First Presbyterian Church For Christ in the Heart of Charlotte Organized 1821

First Presbyterian Church
Charlotte, North Carolina
Organized 1821
October 26, 2014
Volume 43, No. 43
For Christ in the Heart of Charlotte
Order of Worship
October 26, 2014
Reformation Sunday
9:00 am and 11:00 am
Let the people engage in silent meditation and prayer upon entering the sanctuary.
Please be sure to silence your cell phones.
Preparation
Prelude
“Two Settings of Ein’ Feste Burg” Pachelbel/Walther
Welcome and Announcements
*Call to Worship Adoration
One:This is the day that the Lord has made;
All: Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
*Hymn No. 624
“I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art”
Confession
Call to Confession
Prayer of Confession
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The Reverend Pendleton B. Peery
God be merciful to me, a sinner, a sinner in the company of sinners.
Too often we hide beneath the veil of religion or trust in the good
things we do. Seemingly safe in our pews, we look down on those
who are not here, thankful that we are not like them. Yet the truth is, we are. We have all sinned. We have all fallen short of the people you call
us to be. Cleanse us and restore us, for the sake of Jesus, our Savior. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
Friends, believe the good news.
In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
*Gloria (Hymn No. 581)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, Amen.
Proclamation
F
irst Scripture Reading
Psalm 116:1-14
One: This is the Word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God.
Anthem
pew Bible pg. 564
“Psalm 46” John Weaver
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. God is our refuge and strength; a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be moved, and though the mountains be toppled
into the depths of the sea; though its waters rage and foam, and though the mountains tremble at its tumult. There is a river whose streams make glad
the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst
of her; she shall not be overthrown. God shall help her at the break of day.
The nations make much ado, and the kingdoms are shaken. God has spoken, and the earth shall melt away. Come now and look upon the works of
the Lord; what awesome things he has done on earth. It is he who makes wars to cease in all the world; he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear,
and burns the shields with fire. “Be still, then, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth.”
Time with Children
(At the conclusion, children may leave for First Church)
S econd Scripture Reading
Sermon
Luke 7:11-17
pew Bible pg. 65
The Reverend Dr. Richard Ray
“The Resurrection of Christ and the Reformation of the Church”
*Hymn No. 463
“How Firm a Foundation”
foundation
*Affirmation of Faith
The Reverend Erika Funk
One: What is your only comfort, in life and in death?
All: That I belong – body and soul, in life and in death – not to myself but to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ, who at the cost of his own blood has fully paid for all my sins and completely freed me from dominion of the devil; that he protects me so well that without the will of my Father in heaven not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, that everything must fit his purpose for my salvation. Therefore, by his Holy Spirit, he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.
(from The Heidelberg Catechism, Q and A #1)
Dedication
Prayers of the People
Stewardship of Life
Presentation of Tithes and Offering
Commissioning of Jamaica, NY Mission
Offertory Anthem “O God, Our Help In Ages Past” arr. John Ferguson
text same as hymn no. 687
*Doxology (Hymn No. 606) Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
old hundredth
*Prayer of Dedication and The Lord’s Prayer
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.
Sending Forth
*Hymn No. 275
“A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” ein’ feste burg
*Charge and Benediction
*Benediction Response
“Amen”
Peter Lutkin
*Postlude
“O God, Our Help In Ages Past” arr. Healy Willan
__________________________
* For all who are able, please stand.
The 11 am service will be televised over WSOC-TV, channel 9, this morning and streamed live at
www.firstpres-charlotte.org. The sermon is available on the church’s website by audio download and podcast.
We extend a warm welcome to all those who visit with us today. We hope
you will find the worship service meaningful and will worship with us often. Please be sure to visit our website at www.firstpres-charlotte.org
The sanctuary flowers are given to the glory of God.
The Reverend Dr. Richard Ray is the Chairman of the Board of
Directors of the Presbyterian Heritage Center in Montreat and Interim President at King University. He has served as a pastor, most recently
for the Presbyterian Church in Bristol, Tennessee, a professor at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and as a publisher. He and his wife Lila have three children and eight grandchildren.
First church is a worship education experience for K-3rd graders and any interested 4th or 5th graders.
The Presbyterian Church has its roots in the Protestant Reformation that was launched when Martin Luther posted 95 theses on the door of the church in Wittenberg, Germany on October 31,1517. He and
other reformers believed the church needed to renew and refocus on scripture, the sacraments, and the discipline in the church. John Knox is is credited with bringing the Reformation to Scotland and helping found the Presbyterian denomination. Today we celebrate these deep roots by observing Reformation Sunday.
The Celtic Cross in front of the pulpit was made of solid silver on the island of Iona, Scotland. It was given to the church on November 22, 1959 by
Dr. Harrison Ray Anderson, pastor of Fourth Presbyterian Church,
Chicago, Illinois, in honor of Dr. James Robert Howerton and his son,
Philip F. Howerton. They were members of First Presbyterian Charlotte
and the first father and son to be moderators of the Presbyterian Church US.
Pendleton B. Peery
Senior Pastor
ppeery@firstpres-charlotte.org
Erika Funk
Katherine C. Kerr
Associate Pastor for
Associate Pastor for Mission
Congregational Care
efunk@firstpres-charlotte.org
kkerr@firstpres-charlotte.org
Charles C. Williamson
Katelyn M. Gordon
Parish Associate
Associate Pastor for
cwilliamson@firstpres-charlotte.org
Christian Formation
kgordon@firstpres-charlotte.org
William P. Young, III
Director of Music Ministries
wyoung@firstpres-charlotte.org
*Hymn No. 624
“I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art”
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1. I greet Thee, who my sure Redeemer art,
My only trust and Savior of my heart,
Who pain didst undergo for my poor sake;
I pray Thee from our hearts all cares to take.
4. Thou hast the true and perfect gentleness,
No harshness hast Thou and no bitterness:
O grant to us the grace we find in Thee,
That we may dwell in perfect unity.
2. Thou art the King of mercy and of grace,
Reigning omnipotent in every place:
So come, O King, and our whole being sway;
Shine on us with the light of Thy pure day.
5. Our hope is in no other save in Thee;
Our faith is built upon Thy promise free;
Lord, give us peace, and make us calm and sure,
That in Thy strength we evermore endure.
3. Thou art the life, by which alone we live,
And all our substance and our strength receive;
Sustain us by Thy faith and by Thy power,
And give us strength in every trying hour.
*Hymn No. 463
“How Firm a Foundation”
foundation
1. How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in God’s excellent Word!
What more can be said than to you God hath said,
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
4. “When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.
2. “Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.
5. “The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake.”
3. “When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be near thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
*Hymn No. 275
“A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”
1. A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing;
Protecting us with staff and rod,
And power all prevailing.
What if the nations rage
And surging seas rampage;
What though the mountains fall,
The Lord is God of all;
The Lord of hosts is with us.
2. The waters of God’s goodness flow
Throughout the holy city,
And gladden hearts of those who know
God’s tenderness and pity.
Though nations stand unsure,
God’s kingdom shall endure;
God’s power shall remain,
And peace shall ever reign,
The Lord of hosts is with us.
ein’ feste burg
3. Behold what wondrous deeds of peace
God does for our salvation;
God knows our wars and makes them cease
In every land and nation.
The warrior’s spear and lance
Are splintered by God’s glance;
The guns and nuclear might
Stand withered in God’s sight;
The Lord of hosts is with us.