Homecrest Presbyterian Church Worship of the Lord’s Day February 18th, 2018 1st Sunday in Lent

Gathering Around the WORD Call to Worship From water to wilderness: God’s covenant continues; God’s kingdom comes near. On stone and in hearts: From the ancestor of nations to the Son lifted up: We follow Jesus on this Lenten path. For where he is, we would be also.

Gathering Around the WORD Gathering Hymn # 167 “Forty Days and Forty Nights” Forty days and forty nights you were fasting in the wild; forty days and forty nights tempted, and yet undefiled.

Gathering Around the WORD Gathering Hymn # 167 “Forty Days and Forty Nights” Shall not we your sorrow share and from worldly joys abstain, fasting with unceasing prayer, strong with you to suffer pain?

Gathering Around the WORD Gathering Hymn # 167 “Forty Days and Forty Nights” Then if Satan on us press, flesh or spirit to assail, victor in the wilderness, grant that we not faint nor fail!

Gathering Around the WORD Gathering Hymn # 167 “Forty Days and Forty Nights” So shall we have peace divine: holier gladness ours shall be; round us, too, shall angels shine, such as served you faithfully.

Gathering Around the WORD Gathering Hymn # 167 “Forty Days and Forty Nights” Keep, O keep us, Savior dear, ever constant by your side, that with you we may appear at the eternal Eastertide.

Gathering Around the WORD Call to Confession We cannot earn God’s grace or favor. It comes to us, not as something owed, but as a gift freely given to us. As ashes and dusts, we come acknowledging that we are in need to God’s grace. For God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. Let us confess our sins and repent of all unrighteousness.

Gathering Around the WORD Prayer of Confession (in Unison) God of mercy, we begin this Lenten season in confession. We do not live according to your ways, but according to our own. We condone violence, participate in systems of injustice, and use power to our own advantage at the expense of others. Forgive us, we pray, when we are tempted to follow paths other than those you set before us.

Gathering Around the WORD Prayer of Confession (in Unison) Teach us your commandments; help us to turn from evil in its many guises, and turn us toward your kingdom drawing near. In covenantal love, remember us, we pray, Amen.

Gathering Around the WORD Declaration of Forgiveness As Noah and his family were brought safely through the flood onto dry ground, so in baptismal waters we are brought from death into new life in Christ. Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of God, forgive us and reconciles us and all things in heaven and on earth. Thanks be to God, Amen.

Gathering Around the WORD 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.

Gathering Around the WORD Passing of the Peace of Christ

Proclaiming the WORD Message to the Youth/ Prayer of Illumination

Proclaiming the WORD Scripture Reading (Genesis 9:8-17) 8Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9“As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, 10and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. 11I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

Proclaiming the WORD Scripture Reading (Genesis 9:8-17) 12God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.

Proclaiming the WORD Scripture Reading (Genesis 9:8-17) 16When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

Proclaiming the WORD Scripture Reading (1 Peter 3:18-22) 18For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, 19in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, 20who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight people, were saved through water.

Proclaiming the WORD Scripture Reading (1 Peter 3:18-22) 21And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you — not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.

Proclaiming the WORD (Genesis 9:8-17 and I Peter 3:18-22) Removing Our Dirt

Responding Hymn # 418 “Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling” Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, calling for you and for me. See, on the portals he’s waiting and watching, watching for you and for me. “Come home, come home! You who are weary, come home.” Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling, “O sinner, come home!”

Responding Hymn # 418 “Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling” Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading, pleading for you and for me? Why should we linger and heed not his mercies, mercies for you and for me? “Come home, come home! You who are weary, come home.” Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling, “O sinner, come home!”

Responding Hymn # 418 “Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling” O for the wonderful love he has promised, promised for you and for me! Though we have sinned, he has mercy and pardon, pardon for you and for me. “Come home, come home! You who are weary, come home.” Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling, “O sinner, come home!”

Bearing and Following the WORD into the World Affirmation of Faith Presbyterian Church (USA) – A Brief Statement of Faith (Section 3) We trust in God the Holy Spirit, everywhere the giver and renewer of life. The Spirit justifies us by grace through faith, sets us free to accept ourselves and to love God and neighbor, and binds us together with all believers in the one body of Christ, the Church.

