First Presbyterian Church of Niles
Morning Worship
10:00 A.M. July 20, 2025
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(* = stand if you are able)
PRELUDE
REFLECTION TEXT Colossians 1: 17-19
He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP As We Gather Arr. Seal
CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsive)
God calls us here to worship. We carry many worries and are distracted
by many things, but here, in this time and place, we are invited to set
them aside, to be fully present. Let’s pause and take a deep breath.
We remember who we are:
We are the body of Christ.
We remember whose we are:
We are God’s beloved children.
We remember our chief purpose:
To glorify and enjoy God forever.
Let us worship God!
OPENING PRAYER
*HYMN Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise ST. DENIO
Immortal, Invisible, God only wise,
in light inaccessible hid from our eyes.
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
almighty, victorious, your great name we praise.
Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
not wanting, not wasting, but ruling in might.
Your justice like mountains high soaring above,
your clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.
Your life is life-giving to both great and small;
in all life you’re living, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves and as flowers,
then wither and perish but naught dims your powers.
So perfect your glory, so brilliant your light,
your angels adore you, all veiling their sight:
All praise we now render as your angels do:
in awe at the splendor of light hiding you.
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (In Unison)
Holy God, we are pulled in many different directions. We are distracted by the news, quick to point fingers and pass judgment, but reluctant to examine the ways we benefit from the injustice in our world. We are distracted by our fears. We fear the loss of health, safety, and financial security. Instead of proclaiming your abundance, we operate from a mindset of scarcity. We are distracted by our tasks, by calendars that shape our priorities, leaving us with less time and energy for what is most important. We confess our distraction, even as we acknowledge that sometimes we embrace it because it’s easier than sitting at Jesus’s feet, learning what it means to follow him. We confess that distraction is easier than discipleship. Forgive us. Help us discern and choose the better path as we seek to follow Christ, in whose name we pray.
MOMENT OF SILENT AND PERSONAL CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF PARDON (Responsive)
This good news will not be taken away: We are seen as God’s beloved
children, holy and blameless, reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. Let
us live into this good news: 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 15
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 Proverbs 3: 21-35
MESSAGE “Wisdom and Integrity” Rev. Christopher Mergener
*HYMN 174 Come and Seek the Ways of Wisdom MADELEINE
Come and see the ways of Wisdom, she who danced when earth was new.
Follow, closely what she teaches, for her words are right and true.
Wisdom clears the path to justice. Holy friends of God and earth.
Listen to the voice of Wisdom, crying in the market place.
Hear the Word made flesh among us, full of glory, truth, and grace.
When the word takes root and ripens, peace and righteousness embrace.
Sister Wisdom, come, assist us; nurture all who seek rebirth.
Spirit guide and close companion, bring to light our sacred worth.
Free us to become your people, holy friends of God and earth.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (In Unison)
We believe Christ gives us and demands of us personal lives that are centered in God and open to God’s reality and rule. Christ teaches us to put obedience to God above the interests of self, family, race or nation; to offer God joyously our money, ability, and time. It is part of our discipline to observe a day of worship and rest, setting aside our own working to enjoy God’s work, celebrating with our family in Christ the Lord’s goodness. We need constantly to search out God’s way in Scripture, not expecting detailed directions for every decision, but relying on the Word to tell us who God is, to press God’s present claim on us, and to assure us of God’s grace and comfort.
CALL FOR THE OFFERING
Offertory Thy Word 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!
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
PREPARATION FOR PRAYERS Open Our Eyes OPEN OUR EYES
Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus,
To reach out and touch him, and say that we love him.
Open our ears, Lord, and help us to listen.
Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus.
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 547 (Vs. 1, 3) Go, My Children, with My Blessing AR HYD Y NOS
“Go, my children, with my blessing, never alone.
Waking, sleeping, I am with you, you are my own.
In my love’s baptismal river I have made you mine forever.
Go, my children, with my blessing, you are my own.”
“Go, my children, fed and nourished, closer to me.
Grow in love and love by serving, joyful and free.
Here my Spirit’s power filled you; here my tender comfort
stilled you. Go, my children, fed and nourished, joyful and free.”
*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
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All music is reproduced under permission from ccli.com License #11146543.