First Presbyterian Church of Niles
10:00 A.M. October 19, 2025
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(* = stand if you are able)
PRELUDE Prayer C. F. Gounod
REFLECTION TEXT Psalm 119: 3-4
(You) who also do no wrong but walk in his ways. You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP Arietta F. J. Haydn
CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsive)
We lift up our eyes to the hills — from where will our help come?
Our help comes not from the hills, but from the Lord who made heaven and earth.
I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent whether the
time is favorable or unfavorable;
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and
forevermore.
With endurance, expectation, and joy, let us worship the living God!
OPENING PRAYER
*HYMN 53 O God, Who Gives Us Life NOEL
O God, who gives us life and breath, who shapes us in the womb,
Who guards our lives from birth to death, then leads us from the tomb:
Deliver us from fears that kill the life we have from you.
Help us to know your Spirit still is making all things new.
O God, who calls your people out to venture and to dare,
To plumb the bleak abyss of doubt and find you even there:
When we despair in wandering through wastes of empty lies,
Refresh us with the living spring of hope that never dies.
O God of covenant and law, revealed in cloud and flame,
Your mighty deeds evoke our awe; we dare not speak your name.
Yet we by faith are drawn to you and will your people prove,
As on our hearts you write anew the covenant of love.
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (In Unison)
God of the covenant, you promise to write your law in our hearts, that we might be faithful people who know you and your will for us. Still we stray from your ways, we fail to tell the truth, we mirror the world around us more than the good news of the gospel, and we fail to acknowledge that you are our God. Forgive us, and by your Spirit renew us. Engrave your covenant upon us once more. Grant us courage and faith that we might begin again to live what it is we say we believe.
MOMENT OF SILENT AND PERSONAL CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF PARDON (Responsive)
No longer shall they teach one another or say to each other…
…Hear and believe this good news! In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
Thanks be to God.
PASSING THE PEACE
…The peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
The sharing of Christ’s peace.
RESPONSE 306 (Vs. 1) Blest Be the Tie That Binds DENNIS
Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love.
The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
Amid a world where sound teaching is hard to find, our ears are easily tickled by words that suit our own desires. Open us to hear your word, O Lord, that we might know you and your will for us today.
FIRST SCRIPTURE READING Psalm 121
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING Luke 18: 1-8
MESSAGE Persistence Pays Off Rev. Christopher Mergener
*HYMN 465 What a Friend We Have in Jesus CONVERSE
What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit; O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer!
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer!
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge; take it to the Lord in prayer!
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he’ll take and shield thee; thou wilt find a solace there.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (In Unison)
The reconciling work of Jesus was the supreme crisis in the life of humankind. His cross and resurrection become personal crisis and present hope for women and men when the gospel is proclaimed and believed. In this experience, the Spirit brings God’s forgiveness to all, moves people to respond in faith, repentance, and obedience, and initiates the new life in Christ.
The new life takes shape in a community in which people know that God loves and accepts them in spite of what they are. They therefore accept themselves and love others, knowing that no one has any ground on which to stand, except God’s grace.
The new life does not release people from conflict with unbelief, pride, lust, and fear. They still have to struggle with disheartening difficulties and problems. Nevertheless, as they mature in love and faithfulness in their life with Christ, they live in freedom and good cheer, bearing witness on good days and evil days.
CALL FOR THE OFFERING
Offertory Sonatina H. Lichner
*DOXOLOGY 607 Praise God, From Whom all Blessings Flow OLD 100TH
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Christ, all people here below;
Praise Holy Spirit ever more; praise Triune God, whom we adore. Amen
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
PREPARATION FOR PRAYERS
469 Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying CHILDREN PRAYING
Lord, listen to your children praying. Lord, send you Spirit in this place.
Lord, listen to your children praying. Send us love; send us power; send us grace.
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 547 (Vs. 1, 2) Go, My Children, with My Blessing AR HYD Y NOS
“Go, my children, with my blessing, never alone.
Waking, sleeping, I am with you, you are my own.
In my love’s baptismal river I have made you mine forever.
Go, my children, with my blessing, you are my own.”
“Go, my children, sins forgiven, at peace and pure.
Here you learned how much I love you, what I can cure.
Here you heard my dear Son’s story; here you touched him, saw his glory.
Go, my children, sins forgiven, at peace and pure.”
*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE Kinderscenen Schumann
All music is reproduced under permission from ccli.com License #11146543.
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