First Presbyterian Church
Order of Worship

Order of Worship

November 3, 2024 - 10 a.m. EST

Prelude - God of the Sparrow, God of the Whale (Kyle Webber)
Jubellee Ringers

Ringing of the Church Bell

Invitation to Worship
Wendy McCormick

One: Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

All: In life and in death we belong to God.

One: Baptized into Christ’s death, we are raised to new life in him.

All: Let us worship God. Alleluia!

Hymn 687 - Our God, Our Help in Ages Past

Our God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast,
and our eternal home.

Beneath the shadow of thy throne
thy saints have dwelt secure;
sufficient is thine arm alone,
and our defense is sure.

Before the hills in order stood,
or earth received its frame,
from everlasting thou art God,
to endless years the same.

A thousand ages in thy sight
are like an evening gone,
short as the watch that ends the night
before the rising sun.

Time, like an ever rolling stream,
bears all our years away;
they fly forgotten, as a dream
dies at the opening day.

Our God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
be thou our guard while life shall last,
and our eternal home.

Prayer of Confession (unison)

Eternal God, in every age you raise up women and men to live and die in faith. We give thanks for all those who have gone before, answering your call, proclaiming your grace, showing your justice and mercy. Light our way by the example of those who have gone before that we might have courage to follow your way. Join us with those from ages past who have served imperfectly yet with faith, hope and love, and who now live eternally with you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness

Response 399 - God Welcomes All

God welcomes all,
Strangers and friends;
God’s love is strong
And it never ends.

Sharing the Peace

Welcome and Announcements

Scripture Reading - Isaiah 25:6-9a
Liz Adams, liturgist

Anthem - The Lord is My Shepherd (John Rutter, from Requiem)
Chancel Choir
Lorin Groshong, oboe

Word with Children
Jenni Whitford

Scripture Reading - Hebrews 11:1-3, 32-38; 12:1-2

Sermon

Anthem - Lux Aeterna (John Rutter, from Requiem)
Chancel Choir
Heather Kessler, soloist

Affirmation of Faith (unison)
Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Remembering the Saints

Litany of Remembrance

One: In the rising of the sun and in its going down,

All: We remember them.

One: When we are weary and in need of strength,

All: We remember them.

One: When we are lost and sick at heart,

All: We remember them.

One: When we have joys we yearn to share,

All: We remember them.

One: As long as we live, they too shall live,

All: For they are now a part of us, as we remember them. Alleluia! Amen.

Offertory - Shall We Gather at the River (Thomas Keesecker)

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Doxology 606 - Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow

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. Amen.

Prayer of Dedication

Sacrament of Communion

Invitation to the Table

Prayer of Thanksgiving

The Lord’s Prayer (unison)

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.

Words of Institution

Sharing of Communion

Prayer after Communion

Hymn 326 - For All the Saints

For all the saints who from their labors rest,
who thee by faith before the world confessed,
thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Thou wast their rock, their fortress, and their might;
thou, Lord, their captain in the well-fought fight;
thou, in the darkness drear, their one true light.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle; they in glory shine;
yet all are one in thee, for all are thine.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
and hearts are brave again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Charge and Benediction

Postlude - Cornet Voluntary (George Berg)
Philip Everingham

Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service has been obtained from ONE LICENSE with license A-722069.