The First Presbyterian Church at Caldwell
326 Bloomfield Avenue
Caldwell, NJ 07006
973-228-0310
www.firstprescaldwell.org
September 13, 2020
Twenty-fourth
Sunday in Ordinary Time
REFLECTION
“God is no fonder of intellectual slackers
than He is of any other slacker.”
~ C.S. Lewis
PRELUDE
Bagpipe Selections
WORDS OF WELCOME
CALL TO WORSHIP & OPENING
PRAYER
WORSHIP NOTE: The hymns
used in worship today were included in the private family memorial service
for Bob Pryor on Saturday, September 12.
OPENING HYMN No. 840, St. 1 &
4
“When Peace like a River”
VILLE DU HAVRE
When peace like a river attendeth my
way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll,
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.
It is well with my soul;
It is well; it is well with my
soul.
Lord, hasten the day when our faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trumpet shall sound and the Lord
shall descend;
Even so it is well with my soul.
It is well with my soul;
It is well; it is well with my soul.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (In Unison)
Sovereign God, in baptism you called us to turn from sin and to
turn to Jesus Christ; but we stray from his ways and do not heed your call. In
baptism you joined us to Christ in his death that we might be raised with
Christ in new life; but we cherish old ways and fail to embrace the risen life
of righteousness, justice, and love. In baptism you united us with all the
baptized who confess your name; but refuse to live as one people. In baptism
you sent us to serve with compassion to all; but we take bread from the hungry
and stop our ears to cries for justice. Lord, have mercy on us. Remember the promises
you made to us in baptism - to forgive our sinful ways and heal our brokenness.
Amen.
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Anyone who is in Christ is of the New Creation. The old life is
finished, gone.
Behold, new life has begun.
Brothers and Sisters, believe the good news:
In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
HYMN No. 581
“Glory Be to the Father”
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.
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
MINUTE FOR MISSION
African Dream Academy – Lydia Spinelli/Lisa Stein
SPECIAL MUSIC
“Prayer”
arr. Dawn Thompson
FIRST READING
Matthew 13:10-17
SECOND READING
Luke 7:18-23
SERMON
“Fantasy Faith
League: Recruits from Liberal Protestants”
Rev. William Schram
“Be Still, My Soul”
FINLANDIA
Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear
patiently
the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order
and provide,
Who through all changes
faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy
best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads
to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul: thy God
doth undertake
To guide the future surely
as the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence
let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be
bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the
waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them
while he dwelt below.
PASTORAL 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.
MEMORIAL MOMENT FOR REVEREND JESSEMAN ROBERT PRYOR
SPECIAL MUSIC
“Amazing Grace”
HYMN No. 819, St. 3
“Be Still, My Soul”
FINLANDIA
Be still, my soul: the hour
is hastening on
When we shall be forever
with the Lord;
When disappointment, grief,
and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot,
love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when
change and tears are past
All safe and blessed we
shall meet at last.
BENEDICTION
Go out into the world in peace
Have courage
Hold on to that which is the truth.
Never return a person evil for evil.
Strengthen the fainthearted.
Support the weak.
Help the suffering
Honor every man, woman, and child
and rejoice in the power of God in your life. Amen
POSTLUDE
“A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”
arr. Marianne Kim
WORSHIP PARTICIPANTS
Rev. William Schram
Rev. Barbara Piercy
Noel Piercy & Susan Jones
Paul Salierno, Cantor
John Loiacono, Bagpipes
Handbell Trio: Kara Nancoz, Barbara Romaine, Tyler Romaine,
Ray Liptak & Rob Thiemann, AV Engineers