Service of the Lord's Day | June 21, 2020

CALL TO WORSHIP

Read Psalm 86:1-5 loud enough for your neighbor to hear or listen to it read.

Lord, listen closely to me and answer me,
    because I am poor and in need.
 Guard my life because I am faithful.
    Save your servant who trusts in you—you! My God!
 Have mercy on me, Lord,
    because I cry out to you all day long.
 Make your servant’s life happy again
    because, my Lord, I offer my life to you,
     because, my Lord, you are good and forgiving,
    full of faithful love for all those who cry out to you.

opening hymn

Prayer of Confession

Let us offer our life to our Lord Jesus Christ who is good and forgiving by offering this prayer aloud.

Merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you
with our whole heart and mind and strength.

We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
In your mercy forgive what we have been,
help us amend what we are,
and direct what we shall be,
so that we may delight in your will
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your holy name.

We are forgiven in Jesus Christ. Sing along with this assurance of forgiveness.

We are forgiven. We are forgiven. Thanks be to God. Thanks be to God.
We are forgiven. We are forgiven. Thanks be to God. Thanks be to God.

Minute for mission

Learn more about the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program at this link.

THE WORD

This is the third Sunday in our summer series on favorite passages of scripture submitted by people from throughout the congregation. The most and second most submitted passages were Philippians 4:6 and Philippians 4:13.

Philippians 4:4-13

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned for me, but had no opportunity to show it. Not that I am referring to being in need; for I have learned to be content with whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Duet

Julie Ramsey and Lara Moon sing “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.”

Affirmation of Faith

For our affirmation of faith, please take a moment to read the Rev. Dr. Martin Liuther King’s Letter from the Birmingham Jail sometime this week. Call someone and discuss it with them.

The letter can be found by clicking this photo of the letter:

Welcome & Prayers of the People

Join us at 10:30 a.m. for a a time of gathering. This will include a brief commentary on Philippians 4, prayer requests, and fellowship.

Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/3577569746

Call-in: (312) 626-6799 and use meeting ID 357 756 9746.

Circle time

Lisa shares a reflection for the whole family.

Benediction

And now as members of Christ’s church: Be of good courage. Hold fast to that which is good. Render no one evil for evil. Strengthen the fainthearted. Support the weak. Heal the afflicted. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit. Amen.

Postlude & Offering

Contributions to the ministry of First Presbyterian Church may be made online by clicking the button below or mailed to First Presbyterian Church, 2910 Central Ave., Middletown, OH 45044.

CCLI License #768739

Service of the Lord's Day | June 14, 2020

CALL TO WORSHIP

Our call to worship is from Psalm 19:1-4. 14. Read it loud enough for your neighbor to hear or listen to it read.

Heaven is declaring God’s glory;
    the sky is proclaiming his handiwork.
One day gushes the news to the next,
    and one night informs another what needs to be known.
Of course, there’s no speech, no words—
        their voices can’t be heard—
     but their sound extends throughout the world;
        their words reach the ends of the earth.

Let the words of my mouth
    and the meditations of my heart
    be pleasing to you,
    Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

opening hymn

Prayer of Confession

Honor a moment of silence recognizing the ways you are separated from God and neighbor.

We are forgiven in Jesus Christ. Sing along with this assurance of forgiveness.

We are forgiven. We are forgiven. Thanks be to God. Thanks be to God.
We are forgiven. We are forgiven. Thanks be to God. Thanks be to God.

Circle time

Lisa shares a reflection for the whole family.

THE WORD

This is the second Sunday in our summer series on favorite passages of scripture submitted by people from throughout the congregation.

ECCLESIASTES 3:1-8

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

Solo

Tara Downie sings “The Painter’s Hand.”

Affirmation of Faith

Our affirmation of faith today is 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.

Welcome & Prayers of the People

Join us at 10:30 a.m. for a a time of gathering. This will include a brief commentary on Ecclesiastes 3, prayer requests, and fellowship.

Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/3577569746

Call-in: (312) 626-6799 and use meeting ID 357 756 9746.

Benediction

And now as members of Christ’s church: Be of good courage. Hold fast to that which is good. Render no one evil for evil. Strengthen the fainthearted. Support the weak. Heal the afflicted. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit. Amen.

Postlude & Offering

Contributions to the ministry of First Presbyterian Church may be made online by clicking the button below or mailed to First Presbyterian Church, 2910 Central Ave., Middletown, OH 45044.

CCLI License #768739

Trinity Sunday | June 7, 2020

CALL TO WORSHIP

Our call to worship today comes from Psalm 8. Read it aloud or listen to it read.

O LORD, our Sovereign,

          how majestic is your name in all the earth!

