First Presbyterian Church

Las Cruces, New Mexico

13^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

June 29, 2008 – 10:30 A.M.

 GATHERING MUSIC     “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”            Eugene Butler 

                                            Fantasia on “Old Hundredth”     Roger C. Wilson (1912-1988)

                                              “My Country ‘tis of Thee”                          

Bells of Praise (Special Ensemble)

(Following the organ interlude, the congregation is invited to sing vs. 1 & 4

My Country, ‘tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty,

Of thee I sing; Land where my fathers died, land of the

Pilgrims’ pride, From every mountain side Let freedom ring.

Our fathers’ God, to Thee, Author of liberty,

To Thee we sing; Long may our land be bright With freedom’s

Holy light; Protect us by Thy might, Great God, our King.

WELCOME, GREETINGS & ANNOUNCEMENTS Please sign the friendship pads at this time

 THE PRELUDE                    “I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord”             Aaron Williams, 1763                   

 MEDITATION IN PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP

Remember the long way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, in order to humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commandments.  He humbled you by letting you hunger, then by feeding you with manna, with which neither you nor your ancestors were acquainted, in order to make you understand that one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.        (Deuteronomy 8:2-3 NRSV) 

ASSEMBLE IN GOD’S NAME

 *CALL TO WORSHIP  (Psalm 26)                                                        Beverly Briggs

Leader:    Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.  Prove me, O LORD, and try me; test my heart and mind.

People:    For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in faithfulness to you.

Leader:    O LORD, I love the house in which you dwell, and the place where your glory abides.

People:   I wash my hands in innocence, and go around your altar, O LORD, singing aloud a song of thanksgiving, and telling all your wondrous deeds.

 *PRAYER OF ADORATION AND THE LORDS’ PRAYER (Unison)

                Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is peace.  Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is love.  There is comfort in life's darkest hour, there is light and life, there is help and power in the Spirit, in the Spirit of the Lord.[1] ... 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.      

 *HYMNS OF PRAISE  #455    "All Creatures of Our God and King"       LASST UNS ERFREUEN

                                         #155   "Rejoice, the Lord is King"                           DARWALL’S

CALL TO CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION  (Unison)

Almighty and gracious God, you give us every reason to have confidence in you.  Still, we are burdened by questions.  Where are you calling us to go?  From whence will our help come?  How, in a world of danger and doubt, can we be sure and faithful?  We admit that we do not always live and trust as those who really believe you – forgive us, and give us courage and strength to follow more faithfully.  Open our minds and open our hearts that we may live out your steadfast love and more fully trust in your gracious care for us.

 TIME OF SILENT CONFESSION AND REFLECTION

 ASSURANCE OF GOD’S LOVE AND PARDON

Leader:    In the mercy of Almighty God, Jesus Christ was given, and died for us. For his sake, God forgives all our sins. To those who believe in Jesus Christ, he gives the power to become the children of God, and bestows on them the Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus Christ, I declare in that our sin is forgiven and we can live more faithful lives. Thanks be to God.

People:  The Lord’s name be praised. In Jesus Christ all our sin is forgiven. Amen.  

*RESPONSE               # 391    “Take My Life”                                                          HENDON          

       {vs. 1 & 5 only}

                Take my life, and let it be Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.

            Take my moments and my days; Let them flow in ceaseless praise,

            Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

            Take my will, and make it Thine; It shall be no longer mine.

            Take my heart, it is Thine own; It shall be Thy royal throne,

            It shall be thy royal throne.

PRESENTATION OF OUR OFFERINGS TO GOD

 Offertory                                           Melody                       Ignace Paderewski (1860-1941)

 *OFFERING RESPONSE    # 391   “Take My Life”                                         HENDON

           (vs. 4 & 6 )

Take my silver and my gold, Not a mite would I withhold;

Take my intellect, and use Every power as Thou shalt choose, Every power as Thou shalt choose.

Take my love; my Lord, I pour At Thy feet its treasure store.

