First Presbyterian Church

Silver City, NM

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Sermons, Studies & Resources

"Lord, Make My Life a Miracle" Sermon Series Resources

Articles

Our Presbytery's Mission   Compiled by Sherrie Lavelle

Mission Partners

Presbytery de Cristo
www.presbyterydecristo.org 
Presbyterian Church (USA)
www.pcusa.org
Montlure Presbyterian Church Camp
www.montlure.org
Frontera de Cristo
www.fronteradecristo.org 
Companeros en Mision, which along with Frontera de Cristo is a part of the larger Presbyterian Border Ministry
www.binationalministry.org/sites
/companeros_en_mision/index.cfm

Habitat for Humanity, Gila Region
lego.zianet.com/habitatsc

Encoragement and Growth

Lectionary Scripture Readings
www.pcusa.org/lectionary
Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study
www.pcusa.org/missionyearbook
Bible Gateway
www.Biblegateway.com
A Wonderful Site for Guided Simple Prayer
www.biblestudytools.com
Christianity Today Magazine
www.christianitytoday.com
Sojourners Magazine
www.sojo.net

Our Pastor, The Reverend Bob Reese

Welcome! And thanks for visiting our site!

 

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

 

I was recently privileged and challenged with the opportunity to lead the Invocation and Benediction at Western New Mexico University’s Spring Commencement.  I say privileged because it was an opportunity to lead 1,000 people in prayerful reflection on and thanks for the recent years of their lives, culminating in this accomplishment.  I call it a challenge because it was a call to lead 1,000 different people with different convictions, experiences and roles in a shared experience. 

 

I wrestled, first, to be faithful to God and second, to be sensitive to the presence of many who may think about God in ways that differ from my own ways of doing so.  I continue to pray that such care may actually open the door for more and deeper conversations between our congregation and members of the community. 

 

I offer them here for your own reflection:   May it give you an opportunity to give thanks for those who have encouraged and inspired you, to continue to offer to God your own accomplishments, and to seek God’s face for how you will continue to live in God’s strength.

 

May you know the presence of the One whose ways are higher than our ways,

Pastor Bob

 

INVOCATION

 

                                               

Maker of heaven and earth,

      how majestic is your name in all the earth.

You have spangled the sky with your glory,

      filled the earth with beauty,

and part of the way you continue your creative work in us

      ... is through us, through one another.

 

You use family and friends, abuelas y primos, teachers and students;

      staff and administrators, the governed and those who govern;

            debate and decision, justice and by your grace; mercy.

 

We pause to ask you:

      Add your blessing to the life-giving gifts delivered by each of these.

            Transform our halting and faulted efforts.

      Be a redemptive presence

            in the sometimes grinding stones of our differences,

      Be a sustaining presence

            amid the soothing rains of shared discovery.

 

And bless, perfect and guide this sea of students.

      Okay, nearly 300 graduates is not quite a “sea,”

            but they go from here equipped

                  to make a sea change of difference in this world.

      Give them some perspective

            on how life changing an education can be,

            and how cherished a gift it is seen to be the world over,

                  especially by those who do not have it.

 

Good shepherd,

      you who see our circumstances before we know them ourselves,

            hear our call and guide our steps.

 

Anchor in our minds the discoveries written in term papers.

      Do not let evaporate the facts learned for finals.

And most of all, weave the experience

      of this knowledge and these years into wisdom

            for living well and faithfully and for the common good.  Amen.

 

 

BENEDICTION

                       

You've worked hard

      and you've made them (the faculty, staff, administrators) work hard

      and you've made them (your families) work hard

            – and they'll let you know about it later on.

 

But now, as you go from here,

      work in the strength of the One who loves you

            as if you were the only person on the face of the earth,

      and who loves all the other people on the planet

            – those you'll work with and play with,

                  study with and live along side of

                        – in just the same way.

 

Go in God's peace.  Amen.

1915 North Swan Street
Silver City, NM 88061
(575) 538-3513 
firstpresch@zianet.com
www.zianet.com/firstpresch
           

Summer Sunday Worship Schedule

Every Sunday                                    

10:30 a.m.             Worship Followed by
                                Refreshments

10:45 a.m.            Conversations Class

Worship
Small Group Opportunities
Various Small Group Studies
Choir
Fun ‘N Squares