Worship

9 & 11:15 a.m. every Sunday

Welcome to worship at first pres

Giving

You may give on Sundays in the giving boxes in the back of the sanctuary, or you can give through several convenient, online methods, including by texting your gift.

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Text FIRSTPRESHBG to 73256, followed by your gift amount, to give online through text.

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First Presbyterian Church
17 Court Square
Harrisonburg, VA 22802

Worship Guide

9 a.m.

Gathering Songs: DESERT SONG / HOLY HOLY HOLY

Welcome and Announcements

Call to Worship: (St. Patrick’s Breastplate – excerpts)

One: I arise today through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, through belief in the Threeness, through confession of the Oneness of the Creator of creation.

All: I arise today through the strength of Christ’s birth with His baptism, through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial, through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension, through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.

One: I arise today, through God’s strength to pilot me, God’s might to uphold me, God’s wisdom to guide me, God’s eye to look before me, God’s ear to hear me, God’s word to speak for me, God’s hand to guard me, God’s shield to protect me, God’s host to save me.

All: Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.

One: I arise today through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, through belief in the Threeness, through confession of the Oneness of the Creator of creation.

All: Let us worship Him!

CHRIST BE ALL AROUND ME / A THOUSAND HALLELUJAHS

First Scripture Lesson: Psalm 1 (p. 532)

Prayer of Confession & Assurance of Forgiveness: (Adapted from “Celtic Daily Prayer”)

One: God our Father, You have set forth the way of life for us in Your beloved Son. We confess with shame our slowness to learn from Him, our reluctance to follow Him. You have spoken and called, and we have not given heed. Your beauty has shone forth, and we have been blind.

All: Be tender in your mercy, Lord, be tender in Your mercy.

One: Forgive us, that we have not loved You with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, with all our strength. We have taken much and returned little thanks; we have been unworthy of Your unchanging love. Forgive us our coldness and indifference, our lack of constant love, our unbelief, our false pretenses, our refusal to understand Your ways.

All: Be tender in Your mercy, Lord, be tender in your mercy.

One: Hear these words from Jonah 2: “In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me.

From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry… You, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit.  But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’” Friends, hear and believe the good news of the Gospel.

All: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven and made righteous.

Prayers of the People

HALLELUJAH FOR THE CROSS

Children’s Message

Sermon Title: “The Practice of Scripture”

Scripture: Luke 4:1-13 (p.1017)

JESUS WHAT A FRIEND FOR SINNERS / CHRIST IS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE

Benediction

11:15 a.m.

Prelude: Karen Holl, Pianist

Gathering Hymn: SING PRAISE TO GOD WHO REIGNS ABOVE (483) vs. 1,2,4

Welcome and Announcements

Call to Worship: (St. Patrick’s Breastplate – excerpts)

One: I arise today through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, through belief in the Threeness, through confession of the Oneness of the Creator of creation.

All: I arise today through the strength of Christ’s birth with His baptism, through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial, through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension, through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.

One: I arise today, through God’s strength to pilot me, God’s might to uphold me, God’s wisdom to guide me, God’s eye to look before me, God’s ear to hear me, God’s word to speak for me, God’s hand to guard me, God’s shield to protect me, God’s host to save me.

All: Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.

One: I arise today through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, through belief in the Threeness, through confession of the Oneness of the Creator of creation.

All: Let us worship Him!

HOLY HOLY HOLY (138)

First Scripture Lesson: Psalm 1 (p. 532)

Prayer of Confession & Assurance of Forgiveness: (Adapted from “Celtic Daily Prayer”)

One: God our Father, You have set forth the way of life for us in Your beloved Son. We confess with shame our slowness to learn from Him, our reluctance to follow Him. You have spoken and called, and we have not given heed. Your beauty has shone forth, and we have been blind.

All: Be tender in your mercy, Lord, be tender in Your mercy.

One: Forgive us, that we have not loved You with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, with all our strength. We have taken much and returned little thanks; we have been unworthy of Your unchanging love. Forgive us our coldness and indifference, our lack of constant love, our unbelief, our false pretenses, our refusal to understand Your ways.

All: Be tender in Your mercy, Lord, be tender in your mercy.

One: Hear these words from Jonah 2: “In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me.

From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry… You, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit.  But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’” Friends, hear and believe the good news of the Gospel.

All: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven and made righteous.

Prayers of the People

HOW FIRM A FOUNDATION (361) vs. 1,2,4,5

Anthem: “Hear My Words” (Choir)

Sermon Title: “The Practice of Scripture”

Scripture: Luke 4:1-13 (p.1017) 

JESUS WHAT A FRIEND FOR SINNERS vs. 1,2,4,5

Benediction

Discussion Questions
  • Psalm 1 tells us the person who meditates on Scripture is “like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season…” What fruit have you experienced or seen coming out of those who are invested in the Scriptures?
  • What, if any, are your regular practices around the Scriptures? How, if at all, do you see those practices helping you become more Christlike? How do you pair Scripture with the other practices we have considered (humble submission, silence and solitude, fasting, and prayer)?
  • Would you consider adopting some new or additional practices around the Scriptures (reading, meditating, memorizing, studying)? Why or why not? If you did pick up additional habits around the Scriptures how what outcomes would you hope for?
  • How did Jesus use Scripture to overcome temptation? How might you use scripture to overcome temptation?
  • How did the devil attempt to use scripture to tempt Jesus and how do you see the devil doing the same thing today to tempt us? How does the principle of Scripture interpreting Scripture help us “correctly handle the word of truth?” (2 Timothy 2:15)