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First Presbyterian Church

Las Cruces, New Mexico

Christ the King

November 22, 2009 - 10:30 A.M

 PRELUDE              “Rex Gloriae (The King of Glory)”     George Henry Day (1883-1966)

Trumpets: Pancho Romero, Allan Kaplan, Drew Jordan

French Horn: Celeste Shearer            Trombone: Paul McLaughin

Tuba: James Shearer

 WELCOME, GREETINGS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

                                          Please sign the friendship pads at this time

 MEDITATION IN PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.  I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”                                      (John 14:1-6 NRSV)

 MUSICAL MEDITATION        "Join in Festive Song"                      Michael E. Ekbladh  Bells of Praise

ASSEMBLE IN GOD’S NAME

 *PROCESSIONAL HYMN    #551    “Come Ye Thankful People Come” 

                                                                                                        ST. GEORGE’S WINDSOR

PRAYER OF ADORATION AND LORD’S PRAYERS (unison-stand)  

                                                                                                                                     Bruce Pearson

 Lord God, you who are Creator of the Universe and the Power behind all powers, we gather today as your people to praise you, and to hear your word, and to pray that your truth might guide us in our every action and thought.  Help us come from our scattered lives to focus on your eternal reality.   Assure us once more of your divine control over all things, help us to surrender ourselves completely into your loving care and to follow your path in holy obedience and joy.   Be present with us and bless us, we ask in the name of Jesus, who taught His disciples to pray… 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 HOPE       #559    “We Gather Together”                                     KREMSER

 PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Seated)

Sovereign God, we confess that although we willingly say that “Jesus is Lord and King,” yet we often fail to bow our knees and lives before him.  Instead, we grant our allegiances and loyalties to material goods and successes of this world.  In your mercy, hear our prayer of confession.  Grant us the humility to bow before you, the Ruler of all nations, so that our hearts may be turned and we may choose to live as loyal servants of your kingdom.  Through your Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

TIME OF SILENT CONFESSION AND REFLECTION

 ASSURANCE OF GOD’S LOVE AND PARDON

Leader:     Having confessed our sin before God who loves us and who saves us, let us walk anew.  God calls us with a holy calling, not because of our good works, but because of God's own gracious love through Christ Jesus.  Friends, believe the good news: all our sins are forgiven.

People:    By God's grace we are loved and saved.  Through the blood of Christ, our sin is forgiven, thanks be to God.  Amen.       

Leader:     What does Scripture teach and declare about God?

People:    We confess and acknowledge one God alone, to whom alone we must cleave, whom alone we must serve, whom only we must worship, and in whom alone we put our trust.  Who is eternal, infinite, immeasurable, incomprehensible, omnipotent, invisible, one in substance and yet distinct in three persons,  the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  (from The Scots Confession of 1560)

 CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE (remain seated)

                                            #559   “We Gather Together”                                KREMSER

GOOD NEWS TIME WITH YOUNG DISCIPLES                              Marsha Topley

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.

v     As the children proceed to the chancel they are encouraged to bring their canned food and personal offerings with them.

 THANKSGIVING IN-GATHERING     “Old 100^th”                        R. Vaughan Williams

 v     During this anthem we invite you to come forward to the baskets at the front and place your canned food offerings.  Choir director will lead you in singing verse 5 of today’s choir anthem.

                                        To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,

The God whom heaven and earth adore.

From men and from the angel host

Be praise and glory evermore. Amen.

 CALL TO PRAYER          “For The Beauty Of the Earth”                    arr. Tom Howard

 PASTORAL PRAYER                                                                        

 PRAYER RESPONSE

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION         

PROCLAIM GOD’S WORD

 SCRIPTURE LESSONS      Psalm 24:4-10    John 18:33-38

 Leader:          This is the word of the Lord.

People:         Thanks be to God.

 SERMON                          “What is Truth? Does it Matter?”              Rev. Norm Story

 PRESENTATION OF GOD’S TITHES AND OUR OFFERINGS

Offertory                                        “A Joyful Noise”                                    Ruth Artman

*Offering Response             “We Give Thee but Thine Own”                              SCHUMANN

          We give Thee but Thine own, Whate’er the gift may be;

                All that we have is Thine alone, A trust, O Lord, from Thee.

 *Prayer of Dedication

*CLOSING HYMN   #555   “Now Thank We All Our God”     NUN DANKET ALLE GOTT               

GO IN GOD’S NAME

 *BENEDICTION

 * BENEDICTION RESPONSE                     

*POSTLUDE               “Now Thank We All Our God”       Sigfrid Darg-Elert (1877-1933)

Sound System – Jerry Grandle       Deacon Captain – Rosemary Maddox

Liturgist – Bruce Pearson

 Greeting before Worship Service:

Ralph Miller – E        Rusty Smith – W        Marianne Maley - S

 Greeting after Worship Service:

Marsha Topley - E      Rev. Norm Story – W    Bruce Pearson - 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.

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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 2009-11-20 19:32:21