Fourth Presbyterian Church: A Light in the City

Sunday, June 30
10:00 a.m. Worship Service

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PRELUDE

Psalm Interpretations
Emma Lou Diemer

Psalm 127: “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain”
Psalm 130: “Out of the depths I cry to thee, O Lord!”
Psalm 91: “Those who dwell in the shelter of the Most High”
Psalm 128: “Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways!”

INTROIT
“Christ Is Our Cornerstone”
John Darwall/arr. Theodore Hoelty-Nickel

Christ is our cornerstone, on him alone we build; with his true saints alone the courts of heaven are filled. On his great love our hopes we place of present grace and joys above.

DOXOLOGY
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all creatures here below; praise God above, ye heavenly host; Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

CALL TO WORSHIP AND PRAYER

One: Children of God, as we gather for worship today, listen! God calls us to open our hearts and our hands to one another in need and in abundance.

All: May our worship open our hearts and our hands as we learn to share with one another in all seasons, for we are all one in the body of Christ. Amen.

HYMN
“Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life”

Where cross the crowded ways of life, where sound the cries of race and clan, above the noise of selfish strife, we hear your voice, O Son of Man.

In haunts of wretchedness and need, on shadowed thresholds fraught with fears, from paths where hide the lures of greed, we catch the vision of your tears.

From tender childhood’s helplessness, from human grief and burdened toil, from famished souls, from sorrow’s stress, your heart has never known recoil.

The cup of water given for you still holds the freshness of your grace; yet long these multitudes to view the sweet compassion of your face.

O Master, from the mountainside, make haste to heal these hearts of pain; among these restless throngs abide; O tread the city’s streets again;

Till all the world shall learn your love, and follow where your feet have trod; till glorious from your heaven above shall come the city of our God.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Bountiful God, We fill our lives with the fear of scarcity, assuming there is not enough money, time, patience, or love. We turn away when a stranger asks for nourishment, claiming there isn’t enough even for ourselves. Forgive us when we doubt your abundance and ignore the possibilities in what we have been given. Open our eyes to the wonders that surround us. Help us surrender to the loving embrace that enfolds us. Amen.

DECLARATION OF PARDON
One: Friends, believe the good news.
All: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.

SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
Leader: The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
People: And also with you.

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WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANTHEM

“Shall We Gather at the River?”
Robert Lowry/arr. Heather Graves

Shall we gather at the river, where bright angel feet have trod, with its crystal tide forever flowing by the throne of God? Yes, we’ll gather at the river, the beautiful river, gather with the saints at the river that flows by the throne of God. Here we part from one another, I’m leaving strife and sorrow, soon I’ll reach that shining harbour, walking tall into tomorrow.

FIRST LESSON
James 1:22–25

One: The Word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.

GLORIA PATRI
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost: as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.

SECOND LESSON
Luke 10:25–37

One: Holy Wisdom, holy word.
All: Thanks be to God.

SERMON
“The Right Question Makes All the Difference ”
Tom Are Jr.

HYMN
“The Lord Is Good”

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.

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH

We trust in God, whom Jesus called Abba, Father. In sovereign love God created the world good and makes everyone equally in God’s image, male and female, of every race and people, to live as one community. In everlasting love, the God of Abraham and Sarah chose a covenant people to bless all families of the earth.

Hearing their cry, God delivered the children of Israel from the house of bondage. Loving us still, God makes us heirs with Christ of the covenant. Like a mother who will not forsake her nursing child, like a father who runs to welcome the prodigal home, God is faithful still. Amen.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

THE LORD’S PRAYER

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.

OFFERING

Gifts supporting the ministry and mission of Fourth Church can be made online

OFFERTORY ANTHEM
“This Little Light of Mine”
African American Spiritual/arr. John Leavitt

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine; all the time, let it shine, hallelujah! Everywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine, O children, everywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine, hallelujah!

OFFERTORY RESPONSE
For the life that you have given, for the love in Christ made known, with these fruits of time and labor, with these gifts that are your own: here we offer, Lord, our praises; heart and mind and strength we bring; give us grace to love and serve you, living what we pray and sing.

PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Generous God, accept these offerings of our hands and hearts. May they extend your grace in the world and contribute to abundant life for all your people. Amen.

HYMN
“Take Thou Our Minds, Dear Lord”

Take thou our minds, dear Lord, we humbly pray; give us the mind of Christ each passing day; teach us to know the truth that sets us free; grant us in all our thoughts to honor thee.

Take thou our hearts, O Christ; they are thine own; come thou within our souls and claim thy throne;
help us to shed abroad thy deathless love; use us to make the earth like heaven above.

Take thou our wills, Most High! Hold thou full sway; have in our inmost souls thy perfect way;
guard thou each sacred hour from selfish ease; guide thou our ordered lives as thou dost please.

Take thou ourselves, O Lord, heart, mind, and will; through our surrendered souls thy plans fulfill.
We yield ourselves to thee: time, talents, all; we hear, and henceforth heed, thy sovereign call.

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE
Fanfare
Percy Whitlock

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