     You have set your glory above the heavens.
        Out of the mouths of babes and infants
     you have founded a bulwark because of your foes,
          to silence the enemy and the avenger.

   When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
          the moon and the stars that you have established;
   what are human beings that you are mindful of them,
          mortals that you care for them?

   Yet you have made them a little lower than God,
          and crowned them with glory and honor.
   You have given them dominion over the works of your hands;
          you have put all things under their feet,
   all sheep and oxen,
          and also the beasts of the field,
   the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea,
          whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

   O LORD, our Sovereign,
          how majestic is your name in all the earth!

OPENING HYMN

Our opening hymn today is “How Great Thou Art.”

Please sing along. The words are posted in the video.

Prayer of Confession

Place your hands palm up on your lap. Offer this prayer aloud followed with silence.

God of grace, love, and communion, we confess that we have failed to love you with all our heart, soul, and mind; and to love our neighbor as ourselves. We ignore your commandments,
stray from your way, and follow other gods. Have mercy on us. Forgive our sin and raise us to new life that we may serve you faithfully and give honor to your holy name.

We are forgiven in Jesus Christ. Sing along with this assurance of forgiveness.

We are forgiven. We are forgiven. Thanks be to God. Thanks be to God.
We are forgiven. We are forgiven. Thanks be to God. Thanks be to God.

Circle time

Lisa offers a message for the whole family.

THE WORD

You are invited to close your eyes and listen to the scripture passage or read along with the audio file. You may also read the passage aloud yourself.

John 3:1-21

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.’

Affirmation of Faith

The Confession of Belhar was written in context of apartheid in South Africa. You are invited to recite a selection of the Confession of Belhar. Please consider reading the confession in its entirety at this link.

We believe that God has entrusted the church with the message of reconciliation in and through Jesus Christ; that the church is called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, that the church is called blessed because it is a peacemaker, that the church is witness both by word and by deed to the new heaven and the new earth in which righteousness dwells; that God’s life-giving Word and Spirit has conquered the powers of sin and death, and therefore also of irreconciliation and hatred, bitterness and enmity, that God’s life-giving Word and Spirit will enable the church to live in a new obedience which can open new possibilities of life for society and the world.

Song of preparation

Joyce and Janet play “His Eye Is On the Sparrow.” Use the music as a time of prayer and reflection to prepare for communion.

The Lord’s Supper

Please join us for the Lord’s Supper at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 3, by Zoom. Please provide your own bread and cup.

Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/3577569746

Call-in: (312) 626-6799 and use meeting ID 357 756 9746.

If there are technical difficulties on Sunday morning, this link can be used as a backup from 10:30 until 10:45. Please click here for the backup video.

Charge & Benediction

To be reconciled to God is to be sent into the world as God’s reconciling community. We are entrusted with God’s message of reconciliation, sharing the labor of healing enmities that separate people from God and from each other. Christ has called us to this mission and given us the gift of the Holy Spirit. And, now, may the love of God, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit be with you all, now and forever. Amen.

Offering

Contributions to the ministry of First Presbyterian Church may be made online by clicking the button below or mailed to First Presbyterian Church, 2910 Central Ave., Middletown, OH 45044.

Postlude

Our postlude today is from Audrey Schmid.

CCLI License #768739

Pentecost | May 31, 2020

“Pentecost” comes from a Greek word meaning fiftieth day. On this day, the Holy Spirit came with wind and flame, empowering the disciples to proclaim the good news of the Risen Lord to all people. Falling on the fiftieth day of the season of Easter, Pentecost represents the culmination of the church’s seven-week celebration of Christ’s resurrection. As the Lord’s Day is sometimes called the “eight day” of creation, Pentecost is a day of new creation—all things transformed and made new by the Word and Breath of the living God. On the Day of Pentecost we give particular thanks for the gift of God’s Holy Spirit, who gathers the church as the body of Christ and sends us to share in Christ’s mission throughout the world.

CALL TO WORSHIP

The congregation is invited to join Riley in the refrain, “We give thanks…”

opening hymn

Prayer of Confession

Offer this prayer aloud.

Almighty God, we confess that we hold back the force of your Spirit among us. We do not listen for your word of grace, speak the good news of your love, or live as people made one in Christ. Transform our timid lives by the power of your Spirit, and fill us with a flaming desire to be your faithful people.Through Christ, God has poured out the Holy Spirit upon us for the forgiveness of sins. In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!

Sung: We are forgiven. We are forgiven. Thanks be to God. Thanks be to God.
We are forgiven. We are forgiven. Thanks be to God. Thanks be to God.

