"Who Is This?"
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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
Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone’s face? Did I offer words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love? These are the real questions. I must trust that the little bit of love that I sow now will bear many fruits, here in this world and the life to come. ~Henri Nouwen
PRELUDE
*CALL TO CONTINUING WORSHIP
With crowds from ancient times we cry,
Hosanna! Save us!
O give thanks to the Lord, for God is good!
God’s steadfast love endures forever.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
We bless you in the house of the Lord!
*HYMN 196 ||| All Glory, Laud, and Honor ||| Valet Will Ich Dir Geben
CALL TO CONFESSION
Christ comes to the center of our busy, conflicted lives. He comes in triumph and humility. He comes in glory and in mercy. He comes knowing the best of who we are, and he comes knowing our worst. Trusting in God’s grace, let us make our confession.
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Christ our Redeemer, try as we might, we do not follow your example. We do not empty ourselves, we do not humble ourselves, we are not obedient. You simply ask us to care about this world you created, but we fail to do even that. Forgive us. You have given us the greatest, clearest example of love. Heal us, and help us to follow.
(silent prayer)
Amen.
*DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
Even in the face of hatred and violence, we know that Christ loves us. Even when enduring death, Christ cares for us; Christ forgives us.
Thanks be to the God of mercy.
*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 ||| Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
1O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever! 2Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” 19Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD. 20This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it. 21I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. 22The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. 23This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. 24This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 25Save us, we beseech you, O LORD! O LORD, we beseech you, give us success! 26Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the
LORD. We bless you from the house of the LORD. 27The LORD is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar. 28You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God, I will extol you. 29O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
SPECIAL MUSIC
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING Matthew ||| 21:1-11
1When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. 3If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.” 4This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, 5“Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a
colt, the foal of a donkey.” 6The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; 7they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. 8A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” 10When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who is this?” 11The crowds were saying, “This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God!
SERMON ||| "Who Is This?" ||| Rev. Matt Lang
WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD
*HYMN 199 ||| Filled with Excitement ||| Hosanna
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH ||| The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy
Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
OFFERING OF OUR GIFTS
INVITATION TO OFFERING
Jesus says: Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 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
Thank you, gracious God, for giving us bread for the journey of these
forty days. As we travel on through the wilderness, help us to share
your gifts with others and draw us ever closer to you; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
SEALING OF THE WORD
INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE ||| GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
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.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
SHARING OF THE MEAL
All who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord, regardless of age or denomination, are invited to partake in the Sacrament of Communion. Please come forward down the side aisle. Take a piece of the bread and a cup and eat. Please dispose of the cups in the waste baskets by the table. We have gluten free bread available. Return to your seat by the center aisle.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
We give you thanks, Holy One, for the body and blood of our Lord, given with love for the world. Send us out in your Spirit to share the good news of salvation and give ourselves for others; in the name of Christ our Savior. Amen.
WE GO IN GOD’S NAME
*HYMN 197 ||| Hosanna, Loud Hosanna ||| Ellacombe
BLESSING andCHARGE
Put away the past. God is about to do a new thing! God makes a way where there is no way! God carves a path through the wilderness and sends angels to guard and guide us. Having been reconciled to God, we are now agents of God’s righteousness and ambassadors for Christ. Live boldly, for Christ welcomes sinners and makes all things new.
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: Lee Hilario
Usher: Phil Dillman
Web Techs: Shirley Armistead, Nancy Beaudoin, Phil Dillman, Kathie Hazlett
Sunday, April 2nd – Palm/Passion Sunday
Join us for worship here at FPCHW at 11:00 a.m. as palm branches wave, celebrating Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Communion will be
served.
Thursday, April 6th – Maundy Thursday
The Maundy Thursday service will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Chicago Heights (900 Thomas Street, Chicago Heights, IL) at 7:00 p.m. Friday, April 7 th – Good Friday
All are welcome to drop in for a “quiet prayer” with Pastor Matt from 12:00-
3:00 p.m. in the Chapel at First Presbyterian Church of Homewood as we
meditate upon the Passion of Jesus Christ.
Sunday, April 9 th – Resurrection of the Lord/Easter Day
The combined service of FPCHW and Calvary will be held at Calvary United
Protestant Church (425 N. Orchard Drive, Park Forest, IL) at 10:00 a.m.
Worship with us this morning as we celebrate God’s ultimate victory over
death. Communion will be served. This Sunday we will receive the One Great
Hour of Sharing offering. Virtual service can be viewed on Zoom
at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83888248361 or on Facebook at Calvary United
Protestant Church.
WELCOME – During this Lenten season, we praise God for his righteous Son, who perfectly kept all of God’s commandments for us and paid the full price of our disobedience. Let us praise him with hearts filled with Christ’s spirit of obedience.
SCRIPTURES IN WORSHIP – Next Sunday we will be reading Acts 10:34-43
and Matthew 28:1-10.
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..