John Calvin Presbyterian Church

INTROIT “Michael, Row the Boat Ashore”

CALL TO WORSHIP     -from Psalm 29

ONE: Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings: ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

MANY: Ascribe to the Lord the glory of God’s name; worship the Lord in holy splendor.

ONE: The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

MANY: May the Lord give strength to God’s people!   May the Lord bless the people with peace.

ONE: Let us worship God!               

PRAYER OF THE DAY 

Holy God, remind us of the promises given in our own baptism and renew our trust in you. Make us strong to obey your will and to serve you with joy; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

HYMN[Blue#482][GTG#35] “Praise Ye The Lord, The Almighty” 

REPENTANCE

*CALL TO CONFESSION                                                                  

 PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Almighty and most merciful Father we have erred and strayed from Your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts.

We have offended against Your holy laws.

We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and there is no health in us.

O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders.

Spare those, O God, who confess their faults.

Restore those who are penitent; according to Your promises declared unto mankind Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O merciful Father, for His sake; that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life; to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

A Time for Silent Confession/Assurance of Forgiveness

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

ONE: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

MANY: Amen.                  

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

RESPONSE  [Blue#586]  “Amen”

Old Testament Reading Deuteronomy 7:6-7

New Testament Reading 1 Peter 2: 9-16       

Scriptures to be read in English first then Cantonese by Theobald Wan from Chinese Presbyterian Church                                

ONE: The Word of the Lord

MANY: Thanks be to God   

HYMN[GTG#840] “It Is Well”

SERMON  “Called Back From the Darkness”  Elder Robert Lowry

 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  “My Lord, What a Morning”

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 

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE 

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.

RESPONSE “Hear Our Prayer O Lord”

HYMN[BLUE#316][GTG#286] “Breathe on Me Breath of God”

PARTING PRAYER    

God our Creator,

you have called us out of darkness into your marvelous light and made us your own people. Grant us grace to proclaim your mercy, to live honorably and faithfully, and to use our freedom not for selfish gain but in humble service to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

RESPONSE [GTG#401]  “Here in This Place” 

4th verse only

POSTLUDE  “Jesus Is the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me”

*Liturgical material taken from the “Weekly Liturgy” of the Presbyterian Outlook. ©Presbyterian Outlook, 2026.

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