First Presbyterian Church of Niles
Sunday Morning Worship
With Communion
10:00 A.M. March 3, 2026
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PRELUDE
REFLECTION TEXT Psalm 31:1
In you, O Lord, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP Simple Gifts Arr. Harris
CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsive)
Our God refuses to shame us. God’s justice delivers us.
Praise God, in whom we seek shelter and guidance!
Our God listens to us. God rescues us from danger.
Praise God, in whom we seek shelter and guidance!
Our God renews our spirits. God is always faithful.
Praise God, in whom we seek shelter and guidance!
We trust our God. Let us worship God, whom we call ours.
Praise God, in whom we seek shelter and guidance!
OPENING PRAYER
*HYMN Sing Praise to God, Our Highest Good MIT FREUDEN ZART
Sing praise to God, our highest good, profound respect expressing.
God gives us health, life, livelihood, and every needed blessing.
To God, who wondrous works performs, creating life and calming storms,
to God give praise and glory!
Creation thanks you, Holy One: you made us and renew us.
Delighted at what you have done, you show your greatness through us.
So may all living things proclaim the wonders of their Maker’s name:
to God give praise and glory!
What God has made, God will preserve, with righteousness unfailing.
Regardless what we may deserve, we see this good prevailing.
To God who governs evermore with justice serving rich and poor,
to God give praise and glory!
I cry to God, in pain and grief, “Please, God of mercy hear me!”
My certain help provides relief, faith, hope, and love to cheer me.
So let me sing, joyful and free: ah, thankful Christians, sing with me:
to God give praise and glory!
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (In Unison)
God of compassionate mercy, your grace and love extend to all people. We are called to forgive others, as you forgive us. Far too often, however, we wield forgiveness like a weapon. We see others doing wrong and feel haughty when we grant them grace. We call out the sins of the powerful but fail to notice our own power. We become narrow in our quest for truth, and ignore other people, in other rooms, crying out for your justice. Help us search ourselves and seek forgiveness from those we have made beg us for mercy. Connect us to others and guide us to share power and grace as we follow you.
MOMENT OF SILENT AND PERSONAL CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF PARDON (Responsive)
Jesus promised his followers there are many rooms in a world filled with God’s justice. When we speak truth to our own power, we make room for God’s just world. This is the good news: God raised Jesus and made room for us, calling us to live out of God’s forgiveness by making sure there is room for all
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 Acts 7: 55-60
SPECIAL MUSIC Praise the Lord! O Heavens, Adore Him Hopson
Chancel Choir
Praise the Lord! O heav’ns, adore him; Praise him, angels in the height; Sun and moon, rejoice before him; Praise him, shining stars of light. Praise the Lord, for he has spoken; Worlds his mighty voice obeyed; Laws which never shall be broken for their guidance he has made. Praise the Lord, for he is faithful; Never shall his promise fail. God has made his saints victorious; Sin and death shall not prevail. Praise the God of our salvation; Hosts on high his pow’r proclaim; Heav’n and earth, and all creation, laud and magnify his name!
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING John 14: 1-14
MESSAGE Jesus As the Way Rev. Christopher Mergener
*HYMN Jesus, Lover of My Soul ABERYSTWYTH
Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to your bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high;
Hide me, O my Savior, hide, till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide, O receive my soul at last!
Other refuge have I none; in your hands, my destiny;
Leave, O leave me not alone, still support and comfort me.
All my trust on you is stayed, all my help from you I bring;
Cover my defenseless head with the shadow of your wing.
Plenteous grace in you is found, grace to cover all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound, make and keep me pure within.
Fount of life, your love impart, fill my cup abundantly;
Spring up now within my heart, rise to all eternity.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (In Unison)
We believe in the triune God, Parent, Child, and Holy Spirit, who gathers, protects, and cares for the church through the Word and Spirit. This, God has done since the beginning of the world and will do to the end.
We believe:
•that God has revealed themself as the one who wishes to bring about justice and true peace among people
•that God, in a world full of injustice and enmity, is in a special way the God of the destitute, the poor, and the wronged
•that God calls the church to follow them in this; for God brings justice to the oppressed and gives bread to the hungry
•that God frees the prisoner, supports the downtrodden, protects the stranger, and blocks the path of the ungodly
•that the church must therefore stand by people in any form of suffering and need, which implies, among other things, that the church must witness against and strive against any form of injustice, so that justice may roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream
Therefore, we reject any ideology which would legitimate forms of injustice and any doctrine which is unwilling to resist such an ideology in the name of the gospel. To the one and only God, Parent, Child, and Holy Spirit, be the honorand the glory for ever and ever.
THE CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE
GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING (Responsive)
The Holy One be with you.
And also with you.
Open your hearts.
We open our hearts to you, O God.
Let us give thanks to God, an Abiding Presence.
To the One who companions us through all things, we give thanks and praise.
Faithful One…
…In awe and gratitude, we join together in praise of you, Source of Abundance:
Holy, Holy, Holy One
God of justice and love
Heaven and earth are full of your wonder
Blessed is your presence among us
Since the beginning…
…You may now take the elements.
PRAYER AFTER RECEIVING
CALL FOR THE OFFERING
Offertory Brother James’ Air 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! Amen.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
PREPARATION FOR PRAYERS (791) (Vs. 1, 6)
For You, My God, I Wait TRENTHAM
For you, my God, I wait with hope born of the Word.
Like sleepless ones who long to dream I wait and call my Lord.
O God, you are my hope; I know that you forgive.
Your love redeems me from the depths so I may rise and live.
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.
© Presbyterian Outlook, 2026
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