The First Presbyterian Church at Caldwell

326 Bloomfield Avenue

Caldwell, NJ 07006

973-228-0310

www.firstprescaldwell.org

July 12, 2020

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Reflection

One of the sayings in our country is Ubuntu - the essence of being human. Ubuntu speaks particularly about the fact that you can't exist as a human being in isolation. It speaks about our interconnectedness. You can't be human all by yourself, and when you have this quality - Ubuntu - you are known for your generosity. We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole World. When you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity. -- Bishop Desmond Tutu

PRELUDE “Amazing Grace” arr. Bill Holcombe

“The Solid Rock” arr. Brent Olstad

WORDS OF WELCOME

CALL TO WORSHIP & OPENING PRAYER

We come to worship our God, to listen to the One who calls us here.

We come trusting God to lead us in the coming days, as surely as were our grandparents in the faith.

We come to worship our God, to shout with joy to the God of all people.

We come to the Creator of all things, to be bathed in the waters of life. We come to worship our God, to sing aloud to the One who saves us.

Through the ages, O God, you have called to us to follow. You led us to freedom, to hope and peace. Enter our hearts again today and lead us to your healing love that we might serve you joyfully in this world that you have loaned to us. AMEN.

SUMMER HYMN SING

“We Are Called” (Hymn No. 749, St. 1 & 3)

Come! Live in the light!

Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord!

We are called to be light for the kingdom,

To live in the freedom of the city of God. REFRAIN

REFRAIN: We are called to act with justice;

We are called to love tenderly;

We are called to serve on another,

To walk humbly with God.

Sing! Sing a new song!

Sing of that great day when all will be one!

God will reign, and we’ll walk with each other

As sisters and brothers united in love. REFRAIN

“Morning Has Broken” (Hymn No. 664, St. 1 & 3)

Morning has broken like the first morning;

Blackbird has spoken like the first bird.

Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning!

Praise for them, springing fresh from the Word!

Mine is the sunlight! Mine is the morning,

Born of the one light Eden saw play!

Praise with elation; praise every morning,

God’s recreation of the new day.

“Here I Am, Lord” (Hymn No. 69, St. 1 & 3)

I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard my people cry.

All who dwell in dark and sin my hand will save.

I, who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright.

Who will bear my light to them? Whom shall I send? REFRAIN

REFRAIN: Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?

I have heard you calling in the night.

I will go, Lord, if you lead me.

I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of wind and flame, I will tend the poor and lame.

I will set a feast for them. My hand will save.

Finest bread I will provide till their hearts be satisfied.

I will give my life to them. Whom shall I send? REFRAIN

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (In Unison)

O God, we come admitting a need for a spirit of worship and life that is rooted in humility and growing in love. Help us be humble as Jesus was, in a way that lifts others around us and leads us to practice servanthood in your model. Protect from an arrogant desire to be better than others but enable us, in grace, to be better for them in sharing, better to them in sharing, better with them in understanding. Drawing us together in Christ, help us celebrate the interdependence that life in you brings. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

This is the good news:  God hears our prayers, our cries, our hearts.  And, in Christ, we receive new life.  We are free, free to walk in the Light of the Lord.
So, this is what we will do.  We will open our hearts to God's grace; we will live as people who have died to sin and who live for Christ.  Amen.

HYMN “The Kingdom of God” TAIZÉ CHANT

The Kingdom of God is justice and peace,
And joy in the Holy Spirit!
Come, Lord, and open in us the gates of your kingdom.

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Jeremiah 2:4 - 13

NEW TESTAMENT LESSON Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16

SERMON “A Declaration of Interdependence” Rev. William Schram

UBUNTU! DO LIFE!

by Ken Medema

REFRAIN: Ubuntu! Ubuntu! Sharing our visions and dreams.

Ubuntu! Where justice flows like a life-giving stream.

The people together, joining our hearts and our hands

To welcome the stranger and cherish the friend

And to work for the peace of the land.

And so we do life!

1. Sisters and brothers, made for communion

Bound to each other, one holy union.

Drawn by a vision, drawn by desire

Drawn to the circle round God’s holy fire.

Made by God’s power to live as God’s own,

Made to be and be heard and to be known! REFRAIN

2. Called now to follow Jesus our brother

Who gathers his children just like a mother.

Tenderly holding this new creation

Making and molding a new holy nation.

Marked by the water and given our name,

Moved by God’s Spirit, revived by holy flame. REFRAIN

3. This is our vision; Life’s in the sharing

Holding back nothing, dreaming and daring.

To live this communion that breaks us and binds us,

Holds us and heal us, frees us and finds us

God give us courage to do what we say,

Christ give us strength for the living of these days. REFRAIN

Lyrics & Recording used with permission.

SPECIAL MUSIC “He Leadeth Me” arr. Brent Olstad

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.

CLOSING HYMN NO. 710 “We Lift Our Voices” OFFERING

We lift our voices; we lift our hands;

We lift our lives up to you: we are an offering.

Lord, use our voices; Lord, use our hands;

Lord, use our lives; they are yours: we are an offering.

All that we have, all that we are, all that we hope to be,

We give to you, we give to you.

We lift our voices; we lift our hands;

We lift our lives up to you: we are an offering. We are an offering.

BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE “Sunshine In My Soul” arr. Brent Olstad

WORSHIP PARTICIPANTS

Rev. William Schram

Rev. Barbara Piercy

Susan Jones

Jessica Goodson, Flute

Paul Salierno, Cantor

Ray Liptak & Rob Thiemann, Technical Assistance