1. Let us build a house Where love can dwell 

and all can safely live,

a place where saints and children tell 

how hearts learn to forgive.

Built of hopes and dreams and visions, 

rock of faith and vault of grace;

here the love of Christ shall end divisions: 

All are welcome, all are welcome; 

all are welcome in this place. 

3. Let us build a house where love is found 

in water, wine and wheat;

a banquet hall on holy ground 

where peace and justice meet.

Here the love of God, through Jesus,

 is revealed in time and space;

as we share in Christ the feast that frees us:

All are welcome, all are welcome; 

all are welcome in this place. 

WORDS OF WELCOME                                                        

CALL TO WORSHIP: Isa. 55:1

ONE: Let all who thirst come to the waters;

MANY: let all who are hungry come and eat

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Eternal God, your kingdom has broken into our troubled world through the life, death, and resurrection of your Son.

Help us to hear your word and obey it, that we may become instruments of your saving love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever. Amen.

HYMN [BLUE#87*] [GTG#165]  “The Glory of These Forty Days”          

1 The glory of these forty days

we celebrate with songs of praise;

for Christ, by whom all things were made,

himself has fasted and has prayed.

2 Alone and fasting Moses saw

the loving God who gave the law;

and to Elijah, fasting, came

the steeds and chariots of flame.

3 So Daniel trained his mystic sight,

delivered from the lion’s might;

and John, the Bridegroom’s friend, became

the herald of Messiah’s name.

4 Then grant that we like them be true,

consumed in fast and prayer with you;

our spirits strengthen with your grace,

and give us joy to see your face.

MESSAGE FOR THE CHILDREN

CHILDRENS SONG {SUNG AS CHILDREN EXIT} [BLUE#267] [GTG#20]

“All Things Bright and Beautiful”  

All things bright and beautiful,

all creatures great and small,

all things wise and wonderful,

the Lord God made them all.

                       

REPENTANCE

CALL TO CONFESSION                                                                  

SILENT CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION 

God of mercy, you sent Jesus Christ to seek and save the lost. We confess that we have strayed from you and turned aside from your way. We are misled by pride, for we see ourselves pure when we are stained, and great when we are small. We have failed in love, neglected justice, and ignored your truth. 

Have mercy, O God, and forgive our sin. Return us to paths of righteousness through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

KYRIE [GTG Hymnal #575] 

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Christ, have mercy upon us.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON  

THE WORD READ AND PROCLAIMED

SCRIPTURE [Pew Bible NT pg.23 or 24]    Matthew 22:1-14

Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, “Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.” But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, maltreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, “The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.” Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.

‘But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, “Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?” And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, “Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” For many are called, but few are chosen.’

ONE: The Word of the Lord

MANY: Thanks be to God

SERMON:     “Many Are Called”     The Rev. Aaron Ochart

 TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW   

ANNOUNCEMENTS

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH   Theological Declaration of Barmen

3. “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body [is] joined and knit together.” (Eph. 4:15, 16.)

The Christian Church is the congregation of the brethren in which Jesus Christ acts presently as the Lord in Word and Sacrament through the Holy Spirit. As the Church of pardoned sinners, it has to testify in the midst of a sinful world, with its faith as with its obedience, with its message as with its order, that it is solely his property, and that it lives and wants to live solely from his comfort and from his direction in the expectation of his appearance.

 We reject the false doctrine, as though the church were permitted to abandon the form of its message and order to its own pleasure or to changes in prevailing ideological and political convictions.

RECEIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY    “Think on These Things” Mark Patterson

OFFERTORY RESPONSE [GTG 701] “Lord Prepare Me”

Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary, 

pure and holy, tried and true.

With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living sanctuary for you. 

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING

Nominating Committee Report

Ordination and Installation of Elder

STATEMENT on ORDINATION

We are called into the church of Jesus Christ by baptism, and marked as Christ’s own by the Holy Spirit. 

This is our common calling, to be disciples (followers/learners) of Jesus Christ and servants of our servant Lord. 

Within the community of the church, some are called to particular service as deacons, as ruling elders, and as ministers of Word and Sacrament. 

Ordination is Christ’s gift to the whole church, assuring his ministry continues among us.Through ordination, God provides for acts of care and compassion in the world, for the ordering and governance of the church, and for the preaching of the word and celebration of the sacraments. 

PRESENTATION

Representing the one holy catholic and apostolic church, the session of John Calvin Presbyterian Church now ordains Beverly Kennedy and install her to active service as an Elder in this congregation.

CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS

Beverly, in baptism, you were claimed by the love of God, clothed in the grace of Jesus Christ, and anointed with gifts of the Holy Spirit to share Christ’s mission in the world. 

Now you are called by God through the voice of the church for new service and ministry in Jesus’ name. 

In accordance with the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), show your commitment to this calling by responding to these questions:

Do you trust in Jesus Christ your Savior, acknowledge him Lord of all and Head of the Church, and through him believe in one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? I do

Do you accept the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be, by the Holy Spirit, the unique and authoritative witness to Jesus Christ in the Church universal, and God’s Word to you? I do

Do you sincerely receive and adopt the essential tenets of the Reformed faith as expressed in the confessions of our church as authentic and reliable expositions of what Scripture leads us to believe and do, and will you be instructed and led by those confessions as you lead the people of God? I do and I will

Will you fulfill your ministry in obedience to Jesus Christ, under the authority of Scripture, and be continually guided by our confessions? I will

Will you be governed by our church’s polity, and will you abide by its discipline? Will you be a friend among your colleagues in ministry, working with them, subject to the ordering of God’s Word and Spirit? I will

Will you in your own life seek to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, love your neighbors, and work for the reconciliation of the world? I will

Do you promise to further the peace, unity, and purity of the church? I do

Will you pray for and seek to serve the people with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love? I will

(For ruling elders) Will you be a faithful ruling elder, watching over the people, providing for their worship, nurture, and service? Will you share in government and discipline, serving in councils of the church, and in your ministry will you try to show the love and justice of Jesus Christ? I will

QUESTIONS for the CONGREGATION

Do we, the members of John Calvin Presbyterian Church, accept Beverly Kennedy as a ruling elder chosen by God through the voice of this congregation to lead us in the way of Jesus Christ? We do.

Do we agree to pray for them, to encourage them, to respect their decisions, and to follow as they guide us, serving Jesus Christ, who alone is Head of the Church? We do.

Prayer After Ordination and 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.

HYMN [BLUE#76*] [GTG #209]  “My Song is Love Unknown” 

1 My song is love unknown, my Savior’s love to me,

love to the loveless shown that they might lovely be.

O who am I that for my sake

my Lord should take frail flesh, and die?

2 He came from heaven’s throne salvation to bestow;

the world that was his own would not its Savior know.

But O my Friend, my Friend indeed,

who at my need his life did spend!

3 Sometimes we strew his way,and his sweet praises sing,

resounding all the day hosannas to our King.

Then “Crucify!” is all our breath,

and for his death we thirst and cry.

4 Unheeding, we will have our dear Lord made away,

a murderer to save, the prince of life to slay.

Yet steadfast he to suffering goes,

that he his foes from thence might free.

5 Here might I stay and sing, no story so divine:

never was love, dear King, never was grief like thine.

This is my Friend, in whose sweet praise

I all my days could gladly spend.

PARTING PRAYER (St. Patrick)

Lord, be with us this day- within us to purify us; above us to draw us up; beneath us to sustain us; before us to lead us; behind us to restrain us; around us to protect us. Amen. 

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

RESPONSE [GTG#771] “What is the World Like”

2. What is the world like when God’s will is done?

Witness the wandering child coming home;

watch as the parent breaks into a run.

This is how God longs for us when we roam.

POSTLUDE:    Toccata Belier       

*Note: the hymn lyrics in the bulletin and on the projection screen are from the Glory To God Hymnal (© 2013 Westminster John Knox Press), which we are transitioning to. Words in the “Blue” Presbyterian Hymnal (© 1990) in your pew may differ slightly.

Participating in today’s service are Rev. Aaron Ochart, Pastor; Louise Ochart, CE Leader; Sam Garnett, Music Director; and Kelly Cuppett, Assistant Music Director. Appreciation to Dennis Lauland. Mike Fortin, and David Garland for the video production of today’s service. 

The Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by Permission. All Rights Reserved. 

STAFF

Church Office 504.888.1375

Playschool Office           504.888.1378

The Reverend Aaron Ochart – Head of Staff

Louise Ochart – Christian Education Leader

Sam Garnett – Music Director

Kelly Cuppett – Assistant Music Director

Lauren Oufnac – Playschool Director

Stephanie Galliano – Playschool Admin. Asst.

For more information, visit our website at www.JohnCalvinChurch.org

 or find us @JohnCalvinMetairie on

JCPC Prayer Team You may write your prayer request on one of the forms, located in the pew rack in front of you, and place it in the offering plate. You may also enter prayer requests on-line at www.johncalvinchurch.org, just click  “Prayer Request.”