Bearing and Following the WORD into the World Affirmation of Faith Presbyterian Church (USA) – A Brief Statement of Faith (Section 3) The same Spirit who inspired the prophets and apostles rules our faith and life in Christ through Scripture, engages us through the Word proclaimed, claims us in the waters of baptism, feeds us with the bread of life and the cup of salvation, and calls women and men to all ministries of the church.

Bearing and Following the WORD into the World Affirmation of Faith Presbyterian Church (USA) – A Brief Statement of Faith (Section 3) In a broken and fearful world the Spirit gives us courage to pray without ceasing, to witness among all peoples to Christ as Lord and Savior, to unmask idolatries in Church and culture, to hear the voices of peoples long silenced, and to work with others for justice, freedom, and peace.

Bearing and Following the WORD into the World Affirmation of Faith Presbyterian Church (USA) – A Brief Statement of Faith (Section 3) In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit, we strive to serve Christ in our daily tasks and to live holy and joyful lives, even as we watch for God’s new heaven and new earth, praying, “Come, Lord Jesus!”

Bearing and Following the WORD into the World Affirmation of Faith Presbyterian Church (USA) – A Brief Statement of Faith (Section 3) With believers in every time and place, we rejoice that nothing in life or in death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Bearing and Following the WORD into the World Announcements & Sharing of Joys and Concerns The afternoon Bible Study Group will NOT be meeting today, It will resume next Sunday downstairs at 12:30 in the basement. The Women's Group will continue to meet on Wednesdays at 7:30pm over at the Manse (2048 E 14th Street). They are currently studying the book of Isaiah. For more information, please contact Margaret or Cara.

Bearing and Following the WORD into the World Announcements & Sharing of Joys and Concerns The Presbytery of NYC will be holding its annual Leadership Development/Resource Day on Saturday, 2/24 (9an-3pm) at Brick Presbyterian Church (E 92nd St/Park Ave). The church will sponsor those who wish to attend this event. Please see Pastor if you are interested.  

Bearing and Following the WORD into the World Announcements & Sharing of Joys and Concerns The Lenten Season is upon us, beginning with Ash Wednesday of this week. We will be having only one day of Lenten Breakfast NEXT Sunday morning 2/25. Please come out early to support the denominational-wide One Great Hour of Sharing.

Bearing and Following the WORD into the World Announcements & Sharing of Joys and Concerns Women’s Sunday will be on 3/4. Rev. Grace Bowen will be our guest speaker for that day. The worship will be led by the women of Homecrest.

Bearing and Following the WORD into the World Announcements & Sharing of Joys and Concerns Save-The-Date. Our Annual St. Patrick’s Day Dinner will be held on Saturday, 3/10 at 6pm. More information will be forthcoming.

Bearing and Following the WORD into the World Prayer of the People & The Lord’s Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven. Halloweth 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 temptations, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory forever. Amen.

Bearing and Following the WORD into the World Offering of our Gifts and our Lives Musical Offering

Bearing and Following the WORD into the World Doxology and Offertory Prayer

Sending Hymn #49 “The God of Abraham Praise” The God of Abraham praise, who reigns enthroned above, the Ancient of Eternal Days, the God of love! The Lord, the great I am, by earth and heaven confessed, we bow before your holy name, forever blest.

Sending Hymn #49 “The God of Abraham Praise” Your spirit still flows free, high surging where it will. In prophet's word you spoke of old and you speak still. Established is your law, and changeless it shall stand, deep writ upon the human heart by your strong hand.

Sending Hymn #49 “The God of Abraham Praise” Your goodly land we seek, with peace and plenty blest, a land of sacred liberty and Sabbath rest. There milk and honey flow, and oil and wine abound, and trees of life forever grow with mercy crowned.

Sending Hymn #49 “The God of Abraham Praise” You have eternal life implanted in the soul; your love shall be our strength and stay, while ages roll. We praise you, living God! We praise your holy name: the first, the last, beyond all thought, and still the same!

Bearing and Following the WORD into the World The Charge and Benediction

Bearing and Following the WORD into the World Benediction Response # 542 “God Be with You Till We Meet Again” (Stanza 1) 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.  

Homecrest Presbyterian Church Worship of the Lord’s Day February 18th, 2018 1st Sunday in Lent