Bulletins - Front Royal Presbyterian Church (VA)

Front Royal Presbyterian Church

May 18, 2025, 10:30 am

Liturgist – Lee Bowen

Minister – Rev. Jaci Smith Patman

Prelude On Eagle's Wings Michael Joncas/John A Behnke

Welcome and Announcements

Opening Prayer & Gathering #2013 Bless the Lord

Bless the Lord, my soul and bless God's holy name.

Bless the Lord, my soul who leads me into life.

Call to Worship (based on Psalm 148)

Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights!

Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host!

Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars!

Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!

Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created.

He established them forever and ever; he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.

Opening Hymn #2115 Christ Has Risen

(Please remain standing through the Response to God’s Grace)

Call to Confession

The world often judges by outward appearances, but Jesus reveals to us a deeper reality. When we fail to live in the new way of love he commands, we distance ourselves from the truth and pretend to possess a righteousness that is only ours through Christ. In this new promise, and knowing God’s steadfast love is trustworthy and true, let us confess our shortcomings together, seeking the Spirit’s new workings within us.

Prayer of Confession

Loving God, you call us to your merciful, gracious love, freely given without expectation or strings attached, like the unconditional love of a bridegroom. While we are eager to experience your mercy and grace in our own lives, we are quick to make our extension of your mercy and grace conditional for others, holding court in our own hearts. We would rather show mercy to those we judge worthy, forgetting the new commandment to love as you have loved us. We would rather extend grace to those who will show us grace in return, missing the trustworthy and true nature of your boundless forgiveness. Forgive us, Redeeming God. And transform our hearts with your amazing grace and unconditional love so that our relationships and your world are transformed.

Assurance of Pardon and Exchange of Peace

Behold: The former things have passed away, and God’s grace flows like a river of new life. Friends, hear the good news: through the grace of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven! You are made anew!

May the Peace of Christ be with you. And also with you.

Response to God's Grace #122 Thine is the Glory (refrain)

Thine is the glory,

Risen, conquering Son;

Endless is the victory,

Thou o'er death hast won.

Sermon for Faith Builders Children are invited to go to Children’s Worship with our Children’s Worship Leader, Ms. Marisa. Children will return during the final hymn.

Prayers of the People & The Lord's Prayer

Call to Offering

Offertory Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

Chant/Henry Coleman

Song of Praise (to LASST UNS ERFREUEN)

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Praise God, all creatures high and low,

Alleluia, alleluia!

Praise God, in Jesus fully known: Creator, Word, and Spirit one.

Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Prayer of Dedication

Hymn #450 O Day of Peace

Scripture Reading Leviticus 19:9-18

Anthem Gratias Deo Mary Lynn Lightfoot

Deo, Deo dicamus gratias.

Deo, Deo dicamus gratias,

dicamus gratias, gratias Deo.

Gratias, gratias Deo,

Deo dicamus gratias.

Gratias, gratias Deo.

[Translation:

To God, to God let us give thanks.

To God, to God let us give thanks,

Let us give thanks, thanks to God.

Thanks, thanks to God,

Let us give thanks to God.

Thanks, thanks to God.]

Let us now give thanks and sing.

Gratias, gratias Deo, gratias, gratias Deo.

Laudamus te. Laudamus te.

Benedicimus te. Benedicumus te.

Adoramus te. Glorificamus te.

[Translation:

We praise you. We praise you.

We bless you. We bless you.

We adore you. We glorify you.]

Let us give thanks and sing, gratias Deo!

Deo, Deo, Deo, gratias Deo, Deo, Deo!

Gratias, gratias Deo, Deo dicamus gratias.

Gratias, gratias Deo.

Let us now give thanks and sing.

Gratias, gratias Deo, gratias, gratias Deo,

Deo dicamus gratias, dicamus gratias, gratias.

Let us give thanks and sing!

Sermon Peace Be With You

Trustworthy and True Revelation 21:1-7

Affirmation of Faith - (from Confession of 1967, Inclusive Language)

The life, death, resurrection, and promised coming of Jesus Christ has set the pattern for the church’s mission. His human life involves the church in the common life of all people. His service to men and women commits the church to work for every form of human well-being. His suffering makes the church sensitive to all human suffering so that it sees the face of Christ in the faces of persons in every kind of need. His crucifixion discloses to the church God’s judgment on the inhumanity that marks human relations, and the awful consequences of the church’s own complicity in injustice. In the power of the risen Christ and the hope of his coming, the church sees the promise of God’s renewal of human life in society and of God’s victory over all wrong. The church follows this pattern in the form of its life and in the method of its action. So to live and serve is to confess Christ as Lord.

Closing Hymn #453 O Holy City Seen of John

Benediction

Postlude Now All the Vault of Heaven Rejoices

Geistliche Kirchengesäng/Mark Sedio