First Presbyterian Church of Niles
Morning Worship
Communion
10:00 A.M. July 6, 2025
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(* = stand if you are able)
PRELUDE
REFLECTION TEXT Psalm 30: 1-2
I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up and did not let my foes rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP Come, O Fount of Every Blessing Arr. Culli
CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsive)
Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth;
sing God’s glorious name; shout out glorious praise.
Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
All the earth worships you; they sing praises to your name.”
Come and see what God has done:
tell of God’s awesome deeds among all people!
OPENING PRAYER
*HYMN Sing Praise to God, Our Highest Good MIT FREUDEN ZART
Sing praise to God, our highest good, profound respect expressing.
God gives us health, life, livelihood, and every needed blessing.
To God, who wondrous works performs, creating life and calming storms,
to God give praise and glory!
Creation thanks you, Holy One: you made us and renew us.
Delighted at what you have done, you show your greatness through us.
So may all living things proclaim the wonders of their Maker’s name:
to God give praise and glory!
What God has made, God will preserve, with righteousness unfailing.
Regardless what we may deserve, we see this good prevailing.
To God who governs evermore with justice serving rich and poor,
to God give praise and glory!
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (In Unison)
Patient God, you call and call and we come up with every excuse why we can’t answer, at least not right now. Forgive our fear. Remind us that when we answer your call, we will not be sent out alone, but filled with your gifts, surrounded by your children, and held in your love. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Rock and Redeemer. Amen.
MOMENT OF SILENT AND PERSONAL CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF PARDON (Responsive)
Hear the good news! The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
Thanks be to God.
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 Isaiah 66: 10-14
SPECIAL MUSIC Great is Your Faithfulness Arr. Schrader
Sarai St. Clair
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING Galatians 6: 1-16
MESSAGE Do what is right now Rev. Christopher Mergener
*HYMN 351 All Who Love and Serve Your City STUTTGART
All who love and serve your city, all who bear its daily stress,
all who cry for peace and justice, all who curse and all who bless:
In your day of wealth and plenty, wasted work and wasted play,
call to mind the word of Jesus, "You must work while it is day."
For all days are days of judgment, and the Lord is waiting still,
drawing near a world that spurns him, offering peace from Calvary's hill.
Risen Lord, shall yet the city be the city of despair?
Come today, our judge, our glory. Be its name “The Lord is there!"
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (In Unison)
To be reconciled to God is to be sent into the world as God’s reconciling community, to share God’s labor of healing the hostilities which separate people from God and from each other. Christ has called the church to this mission and given it the gift of the Holy Spirit. The church follows Christ’s pattern in the form of its life and in the method of its action. So to live and serve is to confess Christ as Lord.
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…
…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 Open Our Eyes Arr. Seal
*DOXOLOGY Praise God From Whom all Blessings Flow DOXOLOGY
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God, for all that love has done; Creator, Christ, and Spirit, One!
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
PREPARATION FOR PRAYERS Open Our Eyes OPEN OUR EYES
Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus,
To reach out and touch him, and say that we love him.
Open our ears, Lord, and help us to listen.
Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE (Responsive)
Lord in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
THE LORD’S PRAYER (In 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 700 (Vs. 1, 2, 4) I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me I’M GONNA LIVE
I’m gonna live so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!
I’m gonna live so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!
I’m gonna work so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!
I’m gonna work so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!
I’m gonna sing so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!
I’m gonna sing so God can use me anywhere, Lord, anytime!
*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
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All music is reproduced under permission from ccli.com License #11146543.