First Presbyterian Church of Niles
Sunday Morning Worship
10:00 A.M. June 21, 2026
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(*Stand if you are able.)
PRELUDE
REFLECTION TEXT Psalm 86:10
For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP Siciliano Blake
CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsive)
Not one sparrow will fall to the ground apart from their Creator.
God tells us we are of more value than many sparrows.
God knows us and loves us. Even the hairs of our head are all counted.
We praise you, O God! Grateful are we for your love and care!
OPENING PRAYER
*HYMN 280 Come, O Spirit, Dwell Among Us EBENEZER
Come, O Spirit, dwell among us; come with Pentecostal power;
give the church a stronger vision; help us face each crucial hour.
Built upon a firm foundation, Jesus Christ, the Cornerstone,
still the church is called to mission that God's love shall be made known.
We would raise our alleluias for the grace of yester-years;
for tomorrow's unknown pathway, hear, O Lord, our humble prayers.
In the church's pilgrim journey you have led us all the way;
still in presence move before us, fire by night and cloud by day.
Come, O Spirit, dwell among us; give us words of fire and flame.
Help our feeble lips to praise you, glorify your holy name.
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Three in One: what mystery!
We would sing our loud hosannas now and through eternity.
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (In Unison)
You send us, God of the Great Commission, but we hedge and hesitate. Forgive our fear and our excuses. We are witnesses of your grace and glory but allow others to silence our praise. We imprison ourselves with doubt and shame and fail to shine your light for all to see. Forgive our fears. Free our testimony. Help us be your faithful disciples. Amen.
MOMENT OF SILENT AND PERSONAL CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF PARDON (Responsive)
Through Christ’s death and resurrection, we are a new creation, ready to sing God’s glory and testify to God’s grace. In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and freed. Amen.
Thanks be to God!
PASSING THE PEACE (Responsive)
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 Genesis 21: 8-21
SPECIAL MUSIC His Eye is On the Sparrow Arr. Choplin
Sarai St. Clair
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING Matthew 10:24-39
MESSAGE Jesus Draws a Line Rev. Christopher Mergener
*HYMN If You But Trust in God to Guide You NEUMARK
If you but trust in God to guide you, with hopeful heart through all your ways,
You will find strength, with God beside you, to bear the worst of evil days;
For those who trust God’s changeless love build on the rock that will not move.
Only be still, and wait God’s pleasure in cheerful hope, with heart content,
Trusting that grace which knows no measure will be unbounded Love be sent;
Nor doubt our inmost wants are clear to One who holds us always near.
Sing, pray, and keep God’s ways unswerving; offer your service faithfully,
And trust God’s word, though undeserving, there find the truth to set you free.
God will not fail to guide and bless those who embrace God’s faithfulness.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (In Unison)
We trust in God, whom Jesus called Abba, Father. In sovereign love God created the world good and makes everyone equally in God’s image, male and female, of every race and people, to live as one community. But we rebel against God; we hide from our Creator. Ignoring God’s commandments, we violate the image of God in others and ourselves, accept lies as truth, exploit neighbor and nature, and threaten death to the planet entrusted to our care. We deserve God’s condemnation. Yet God acts with justice and mercy to redeem creation. In everlasting love, the God of Abraham and Sarah chose a covenant people to bless all families of the earth. Hearing their cry, God delivered the children of Israel from the house of bondage. Loving us still, God makes us heirs with Christ of the covenant. Like a mother who will not forsake her nursing child, like a father who runs to welcome the prodigal home, God is faithful still.
CALL FOR THE OFFERING
Offertory Great is Thy Faithfulness Arr. Shackley
*DOXOLOGY What Gift Can We Bring ST. DENIO
This gift we now bring, this present, this token,
These words can convey it, the joy of this day!
When grateful we come, remembering, rejoicing,
This song we now offer in honor and praise!
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
PREPARATION FOR PRAYERS 695 Change My Heart, O God CHANGE MY HEART
Change my heart, O God, make it ever true.
Change my heart, O God, may I be like you.
You are the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me, this is what I pray.
Change my heart, O God, make it ever true.
Change my heart, O God, may I be like you.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE (Responsive) Lord in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
THE LORD’S PRAYER (Unison) Christopher
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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