"The Lord Added"

WE GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF HOMEWOOD
MISSION STATEMENT

Through the grace of God, faith in Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit, we prayerfully seek to discern God’s will for this congregation and to reach beyond ourselves to feed the hungry, body and soul. Adopted by Session 7/31/17

PRAYER FOR PEACE

Peace Prayer of Saint Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

PRELUDE

*CALL TO CONTINUING WORSHIP
We come to worship the risen Christ.
Praise to Christ, the good shepherd!
Alleluia, praise to Christ, the gate!
Alleluia, praise to Christ, the lamb!
Alleluia, praise to Christ, our savior!
Christ is risen still! Alleluia!

*HYMN 321 ||| The Church's One Foundation ||| Aurelia

CALL TO CONFESSION
Christ is the good shepherd, who leads us to safety and peace no matter what we have done. Christ’s voice calls us to repent and return; let us heed that voice and go to God in prayer.

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of community, you call us to a world radically different from what we are used to. You ask us to lay aside our ideas of “mine” and “yours.” You show us a life where goods are shared, where all are loved, and faithfulness is shown through generosity. But we cling to our possessions, trusting them more than we trust you. Forgive us, merciful God. Help us to truly believe in your just and peaceful realm and to work to make it so.
(silent prayer)
Amen.

*DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
Christ himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds we have been healed. For we were going astray like sheep, but now we have returned to the shepherd and guardian of our souls.
Thanks be to God!

*THE GLORIA 581

MOMENT WITH OUR CHILDREN ||| Rev. Matt Lang

WELCOME AND CHURCH COMMUNICATIONS
 
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

FIRST SCRIPTURE READING ||| Acts 2:42-47
42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

SPECIAL MUSIC

SECOND SCRIPTURE READING ||| John 10:1-10
1“Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 2The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God!

SERMON ||| "The Lord Added" ||| Rev. Matt Lang

WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

*HYMN 803 ||| My Shepherd Will Supply My Need ||| Resignation

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH ||| The Brief Statement of Faith 1983
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.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE 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.

OFFERING OF OUR GIFTS
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
As God gave us Christ, the first fruit of creation, let us humbly offer the substance of our lives in thanksgiving to our God.

OFFERTORY

*DOXOLOGY 606 ||| 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. Amen.

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Thank you, O God, for giving us this celebration with our risen and glorious Lord. Now send us out to be a sign of the new life that has come into the world; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

WE GO IN GOD’S NAME

*HYMN ||| They'll Know That We Are Christians by Our Love ||| St. Brendnan’s ||| (Sing the Faith #2223)

CHARGE & BLESSING
May the love of the holy triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—abide with you forever.
Alleluia!

Now go forth in Jesus’ name, remembering his new commandment to love one another, just as he has loved us.
Amen.

POSTLUDE

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord! Thanks be to God!

Rev. Matt Lang, Pastor
Mrs. Mary Ann Wenzelman, Interim Organist/Pianist

Worship Liturgist: Eleanor Steiner
Usher: Laura Dillman
Web Techs: Shirley Armistead, Nancy Beaudoin, Phil Dillman. Kathie Hazlett

CHRIST IS RISEN – HE IS RISEN INDEED! We greet those who are visiting with us today in the name of our risen Savior. We are gathered as a community of Christians. Our center is Jesus Christ. We are here to know again the touch of his forgiving and healing hand.

SCRIPTURES IN WORSHIP – Next Sunday we will be reading Acts 7:55-60 and John 14:1-14.

PRAYER CHAIN – If you want prayer requests included on the prayer chain, contact Shirley Armistead at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..