First Presbyterian Church of Niles
Sunday Morning Worship
With Communion
10:00 A.M. July 5, 2026
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(*Stand if you are able.)
PRELUDE
REFLECTION TEXT Psalm 145:9
The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP Now Sing We Joyfully Unto God Young
David Listenberger, Sarai St. Clair
CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsive)
O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
OPENING PRAYER
*HYMN All People That on Earth Do Dwell OLD HUNDREDTH
All people that on earth do dwell, sing out your faith with cheerful voice;
Delight in God whose praise you tell, whose presence calls you to rejoice.
Know that there is one God, indeed, who fashions us without our aid,
Who claims us, gives us all we need, whose tender care will never fade.
Enter the sacred gates with praise, with joy approach the temple walls.
Extol and bless our God always as people whom the Spirit calls.
Proclaim again that God is good, whose mercy is forever sure,
Whose truth at all times firmly stood, and shall from age to age endure.
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (In Unison)
Gracious and loving God, forgive us when turn a deaf ear to your call in Jesus Christ and to the cries of those in the world who need your love and our help. Forgive us when we treat discipleship as a yoke of oppression rather than a blessing and gift for leading a faithful life as your people. O Lord, forgive our sin. Help us to know and love you with all that we are that we may love our neighbors as we love ourselves. We pray for the strength of your Holy Spirit to equip us for our calling as followers of Jesus Christ, in whom we have our hope and put our trust. Amen.
MOMENT OF SILENT AND PERSONAL CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF PARDON (Responsive)
The apostle Paul also wrote, “For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Hear and believe the good news: In Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven.
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 READING Romans 7:15-25
SPECIAL MUSIC Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing Arr. Hayes
David Listenberger
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
MESSAGE Rest for the Weary Rev. Christopher Mergener
*HYMN Come to Me O Weary Traveler Galilee
“Come to me, O weary traveler; come to me with your distress;
Come to me, you heavy burdened; come to me and find your rest.”
“Do not fear, my yoke is easy; do not fear my burden’s light:
Do not fear the path before you; do not run from me in fright.”
“Take my yoke and leave your troubles; take my yoke and come with me.
Take my yoke, I am beside you; take and learn humility.”
“Rest in me, O weary traveler, rest in me and do not fear.
Rest in me, my heart is gentle; rest and cast away your care.”
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
As Jesus Christ is God’s assurance of the forgiveness of all our sins, so in the same way and with the same seriousness is he also God’s mighty claim upon our whole life. Through him befalls us a joyful deliverance from the godless fetters of this world for a free, grateful service to his creatures. We reject the false doctrine, as though there were areas of our life in which we would not belong to Jesus Christ, but to other lords — areas in which we would not need justification and sanctification through him.
THE CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE
GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING (Responsive)
The Holy One be with you.
And also with you.
Open your hearts.
We open our hearts to you, O God.
Let us give thanks to God, an Abiding Presence.
To the One who companions us through all things, we give thanks and praise.
Faithful One…
…In awe and gratitude, we join together in praise of you, Source of Abundance:
Holy, Holy, Holy One
God of justice and love
Heaven and earth are full of your wonder
Blessed is your presence among us
Since the beginning..
…You may now take the elements.
PRAYER AFTER RECEIVING
CALL FOR THE OFFERING
Offertory Softly and Tenderly Arr. Hayes
*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
468 (Vs. 1 & 4) In My Life LORD, BE GLORIFIED
In my life, Lord be glorified; be glorified. In my life Lord be glorified today.
In your world, Lord, be glorified; be glorified. In your world, Lord, be glorified today.
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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