Welcome We are so glad you are here

Welcome! We are so glad you are here!

Before the worship service begins, please turn off your God may be calling YOU, but probably not on your cell phone. Please turn off your cell phone, or put it on vibrate.

CALL TO REFLECTION PRELUDE: The Light of the World Is Jesus arr. Mark Hayes

What life have you without community? T. S. Eliot, Poet

For where there is a community that begins to reflect on your words with religious sincerity, there are you, Christ, the blessed One, humanity’s Liberator. Oscar Romero, Martyred Archbishop of El Salvador

Unshared joy is an unlighted candle. Spanish Proverb

But words are things, and a small drop of ink, falling like dew upon a thought, produces that which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think. Lord Byron, Poet

It ain’t those parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me; it’s the parts that I do understand. Mark Twain

We revere the Bible, but we don’t read it. George Gallup, Pollster

If you are religious, it is easier to read some pious book than the Bible. The Bible treats you like human life – roughly. Oswald Chambers

Unless we form the habit of going to the Bible in bright moments as well as in trouble, we cannot fully respond to its consolations because we lack equilibrium between light and darkness. Helen Keller, acclaimed writer who was blind and deaf

The most extraordinary thing in the world is an ordinary man and an ordinary woman and their ordinary children. G. K. Chesterton

…the most essential engine of child development is not gadgetry or testing, but deep human connection. Erika Christakis, The Importance of Being Little What Preschoolers Really Need from Grown-Ups

All our stories are, in the end, one story, one vast story, about being human, being together, being here. Does the story point beyond itself? Does it mean something?

What is the truth of this interminable, sprawling story we all of us share? . . Either life is holy with meaning or life doesn’t mean a damn thing. You pay your money and you take your choice. Frederick Beuchner

PRAYER OF TRANSFORMATION

HYMN O Word of God Incarnate # 327 in the Blue Hymnals

O Word of God incarnate, O Wisdom from on high, O Truth unchanged, unchanging, O Light of our dark sky: We praise You for the radiance That from the hallowed page, A lantern to our footsteps, Shines on from age to age.

The church from You, dear Savior, Received this gift divine, And still that light is lifted On all the earth to shine. It is the chart and compass That, all life's voyage through, Amid the rocks and quicksands, Still guides, O Christ, to You.

O make Your church, dear Savior, A lamp of purest gold To bear before the nations Your true light, as of old; O teach Your wandering pilgrims By this our path to trace, Till, clouds and darkness ended, We see You face to face.

PRAYER OF FORGIVENESS – (IN UNISON) Adapted from St. Thomas á Kempis (1380 -1471)

O Lord Jesus, let not your word become a judgment upon us, lest we hear it and do not do it, or believe it and do not obey it.

Forgive us when those words become true for us. Lead us to hear and then, to believe and then obey. In your name we pray. Amen.

A TIME OF SILENCE

Assurance of Forgiveness

Glory be to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

A TIME WITH THE

Who are you?

Who are we? We are the body of Christ.

Why are we here? To know God’s love for us.

The News of the Community

Visitors, to First Church! Following worship, please join us on the patio for Juice and coffee.

MARCH IS FAITH AND FAMILY MONTH! — Movie Night with The Star — SEE SIGN-UP SHEET INSERT! — The Annual Easter Egg Hunt and Picnic — TICKETS ON SALE TODAY ON THE PATIO. — Easter Mini Cantata! —

Daylight Saving Time BEGINS NEXT SUNDAY, March 11 th

ANTHEM — Guide My Feet African-American spiritual The Anthem is a prayer. Please, no applause.

Thanksgiving for the Word

O Word of God incarnate, O Wisdom from on high, O Truth unchanged, unchanging, O Light of our dark sky: We praise You for the radiance That from the hallowed page, A lantern to our footsteps, Shines on from age to age.

SCRIPTURE READING— Psalm 119: 97 -105 (Old Testament, Page 568 in NRSV pew Bible)

Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all day long. Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is always with me.

I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your decrees are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts.

I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word. I do not turn away from your ordinances, for you have taught me.

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

* This We Believe (in unison) John 1: 1 -4 NRVS

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being.

What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

HYMN Break Thou the Bread of Life #329, in the Blue Hymnal

Break Thou the bread of life, Dear Lord, to me, As Thou didst break the loaves Beside the sea; Beyond the sacred page I seek Thee, Lord; My spirit pants for Thee, O living Word!

Bless Thou the truth, dear Lord, Now unto me, As Thou didst bless the bread By Galilee; Then shall bondage cease, All fetters fall; And I shall find my peace, My all in all.

OFFERING OUR TITHES AND GIFTS (Visitors, in the pew rack you will find a Guest Information card. Please complete the card, then place it in the offering plate. )

OFFERTORY ANTHEM Lift Your Light Mary Mc. Donald

* The Response of Praise — DOXOLOGY ( #593) Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Christ, all people here below; Praise Holy Spirit evermore; Praise Triune God, whom we adore. Amen.

Offering of Prayer (in unison) Adapted from St. Jerome, 347 -420

O Lord, you have given us your word for a light to shine upon our path; inspire us to meditate on that word and to follow its teaching, that we may find in it the light that shines more and more until the perfect day; through Jesus Christ our Lord, we pray. Amen.

Celebration of the Sacrament of The Lord’s Supper

Invitation to the Lord’s Table Great Thanksgiving (CONGREGATION READS WORDS IN BOLD)

All Sing: In the Lord, I’ll be ever thankful, In the Lord I will rejoice, Look to God, do not be afraid. Lift up your voices, the Lord is near; Lift up your voices, the Lord is near.

The Lord’s Prayer (Debtors version)

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. Forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory. Amen.

Words of Institution Communion of Bread & Cup

Closing Let us talents and tongues employ, reaching out with a shout of joy: bread is broken, the wine is poured, Christ is spoken and seen and heard. Jesus lives again, earth can breathe again, pass the Word around: loaves abound!

Christ is able to make us one, at the table He sets the tone, teaching people to live to bless, Love in word and in deed express. Jesus lives again, earth can breathe again, pass the Word around: loaves abound! Prayer

* CHARGE AND BLESSING Congregational Response: God be with you till we meet again; Loving counsels guide, uphold you, With a Shepherd’s care enfold you; God be with you till we meet again.

Postlude — Prelude and Fugue in G Major J. S. Bach

MORE News of the Community

For information about First Church and our activities, please visit our website: fpcoh. org

A Deacon’s Fund offering will be collected today. Please use the envelope provided in your bulletin.

Just a reminder — we continue to collect hygiene supplies and gently used or new sneakers and blue jeans for the Jubilee Center. The Center has an urgent need for nonperishable food items.

Presbyterian Women’s Spring Luncheon Saturday, March 10, at 11: 45 a. m. at Emerald Hills. TODAY is the reservation deadline!

Monday, March 5 th, 9: 00 a. m. – Noon Friday, March 9 th, 9: 00 a. m. – Noon

EASTER LILIES DEADLINE FOR ORDERING: MARCH 26 TH