First Presbyterian Church of Niles
10:00 A.M. January 11, 2026
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(* = stand if you are able)
PRELUDE
REFLECTION TEXT Psalm 42:9
I say to God, my rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I walk about mournfully because the enemy oppresses me?”
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP
408 (Vs. 1) There’s a Sweet, Sweet Spirit SWEET SWEET SPIRIT
There’s a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place,
and I know that it’s the Spirit of the Lord;
There are sweet expressions on each face,
and I know they feel the presence of the Lord.
Sweet Holy Spirit, sweet heavenly Dove, stay right here with us,
filling us with your love; and for these blessings we lift our hearts in praise;
without a doubt we’ll know that we have been revived when we shall leave
this place.
CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsive)
The voice of the Lord is powerful and full of majesty.
May the Lord bless us with God’s Peace!
The voice of the Lord proclaimed Jesus as God’s beloved.
In our own baptisms, we are claimed as God’s beloved.
OPENING PRAYER
*HYMN O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing AZMON
O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories ever echoing the triumphs of God’s grace!
My gracious Savior and my God, assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad the honors of your name.
Jesus! The name that calms our fears, that bids our sorrows cease
Is music in the sinner’s ears, is life, and health, and peace!
Glory to God, and love and praise be ever, ever given
By all the saints in every age, the church in earth and heaven.
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (In Unison)
Merciful God, we confess that we are estranged from you and from one another. We treat others as strangers rather than as people created in your image and fellow children of God. We exploit the earth as though it were our possession rather than a gift entrusted to our care and a reflection of your image and glory. Forgive us our sins and transform us by your Spirit that we might live as people who have been baptized as your own children. Amen.
MOMENT OF SILENT AND PERSONAL CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF PARDON (Responsive)
Friends, hear the good news of the gospel — and of Jesus’ solidarity in his own baptism by John with all who have been immersed in baptismal waters, repenting of their sin. In his name, God has forgiven us of our own sins and set us on new paths. Let us remember our baptisms and trust in God’s mercy to restore our right standing as God’s own.
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 Acts 10: 34-43
SPECIAL MUSIC Fairest Lord Jesus Arr. Courtney
Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nations. O Thou of God and man the Son. Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor, Thou, my soul’s glory, joy and crown. Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight, and all the twinkling starry host; Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer than all the angels heav’n can boast. Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations! Son of God and Son of Man! Glory and honor, praise, adoration, now and forevermore be Thine! Amen.
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING Matthew 3: 13-17
MESSAGE Baptism is Significant Rev. Christopher Mergener
*HYMN 164 Down Galilee’s Slow Roadways MERLE’S TUNE Down Galilee’s slow roadways a stranger traveled on
From Nazareth to Jordan to be baptized by John,
He went down to the waters like soldier, scribe, and slave,
But there within the river the sign was birth and grave.
Arising from the river he saw the heavens torn;
It seemed the sky so open revealed the Spirit’s form.
The holy dove descended amid a glorious voice:
“You are my own beloved, my child, my heart, my choice.”
We too have found a roadway; it led us to this place.
We all have had to travel in search of hope and grace.
But now beside this water again a voice is heard.
“You are my own, my chosen, beloved of your Lord.”
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (In Unison)
In life and in death we belong to God. Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, we trust in the one triune God, the Holy One of Israel, whom alone we worship and serve. We trust in Jesus Christ, fully human, fully God. Jesus proclaimed the reign of God: preaching good news to the poor and release to the captives, teaching by word and deed and blessing the children, healing the sick and binding up the brokenhearted, eating with outcasts, forgiving sinners, and calling all to repent and believe the gospel. Unjustly condemned for blasphemy and sedition, Jesus was crucified, suffering the depths of human pain and giving his life for the sins of the world. God raised this Jesus from the dead, vindicating his sinless life, breaking the power of sin and evil, delivering us from death to life eternal.
CALL FOR THE OFFERING
Offertory Be Thou My Vision Arr. Mayo
*DOXOLOGY To God, all Glorious Heavenly Light OLD 100TH
To God, all glorious heavenly light; To Christ, revealed in earthly night; To God, the Spirit now we raise; Our joyful songs of thankful praise. Amen.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
PREPARATION FOR PRAYERS
425 (Vs. 1, 3) Son of God, Whose Heart Is Peace TAMA NGAKAU MARIE
Son of God, whose heart is peace, Son of God, most holy,
To your presence we have come; give us now your love.
Warm our hearts to love you, Lord, you who died to save us;
Gather us within your arms, Jesus, on this day.
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 346(Vs. 1, 3, 4) For the Healing of the Nations ST. THOMAS
For the healing of the nations, Lord, we pray with one accord;
for a just and equal sharing of the things that earth affords;
to a life of love in action help us rise and pledge our word.
All that kills abundant living, let it from the earth be banned:
pride of status, race, or schooling, dogmas that obscure your plan.
In our common quest for justice may we hallow life’s brief span.
You, Creator God, have written your great name on humankind;
for our growing in your likeness, bring the life of Christ to mind,
that by our response and service earth its destiny may find.
*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
All music is reproduced under permission from ccli.com License #11146543.
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