For he is our God, All: and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. One: Let us worship God. The Reverend Katherine Kerr *Hymn No. 394 Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation regent square (sung to an alternate tune)
Large-print hymnals and Bibles are available. Please let an usher know if you would like one. The sanctuary flowers are given to the glory of God and in special recognition of the tenth anniversary of Katherine Cooke Kerr s call to serve Christ in the Heart of Charlotte. The sympathy of the congregation is expressed to Don Schmit and his family on the death of his father, Aubrey Schmit. We welcome Kyle Raygor, Brit and Zack Drozda, DJ and Emily Harrison, and Lauren and Patrick Gutierrez into the full life of First Presbyterian Church. We celebrate their commitment to membership and stewardship and to God through this congregation. Call to Confession Prayer of Confession Confession The Reverend Pen Peery All: Merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart and mind and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. In your mercy forgive what we have been, help us amend what we are, and direct what we shall be, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. One: In silent prayer, let us confess to God the things we choose not to speak aloud. A time of silence will be kept. Response (Hymn No. 471, sung multiple times) hear my prayer O Lord, hear my prayer. O Lord, hear my prayer. When I call, answer me. O Lord, hear my prayer. O Lord, hear my prayer. Come and listen to me. Assurance of Pardon One: Friends, believe the good news. All: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. *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. Prayer for Illumination Proclamation Scripture Psalm 63:1-8 pew Bible pg. 527 One: This is the word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God. Anthem Precious Lord arr. Arnold Sevier Precious Lord, take my hand. Lead me on, let me stand. I am tired. I am weak. I am worn. Through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light. Take my hand, Lord, and lead me home. When my way grows drear, precious Lord, linger near. When my life is almost gone, at the river, Lord, I stand. Guide my feet and hold my hand. Take my hand, Lord, and lead me home. Time with Children 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. Scripture Mark 1:14-20 pew Bible pg. 35 The 11 a.m. service is televised over WSOC-TV, Channel 9, this morning and streamed live at www.firstpres-charlotte.org. Sermon Holy Interruptions The Reverend Katherine Kerr *Hymn No. 726 Will You Come and Follow Me the summons
*Affirmation of Faith Response The Reverend Katelyn Gordon Cooke From A Brief Statement of Faith In life and in death we belong to God. Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, we trust in the one triune God, the Holy One of Israel, whom alone we worship and serve. 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! With believers in every time and place, we rejoice that nothing in life or in death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Prayers of the People Stewardship of Life New Members Presentation of Tithes and Offering Offertory Anthem How Lovely Are the Messengers Felix Mendelssohn How lovely are the messengers that preach us the gospel of peace. To all nations is gone forth the sound of their words. *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. To be installed as Deacon: Dave Bare Eddie Booher Alison Dalton John Dosser Roberta Fox Beth Guinan Stacy Lynch Diane Maye Doug Neely Chad Peterson Kathy Ridge Anne Barnard Schmit Jim Sebo Melissa Toth Tom Wright To be installed as Elder: Stoke Caldwell Pete Carlson Marc Gustafson Doug Hoy Elizabeth Little Gail Murchison *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. Ordination and Installation of Elders and Deacons (11a.m.) Statement of Purpose Constitutional Questions Laying on of Hands Sending Forth All ordained Elders and Deacons are invited to participate in the laying on of hands. *Hymn No. 697 Take My Life hendon *Charge and Benediction *Benediction Response Amen John Rutter Postlude Allegro Maestoso from Symphony in C minor Felix Mendelssohn 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 Katelyn Gordon Cooke Associate Pastor for Christian Formation kcooke@firstpres-charlotte.org Erika Funk Associate Pastor for Mission efunk@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. Global Mission Sunday January 28 The Reverend Dr. Carlos Ham-Stanard, president of the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Matanzas, Cuba will be our guest preacher for both services. Make your reservation online for brunch at 10 a.m. to learn more about our developing partnership in Cuba. learn Through study at every age and stage, we aim to become more Christlike and deepen our relationship with our Lord. Opportunity Forum *January 24 6:15-7:45 p.m., Wood Fellowship Hall Stephen Smith, Executive Director of Freedom Communities, will