First Presbyterian Church of Niles
Morning Worship
10:00 A.M. June 15, 2025
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(* = stand if you are able)
PRELUDE
REFLECTION TEXT Proverbs 8:1-4
Does not wisdom call and understanding raise her voice? On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries out: “To you, O people, I call, and my cry is to all who live.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP Variation on a Theme from Corelli Miller
CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsive)
Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord of hosts.
Heaven and earth
are full of the glory of God!
OPENING PRAYER
*HYMN Praise with Joy the World’s Creator LAUDA ANIMA
Praise with joy the world’s Creator, God of justice, love and peace,
Source and end of human knowledge, grace bestowing without cease.
Celebrate the Maker’s glory, power to rescue and release.
Praise to Christ who feeds the hungry, frees the captive, finds the lost,
Heals the sick, upsets religion, fearless both of fate and cost.
Celebrate Christ’s constant presence—Friend and Stranger, Guest and Host.
Praise the Spirit sent among us, liberating truth from pride,
Forging bonds where race or gender, age or nation dare divide.
Celebrate the Spirit’s treasure—foolishness none dare deride.
Praise the Maker, Christ, and Spirit, one God in Community,
Calling Christians to embody oneness and diversity.
Thus the world shall yet believe when shown Christ’s vibrant unity.
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (In Unison)
Blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, yours is a perfect relationship, one God in three persons, mutual and whole. We confess that our relationships are not that way. We have been too selfish; we have given too much; we have accepted too little. We have failed to love in the manner of Jesus. We have let sin drive us away from one another and from you. We long for wholeness and peace, but our sin pulls us in other directions. Forgive us and restore us. Pull us to you. With mercy and grace, pull us to you. Amen.
MOMENT OF SILENT AND PERSONAL CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF PARDON (Responsive)
With abundant grace and boundless mercy, God relentlessly seeks us out. This is good news! In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
Thanks be to God.
PASSING THE PEACE
As God has forgiven us in Christ let us also forgive one another.
The peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
The sharing of Christ’s peace.
RESPONSE Peace is Flowing Like a River TRADITIONAL
Peace is flowing like a river, flowing out to you and me.
Flowing out into the desert, setting all the captives free.
His love is flowing like a river, flowing out to you and me.
Flowing out into the desert, setting all the captives free.
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
FIRST SCRIPTURE READING Romans 5: 1-5
SPECIAL MUSIC For Where Love Is, There Is God Wagner
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING John 16: 12-25
MESSAGE “Let the Spirit’s Wisdom Guide You!” Rev. Christopher Mergener
*HYMN 317 In Christ There is no East or West MCKEE
In Christ there is no east or west, in him no south or north,
But one great fellowship of love throughout the whole wide earth.
In Christ shall true hearts everywhere their high communion find;
His service is the golden cord close binding humankind.
Join hands, disciples of the faith, what e’er your race may be.
All children of the living God are surely kin to me.
In Christ now meet both east and west; in him meet south and north.
All Christly souls are one in him throughout the whole wide earth.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (In Unison)
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
CALL FOR THE OFFERING
Offertory Holy, Holy, Holy Arr. Ijames
*DOXOLOGY Praise God From Whom all Blessings Flow DOXOLOGY
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God, for all that love has done; Creator, Christ, and Spirit, One!
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
PREPARATION FOR PRAYERS Eternal Spirit of the Living Christ EVENTIDE
Eternal Spirit of the living Christ, I know not how to ask or what to say;
I only know my need, as deep as life, and only you can teach me how to pray.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE (Responsive)
Lord in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
THE LORD’S PRAYER (In Unison)
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 Creator God, Creating Still ST. ANNE
Creator God, creating still, by will and word and deed,
Create a new humanity to meet the present need.
Sustainer God, sustaining still, with strength for every day,
Empower us now to do your will. Correct us when we stray.
Great Triune God, for this new day we need your presence still.
Create, redeem, sustain us now to do your work and will.
*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
All music is reproduced under permission from ccli.com License #11146543.
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All music is reproduced under permission from ccli.com License #11146543.