First Presbyterian Church of Niles
Morning Worship
10:00 A.M. October 25, 2026
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(*Stand if you are able.)
PRELUDE
REFLECTION TEXT Psalm 1: 1-2
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP Contemplation Rawsthorne
CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsive)
We gather here to worship God.
We are here, with heart, soul and mind.
We gather here as Christ’s body.
We are neighbors, learning how to love each other.
The Holy Spirit gathers us in to be sent out again.
We are here to worship and to be transformed.
Let us worship the Triune God!
OPENING PRAYER
*HYMN 63 The Lord Is God AZMON
The Lord is God, the Lord alone! Give honor, thanks and praise
To God, the maker of all things and giver of our days.
With all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and might,
O people love the Lord your God, the source of truth and light.
At night or day, at home, away, together and apart,
O children, take these holy words and keep them in your heart.
The Lord is God, the Lord alone! Give honor, thanks, and praise
To God, the maker of all things and giver of our days.
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (In Unison)
Holy God, we are often good at following rules while neglecting the heart of your commandments. We place ourselves in the congregation of the righteous, but take our seat among the scoffers. We seek approval of our friends, family, and others whose opinions we value, forgetting that our call is to please you, above all. You created us to love you with soul, heart, and mind, but we have held parts of ourselves back. Have mercy on us, God. Watch over our ways, redirect our paths, and help us love you with abandon — heart, soul, and mind. Make us instruments of reconciliation and transformation as we seek to follow your law of love, made known to us in Jesus Christ. Amen.
MOMENT OF SILENT AND PERSONAL CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF PARDON (Responsive)
The gospel we proclaim is good news for us all: God’s mercy is eternal. We are made blameless through Jesus Christ. Freed from sin’s power over us, we can bear the fruit of God’s love and righteousness.
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 Leviticus 19: 1-2, 15-18
SPECIAL MUSIC By Our Love Arr. Sewall
Chancel Choir
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord. And we pray that all unity will one day be restored. And they’ll know we are Christians by our love. We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand. And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land. We will work with each other, we will work side by side. And we’ll guard each man’s dignity and save each man’s pride. All praise to the Father, from whom all things come. And all praise to Christ Jesus, his only son. And all praise to the Spirit, who makes us one.
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING Matthew 22:34-46
MESSAGE Once Again, Loving God and Neighbor Rev. Christopher Mergener
*HYMN 722 (1, 2, 4, 5) Lord, Speak for Me That I May Speak CANONBURY
Lord, speak to me that I may speak in living echoes of your tone.
As you have sought, so let me seek you erring children, lost and lone.
O lead me, Lord, that I may lead the wandering and the wavering feet.
O feed me, Lord, that I may feed your hungering ones with manna sweet.
O fill me with your fullness, Lord, until my very heart o’erflow
in kindling thought and glowing word, your love to tell, your praise to show.
O use me, Lord, use even me, just as you will, and when, and where
until your blessed face I see, your rest, your joy, your glory share.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (Responsive) (From Matthew 22)
What is the greatest commandment?
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
CALL FOR THE OFFERING
Offertory Be Thou My Vision Arr. Tournquist
*DOXOLOGY 606 Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow OLD 100th
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
PREPARATION FOR PRAYERS
465 (Vs. 1) 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!
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE (Responsive)
Holy God,
reform us by your love.
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~