Order of Worship 11-26-23

SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY

Christ the King Sunday,

November 26th Ten Thirty in the Morning

Minister: Reverend Ochart         

Liturgist: Briana Mayfield

Please silence all cell phones. 

Bold face indicates congregational participation.

✝ Please stand, in body or spirit

THE PEOPLE ARE GATHERED IN

PRELUDE.        Crown Him with Many Crowns       arr. Gina Sprunger

✝PROCESSIONAL HYMN [*BLUE#151] [GTG#268] 

“Crown Him With Many Crowns”

1 Crown him with many crowns, the Lamb upon his throne;

hark, how the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own!

Awake, my soul, and sing of him who died for thee,

and hail him as thy matchless King through all eternity.

2 Crown him the Lord of love; behold his hands and side,

rich wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified:

no angel in the sky can fully bear that sight,

but downward bends his burning eye at mysteries so bright.

3 Crown him the Lord of peace, whose power a scepter sways

from pole to pole, that wars may cease, absorbed in prayer and praise.

His reign shall know no end; and round his pierced feet

fair flowers of paradise extend their fragrance ever sweet.

4 Crown him the Lord of years, the potentate of time;

creator of the rolling spheres, ineffably sublime.

All hail, Redeemer, hail! For thou hast died for me;

thy praise shall never, never fail throughout eternity.

WORDS OF WELCOME           

ADORATION

CALL TO WORSHIP Ps. 100:3

ONE: The Lord is God; we are God’s people.

MANY: We are the sheep of God’s pasture.

                                                   

PRAYER OF THE DAY

God of faithfulness, your servant Josiah restored your holy words to a people longing for your guidance. Help us learn your Scriptures so that we might carry your words in our hearts, in our words, and in our actions. Amen.

✝HYMN OF THE MONTH [GTG# 506] 

“Look Who Gathers at Christ’s Table”

  1. Look who gathers at Christ’s table! Hear the stories that they bring.

Some are weeping; some are laughing;

some have songs they want to sing.

Others ask why they’re invited, burdened by the wrong the’ve done.

Christ insists they all are welcome. there is room for ev’ryone.

  1. Clouds of light surround the table; Ancient followers appear,

saints confessing how they wrestled with their guilt, their doubt and fear.

Peter tells of his denying Christ was ever in his sight;

Paul relates his fruitless efforts to obliterate the light.

  1. Their sad stories are repeated in a thousand diff’rent ways,

but they share one thing in common: they all end in thanks and praise

for the host who has invited north and south and east and west

to converge around this table, where all life is fed and blest.

  1. Bring your joy and bring your sadness, and prepare to be surprised

by the host whose hands are wounded, who will open wide your eyes

when he blesses bread and breaks it– truth and manna from above!–

and then passes wine that wakens in your heart the taste of love.

MESSAGE FOR THE CHILDREN      

 RESPONSE HYMN [GTG#86] 

“The People Who Walked in Darkness” 

  1. The people who walked in darkness awaken to see a great light. 

The people who dwelt in the land of the shadow

 rise to a star shining bright

His name is Wonderful, Counselor, Almighty God, 

Father forever, Prince of Peace

REPENTANCE

CALL TO CONFESSION                                                                  

SILENT CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Almighty God, you love us, but we have not loved you. You call, but we have not listened. We walk away from neighbors in need, wrapped in our own concerns. We condone evil, prejudice, warfare, and greed.

God of grace, help us to admit our sin, so that as you come to us in mercy, we may repent, turn to you, and receive forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our redeemer. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON                     

✝GLORIA PATRI [Blue#579[ [GTG581]     

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.

THE WORD READ AND PROCLAIMED

SCRIPTURE 2 Kings 22:1-10, 11-20; 23:1-3

Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign; he reigned for thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. He did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the way of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.

In the eighteenth year of King Josiah, the king sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, son of Meshullam, the secretary, to the house of the Lord, saying, ‘Go up to the high priest Hilkiah, and have him count the entire sum of the money that has been brought into the house of the Lord, which the keepers of the threshold have collected from the people; let it be given into the hand of the workers who have the oversight of the house of the Lord; let them give it to the workers who are at the house of the Lord, repairing the house, that is, to the carpenters, to the builders, to the masons; and let them use it to buy timber and quarried stone to repair the house. But no account shall be asked from them for the money that is delivered into their hand, for they deal honestly.’

The high priest Hilkiah said to Shaphan the secretary, ‘I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord.’ When Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, he read it. Then Shaphan the secretary came to the king, and reported to the king, ‘Your servants have emptied out the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of the workers who have oversight of the house of the Lord.’ Shaphan the secretary informed the king, ‘The priest Hilkiah has given me a book.’ Shaphan then read it aloud to the king.

