"Ask Me For Anything"

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
We come together as the church;
not a building of wood or stone, but a spiritual house.
We will be the living stones that shout praise even when others are silent.
God redeems us, joins us together, and builds us up.

*HYMN 645 ||| Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above ||| Mit Freuden Zart 
CALL TO CONFESSION
Jesus taught us mercy by praying for the forgiveness of those who killed him. This miraculous grace assures us that no matter what we have done, no matter the words we have left unsaid, we can come to Christ with our honest confession.

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Christ, our way, our truth, our life, you have shown us the way, so clearly and fully. You have not simply told us how to live, you have shown us. But we still don’t get it. We do not believe all you have said to us; we do not trust the way you have shown us. Help us, O God. Forgive us. Open our ears to your truth, open our eyes to your way, and lead us into new life.
(silent prayer)
Amen.

*DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
Beloved, believe the good news. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Jesus prepares a place for us, Jesus brings us close to him, Jesus answers us even in our unbelief. We are God’s own people.
Thanks be to God. 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 ||| Acts 7:55-60
55But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56“Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 57But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. 58Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died.

SPECIAL MUSIC

SECOND SCRIPTURE READING ||| John 14:1-14
1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4And you know the way to the place where I am going.” 5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 8Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” 9Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. 12Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.”
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God!

SERMON ||| "Ask Me For Anything" ||| Rev. Matt Lang

WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

*HYMN 819 ||| Be Still, My Soul ||| Finlandia

*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 THE OFFERING
As God gave us Christ, the firstfruit 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.

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
At your table, Giving God, we have been fed; our thirsty spirits have been quenched. We give you thanks for this taste of your kingdom meal when wolf and lamb will feed together and peace will reign on your holy mountain; in Jesus’ name. Amen.

WE GO IN GOD’S NAME

*HYMN 463 ||| How Firm a Foundation ||| Foundation

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: Rod Dunlap
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 17:22-31 and John 14:15-21.

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..