4th Sunday in Lent
April 26th, 2009 ~ 10:30 AM
GATHERING FOR WORSHIP
"Where there is no vision, the people perish." Proverbs 29:18
ANNOUNCEMENTS
*PASSING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
CHORAL INTROIT:
From “Sing, Sing, Sing, Sing,” Douglas E. Wagner
RESPONSIVE WORDS OF WORSHIP: (From Psalm 107)
Leader: "O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
People: For his steadfast love endures forever.
Leader: Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
People: Those he redeemed from trouble...
Leader: Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
People: For his wonderful works to humankind."
All: Come, enter into the joy of the Master!
*SONGS OF PRAISE AND WORSHIP: #341 (Blue Hymnal)
“Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine!”
*COMING CLEAN BEFORE OUR CREATOR:
Gracious God:
We confess to you
we often seek to do things our own way.
We want to gain favor through our own efforts,
with you and others.
Forgive our self-righteous thoughts and ways;
Forgive our lack of love and grace
for those who struggle with heavy burdens.
Forgive our thoughtless and unkind attitudes.
Fill us with your grace and mercy!
Amen
*RECEIVING FORGIVENESS
*SONG OF GRATITUDE FOR FORGIVENESS RECEIVED:
(Red Hymnal #29 “Glorify Thy Name,” verse 1)
“Father, we love You, we worship and adore You, Glorify Thy name in all the earth. Glorify Thy name, Glorify Thy name, Glorify Thy name in all the earth.”
*DECLARING OUR FAITH:
(Apostles’ Creed, Traditional p. 14 Blue Hymnal)
ANTHEM: “By Faith and Not by Sight,” Lloyd Larson
A SPECIAL TIME WITH CHILDREN: Sheila Iverson
“Shine, Jesus, shine, fill this land with the Father’s glory, blaze, Spirit, blaze, set our hearts on fire; flow, river, flow, flood the nations with grace and mercy, send forth your word, Lord, and let there be light.”
WORSHIP IN ACTION
GOD’S WORK IN THE WORLD: Anita Beard
SHARING OUR GIFTS
(Prayer requests may be placed in the offering plate; please sign the fellowship pad)
AN OFFERING OF MUSIC:
“Walking with the Savior,” Richard Blake
*PRAISING GOD AS SOURCE OF ALL: (Blue Hymnal #592)
*DEDICATING OUR GIFTS WITH PRAYER
LISTENING FOR GOD’S WORD TO US
SPEAKING TO GOD IN SONG: #306 (Blue Hymnal)
“Fairest Lord Jesus”
PRAYING TO GOD, LORD’S PRAYER (debts/debtors)
(Blue Hymnal, Page 16, Traditional version)
BIBLE READING: Luke 23:39-43, Revelation 2:7
Leader: “The Word of the Lord,” All: “Thanks be to God”
MESSAGE: “Paradise”
Glorify and enjoy God
Make disciples
Serve human need
*SONG OF RESPONSE: #339 (Blue Hymnal)
“Be Thou My Vision”
*BLESSING
DEPARTING TO SERVE:
“Lead On, O King Eternal,” Henry Smart
END OF WORSHIP –
BEGINNING OF SERVICE
Pastor ~ David A Layman
Youth Director ~ Matthew Ayers
Choir Director ~ Lynn Kennedy
Organist ~ Linda Hood
Pianist ~ Carol Lou Woodward
Lector ~ Alice Chamness
Nursery ~ Lorna Timmerman & Alice Henry
SPECIAL MISSION INTERESTS
McGilvary Scholarships
Pakistan Denationalized Schools
Charles and Diane Wonnenberg, SD
Bill Yoder, Thailand
First Presbyterian Church,
Phone: (765) 966-2234; Fax: (765) 966-8174
100 North 10th St, Richmond IN 47374
E-mail: Presbyte1@verizon.net
Web page address: www.Presbylife.com
WCTV schedule – Sun. 7 PM; Mon., 3 AM & 11 PM
*If able please stand
Copyright info: CCLI License #2399854; OneLicense.net License #A-710450
Large print bulletinsand hearing devices are available. Please ask an usher.
“Come, enter into the joy of the Master!”
Our Scottish Heritage
The Scottish heritage of the Presbyterian Church (USA) can be traced and celebrated this morning by noting the achievements of just three men: John Knox, Andrew Melville, and Francis Mackemie.
JOHN KNOX (c 1513-1572) was the outstanding leader of the Scottish reformation. As a schoolmaster and clergy, he was raised in a Scotland that was religiously immersed in Roman Catholicism. The Scots were ready for a reformation of the Kirk that would result in a purer and simpler faith. After experiencing and embracing the religious and political views of John Calvin in Geneva, Knox returned to Scotland in 1559. The Scottish Parliament commissioned him and five others to write the Scots Confession. In 1560 this confession was overwhelmingly adopted, and became the original charter of the Reformed Kirk of Scotland. By this Act, the authority of the Bishop of Rome was rejected. In addition, The Book of Order and the First Book of Discipline were adopted. Knox had led the Scottish Church into a reformation following the Calvinist tradition.
ANDREW MELVILLE (1545-1622) was outraged when he realized the Kirk was being ruled by civilian bishops who placed church revenues in the hands of the state. He led the successful fight to purge the Kirk of such bishops, and succeeded in establishing the rule of the Kirk through presbyteries. In 1575, the General Assembly of the Kirk to which Melville was a Commissioner met in Edinburgh. The Assembly appointed a committee to prepare a new constitution, subsequently embodied in the Second Book of Discipline adopted in 1581. Melville was the leading spirit in its preparation. As a result, the Presbyterian form of Government was born.
FRANCIS MACKEMIE (1658-1708) was trained for the gospel ministry at the University of Glasgow, and was licensed as a Minister of the Word (clergy) of the Reformed Kirk of Scotland in 1681. In 1683, he came to the United States and founded at least five churches of which we know. Mackemie and six other clergy formed the first Presbytery in colonial America in 1706 at Philadelphia. Thus the Presbyterian Church in the new world became a reality in a large degree through the efforts of this great Scotsman.
In addition to the accomplishments of these three men, it is well to mention GEORGE WISHART (1513-1546), who is considered to be the first Presbyterian martyr.
In 1546, Wishart, a Scottish preacher and teacher, was convicted of heresy by James Bothwell (who later became husband to Mary Queen of Scots). Since he would not recant, Wishart was put to death at St Andrew’s Castle on March 1st of that year.
The last words of this great Presbyterian were:
“I beseech Thee, Father of Heaven, forgive them that have, from ignorance or an evil mind, forged lies about me. I forgive them with all my heart. I pray Thee, O Christ, to forgive them that ignorantly condemned me. O Saviour of the world, have mercy upon me. Father of Heaven, I commend my spirit into Thy holy hands.”
ANDREW was a fisherman and originally a follower of John the Baptist. Because of John’s witness to Jesus Andrew began to follow Jesus. He brought his brother, Simon Peter, to Jesus saying “We have found the Messiah.” Church tradition relates that, following Christ’s resurrection, Andrew preached the gospel in the region north of the Black Sea. He is believed to have suffered a martyr’s death on an X-shaped cross. Andrew was adopted as the patron saint of Scotland around 750. His feast day is celebrated November 30.