When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes. Then the king commanded the priest Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary, and the king’s servant Asaiah, saying, ‘Go, inquire of the Lord for me, for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our ancestors did not obey the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.’

So the priest Hilkiah, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to the prophetess Huldah the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe; she resided in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter, where they consulted her. She declared to them, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Tell the man who sent you to me, Thus says the Lord, I will indeed bring disaster on this place and on its inhabitants—all the words of the book that the king of Judah has read. Because they have abandoned me and have made offerings to other gods, so that they have provoked me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my wrath will be kindled against this place, and it will not be quenched. But as to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, thus shall you say to him, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Regarding the words that you have heard, because your heart was penitent, and you humbled yourself before the Lord, when you heard how I spoke against this place, and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and because you have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, says the Lord. Therefore, I will gather you to your ancestors, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring on this place.’ They took the message back to the king.

Then the king directed that all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem should be gathered to him. The king went up to the house of the Lord, and with him went all the people of Judah, all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests, the prophets, and all the people, both small and great; he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant that had been found in the house of the Lord. The king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the Lord, to follow the Lord, keeping his commandments, his decrees, and his statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. All the people joined in the covenant.

ONE: The Word of the Lord

MANY: Thanks be to God

SERMON                       “Never Too Late”                     Reverend Ochart

 RESPONSE     

✝AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Apostles’ Creed

I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, 

And in Jesus Christ [God’s] only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. 

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

RECEIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY                    “O For a World”

✝ DOXOLOGY  [*BLUE#592] [GTG#606]

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise God, all creatures here below;

Praise God above, ye heavenly hosts;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

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

✝HYMN [*Blue#379][GTG#353] “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less”

  1. My hope is built on nothing less

than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame, 

but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Refrain: On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

all other ground is sinking sand;

all other ground is sinking sand.

  1. When darkness seems to hide his face,

I rest on his unchanging grace;

in every high and stormy gale,

my anchor holds within the veil. [Refrain]

  1. His oath, his covenant, his blood

support me in the whelming flood;

when all around my soul gives way,

he then is all my hope and stay. [Refrain]

  1. When he shall come with trumpet sound,

O may I then in him be found,

dressed in his righteousness alone,

faultless to stand before the throne. [Refrain]

✝PARTING PRAYER     William Bright (1824-1901)

Loving God, you want us to give thanks for all things, to fear nothing except losing you, and to lay all our cares on you, knowing that you care for us. Protect us from faithless fears and worldly anxieties, and grant that no clouds in this mortal life may hide from us the light of your immortal love shown to us your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

✝CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

✝RESPONSE [GTG#44] “Like a Mother Who Has Borne Us” v. 2

2.Like a father who has taught us, 

grasped our hand and been our guide,

Lifted us and healed our sorrows, God has walked with us in life.

POSTLUDE 

     Rejoice, the Lord is King  arr. Gina Sprunger      


Announcements 11-26-23

 Announcements:

ANGEL TREE:  Please remember if you have picked an Angel Tree Child to sponsor return gifts to the church by Dec. 3rd. Please remember to follow all instructions for how to package and drop off your items. 

CHURCH AUCTION!!  Our Church Auction is live on Monday, Nov. 20th at noon. Here is the link: https://www.32auctions.com/JCPChurch You all have donated so many wonderful items. Now we need people to buy them. Don’t forget to share the link or use the flyers we have provided to invite your friends and family. On Facebook go to John Calvin Presbyterian Church’s Facebook page and share the Auction post to your feed. Also don’t forget we also need volunteers to staff our drop-off days and times and pick-up days and times. So if you have available on the 15th or 16th of Dec. please talk with Sue. Also if you have an item you intended to donate but have not had a chance to it get to Louise there is still time. We can add items after the Auction goes live but in order to get as many views as possible for your item the sooner we get it in the Auction the better. So please email Louise as soon as possible.

ALL CHURCH GATHERING OPPORTUNITY: Do you want to see a full solar eclipse and fellowship with your church members and other Presbyterians at the same time? We have a great opportunity to join Presbyterians from all over the country in Little Rock AK for an Intergenerational Creation Care Event culminating with the total solar eclipse at Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center. Please see the insert for more information. You can register with this link https://bit.ly/creationcareevent2024. We are asking everyone to register on their own, so you can select the accommodations that best suit your family. Then let us know that you will be attending. We hope that families and individuals of all ages will join together for this wonderful all-church event. 

ADVENT DEVOTIONALS: Now is a great time to get your advent devotional ordered. Here is this week’s suggestion: Rise Up Shepherd! Advent Reflections on the Spirituals By Luke A. Powery. Valuable not only for their sublime musical expression, the African-American spirituals give us profound insights into the human condition and the Christian life. Many focus on an essential scene of the Christian drama: the coming of God as the child in Bethlehem as the hope of the world and the liberator of God’s oppressed people.

