Skip to main content

5.17.20 - Love and Obedience




Welcome to First Presbyterian Sterling Online!

Visit past services at firstonsecond.blogspot.com.
God’s People Gather 

*Prelude with Amy

Prelude Pondering
There would be no sense in saying you trusted a person if you would not take his advice. Thus if you have really handed yourself over to Christ, it must follow that you are trying to obey him. But trying in a new way, a less worried way. Not doing these things in order to be saved, but because he has begun to save you already. Not hoping to get to heaven as a reward for your actions, but inevitably wanting to act in a certain way because a first faint gleam of heaven is already inside you.
― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

*Call to Worship with Henry

Leader: Jesus promised he would ask God to send an advocate.
People: To help us and be with us forever.
Leader: Jesus promised that the Spirit would be the spirit of truth.
People: The world couldn’t accept it, but we know the Spirit is with us.
Leader: Jesus promised to be with us and within us and among us.
People: He did not leave us orphaned.
Leader: Jesus is with us now, here, today,
People: In the Spirit of love and community.
Leader: Because Jesus promised.
ALL: Let us worship God!

*Opening Song - Love Divine All Loves Excelling


*Call to Confession, Prayer of Confession, & Assurance of Pardon with Henry & Christina

The proof of God’s amazing love is this: while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Trusting in this amazing love, let’s pray together our prayer of confession.

Holy God, you created us and fashioned us into a people, called us together and made us a congregation. Through your son, you redeemed us from slavery to sin and death. But still, we do not obey you! Christ told us that the greatest commandment is to love you and to love our neighbors, and we continually fail to obey it. We strive against you rather than fall into your arms of grace. We compete with one another rather than celebrate others’ gifts and accomplishments. We sit by silently when we should speak out against injustice. We let jealousy overshadow joy, and we let envy elbow out encouragement. Forgive us, God! Cleanse our hearts and teach us that to love you is to obey the law of love you have given to us, even as you gave us grace in Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray.

Silence is kept

Leader: Dear friends, even when we cannot find the words to express our regrets; even when we are speechless as we confess our sins; the Spirit Jesus sent is with us, showing us how to pray, comforting us, and guiding us to grace. Rejoice and be glad:
People: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God! Amen.

*Response - Glory to God


*Sharing the Peace of Christ

Leader: Because of Jesus Christ, we have peace with God! Let us now share that peace with one another, saying: The peace of Christ be with you.
People: And also with you.

God’s Word is Proclaimed

Children’s Time with Nan


*Scripture Reading - John 14:15-21& Sermon - Radical Obedience

[Jesus said] “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. I will ask the Father, and he will send another Companion, who will be with you forever. This Companion is the Spirit of Truth, whom the world can’t receive because it neither sees him nor recognizes him. You know him, because he lives with you and will be with you. I won’t leave you as orphans. I will come to you. Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you will live too. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them loves me. Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”


Responding to God’s Word

*Offering- God Calling

If you are able, please continue to send in your offering and pledge.

If you are enrolled in electronic funds transfer, there is no need to do anything different. If you would like to give online using Paypal, click this link:
*Prayer of Dedication
You are so generous, God! How can we respond except with our own giving? We offer our gifts, our selves, and our love to you, so that others may know you. In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.

*Pastoral Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer 


God’s People are Sent

*Closing Song & Benediction - Christ Beside Me

Leader:….and let all God’s people say… People: Alleluia! Amen!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Holy Humor Sunday

Worship Service First Presbyterian Church Sterling, Illinois Holy Humor Sunday April 15, 2012 This was our third annual Holy Humor worship, and I think our best ever. The week before Palm Sunday, we handed out postcards for our folks to invite their friends and neighbors for Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Easter and Holy Humor Sunday. We sent a press release (see it at the end of this post) to the local paper, and it ran on Saturday the 14 th . We also put the word out on Facebook. We used our regular order of worship, but the bulletin had rebus pictures instead of words (for example a picture of a phone, the numeral 2, and a picture of a battleship – “Call to Worship” Get it?!) The chancel was strewn with balloons, red Solo cups, party hats, streamers and confetti. There was confetti up and down the aisles, and smiley face helium balloons where the flowers normally are. There were “joke breaks” and the jokes are included here, plus a few brave members shared their ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Aslan’s Roar

December 23, 2018 Isaiah 2:2–5; Philippians 2:5-11 First Presbyterian Church, Sterling IL Christina Berry Our first reading on this last Sunday in Advent is from the prophet Isaiah. It speaks of a time “in the days to come” when all nations will come to worship God and walk in God’s paths. This passage also contains the familiar language describing peace, when weapons of war are transformed into tools of agriculture, and people study war no more. Let’s listen for God’s word to us in Isaiah 2:2–5. In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nation...
Post a Comment
Read more

12.6.20

Welcome to First Presbyterian Sterling Online!  Visit past services at  firstonsecond.blogspot.com .  Click here  for an automatic playlist that plays this week's videos. (Click "Play All.") Click here  for the online bulletin. Good morning, friends! Welcome to the first week of Advent! You will find the service videos available  here . Just click on "Play All" or choose the individual videos that you want to watch. (Scroll down and look at the picture at the bottom if you need help.) For those that like to read along,  here  is the online bulletin! Online giving at  bit.ly/FPCsterling . Thank you for joining us! And for anyone who needs a little extra help....here's what the service looks like and where to click once you get there!
Post a Comment
Read more