speak on affordable housing in West Charlotte. *January 31 6:15-7:45 p.m., Wood Fellowship Hall Fulton Meachem, President and CEO, Charlotte Housing Authority will speak on affordable housing in Center City. *Both programs are free and reservations are not required; childcare is available by reservation only on the website. Youth Fundraiser February 25 9:30-11 a.m., Wood Fellowship Hall Mark your calendars now for the Congregational Breakfast to support the Youth Ministry mission fund. Tickets available for purchase online, or in Wood Fellowship Hall on Sunday mornings. care We aim to provide support, prayer, love and acts of compassion as we seek to draw closer to one another in community. Stephen Ministry A new Stephen Ministry training class begins in February. If you are interested in learning more about this lay caregiving ministry, please contact The Reverend Katherine Kerr, kkerr@firstpres-charlotte.org. Softball and Fellowship Want to have fun playing softball while having fellowship with other churches in our area? FPC is exploring putting together a team to join the South Charlotte Church Softball league this spring. Games will run from June through August on Monday and Friday evenings. All levels of experience are welcome, so don t worry if you haven t picked up a glove in years. Contact Josh Humphrey (jwhumphr@gmail.com) for information. serve We go into the world to seek and serve and walk alongside our family in faith. Room in the Inn The 2017-18 season for Room in the Inn is underway. FPC opens its doors to our neighbors in need on Monday and Tuesday nights to offer hospitality, warm beds, and food. Sign up online on the Now@FPC page. Donations Urgently Needed Glenna Cook has arrived at the clinic in Bayonnais, Haiti. The clinic is completely out of prenatal vitamins. Donations of new, unopened bottles of prenatal vitamins and acetaminophen are desperately needed and can be dropped off at FPC by January 29. In Loving Memory of Helen F. Smith October 23, 1919 - January 18, 2018 Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, says the Spirit. Revelation 14:13
*Hymn No. 394 1 Christ is made the sure foundation, Christ the head and cornerstone, chosen of the Lord, and precious, binding all the church in one, Holy Zion s help for ever, and her confidence alone. 2 All that dedicated city, dearly loved of God on high, in exultant jubilation pours perpetual melody; God the One in Three adoring in glad hymns eternally. Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation 3 To this temple, where we call You, come, O Lord of Hosts, today: with accustomed lovingkindness, hear Your servants as they pray; and Your fullest benediction shed within its walls alway. 4 Lord, here grant to all Your servants what they ask of You to gain, what they gain from You, forever with the blessed to retain, and hereafter in Your glory evermore with You to reign. 5 Praise and honor to the Father, praise and honor to the Son, praise and honor to the Spirit, ever Three, and ever One, one in might, and one in glory, while unending ages run. *Hymn No. 726 Will You Come and Follow Me 1 Will you come and follow me if I but call your name? Will you go where you don t know and never be the same? Will you let my love be shown; will you let my name be known; will you let my life be grown in you and you in me? 2 Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name? Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same? Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare? Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me? 3 Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name? Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same? Will you kiss the leper clean, and do such as this unseen, and admit to what I mean in you and you in me? 4 Will you love the you you hide if I but call your name? Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same? Will you use the faith you ve found to reshape the world around, through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me? *Hymn No. 697 Take My Life 1 Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee; take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise; let them flow in ceaseless praise. 2 Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of thy love; take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for thee, swift and beautiful for thee. 3 Take my voice and let me sing always, only, for my King; take my lips and let them be filled with messages from thee, filled with messages from thee. 4 Take my sliver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold; take my intellect and use every power as thou shalt choose, every power as thou shalt choose. 5 Take my will and make it thine; it shall be no longer mine. Take my heart, it is thine own; it shall be thy royal throne, it shall be thy royal throne. 6 Take my love; my Lord, I pour at thy feet its treasure store; take myself and I will be ever, only, all for thee, ever, only, all for thee.