THE WORD

Acts 2:1-11

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes Cretans and Arabs — in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
  ‘In the last days it will be,God declares,
     that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
          and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
     and your young men shall see visions,
          and your old men shall dream dreams.
  Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
          in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
               and they shall prophesy.
  And I will show portents in the heaven above
          and signs on the earth below,
               blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
  The sun shall be turned to darkness
          and the moon to blood,
               before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
  Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’”

Duet

Tony and Mick Susco sing “Every Time I Feel the Spirit.”

Affirmation of Faith

Today’s affirmation of faith was prepared for our bicentennial service last year on Pentecost.

We believe that the same Spirit that filled Peter and the apostles on Pentecost nearly 2000 years ago, filled Ezekiel Ball, Moses Karr, and many other women and men of Middletown in 1819. The same Spirit fills us today. We believe that we do not exist on our own efforts, but simply by the grace of God. The church is to be a community of faith, entrusting itself to God alone, even at the risk of losing its life. We believe that God has placed us in Middletown to point beyond ourselves to the word and work of God’s redeeming love. Never working alone, we are in a community of saints that transcends time and space. We are formed as Christ’s risen body in the world. Through the Holy Spirit, we are clothed with power for ministry, even when the work feels bewildering. We worship God alone. We belong to God alone. We serve God alone.

Welcome & Prayers of the People

SENDING

Lisa sends us with a story for the whole family.

Benediction

Now go into God’s world filled with the spark of the Holy Spirit. Let love guide your actions. Listen for the Spirit of Truth. Spread the peace of Christ. And may the love of God, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit be with you all, now and forever. Amen.

Postlude

Joyce played some Spirit-filled music for on the carillon bells at 10:30, and the congregation was invited to the church parking lot to listen. Here is the video that was livestreamed to Facebook.

Offering

Contributions to the ministry of First Presbyterian Church may be made online by clicking the button below or mailed to First Presbyterian Church, 2910 Central Ave., Middletown, OH 45044.

CCLI License #768739

Ascension | May 24, 2020

Forty days after celebrating the Resurrection of the Lord, near the conclusion of the season of Easter, we commemorate the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ into heaven. On this day, we give thanks for Christ’s. sovereign rule over all creation, as well as his priestly for us at the throne of God’s mercy. We proclaim with joy that Jesus is already Lord of heaven and earth and head of the Church, and watch with longing for the day when he will come again in the glory of God’s new creation.

CALL TO WORSHIP

During our call to worship, each speaker will say, “Lift up your hearts.” Respond with Michael by saying, “We lift them to the Lord.”

opening hymn

Prayer of Confession

Offer this prayer aloud.

Almighty God, you have raised Jesus from death to life and crowned him Lord of all. We confess that we have not bowed before him, or acknowledged his rule in our lives. We have failed to give Christ all glory and honor.

After a moment of silence, offer this sung confession:

Lord have mercy upon us. Christ have mercy upon us. Lord have mercy upon us.

We pray knowing that you, the God of all grace, call us to eternal glory in Jesus Christ. You restore, support, and strengthen us. In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven! Amen.

Circle Time

Lisa tells the Ascension story for the whole family to hear.

THE WORD

Acts 1:1-11

Theophilus, the first scroll I wrote concerned everything Jesus did and taught from the beginning, right up to the day when he was taken up into heaven. Before he was taken up, working in the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus instructed the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he showed them that he was alive with many convincing proofs. He appeared to them over a period of forty days, speaking to them about God’s kingdom. While they were eating together, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for what the Father had promised. He said, “This is what you heard from me: John baptized with water, but in only a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

As a result, those who had gathered together asked Jesus, “Lord, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now?”Jesus replied, “It isn’t for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has set by his own authority. Rather, you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” After Jesus said these things, as they were watching, he was lifted up and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going away and as they were staring toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood next to them. They said, “Galileans, why are you standing here, looking toward heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you saw him go into heaven.”

Solo

Lara Moons sings “Only Trust Him.” Some of the lyrics are shared in the song for your reflection.

Affirmation of Faith

We affirm our faith today using 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.

Welcome & Prayers of the People

SENDING & Minute for Mission

We end our service being sent by our friends in the Transylvania Presbytery, the presbytery made up of congregations and ministers in the Lexington area. They remind us of the importance to love our neighbors. One way to do that is, for those who are able, to wear masks in public. If you would like to make masks for the hospital, medical offices and hospice visitors within the Atrium Hospital service area, read more at this link: https://www.fpcmiddletown.com/news/masks

Benediction

And now as members of Christ’s church: Be of good courage. Hold fast to that which is good. Render no one evil for evil. Strengthen the fainthearted. Support the weak. Heal the afflicted. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit. Amen.

Postlude & Offering

Contributions to the ministry of First Presbyterian Church may be made online by clicking the button below or mailed to First Presbyterian Church, 2910 Central Ave., Middletown, OH 45044.

CCLI License #768739