John Calvin Presbyterian Church

wait the coming of the Spirit into open minds and hearts. 

WORDS OF WELCOME

ANNOUNCEMENTS          

ADORATION

INTROIT “Make a Joyful Noise Unto the Lord” 

CALL TO WORSHIP 2 Thess. 2:15-17

ONE: Stand firm and hold fast to your faith.

MANY: God will strengthen us in word and deed

                                        

PRAYER OF THE DAY 

O God, your blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of evil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life. Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

REPENTANCE

CALL TO CONFESSION                                                                  

SILENT CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Gracious God, 

we confess that we are too easily influenced by peddlers of despair and alarm, too quick to sink into numbness and apathy, too tired to imagine another way. Our hopes have crumbled, and our hearts are faint. Breathe new life into us, we pray. Help us to be mindful of your promises, your faithfulness, and your presence as we face the challenges of our lives. Restore our vision and give us courage to live in your truth. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON                     

GLORIA PATRI [Blue#579[ [GTG581]     

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning,

is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.

THE WORD READ AND PROCLAIMED

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION

CONGREGATIONAL ANTHEM  [Blue#586] [GTG#601] “Amen”

1st SCRIPTURE 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

2nd  SCRIPTURE Luke 20:27-38       

                                

ONE: The Word of the Lord

MANY: Thanks be to God

HYMN [Blue#][GTG#250] “In the Bulb There Is a Flower” (Hymn of Promise)

1 In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree;

in cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free!

In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be,

unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

2 There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody;

there’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me.

From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery,

unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

3 In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity;

in our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity.

In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory,

unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

SERMON   “Challenging the Hypothec.” Rev. Martha J. Robson

 RESPONSE     

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Apostle’s 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.

RECEIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY    “The Prayer” with Cindy Freudenthal on flute and Randy Martono-Chai on piano

DOXOLOGY [GTG#606]

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Praise God, all creatures here below;

Praise God above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen

PRAYER OF DEDICATION

THE SACRAMENT OF THE HOLY COMMUNION

THE GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

ONE: The Lord be with you.

MANY: And also with you.

ONE: Lift up your hearts.

MANY: We lift them to the Lord.

ONE: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

MANY: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

ONE: …Therefore with all creation we sing your praise:

MANY: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

ONE: … Great is the mystery of faith:

MANY: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again…

HYMN “Hear Our Prayer O Lord”

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

ONE: … The gifts of God for the people of God.

MANY: Thanks be to God.

COMMUNION HYMN: “In Remembrance of Me” with Sandy Cranfill on vocals and Randy Martono-Chai on piano.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

HYMN “Sing the Wondrous Love of Jesus” (When We All Get to Heaven) *see insert

The author of this hymn, Eliza Edmunds Hewitt, was a teacher who developed a spinal malady that left her an invalid. She began writing poetry for the use of her church, Calvin Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia.  Many of these were set to music, and today she is credited with over 2000 hymns in around 350 hymnals in six different languages. In 2020, Calvin Presbyterian joined with two other historically Black Presbyterian churches to form New River Church.  Their website states: “Inspired by the legacies of faith which have shaped us, New River looks forward to a future of imaginative, innovative ministry for such a time as this.” www.newriverphilly.org 

PARTING PRAYER  

God of the living, 

Strengthen our hearts and comfort us in every good word and deed. Grant us faith to trust You and awaken our spirits to true freedom in the power of Your resurrection. As we live in this world, may we hold fast to the hope that in You all are made alive through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

RESPONSE [Blue#][GTG#80] “You Shall Go Out 

with Joy” (The Trees of the Field)

You shall go out with joy  and be led forth with peace;

 the mountains and the hills  will break forth before you;

There’ll be shouts of joy,  and all the trees of the field

 will clap, will clap their hands.

And all the trees of the field will clap their hands;

 the trees of the field will clap their hands

The trees of the field will clap their hands while you go out with joy.

POSTLUDE   “Nearer, My God to Thee”                   

*Note: the hymn lyrics in the bulletin and on the projection screen are from the Glory To God Hymnal (© 2013 Westminster John Knox Press), which we are transitioning to. Words in the “Blue” Presbyterian Hymnal (© 1990) in your pew may differ slightly. The Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by Permission. All Rights Reserved.

STAFF