Oil City First Presbyterian Church

First Presbyterian Church of Oil City

6 days ago

Morning Worship Service
April 21, 2024
4th Sunday of Easter
Ten-Thirty in the Morning

The Gathering of God’s People
(Where you see an asterisk (*) please stand as you are able.)
Welcome and Announcements:
The Prelude: Stephen Winslow, Organist
“Sheep May Safely Graze” arr. J.S. Bach
Call to Worship:
Leader: Love one another, even when love involves risk.
People: We love as God loves us.
Leader: Love and care for others, even when caring is hard.
People: We love and care as God loves and cares for us.
Leader: Love in truth and action.
People: By this we are known as children of God.
Opening Prayer:
*Hymn of Praise: “Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty” #489
*Call to Confession:
*Unison Prayer of Confession:
All: Savior God, you guide us, but we are slow to follow and stubborn. You welcome us to your fold, but we make others feel as if they don’t belong. Forgive our life-alienating ways, our exclusion and judgment; the way we evaluate and compare, demean and degrade.
Forgive us, Goodness Incarnate. Call us back from our wayward lives, so we may find rest in the stillness of your gentle heart; we may find healing from your scarred hands; we may find that life for which we yearn, together in you and through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
<Silence is kept>
*Assurance of Forgiveness:
Leader: …In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
All: Thanks be to God!
*Passing of the Peace:
Leader: …The peace of the Lord be with you!
All: And also, with you!
*Gloria Patri: “Glory Be to the Father” #579

We Hear God’s Word
Anthem: “Wonderful, Merciful Savior” arr. Schrader
Prayer for Illumination:
Scriptures:
1st New Testament Reading: Acts 4:5-12 pg. 1696
Psalm Reading: Psalm 23 (NKJV) pg. 862
2nd New Testament Reading: 1 John 3:16-24 pg. 1901
Gospel Reading: John 10:11-18 pg. 1666
Sermon: “The Good Shepherd” Pastor Josh Botts

We Respond to God’s Word
*Hymn of Response: “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” #142
*Affirmation of Faith: (from a Brief Statement of Faith)
All: We trust in Jesus Christ, fully human, fully God. Jesus proclaimed the reign of God: preaching good news to the poor and release to the captives, teaching by word and deed and blessing the children, healing the sick and binding up the brokenhearted, eating with outcasts, forgiving sinners, and calling all to repent and believe the gospel. Unjustly condemned for blasphemy and sedition, Jesus was crucified, suffering the depths of human pain and giving his life for the sins of the world. God raised this Jesus from the dead, vindicating his sinless life, breaking the power of sin and evil, delivering us from death to life eternal.
Sharing of Joys and Concerns:
Prayers of the People: adapted from a prayer written by Rev. Ellen Williams Hensle.
The Prayer Response: (sung in unison)
Hear our prayer, O Lord; Hear our prayer, O Lord,
Incline Thine ear to us, and grant us Thy peace. Amen.
Invitation to Offering:
The Giving of our Offering: Offertory: “The Lord’s My Shepherd” traditional
*Doxology: “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” #592
*Prayer of Dedication:

Sending Forth
*Closing Hymn: “Holy Spirit, Truth Divine” #321
*Benediction:
The postlude provides the transition from sacred worship back into our varied lives and activities, equipped with renewed courage, energy, and a commitment to serve God and others, until we are able to meet again, as a community, in worship. We invite you to remain seated.
Postlude: “Prelude in Classic Style” Gordon Young
<Parts of the Liturgy adapted from the Presbyterian Outlook and the Abingdon Worship Annual> ... See MoreSee Less

First Presbyterian Church of Oil City

2 weeks ago

Morning Worship Service Outline for April 14, 2024. The 3rd Sunday of Easter at Ten-Thirty in the Morning.

The Gathering of God’s People
Welcome and Announcements:
The Prelude: “Easter Carol” Stephen Winslow, Organist, arr. Alice Jordan
Call to Worship:
L: The Lord hears us when we call:
P: Come, let us put our trust in God.
L: The Lord fills our hearts with gladness:
P: Come, let us sing God’s praises with shouts of joy!
L: The Lord grants peace to our weary souls:
P: Come, let us rest by the quiet waters of God’s grace.
Opening Prayer:
*Hymn of Praise: “To God be the Glory” #485
*Call to Confession:
*Unison Prayer of Confession:
All: Risen Christ, we are often troubled by our doubts. But you are not troubled by them. You do not require perfect understanding. Instead, you reveal yourself to us again and again that we might come to know you. Forgive us when our doubts keep us stuck, when fear prevents us from loving all creation as you call us to do. Help us to accept the peace you so graciously offer to us. Have mercy on us when we hoard or hide it, when we fail to offer it to others. Renew us and make us whole that in this world of strife we may be bearers of your peace. In resurrection hope we pray, Amen.
<Silence is kept>
*Assurance of Forgiveness:
Leader: …In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
All: Thanks be to God!
*Passing of the Peace:
Leader: …The peace of the Lord be with you!
All: And also, with you!
*Gloria Patri: “Glory Be to the Father” #579

We Hear God’s Word
Anthem: “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us” arr. Shakley
Prayer for Illumination:
Scriptures:
New Testament Reading: Acts 3:12-19 pg. 1695
Psalm Reading: Psalm 4 pg. 845
2nd New Testament Reading: 1 John 3:1-7 pg. 1901
Gospel Reading: Luke 24:36-48 pg. 1644
Sermon: “It Should Make a Difference” Pastor Josh Botts

We Respond to God’s Word
*Hymn of Response: “What Wonderous Love is This?” p.85
*Affirmation of Faith: (Nicene Creed)
All: We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Sharing of Joys and Concerns:
Prayers of the People: adapted from a prayer written by Rev. Ellen Williams Hensle.
The Prayer Response: (sung in unison)
Hear our prayer, O Lord; Hear our prayer, O Lord,
Incline Thine ear to us, and grant us Thy peace. Amen.
Invitation to Offering:
The Giving of our Offering: Offertory: “Alleluia, Alleluia! Give Thanks” Donald Fishel
*Doxology: “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” #592
*Prayer of Dedication:

Sending Forth
*Closing Hymn: “Blessed Assurance” #341
*Benediction: (St. Teresa of Avila)
The postlude provides the transition from sacred worship back into our varied lives and activities, equipped with renewed courage, energy, and a commitment to serve God and others, until we are able to meet again, as a community, in worship. We invite you to remain seated.
Postlude: “Christ is Risen” J.S. Bach ... See MoreSee Less