"If He Is The King"

THE CELEBRATION OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD
CHRIST THE KING

WE GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF HOMEWOOD
MISSION STATEMENT
Through the grace of God, faith in Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit, we prayerfully seek to discern God’s will for this congregation and to reach beyond ourselves to feed the hungry, body and soul. Adopted by Session 7/31/17

PRAYER FOR PEACE ||| Peace Prayer of Saint Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

PRELUDE ||| Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty! ||| John Dykes

*CALL TO CONTINUING WORSHIP
God has looked favorably on all of God’s people and has redeemed all of creation.
God has given us a mighty Savior, the Lord whose reign we celebrate.
We gather to offer our thanks and praise to almighty God.
Let us worship God!

*HYMN 265 ||| Jesus Shall Reign Where'er the Sun ||| Duke Street

 CALL TO CONFESSION
In humility we are called to confess our sin, reaching out in penitence to our Lord and Savior. Trusting in the merciful love of God, let us pray together.

 *PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Gracious Lord, we are quick to identify our enemies and slow to name the ways we hurt others. You lead us in the ways of righteousness, and yet we prefer to walk our own path. We are called to follow your lead in creating a beloved community, yet we idolize wealth and power. Heal us and help us, O God. Turn us from the ways of sin, the means that create unjust ends. Grant that we may seek to be for others what you are for us: a source of light on the way to peace.
(silent prayer)
Amen.

 *DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
Friends, believe the good news of the gospel:
In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Thanks be to God!

 *THE GLORIA 581

 MOMENT WITH OUR CHILDREN ||| Rev. Matt Lang

WELCOME AND CHURCH COMMUNICATIONS

WE HEAR GOD’S WORD

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

FIRST SCRIPTURE READING ||| Jeremiah 23:1-6
1Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the LORD. 2Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the LORD. 3Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. 4I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the LORD. 5The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: "The LORD is our righteousness."

SPECIAL MUSIC

SECOND SCRIPTURE READING ||| Luke 23:33-43
33When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" 36The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, 37and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" 38There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews." 39One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" 40But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." 42Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." 43He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God!

SERMON ||| "If He Is The King" ||| Rev. Matt Lang

WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

*HYMN 223 ||| When I Survey the Wondrous Cross ||| Hamburg

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH ||| The Brief Statement of Faith 1983
In life and in death we belong to God. Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, we trust in the one triune God, the Holy One of Israel, whom alone we worship and serve.
 
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND 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 OF OUR GIFTS

OFFERTORY ||| It Is Well With My Soul ||| Phillip P. Bliss

*DOXOLOGY 606 ||| Old Hundredth
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
For the blessings of this and all our days, we thank you, gracious God. Accept, we pray, not just this money but also our lives freely offered in gratitude for all you have done for us. Use them both, in this place and wherever you might take us. Amen.

WE GO IN GOD’S NAME

*HYMN 268 ||| Crown Him with Many Crowns ||| Diademata

BLESSING
Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever!
Alleluia!

 
CHARGE
To be reconciled to God is to be sent into the world as God’s reconciling community. Christ has called us to this mission and given us the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

POSTLUDE Praise To The Lord, The Almighty ||| Lobe Den Herren

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord! Thanks be to God!

Rev. Matt Lang, Pastor
Mrs. Mary Ann Wenzelman, Interim Organist/Pianist

Worship Liturgist: Jay Ruklic Usher: Laura Dillman
Web Techs: Shirley Armistead, Nancy Beaudoin, Phil Dillman, Kathie Hazlett

• Today, we welcome Geraldine (Geri) Niwranski as our guest musician. Geri has been involved in church music for over 50 years. She has a Bachelor's degree in Piano Performance and a Master's degree in Music Education. Geri has taught elementary music for over 30 years and have been Choral Accompanist at Argo High School and Mother McCaully for many years. Geri was also the Music Director of St. Nicholas of Tolentine and St. James the Apostle parishes. She retired in 2006 and have been subbing at various churches as well as doing private teaching in her home.

 
SCRIPTURES IN WORSHIP – Next Sunday we will be reading Isaiah 2:1-5 and Matthew 24:36-44.

PRAYER CHAIN – If you want prayer requests included on the prayer chain, contact Shirley Armistead at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

THE CARILLON – Please be reminded that today is the deadline to submit your article/s for placement in the December Carillon. E-mail your article/s to the editor at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or place it in “The Carillon” mailbox in the church office.