First Presbyterian Church
July 14, 2024
Rev. Brian Copeland
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Liturgist
PRELUDE
CALL TO WORSHIP Liturgist
Come, let us worship God with the passion and joy of King David
and all the people who sang and danced before the ark of the covenant.
Let us worship our Savior with the songs of praise and thanksgiving of
the apostle Paul and all who are blessed with every spiritual blessing.
God has blessed us in our Lord Jesus Christ,
destined us to be children of God, and sealed us in the Holy Spirit.
Let us worship God.
HYMN #280 Amazing Grace
CALL TO CONFESSION Liturgist
The godliness of Jesus Christ calls us to be holy and blameless.
The riches of God’s grace promise forgiveness of our trespasses.
Let us confess our sins.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Unison) Liturgist
Holy, holy, holy Lord, you are the God of glory.
We confess that we often forget
that your holiness is dangerous.
We take our impurities for granted, make excuses for the sins we commit, and expect you to overlook the harm we cause while still demanding justice from others. We do not deserve your mercy.
Forgive us, and return us to a right relationship with you for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ.
You made us for the purpose of praising you; enliven us with the Holy Spirit so that we can fulfill our calling
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
SILENT PRAYERS OF CONFESSION MAY BE OFFERED
DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS Liturgist
According to the riches of his grace,
which God has lavished upon us
and sealed for us by the promised Holy Spirit, hear this good news:
In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
SPECIAL MUSIC
CHILDREN’S TIME
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION (Unison) Liturgist
Spirit of the living God,
seal in us your Word of truth,
the gospel of salvation,
so that we can faithfully follow
and joyfully serve our Lord Jesus Christ,
for it is in his name that we pray. Amen.
FIRST SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 24 Liturgist
The earth is the LORD's and all that is in it,
the world, and those who live in it;
for God has founded it on the seas,
and established it on the rivers.
Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?
And who shall stand in God’s holy place?
Those who have clean hands and pure hearts,
who do not lift up their souls to what is false.
They will receive blessing from the LORD,
and vindication from the God of their salvation.
Such is the company of those who seek him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob.
Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O ancient doors!
that the King of glory may come in.
Pastor: Who is the King of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD, mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O ancient doors!
that the King of glory may come in.
Pastor: Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of hosts,
he is the King of glory.
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING: Reading Ephesians 1:3-14 Rev. Brian Copeland
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before God in love.
God destined us for adoption as God’s children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of God’s will, to the praise of God’s glorious grace that God freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
In him we have redemption through his blood,
the forgiveness of our trespasses,
according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us.
With all wisdom and insight God has made known to us the mystery of God’s will, according to God’s good pleasure set forth in Christ,
as a plan for the fullness of time,
to gather up all things in him,
things in heaven and things on earth.
In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we,
who were the first to set our hope on Christ,
might live for the praise of God’s glory.
In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God's own people, to the praise of God’s glory.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
SERMON “Perseverance” Rev. Brian Copeland
HYMN #526 For All the Saints
JOYS AND CONCERNS
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING (Offering plates are on the front and back tables. Offering plates are not passed.)
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING (Unison)
Glorious God, we bring an offering taken from the gifts you have given us.
As we return them to you with our thanksgiving,
bless them with the power of your love
so that they may touch the lives of others
and inspire them to join us in giving you thanks and praise
in the name of Jesus Christ, the King of glory. Amen.
HYMN #368 I’ve Got Peace Like a River
CHARGE AND BLESSING
Reminders:
Vacation Bible School starts Monday, July 15-Friday, July 19, 8:50 am-noon
July 21 – Special worship service celebrating Bible School
Aug. 14 – Doug’s to Go to benefit WFPC
Sept. 8 – Committee meetings and Session meeting following worship service
Sept. 9 – Food pantry, our church’s turn to volunteer
Sept. 11 – Doug’s to Go to benefit Weedsport Good Samaritan Fund