In these devotions for the season of Advent, Luke Powery leads the reader through the spirituals as they confront the mystery of incarnation and redemption. In Rise Up, Shepherd, each devotion features the lyrics of the spiritual, a reflection on the spiritual’s meaning, a Scripture verse, and a brief prayer.

ZOOM ADVENT BIBLE STUDY: Join us each Thursday evening in December at 6:00 PM for a special Zoom Bible Study for Advent. We will be studying the book: Holy Disruption. Holy Disruption presents a fresh understanding of the holiness of Christmas grounded, not in a conventional cozy Christmas message, but through Mark’s disquieting gospel which invites its readers to experience God’s disruptive but transformative love for us and our world. Each week a different teacher will walk us through one of the four advent lessons.You can purchase the book on the PCUSA store or Amazon. If you need a quick Zoom tutorial or refresher prior to the start of the Bible study let Louise or Pastor Aaron know and we will get you set up. 

PLAYSCHOOL HAPPENING AND FUNDRAISERS: Join us on Nov. 29th for a fundraiser. Eat at Reginelli’s between 11:00 am – 9:00 PM and they will donate 10% of your order when you mention the playschool.

POINSETTIAS: Please fill out the form in the bulletin and place it in the offering plate by December 10th.

CHRISTMAS CANTATA: Mark your calendar for Dec. 10th to join us for the Annual Christmas Cantata and the Luncheon to follow. 




ANNOUNCEMENTS


Announcements 11-26-23

 Announcements:

ANGEL TREE:  Please remember if you have picked an Angel Tree Child to sponsor return gifts to the church by Dec. 3rd. Please remember to follow all instructions for how to package and drop off your items. 

CHURCH AUCTION!!  Our Church Auction is live on Monday, Nov. 20th at noon. Here is the link: https://www.32auctions.com/JCPChurch You all have donated so many wonderful items. Now we need people to buy them. Don’t forget to share the link or use the flyers we have provided to invite your friends and family. On Facebook go to John Calvin Presbyterian Church’s Facebook page and share the Auction post to your feed. Also don’t forget we also need volunteers to staff our drop-off days and times and pick-up days and times. So if you have available on the 15th or 16th of Dec. please talk with Sue. Also if you have an item you intended to donate but have not had a chance to it get to Louise there is still time. We can add items after the Auction goes live but in order to get as many views as possible for your item the sooner we get it in the Auction the better. So please email Louise as soon as possible.

ALL CHURCH GATHERING OPPORTUNITY: Do you want to see a full solar eclipse and fellowship with your church members and other Presbyterians at the same time? We have a great opportunity to join Presbyterians from all over the country in Little Rock AK for an Intergenerational Creation Care Event culminating with the total solar eclipse at Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center. Please see the insert for more information. You can register with this link https://bit.ly/creationcareevent2024. We are asking everyone to register on their own, so you can select the accommodations that best suit your family. Then let us know that you will be attending. We hope that families and individuals of all ages will join together for this wonderful all-church event. 

ADVENT DEVOTIONALS: Now is a great time to get your advent devotional ordered. Here is this week’s suggestion: Rise Up Shepherd! Advent Reflections on the Spirituals By Luke A. Powery. Valuable not only for their sublime musical expression, the African-American spirituals give us profound insights into the human condition and the Christian life. Many focus on an essential scene of the Christian drama: the coming of God as the child in Bethlehem as the hope of the world and the liberator of God’s oppressed people.

In these devotions for the season of Advent, Luke Powery leads the reader through the spirituals as they confront the mystery of incarnation and redemption. In Rise Up, Shepherd, each devotion features the lyrics of the spiritual, a reflection on the spiritual’s meaning, a Scripture verse, and a brief prayer.

ZOOM ADVENT BIBLE STUDY: Join us each Thursday evening in December at 6:00 PM for a special Zoom Bible Study for Advent. We will be studying the book: Holy Disruption. Holy Disruption presents a fresh understanding of the holiness of Christmas grounded, not in a conventional cozy Christmas message, but through Mark’s disquieting gospel which invites its readers to experience God’s disruptive but transformative love for us and our world. Each week a different teacher will walk us through one of the four advent lessons.You can purchase the book on the PCUSA store or Amazon. If you need a quick Zoom tutorial or refresher prior to the start of the Bible study let Louise or Pastor Aaron know and we will get you set up. 

PLAYSCHOOL HAPPENING AND FUNDRAISERS: Join us on Nov. 29th for a fundraiser. Eat at Reginelli’s between 11:00 am – 9:00 PM and they will donate 10% of your order when you mention the playschool.

POINSETTIAS: Please fill out the form in the bulletin and place it in the offering plate by December 10th.

CHRISTMAS CANTATA: Mark your calendar for Dec. 10th to join us for the Annual Christmas Cantata and the Luncheon to follow.