First Presbyterian Church of Niles
Morning Worship
10:00 A.M. July 26, 2026
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(*Stand if you are able.)
PRELUDE
REFLECTION TEXT Psalm 105:2
Sing to him, sing praises to him, tell of all his wonderful works.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP Aria Bach
CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsive)
The decrees of the Lord are wonderful,
The unfolding of God’s word gives light and understanding.
Turn to us, O God, and be gracious to us.
Make your face shine upon your servants.
We come together to worship the living God.
OPENING PRAYER
*HYMN 305 Come Sing, O Church in Joy! DARWALL’S 148th
Come sing, O church, in joy! Come join, O church, in song!
For Christ the Lord has led us through the ages long!
In bold accord, come celebrate the journey now and praise the Lord!
Long years have come and gone, and still God reigns supreme,
Empowering us to catch the vision, dream the dream!
In bold accord, come celebrate the journey now and praise the Lord!
Let courage be our friend; let wisdom be our guide,
As we in mission magnify the Crucified!
In bold accord, come celebrate the journey now and praise the Lord!
Come sing, O church, in joy! Come join, O church, in song!
For Christ the Lord has triumphed o’er the ages long!
In bold accord, come celebrate the journey now and praise the Lord!
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (In Unison)
God of grace, we want to understand what the kingdom of heaven is like, but our minds are clouded by cares and concerns of the world. We fail to trust your power, hidden in all things. We fail to watch for you, working out your purposes in mysterious ways. We fail to be whole-hearted in our faith and discipleship. We fail to put our trust in the treasures of your kingdom instead of the treasures of the world. Gracious God, hidden and manifest, give us eyes to see and ears to hear your good news for the world even here and now. Transform our lives and our world by your grace.
MOMENT OF SILENT AND PERSONAL CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF PARDON (Responsive)
Friends, hear these words, and listen to this good news; the empires of this world will rise and fall, but the mercy of the Lord will never end. In Jesus Christ, we 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 Psalm 128
SPECIAL MUSIC Ancient Words Arr. Fettke
Sarai St. Clair
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING Romans 8:26-39
MESSAGE Nothing Can Separate Us From God’s Love Rev. Christopher Mergener
*HYMN Be Now My Vision SLANE
Be now my vision, O God of my heart; nothing surpasses the love you impart-
You my best thought, by day or by night, waking or sleeping, your presence my light.
Be now my wisdom, and be my true word; ever within me, my soul is assured;
Mother and Father, you are both to me, now and forever your child I will be.
Riches I need not, nor life’s empty praise, you, my inheritance, now and always;
You and you only are first in my heart, great God, my treasure, may we never part.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (from The Barmen Declaration)
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.
CALL FOR THE OFFERING
Offertory ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus Arr. Larson
*DOXOLOGY Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow OLD HUNDREDTH
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. 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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