16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
July 21st, 2024 Ten Thirty in the morning
Preacher: Elder Robert Lowry
Liturgist: Beverly Ross
Please silence all cell phones.
Bold face indicates congregational participation.
Please stand, in body or spiritPROCESSIONAL HYMN [*Blue #263][GTG#12]
Immortal Invisible God Only Wise
1 Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
in light inaccessible hid from our eyes
most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
almighty victorious thy great name we praise
2 Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might:
thy justice, like mountains high soaring above;
thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.
3 To all, life thou givest, to both great and small.
In all life thou livest, the true life of all.
We blossom and flourish like leaves on the tree,
then wither and perish; but naught changeth thee.
Thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight.
All praise we would render; O help us to see
‘tis only the splendor of light hideth thee!
WORDS OF WELCOME
ADORATION
CALL TO WORSHIP Ephesians 2:19
ONE: In Christ we are no longer strangers;
MANY: we are members of the household of God.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Eternal God, Author of our life and End of our pilgrimage: Guide us by Your Word and Spirit amid all perils and temptations, that we may not wander from Your way, nor stumble in the darkness; but may finish our course in safety, and come to our eternal rest in You; through the grace and merit of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
HYMN [GTG#753] Make Me a Channel of Your Peace
1 Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me bring your love.
Where there is injury, your pardon, Lord,
and where there’s doubt, true faith in you.
2 Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there’s despair in life, let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness, only light,
and where there’s sadness, ever joy.
3 O, Master, grant that I may never seek
so much to be consoled, as to console
to be understood, as to understand,
to be loved, as to love with all my soul.
4 Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
in giving of ourselves that we receive,
and in dying that we’re born to eternal life.
REPENTANCE
CALL TO CONFESSION
SILENT CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Holy and merciful God, in Your presence we confess our failure to be what You created us to be. You alone know how often we have sinned in wandering from Your ways, in wasting Your gifts, in forgetting Your love. By Your loving mercy, help us to live in Your light and abide in Your ways, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Savior. 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
1st SCRIPTURE 1 Timothy 1:12-17 NIV
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
2nd SCRIPTURE Romans 8:1 NIV
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
ONE: The Word of the Lord
MANY: Thanks be to God
SERMON “No Condemnation” Elder Robert Lowry
RESPONSE
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day, he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
RECEIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS
DOXOLOGY [GTG#606]
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, ye heavenly host;
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
THE LORD’S PRAYER
HYMN [*Blue #298][GTG#435] There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy
1 There’s a wideness in God’s mercy, like the wideness of the sea.
There’s a kindness in God’s justice, which is more than liberty.
There is no place where earth’s sorrows are more felt than up in heaven. There is no place where earth’s failings have such kindly judgment given.
2 For the love of God is broader than the measures of the mind.
And the heart of the Eternal is most wonderfully kind.
If our love were but more faithful, we would gladly trust God’s Word,
and our lives reflect thanksgiving for the goodness of our Lord.
PARTING PRAYER
CHARGE AND BENEDICTIONRESPONSE GTG#850 In a Deep, Unbounded Darkness
In a deep, unbounded darkness, long before the first light shone,
You O God beyond all merit worked a wonder faith made known:
in your mercy, in your mercy, you embraced us as your own,
evermore and evermore.
POSTLUDE Improvisation on ST. DENIO
*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.
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.
*Robert Lowry bio
Robert has been Pulpit Supply in Southeast Louisiana Presbyterian Churches for 30 years. Robert is continually influenced by Rev Douglas Wilson of Moscow, Idaho. In addition, Robert is a “preacher’s kid”. His father, Rev. Louis Lowry, was a Southern Baptist Minister for 47 years.
Before becoming PSL Pulpit Supply, Robert held many lay leadership positions. He has served as a deacon, an elder, and as the clerk of session. He was not only a Stephen Minister, but he also trained the Stephen Minister group at the Hammond church.
Robert is currently a member of Highland Presbyterian Church in Baton Rouge.
Robert was born & reared in Beaumont, Texas. He has four children, two girls and two boys, all in their 30’s & early 40’s; he has three grandchildren. He resides in Gonzales. He is a Professional Engineer and a recently retired Quality Control Consultant.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-l-lowry-18a99861
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STAFF |
Church Office: 504.888.1375 Playschool Office: 504.888.1378
Briana Mayfield – Church Office Assistant
Kelly Cuppett – Music Director
Lauren Crisler – Playschool Director
Stephanie Galliano – Playschool Admin. Asst.
Deacons
Linda Lowry 504-874-3266 llowry321@gmail.com
Bill Bottomley 504-885-3850 pslclerk@earthlink.net
Mary Antill 504-247-5720 buzz2moosetaco@gmail.com
Tony Hill 504-214-8095 rolandohill2003@yahoo.com
Laurie Hill 504-344-9079 la.tres@yahoo.com
For more information, visit our website at www.JohnCalvinChurch.org
or find us @JohnCalvinMetairie on Facebook and Instagram.