Fourth Presbyterian Church: A Light in the City

Sunday, May 12
9:30 a.m. Worship Service

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PRELUDE

Fantasia in E-flat Major
Camille Saint-Saens

Adagio and Andante
C. Saint-Saens

INTROIT
“Here I Am, Lord”
Daniel L. Schutte

I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard my people cry. All who dwell in dark and sin my hand will save. I, who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright. Who will bear my light to them? Whom shall I send? Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart.

DOXOLOGY
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all creatures here below; praise God above, ye heavenly host; Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

CALL TO WORSHIP AND PRAYER

One:Christ has taught us to love one another.

All: We are called to share God’s love in the world.

One: The Holy Spirit moves in us, giving us gifts to do God’s work.
All: May we be strengthened to witness to God’s love.

One: Let us devote ourselves anew to serve our Lord.
All: Let us worship and praise our God!

HYMN
“For All the Faithful Women”

For all the faithful women who served in days of old, to you shall thanks be given; to all, their story told. They served with strength and gladness in tasks your wisdom gave. To you their lives bore witness, proclaimed your power to save.

We praise your name for Miriam, who sang triumphantly while Pharaoh’s vaunted army lay drowned beneath the sea; for Ruth, who left her homeland and ventured forth in faith, who pledged to serve and worship Naomi’s God till death.

We sing of busy Martha, who toiled with pot and pan while Mary sat in silence to hear the word again. We praise the other Mary, who hastened to the tomb and found her Lord arisen, dispelling doubt and gloom.

Lord, hear our praise of Dorcas, who served the sick and poor. Her hands were cups of kindness, her heart an open door. O God, for saints and servants, our fervent prayer we raise, that, faithful in your service, our lives may sing your praise.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Holy God, at times we have delusions of grandeur, and we forget to see what is small— the falling leaf that holds the beauty of creation; the kind word that is a testament to grace; the child who is vital not only for the future but for the present.

Help us to remember our place in this world you made, to give thanks for things great and small, to be humble and hopeful. And hear us now as in silence we open our hearts to you . . .

DECLARATION OF PARDON
One: Friends, believe the good news.
All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.

SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
Leader: The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
People: And also with you.

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WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANTHEM

“Praise the Name of the Lord”
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Praise the name of the Lord, alleluia. Praise the Lord, O you servants of the Lord, alleluia. Blessed be the Lord from Zion, he who dwells in Jerusalem, alleluia. O give thanks unto the Lord, for God is good, alleluia. God’s mercy endures forever, alleluia.

PRESENTATION OF BIBLES TO FIFTH GRADERS

FIRST LESSON
Hebrews 11:29–34, 12:1–2

One: The Word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.

GLORIA PATRI
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.

SECOND LESSON
2 Timothy 1:1–9a

One: The grass withers, and the flower fades,
All: but the word of our God shall stand forever.

SERMON
“Remember Your Mother”
Tom Are Jr.

HYMN
“Mothering God, You Gave Me Birth”

Mothering God, you gave me birth in the bright morning of this world. Creator, source of every breath, you are my rain, my wind, my sun.

Mothering Christ, you took my form, offering me your food of light, grain of life, and grape of love, your very body for my peace.

Mothering Spirit, nurturing one, in arms of patience hold me close, so that in faith I root and grow until I flower, until I know.

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

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.

OFFERING

Gifts supporting the ministry and mission of Fourth Church can be made online

OFFERTORY ANTHEM
“Jesu, the Very Thought of Thee”
Richard Proulx

Jesu, the very thought of thee with sweetness fills my breast, but sweeter far thy face to see and in thy presence rest. No voice can sing nor memory find a sweeter sound than thy blest name, O Savior of mankind. O hope of every contrite heart! O joy of all the meek! To those who fall how kind thou art; how good to those who seek! But what of those who find? Ah, this no tongue nor pen can show; the love of Jesus, what it is none but his loved ones know. Jesu, our only joy be thou, as thou our prize wilt be; Jesu, be thou our glory now and through eternity.

OFFERTORY RESPONSE
Christ has arisen, alleluia. Rejoice and praise him, alleluia. For our redeemer burst from the tomb, even from death, dispelling its gloom. Let us sing praise to him with endless joy. Death’s fearful sting he has come to destroy. Our sins forgiving, alleluia! Jesus is living, alleluia!

PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Gracious God, you have blessed us with your generosity and goodness. With gratitude, we return these gifts to you. Guide us to use them to do your work and show your love in a world that needs you so much. Thank you, God. Amen.

HYMN
“God of Grace and God of Glory”

God of grace and God of glory, on thy people pour thy power; crown thine ancient church’s story; bring its bud to glorious flower. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the facing of this hour, for the facing of this hour.

Lo! the hosts of evil round us scorn thy Christ, assail his ways! From the fears that long have bound us free our hearts to faith and praise. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the living of these days, for the living of these days.

Cure thy children’s warring madness; bend our pride to thy control; shame our wanton, selfish gladness, rich in things and poor in soul. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, lest we miss thy kingdom’s goal, lest we miss thy kingdom’s goal.

Save us from weak resignation to the evils we deplore. Let the gift of thy salvation be our glory evermore. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, serving thee whom we adore, serving thee whom we adore.

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE
Toccata on “Amazing Grace”
American folk melody/arr. Christopher Pardini

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