"It Is Good For Us To Be Here"

 
  • After  the service, feel free to stay on Zoom for Heavenly Perks until 2:00 p.m., where we can see each other and visit just like we did at our Heavenly Perks coffee time (except you provide your own cuppa tea/coffee).
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    to contribute (ACTIVE link: a monetary offering) to first presbyterian church of homewood or you may also contribute by mail to:

    First Presbyterian Church of Homewood
    P.O. BOX 1519
    Homewood IL 60430 

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  • 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
    The day has dawned, the morning star rises in our hearts.
    We witness the glory of Christ!
    God speaks to us in cloud and flame, in mysterious words and dazzling visions.
    We witness the glory of Christ!
    The Lord loves justice and equity, and is exalted over all the people.
    We witness the glory of Christ! Praise the Lord!

    *HYMN 193 ||| Jesus, Take Us to the Mountain ||| Unser Herrscher

    CALL TO CONFESSION
    Standing in the light of Christ, we see the shadows hidden in our hearts. Let us tell the truth about ourselves, trusting in God’s grace, that we might receive mercy and be renewed.

    *PRAYER OF CONFESSION
    Magnificent God, we cannot stand before the glory of your presence. You shine with divine light, and we are overwhelmed by your goodness. Lift us in your mercy, release us from our fear, and fill us with your Spirit, that we might reflect your light and share your love, for the sake of Jesus, our Savior.
    (silent prayer)
    Amen.

    *DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
    Children of God, hear the good news:
    We are forgiven, again and again, by this glorious God.
    What a wonder! Alleluia!

    *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 ||| Exodus 24:12-18
    12The LORD said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.” 13So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. 14To the elders he had said, “Wait here for us, until we come to you again; for Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a dispute may go to them.” 15Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 16The glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. 17Now the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. 18Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.

    SPECIAL MUSIC

    SECOND SCRIPTURE READING ||| Matthew 17:1-9
    1Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 3Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” 6When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” 8And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. 9As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
    The Word of the Lord
    Thanks be to God!

    SERMON ||| "It Is Good For Us To Be Here"  ||| Rev. Matt Lang

    WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

    *HYMN 190 ||| Swiftly Pass the Clouds of Glory ||| Geneva

    *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.

    ORDINATION AND INSTALLATION

    There are varieties of gifts, but it is the same Spirit who gives them.
    There are different ways of serving God, but it is the same Lord who is served.
    God works through each person in a unique way, but it is God’s purpose that is accomplished.
    To each is given a gift of the Spirit to be used for the common good.
    Together we are the body of Christ, and individually members of it.

    Pastor: We are all called into the church of Jesus Christ by baptism, and marked as Christ’s own by the Holy Spirit. This is our common calling, to be disciples and servants of our servant Lord. Within the community of the church, some are called to particular service as trustees. Others are called to service as ruling elders and as teaching elders. Ordination is Christ’s gift to the church, assuring that his ministry continues among us, providing for ministries of stewardship of property, caring and compassion in the world, ordering the governance of the church, and preaching the Word and administering the sacraments.

    Ruling Elder: Earl Anker, Jan Bunker, Phil Dillman and Marge Errant have been elected to serve as Trustees of the church. We wish to recognize the responsibility they have accepted.

    Pastor: Friends, God has given you special gifts for service, and we have chosen you for a special work. By your energy, honesty, and diligence you will demonstrate Christian faith to those you deal with on our behalf.

    QUESTIONS TO TRUSTEE CANDIDATES
    Are you willing to be installed as a Trustee? I am.

    Do you promise to give the property affairs of this congregation your devoted attention, to encourage generosity, and, in all your dealings, work to further our service of Christ in the world? I do.

    Ruling Elder: Representing the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church, the Session of First Presbyterian Church installs to active service those who have been previously ordained as ruling elders Laura Dillman and Paul Gerrish.

    CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES FOR ORDINATION AS A RULING ELDER
    (W-4.4004)
    Pastor: God has called you by the voice of the church to serve Jesus Christ in a special way. You know who we are and what we believe, and you understand the work for which you have been chosen.

    DO YOU TRUST in Jesus Christ, your Savior, acknowledge him Lord of all and Head of the Church, and through him believe in one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? I do.

    DO YOU ACCEPT the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be, by the Holy Spirit, the unique and authoritative witness to Jesus Christ in the Church universal, and God’s word to you? I do.

    DO YOU SINCERELY RECEIVE AND ADOPT the essential tenets of the Reformed faith as expressed in the confessions of our Church as authentic and reliable expositions of what Scripture leads us to believe and do, and will you be instructed and led by those Confessions as you lead the people of God?
    I do and I will.

    WILL YOU FULFILL your ministry in obedience to Jesus Christ, under the authority of Scripture and be continually guided by our confessions? I will.

    WILL YOU BE GOVERNED by our Church’s polity, and will you abide by its discipline? Will you be a friend among your colleagues in ministry, working with them, subject to the ordering of God’s Word and Spirit? I will.

    WILL YOU IN YOUR OWN LIFE WORK to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, love your neighbors, and work for the reconciliation of the world? I will.

    DO YOU PROMISE to further the peace, unity, and purity of the church? I do.

    WILL YOU PRAY FOR AND SEEK TO SERVE the people with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love? I will. 
    WILL YOU BE A FAITHFUL RULING ELDER, watching over the people, providing for their worship, nurture, and service? Will you share in government and discipline, serving in councils of the Church, and in your ministry will you try to show the love and justice of Jesus Christ? I will.

    QUESTIONS OF THE CONGREGATION

    Ruling Elder: DO WE, MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH, accept the persons before us, as ruling elders, or trustees, chosen by God through the voice of this congregation, to lead us in the way of Jesus Christ? We do.

    DO WE AGREE to pray for them, to encourage them, to respect their decisions, and to follow as they guide us, serving Jesus Christ, who alone is Head of the Church? We do.

    PRAYER OF INSTALLATION
    (All ordained ruling elders and teaching elders in the PC(USA) are invited to come forward to pray with our officers-elect.)

    DECLARATION AND CHARGE
    You are now ruling elders and trustees in the Church of Jesus Christ and for this congregation. Be faithful and true in your ministry so that your whole life will bear witness to the crucified and risen Christ. Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Amen.

    THE GREETING

    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 OFFERING
    There is only one Lord and God, from whom all things come and for whom we live. Let us offer our lives to the Lord.

    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
    We give you thanks, Lord Jesus Christ, for the gifts of grace we have received from your hand. May our gifts be used to reflect your light, proclaiming your saving death and resurrection until you come again in glory. Amen.

    WE GO IN GOD’S NAME

    *HYMN 12 ||| Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise ||| St. Denio

    BLESSING & CHARGE
    Beloved children of God, receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, the grace of Jesus Christ, and the blessing of the Lord forever.
    Alleluia!
    As Jesus called the first disciples, so he calls to us this day: Follow me.
    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: Nancy Beaudoin
    Usher: Laura Dillman 
    Web Technicians: Shirley Armistead, Nancy Beaudoin, Phil Dillman, Kathie Hazlett 

    SCRIPTURES IN WORSHIP – Next Sunday we will be reading Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 and Matthew 4:1-11.

    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..

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