First Presbyterian Church of Niles
Sunday Morning Worship
10:00 A.M. June 14, 2026
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(*Stand if you are able.)
PRELUDE
REFLECTION TEXT Psalm 100: 1-2
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP If Thou But Trust in God to Guide Thee Walther
CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsive)
The Lord hears us when we cry out.
Praise the Lord!
The Lord showers us with blessings.
Praise the Lord!
Let us lift up the name of the Lord for all to hear!
Praise the Lord!
Let us sing of God’s endless grace and compassion!
Let us worship God!
OPENING PRAYER
*HYMN Glorious Things of You Are Spoken AUSTRIAN HYMN
Glorious things of you are spoken, Zion, city of our God;
One whose word cannot be broken formed you for a blessed abode.
On the Rock of Ages founded, what can shake your sure repose?
With salvation’s walls surrounded, you may smile at all your foes.
See! The streams of living waters, springing from eternal Love,
Well supply your sons and daughters, and all fear of want remove.
Who can faint, while such a river ever will their thirst assuage:
Grace which, like our God, the Giver, never fails from age to age?
‘Round each habitation hovering, see the cloud and fire appear
For a glory and a covering, showing that their God is near!
Thus deriving from their banner light by night and shade by day,
Safe they feed upon the manna which God gives them when they pray.
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (In Unison)
Loving God, we come with heavy hearts. We have not lived as you have called us to live. We give up too easily. We ignore our neighbor’s cries for help and are silent in the face of injustice. We lose hope. We fail to see your blessings among us and are blind to the glimpses of the kingdom all around us. We are weak. Have mercy upon us. Shower us with your grace that we might be enlivened for service and for love. Lord, hear our prayer. Amen.
MOMENT OF SILENT AND PERSONAL CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF PARDON (Responsive)
Friends, God loves you. God wants to be in relationship with you. God allows nothing to come between you and God. Believe this and know that you are forgiven and freed to love and serve.
Thanks be to God!
PASSING THE PEACE
As God has forgiven us in Christ let us also forgive one another.
The peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
Please share the sign of peace with one another.
The sharing of Christ’s peace.
RESPONSE Peace is Flowing Like a River TRADITIONAL
Peace is flowing like a river, flowing out to you and me.
Flowing out into the desert, setting all the captives free.
His love is flowing like a river, flowing out to you and me.
Flowing out into the desert, setting all the captives free.
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
FIRST SCRIPTURE Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19
SPECIAL MUSIC On Eagle’s Wings Arr. Hayes
Christopher Mergerner
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING Matthew 9:35-10:8
MESSAGE Jesus’ Task Rev. Christopher Mergener
*HYMN 315 (1,3,4) In the Midst of New Dimensions NEW DIMENSIONS
In the midst of new dimensions, in the face of changing ways,
Who will lead the pilgrim peoples wandering in their separate ways?
Refrain: God of rainbow, fiery pillar, leading where the eagles soar,
We your people, ours the journey now and ever, now and ever, now and evermore.
As we stand, a world divided by our own self-seeking schemes,
Grant that we, your global village, might envision wider dreams. Refrain
We are man and we are woman, all persuasions, old and young,
Each a gift in your creation, each a love song to be sung. Refrain
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (Question 21 of the Heidelberg Catechis)
Q. What is true faith?
A. True faith is not only a sure knowledge by which I hold as true all
that God has revealed to us in Scripture; it is also a wholehearted
trust, which the Holy Spirit creates in me by the gospel, that God has
freely granted, not only to others but to me also, forgiveness of sins,
eternal righteousness, and salvation. These are gifts of sheer grace
granted solely by Christ’s merit. Glory
CALL FOR THE OFFERING
Offertory Lord, I Lift Your Name on High Arr. Tournquist
*DOXOLOGY What Gift Can We Bring ST. DENIO
This gift we now bring, this present, this token, these words can convey it, the joy of this day! When grateful we come, remembering, rejoicing, this song we now offer in honor and praise! Amen.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
PREPARATION FOR PRAYERS 695 Change My Heart, O God CHANGE MY HEART
Change my heart, O God, make it ever true.
Change my heart, O God, may I be like you.
You are the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me, this is what I pray.
Change my heart, O God, make it ever true.
Change my heart, O God, may I be like you.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE (Responsive)
Lord in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
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.
*HYMN Let There Be Peace on Earth LET THERE BE PEACE
Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me;
Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.
With God our creator, children all are we.
Let us walk with each other in perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me; let this be the moment now.
With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow:
To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.
*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
All music is reproduced under permission from ccli.com License #11146543.
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