First Presbyterian Church of Niles
Morning Worship
10:00 A.M. August 23, 2026
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(*Stand if you are able.)
PRELUDE
REFLECTION TEXT Psalm 124:8
Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP The Gift of Love Arr. Harbach
CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsive)
Hear O Israel! I am calling! Are you listening?
We are here and we are ready.
Beloved Children, who do you say that I am?
You are our rock and our redeemer. Our trust is in you. Our hearts, minds and souls belong to you!
I created you, named you and have a calling for your life.
We give thanks with our whole hearts for your steadfast love!
OPENING PRAYER
*HYMN All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name CORONATION
All hail the power of Jesus’ name! Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Christ servant of all!
Attend the Savior’s sovereign claim, and crown Christ servant of all.
All heirs of Israel’s chosen race, now ransomed from the fall,
Proclaim the wonders of God’s grace, and crown Christ healer of all.
Proclaim the wonders of God’s grace, and crown Christ healer of all.
Before the cross, with heaven’s throng, we on our knees shall fall;
We’ll join the everlasting song, and crown Christ savior of all.
We’ll join the everlasting song, and crown Christ savior of all.
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (In Unison)
God of truth, like a moth that gnaws at wool, our brokenness eats away at our souls. We allow the cacophony of greed, selfishness, apathy and ignorance to drown out your voice as you call us to see the suffering in our world and respond to the needs of your children. In our busy lives, we convince ourselves that there is no time to help, no space for prayer and no need for justice. Forgive us. Remind us that only when we slow down and breathe deeply of your Holy Spirit and holy Word can our ears hear your voice. Inspire us to greater love for you and for one another.
MOMENT OF SILENT AND PERSONAL CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF PARDON (Responsive)
We know love and forgiveness because God first loved us and has been calling out to us forever, “You are my beloved!” May we respond to such abundant grace with deep gratitude for God’s unending forgiveness. In 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.
Please share the sign of peace with one another.
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 Psalm 138
SPECIAL MUSIC Fount of Every Blessing Larson
Chancel Choir
God of every gift and blessing, we gather this day to give You glory, to give You honor, our worship and praise! Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace; streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise. Teach me some melodious sonnet sung by flaming tongues above; praise His name, I’m fixed upon it, name of God’s redeeming love. Here I raise my Ebenezer, hither by Thy help I’ve come, and I hope, by Thy good pleasure, safely to arrive at home. Jesus sought me when a stranger wandering from the fold of God. He, to rescue me from danger, bought me with His precious blood. O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be! Let Thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love; here’s my heart, O take and seal it for Thy courts above.
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING Romans 12: 1-8
MESSAGE Are We All One Body in Christ? Rev. Christopher Mergener
*HYMN Let Kings and Prophets Yield Their Name MELITA
Let kings and prophets yield their name to Jesus, true Anointed One,
For whom a nation looked in hope yet failed to see that God had done
A strange and unexpected thing: God sent a servant, not a king.
But God reveals to searching faith the truths that pious dogmas hide:
When Jesus asked the twelve his name, blunt Peter stepped forth and replied
In words that seemed both right and odd: “You are Messiah, Son of God.”
Give us, O God, the grace to know the limits of our certainty:
Help us, like Peter, to declare the still unfolding mystery
Of One who reigns though sacrificed, our Lamb and Shepherd, Jesus Christ.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (In Unison) (The Confession of 1967, inclusive language)
The new life finds its direction in the life of Jesus, his deeds and words, his struggles against temptation, his compassion, his anger, and his willingness to suffer death. The teaching of apostles and prophets guides men and women in living this life, and the Christian community nurtures and equips them for their ministries. The members of the church are emissaries of peace and seek the good of all in cooperation with powers and authorities in politics, culture, and economics. But they have to fight against pretensions and injustices when these same powers endanger human welfare. Their strength is in their confidence that God’s purpose rather than human schemes will finally prevail. Life in Christ is life eternal. The resurrection of Jesus is the sign that God will consummate the work of creation and reconciliation beyond death and bring to fulfillment the new life begun in Christ.
CALL FOR THE OFFERING
Offertory Like the Murmur of the Dove’s Song Arr. Carter
*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. Amen.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
PREPARATION FOR PRAYERS Here, Savior, in this Quiet Place LAND OF REST
Here, Savior, in this quiet place, where anyone may kneel,
I also come to ask for grace, believing you can heal.
You never said, “You ask too much,” to any troubled soul.
I long to feel your healing touch─ will you not make me whole?
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE (Responsive)
Lord in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
THE LORD’S PRAYER (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 Let There Be Peace On Earth LET THERE BE PEACE
Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me;
Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.
With God our creator, children all are we.
Let us walk with each other in perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me; let this be the moment now.
With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow:
To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.
*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
All music is reproduced under permission from ccli.com License #11146543.
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