First Presbyterian Church of Niles
Morning Worship
10:00 A.M. November 15, 2026
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(*Stand if you are able.)
PRELUDE
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP Festive Day Moklebust
Celebration Ringers
CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsive)
This is the Lord's Day, the day of wonder and grace.
This is the day to worship the One who calls us here.
This is the Lord's Day, the day we are given joy and peace.
This is the day promised to us, the day of healing and renewal.
This is the Lord's Day, and it has come just in time!
This is the day we gather with hope, with faith, with love!
OPENING PRAYER
*HYMN Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise ST. DENIO
Immortal, Invisible, God only wise, in light inaccessible hid from our eyes.
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days, almighty, victorious, your great name we praise.
Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light, not wanting, not wasting, but ruling in might.
Your justice like mountains high soaring above, your clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.
Your life is life-giving to both great and small; in all life you’re living, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves and as flowers, then wither and perish but naught dims your powers.
So perfect your glory, so brilliant your light, your angels adore you, all veiling their sight:
All praise we now render as your angels do: in awe at the splendor of light hiding you.
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (In Unison)
Again we must confess, Loving God, our struggles to be faithful disciples. Entrusted with all your gifts, we become fearful once again of misusing them, missing the chance to be a blessing to others. Invited to dance in the light of your love, we stand against the wall once again, keeping company with our old friend, sin. Called to be emptied for those who struggle in life, we fill ourselves once again, with scorn for the poor choices they make.
Have mercy, Journeying God, have mercy on us. Once again, open our eyes to your kingdom in our midst, so we might discover that your day of hope and grace has already come in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
MOMENT OF SILENT AND PERSONAL CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF PARDON (Responsive)
This is the good news: God intends for us to find life, to embrace hope, to receive forgiveness through Jesus Christ, our Servant.
The end of our journey is not rejection and emptiness, but the fullness of grace and hope in our God. Thanks be to God, we are forgiven. Amen.
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 90:1-12
SPECIAL MUSIC Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee Arr. Moklebust
Celebration Ringers
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING Matthew 25:14-30
MESSAGE Fear: The Opposite of Love Rev. Amber Nettleton
*HYMN 716 God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending BEACH SPRING
God, whose giving knows no ending, from your rich and endless store,
Nature’s wonder, Jesus’ wisdom, costly cross, grave’s shattered door:
Gifted by you, we turn to you, offering up ourselves in praise;
Thankful song shall rise forever, gracious donor of our days.
Skills and time are ours for pressing toward the goals of Christ, your Son:
All at peace in health and freedom, races joined, the church made one.
Now direct our daily labor, lest we strive for self alone.
Born with talents, make us servants fit to answer at your throne.
Treasure, too, you have entrusted, gain through powers your grace conferred:
Ours to use for home and kindred, and to spread the gospel word.
Open wide our hands in sharing, as we heed Christ’s ageless call,
Healing, teaching, and reclaiming, serving you by loving all.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (In Unison) (From A Declaration of Faith)
In the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus God has already demonstrated his judging and saving work. We are warned that rejecting God’s love and not caring for others whom God loves results in eternal separation from him and them. Yet we are also told that God loves the whole world and wills the salvation of all humankind in Christ. We live in tension between God’s warnings and promises. Knowing the righteous judgment of God in Christ, we urge all people to be reconciled to God, not exempting ourselves from the warnings. Constrained by God’s love in Christ, we have good hope for all people, not exempting the most unlikely from the promises. Judgment belongs to God and not to us. We are sure that God’s future for every person will be both merciful and just. Amen.
CALL FOR THE OFFERING
Offertory Open Our Eyes Lord Arr. Seal
*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 470 (Vs. 1) There Is a Longing in Our Hearts LONGING
There is a longing in our hearts, O Lord, for you to reveal yourself to us.
There is a longing in our hearts for love we only find in you, our God.
For justice, for freedom for mercy: hear our prayer.
In sorrow, in grief: be near; hear our prayer, O God.
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 (Responsive)
Let us go forth to be God's faithful servants.
We will not hide our gifts but share them with everyone we meet.
Let us go forth to be the followers of Jesus.
We will not hold back our compassion, but will offer it to all.
Let us go forth to be the Spirit's hope and peace.
We will be the grace, the joy, the wonder others need in their lives.
POSTLUDE
All music is reproduced under permission from ccli.com License #11146543.
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