First Presbyterian Church of Niles
Morning Worship

10:00 A.M.                                                                                 September 20, 2026

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(*Stand if you are able.)

PRELUDE

REFLECTION TEXT                      Exodus 15:2

The LORD is my strength and my might, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him; my father's God, and I will exalt him. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS                                                                                                   

PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP All Things Bright and Beautiful               Arr. Roberts

CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsive)                                                                                    

Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised.

    God’s greatness is unsearchable.

From generation to generation, we sing of your righteousness.

The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

OPENING PRAYER 

*HYMN 41(Vs. 1, 3, 4, 5)      O Worship the King, All Glorious Above!        LYONS

O worship the King, all glorious above! O gratefully sing God’s power and God’s love:

Our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days, pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.

The earth with its store of wonders untold, Almighty, your power has founded of old;

Established it fast by a changeless decree, and round it has cast, like a mantle, the sea.

Your bountiful care what tongue can recite? It breathes in the air; it shines in the light;

It streams from the hills; it descends to the plain, and sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.

Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail, in you do we trust, nor find you to fail.

Your mercies, how tender, how firm to the end, our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend.

CALL TO CONFESSION                                                                                           

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (In Unison)                                                                   

Almighty God, when we follow the path of Jonah and allow our anger and frustration to cut us off from others, you sit next to us and call us back to your way of mercy, love and redemption. It is one thing to accept these gifts for ourselves; it is another to extend them to those who frustrate us. Forgive us for our anger, resentment, and desire to hoard. We lay these impulses at your feet and ask that you create a new heart within us, one modeled after your steadfast love and generosity. Help us to see the world in new ways. Amen.

MOMENT OF SILENT AND PERSONAL CONFESSION 

ASSURANCE OF PARDON (Responsive)                                                               

Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. The old has gone; a new life has begun. Know that you are forgiven and be at peace.

   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 145: 1-8 (Taken from the Messenger Translation)

SPECIAL MUSIC                         Panis Angelicus                                        Arr. Hopson

                                                       Chancel Choir

O Lord most holy, O loving Father, Thee would we be praising always. Help us to know Thee, know Thee and love Thee; Father, grant us Thy truth and grace; guide and defend us, rule Thou our willful hearts, keep Thine our wandering thoughts. In all our sorrow, let us find our rest in Thee; and in temptation’s hour, save through Thy mighty power. Thine aid O send us; hear us in mercy. Show us Thy favor, so shall we live, and sing praise to Thee.

SECOND SCRIPTURE READING                                                Matthew 20: 1-16

MESSAGE          Life May Not Always Seem Fair       Rev. Christopher Mergener

*HYMN                 Jesus, The Very Thought to Me                                        ST. AGNES

     Jesus the very thought to me with sweetness fills my breast;

But sweeter far your face to see, and in your presence rest.

No voice can sing, no heart can frame, nor can the memory find

A sweeter sound than your blessed name, Savior of humankind.

O hope of every contrite heart, O joy of all the meek,

How kind you are to those apart, how good to those who seek!

Jesus, our joy, our greatest bliss, and you our prize will be;

Our glory here and now is this, and through eternity.

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH                                              

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He arose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.

Amen.

CALL FOR THE OFFERING                    

     Offertory                   Thy Word is a Lamp Unto My Feet                     Arr. Carter

*DOXOLOGY 608 Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow               PRAISE GOD

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise Christ, all people here below;

Praise Holy spirit ever more; praise Triune God, whom we adore.

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION      

PREPARATION FOR PRAYERS 392 (Vs. 1, 4)    

                                              Jesus, We Are Here                  JESUS, TAWA PANO

Jesus, we are here; Jesus, we are here; Jesus, we are here; we are here for you.

Spirit, we are here; Spirit, we are here; Spirit, we are here; we are here for you.

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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