First Presbyterian Church of Niles
Morning Worship
10:00 A.M. August 9, 2026
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(*Stand if you are able.)
PRELUDE
REFLECTION TEXT Psalm 105:1-2
O give thanks to the Lord; call on his name; make known his deeds among the peoples. Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP 410 (Vs. 1)
God is Calling through the Whisper W ZLOBIE LEZY
God is calling through the whisper of the Spirit’s deepest sighs,
Through the thrill of sudden beauties that can catch us by surprise.
Flash of lightning, crash of thunder; hush of stillness, rush of wonder:
God is calling — can you hear? God is calling — can you hear?
CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsive)
God speaks peace to the faithful, to those who turn to God in their hearts.
Surely salvation is at hand for those who fear God.
Where God dwells, steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Faithfulness springs up from the ground and righteousness looks down from the sky. God gives what is good and we respond with abundant praise!
OPENING PRAYER
*HYMN 756 O God of Every Nation LLANGLOFFAN
O God of every nation, of every race and land,
redeem the whole creation with your almighty hand.
Where hate and fear divide us and bitter threats are hurled,
in love and mercy guide us and heal our strife-torn world.
From search for wealth and power and scorn of truth and right,
from trust in bombs that shower destruction through the night,
from pride of race and station and blindness to your way,
deliver every nation, eternal God, we pray.
Lord, strengthen those who labor that all may find release
from fear of rattling saber, form dread of war’s increase,
when hope and courage falter, your still small voice be heard;
with faith that none can alter, your servants undergird.
Keep bright in us the vision of days when war shall cease,
when hatred and division give way to love and peace,
till dawns the morning glorious when truth and justice reign
and Christ shall rule victorious o’er all the world’s domain.
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (In Unison)
God our refuge, you hear our cries for mercy. You know our exhaustion, our cynicism, our sense of defeat. You lift the lowly and offer hope to the hopeless. But we are quick to lose perspective and exaggerate critique. We confess the ways we are tempted to give up on the path of righteousness. We pray for your forgiveness. Amen.
MOMENT OF SILENT AND PERSONAL CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF PARDON (Responsive)
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Amen.
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 Romans 10: 5-15
5 Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that “the person who does these things will live by them.” 6 But the righteousness that comes from faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say?
“The word is near you,
in your mouth and in your heart”
(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim), 9 because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For one believes with the heart, leading to righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, leading to salvation. 11 The scripture says, “No one who believe] in him will be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
14 But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? 15 And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
SPECIAL MUSIC God of Great and God of Small Sleeth
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING Matthew 14:22-33
22 Immediately he made the disciples get into a boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. 25 And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”
28 Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
MESSAGE Faith is a Way of Walking Rev. Christopher Mergener
*HYMN When God Restored Our Common Life FOREST GREEN
When God restored our common life, our hope, our liberty,
At first it seemed a passing dream, a waking fantasy;
A shock of joy swept over us, for we had wept so long;
The seeds we watered once with tears sprang up into a song.
We went forth weeping, sowing seeds in hard, unyielding soil;
with laughing hearts we carry home the fruit of all our toil.
we praise the One who gave the growth, with voices full and strong.
the seeds we watered once with tears sprang up into a song.
Great liberating God, we pray for all who are oppressed.
May those who long for what is right with justice now be blest.
We pray for those who mourn this day, and all who suffer wrong;
May seeds they water now with tears spring up into a song.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (In Unison)
We trust in God the Holy Spirit, everywhere the giver and renewer of life.
The Spirit justifies us by grace through faith, sets us free to accept ourselves and to love God and neighbor, and binds us together with all believers in the one body of Christ, the Church. The same Spirit who inspired the prophets and apostles rules our faith and life in Christ through Scripture, engages us through the Word proclaimed, claims us in the waters of baptism, feeds us with the bread of life and the cup of salvation,
and calls women and men to all ministries of the Church. In a broken and fearful world the Spirit gives us courage to pray without ceasing,
to witness among all peoples to Christ as Lord and Savior, to unmask idolatries in Church and culture, to hear the voices of peoples long silenced, and to work with others for justice, freedom, and peace.
CALL FOR THE OFFERING
Offertory: Precious Lord, Take My Hand Arr. Lund
*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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