John Calvin Presbyterian Church

O brother sun with golden beam, O sister moon with silver gleam, sing praises! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

2 O brother wind with clouds and rain, you nurture gifts of fruit and grain. Alleluia! Alleluia! 

O sister water, flowing clear, make music for your Lord to hear. Sing praises! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

3 O brother fire, so warm and bright, chase off the shadows of the night. Alleluia! Alleluia!

Dear mother earth, who day by day unfolds such blessings on our way, sing praises! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

4 All who for love of God forgive, all who in pain or sorrow grieve, Alleluia! Alleluia! Christ bears your burdens and your fears; so, even in the midst of tears, sing praises! Alleluia!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

5 And you, most gentle sister death, waiting to hush our final breath: Alleluia! Alleluia! Since Christ our light has pierced your gloom, fair is the night that leads us home.

Sing praises! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

6 O sisters, brothers, take your part, and worship God with humble heart. Alleluia! Alleluia! All creatures, bless the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Three in One!

Sing praises! Alleluia!

WORDS OF WELCOME

ANNOUNCEMENTS   

ADORATION

CALL TO WORSHIP Psalm 148

ONE: Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord from the heavens;

    praise him in the heights!

MANY: Praise him, all his angels;

    praise him, all his host!

ONE: Praise him, sun and moon;

    praise him, all you shining stars!

MANY: Praise him, you highest heavens

    and you waters above the heavens!

ONE: Let them praise the name of the Lord,

    for he commanded and they were created.

MANY: He established them forever and ever;

    He fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.

ONE: LET EVERYTHING that breathes praise the Lord.

MANY:Praise the Lord!

                                        

PRAYER OF THE DAY 

Amazing God, in the victory of the resurrection, you make all things new.  Long ago you called your church to selfless, sacrificial, forgiving love.  Give us a spirit of openness that we might discern the new ways you are calling your church today. Through Christ we pray.  Amen.

HYMN [Blue#122][GTG#238] Thine Is the Glory

1 Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son;

endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won.

Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,

kept the folded grave-clothes where thy body lay.

Refrain:

Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son;

endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won.

2 Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb; 

lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom.

Let the church with gladness hymns of triumph sing,

for the Lord now liveth; death hath lost its sting. [Refrain]

3 No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of life!

Life is naught without thee; aid us in our strife.

Make us more than conquerors through thy deathless love;

bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above. [Refrain]  

     

REPENTANCE

CALL TO CONFESSION                                                                  

SILENT CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Holy God, you call us to love each other as you loved us.  But we don’t.  We crab about little things that don’t really matter, and we just don’t listen to those with whom we disagree on things that do matter. We don’t forgive our sisters and brothers, yet we expect to be forgiven immediately.  Please forgive us.  Remind us that You are always near, remind us of your sacrificial love.  Teach us to live in that love.  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

1st SCRIPTURE Revelation 21:1-6

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. 

2nd  SCRIPTURE     John 13:31-35

When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” 

                                

ONE: The Word of the Lord

MANY: Thanks be to God

SERMON  “A New Law”  Rev. Jan Condren

 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 

DOXOLOGY [GTG#609]

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

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

HYMN [Blue #376][GTG#366] Love Divine, All Loves Excelling 

1 Love divine, all loves excelling, Joy of heaven, to earth come down, fix in us thy humble dwelling;

all thy faithful mercies crown.

Jesus, thou art all compassion; 

pure, unbounded love thou art;

visit us with thy salvation; enter every trembling heart.

2 Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit into every troubled breast; let us all in thee inherit;

let us find the promised rest.

Take away the love of sinning; Alpha and Omega be;

end of faith, as its beginning, set our hearts at liberty.

3 Come, Almighty, to deliver; let us all thy life receive;

suddenly return, and never, nevermore thy temples leave.

Thee we would be always blessing, serve thee as thy hosts above, pray, and praise thee without ceasing,

glory in thy perfect love.

4 Finish then thy new creation; pure and spotless let us be;

let us see thy great salvation perfectly restored in thee:

changed from glory into glory, 

till in heaven we take our place,

till we cast our crowns before thee, 

lost in wonder, love, and praise.

PARTING PRAYER   

 God of love, as we leave this place, show us how to love each other, so that our lives bring glory to you.  Show us how to love each other that the world might see it and know that we are your disciples. Show us how to glorify you in all that we do, and give us strength and courage to do it. Through Christ we pray.  Amen.

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

RESPONSE [Blue#108][GTG#246] Christ is Alive

 5 Christ is alive, and comes to bring good news to this and every age, till earth and sky and ocean ring

with joy, with justice, love, and praise.

POSTLUDE                                   

*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