Take myself, and I will be Ever, only, all for Thee,

Ever, only, all for Thee.

 *Prayer of Dedication

 GOOD NEWS TIME WITH YOUNG DISCIPLES                                  Nora Yaryan

 A church school program and a nursery are provided for preschoolers in Branigan Hall. There is a video program for elementary children in the Reeves Hall cinema (except on Communion Sundays.) Children will be escorted from the West door; their bags should be left on the pews.

 PASTORAL PRAYER

 SPECIAL MUSIC                           “Deep Peace”                               Douglas E. Wagner

Sung by: Dinah Jentgen, Bill Kersting, Greg & Kelly Temple

Accompanied by: Joanne Kersting

 PROCLAIM GOD’S WORD

 SCRIPTURE LESSONS         Genesis 22:1-14        Matthew 19:16-22

 Leader:           This is the word of the Lord.

People:      Thanks be to God.

 SERMON                           “Our God Is Not an Easy God”                Rev. Norm Story

 *HYMN RESPONSE   # 379   “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less”           SOLID ROCK 

GO IN GOD’S NAME

 *BENEDICTION                   

*BENEDICTION RESPONSE     “Lord, Be Glorified”

                    (vs. 1 & 4)

                    In my life, Lord, be glorified, be glorified.

                    In my life, Lord, be glorified today.

                    In your world, Lord, be glorified, be glorified.

                    In your world, Lord, be glorified today.

 *POSTLUDE                                      “Sortie”                                Denis Bedard (b. 1950)

 * Those who are able, please stand             * Please turn off all cell phones

Liturgist – Beverly Briggs         

Sound System – Max Schroeder       Deacon Captain – Debbie Austin

 Greeting after Worship Service:

Beverly Briggs  – E        Nora Yaryan   – W       Rev. Norm Story   – S

 *Restrooms are located in Jones Hall, out the west door and across the breezeway, in the choir room, at the left and the right of the choir loft and in the Narthex, one in the Brides’ room and one in the Deacons’ room.

 Please remember in your prayers: Clyde Olberg, Alice Cooper; Robert Hogue; Donald McClanahan; John Tucker, grandfather of Holly and Heather Tucker; Jan Dale; Jesse Parker; prayers for Jon Gorzeman’s parents; Pasos de Fe; Jeffrey Giger and Karen Deal, friends of Ann Velia; Sgt. David Bone in Balladj Iraq; Ashley Bardales; Travis and Veronica Becker and the High School youth at Hobbs; Joe Vasquez, family member of Lynn Lawson-Jones.

 Welcome!

          We come together as a community at worship to experience the grace of God, who is present in our midst. This is a time to open ourselves to Him and to each other. Expect great things of God and His grace will come to you! Please take a moment to fill out the friendship pads so we can greet you by name. Thank you for coming to First Presbyterian Church, we are glad that you are here. If you are not active in a church home in this community, we invite you to consider joining our fellowship and sharing in this ministry of Christ. We also have CD’s of our worship services available or printed copies of the sermons. If you would like to have a copy, please contact the office at 526-5559. We invite you to join us for a bring-your-own-lunch fellowship picnic in the courtyard after worship hosted by Congregational Life. Dessert and cold beverages will be provided.

For prayer requests during the week call the church office to get your request on the Church-wide Prayer Chain or e-mail Linda Ramirez at fpclinda@zianet.com

 First Presbyterian Church’s mission is to emulate the work, the word, and the way of Jesus Christ in ministering to the needs of its members and preparing them for Christian outreach to people within and outside the Church of Jesus Christ.

Our Vision Objectives for 2008 are:

1.      To clearly and courageously communicate the Good News of Jesus Christ to all within reach.

2.     To develop spiritual leadership that recognizes and ministers to those in need.

3.     To develop and maintain specific ways for members to reach out and draw the community into our fellowship.

4.     To create God-centered atmosphere for worship that will attract and bind individuals, families and youth into Christian community.

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Last update 2008-06-27 14:32:22