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First Presbyterian Church

Las Cruces, New Mexico

Rededication and Stewardship Sunday

November 8, 2009 - 10:30 A.M

PRELUDE       “Take My Life, And Let It Be Consecrated”  Emma Lou Diemer (b. 1927)

                                                     “A Song of Gratitude”          Harold K. Marks (ca. 1943)

                     “Now Thank We All Our God” (From Cantata No. 79)       J.S. Bach (1685-1750)

 WELCOME, GREETINGS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

                                          Please sign the friendship pads at this time

 MEDITATION IN PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP

Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?  And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing?  And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?'  And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.'                       

                                                           (Matthew 25:37-40 NRSV) 

 MUSICAL MEDITATION     “Open My Eyes, That I May See”                 S.H. Houser

 CHORAL INTROIT     

 ASSEMBLE IN GOD’S NAME

 *PROCESSIONAL HYMN   #268  “God Who Stretched the Spangled Heavens”

                                                                                                                                                                     HOLY MANNA

PRAYER OF ADORATION AND LORD’S PRAYERS (seated)        Beverly Briggs

 O Lord our God, how good it is to gather once again in your Presence and leave behind the stress of our busy lives and the corrupting influences of our world.  Here, O Lord, may we hear your voice, bathe ourselves in your truth and promises, and here may we experience what it is to be the one body of Christ, truly a family united in love and faith.  We pray that you will send your Spirit to still and comfort our troubled minds, restore to us the peace and joy of your salvation, so that we may respond in faithfulness and obedience, that our passion and desire be to more fully know and honor you…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.

CALL TO CONFESSION (seated)

 PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Unison)

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.  You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.  Purge me, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.[1]

 TIME OF SILENT CONFESSION AND REFLECTION

 ASSURANCE OF GOD’S LOVE AND MERCY

 Leader:     Hear the good news!  The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, that we might be dead to sin and alive to all that is good. I declare that in the name of Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

People:    In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.  Thanks be to God.  Amen.

HYMN OF ASSURANCE     #293  “This Is My Father’s World”             TERRA BEATA

 PRESENTATION OF GOD’S TITHES AND OUR OFFERINGS

 Offertory                                         “Offertory”                                         John Ness Beck

Julie Hellman, violin

*Offering Response             “Alleluia, Alleluia! Give Thanks”                              ALLELUIA

 Refrain:        Alleluia, alleluia! Give thanks to the risen Lord.

                             Alleluia, alleluia! Give Praise to His Name.

                              Come, let us praise the living God,

                             Joyfully sing to our Savior.

                                                                           Refrain

 *Prayer of Dedication

 GOOD NEWS TIME WITH YOUNG DISCIPLES                               Margie Rankin

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.) Please leave children’s bags on the pews.

 SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM AND WELCOME NEW MEMBERS 

Simplice Tchamna Kouna and Irene Kouna

(Elders currently serving on Session will greet our new church family members while the

     congregation sings hymn # 438, vs. 1 & 2 “Blest Be the Tie That Binds”)

 PASTORAL PRAYER                                                                       

 CHORAL RESPONSE         

PROCLAIM GOD’S WORD

 SCRIPTURE LESSONS      1 Corinthians 16:1-4    2 Corinthians 8:1-4, 8-9; 9:6-11

 Leader:          This is the word of the Lord.

People:         Thanks be to God.

 SERMON                                   “Stewards Of Hope”                         Rev. Norm Story

 *HYMN RESPONSE    #391           “Take My Life”

       (Verses 1,2,4 & 6)    

During this final hymn, as a sign of giving yourself to God, you are invited to   

            bring your pledge card to the front and place it on the Communion Table.

*PRAYER REDEDICATING OUR LIVES AND PLEDGES TO GOD

 GO IN GOD’S NAME

 *BENEDICTION

 *CHORAL BENEDICTION                    

 *POSTLUDE                           Hymn Tune Improvisation                Howard A. Smolleck

 The rose on the altar today celebrates the birth of Luke Daniel Pearson on Oct. 13 in Charlottesville, Virginia. Luke is the son of Robert and Audrey Pearson, and the first grandchild of Bruce and Linda Pearson.

Sound System – Jerry Grandle       Deacon Captain – Rosemary Maddox

Liturgist – Beverly Briggs

 Greeting before Worship Service:

Ralph Miller – E      Dylan Anderson – W      Mike Bartholomew - S

 Greeting after Worship Service:

Margie Rankin - E    Rev. Norm Story – W   Beverly Briggs - 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.

 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 or printed copies of the sermons available. If you would like to have a copy, please contact the office at 526-5559.

                                  Our sacred space is not this building or this sanctuary, but it is the fellowship we share, the hospitality we live, and the presence of God we see in each other.

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

Christmas Shopping and Gift Wrapping

8 am – 2 pm, Nov. 27^th

Do you need do some Christmas shopping without having the kids around?  Then bring them to the church on the 27^th of November and get some of that shopping done!  The youth are going to be here to care for children on that day (maximum time per child, 3 hr.) If you have gifts that you’d like to have wrapped, we will do that for you too. Times will be from 8am to 3pm.  For more information please contact Mark at 526-5559 or fpcmark@zianet.com or Linda fpclinda@zianet.com

This event is a fundraiser, so if anyone can donate wrapping paper, tape, or ribbon it would be greatly appreciated.   Put the 27^th on your calendar and help support our youth. 

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Send comments, suggestions, and requests to Alex. F. Burr or send e-mail to aburr @ aol.com.
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Last update 2009-10-17 15:15:27