Front Royal Presbyterian Church
May 11, 2025, 10:30 am
Liturgist – Margaret Smith
Minister – Rev. Jaci Smith Patman
Prelude A Quiet Spirit Roberta Rowland-Raybold
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
The Lord is our shepherd;
we lack nothing.
Though we may walk through the darkest valley,
we fear no evil; for God is with us.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives,
and we shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Let us worship God!
Opening Hymn #119 The Strife is O'er
(Please remain standing through the Response to God’s Grace)
Call to Confession
Even if we walk in the darkest of valleys, we have nothing to fear, for God is with us. Let us stand before the throne of the Lamb with confidence, trusting in God’s desire to redeem and restore us.
Prayer of Confession
Eternal God, in the presence of our enemies, we divide and demonize. When you face our enemies, you choose neither contempt nor punishment but set a table and make provision for us all. Our ways are not your ways, O Creator, and they are an affront to the work of your hands. Have mercy on us, O God, and heal us. Send our risen Lord among us again to repair relationships and restore humanity. Set us free to share the love of Christ Jesus, breaking bread with whomever responds to him.
Assurance of Pardon and Exchange of Peace
Hear the sound of your Shepherd’s voice: Jesus says, I give you eternal life. You will never perish. No one can snatch you out of my hand. Believe the good news.
In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven, nurtured, and safe.
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.
Cents-Ability
We invite you to contribute a few cents at each meal to help combat hunger and poverty. The funds raised through Cents-Ability support hunger relief efforts locally, nationally, and internationally.
Prayers of the People & The Lord's Prayer
Call to Offering
Offertory Jerusalem the Golden
Alexander C Ewing/Rodger Kalbfleisch
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 #2196 We Walk By Faith and Not By Sight
Scripture Reading Isaiah 53:1-6, 10-12
Anthem Praise the Lord, God's Glories Show David Schelat
Praise the Lord, God's glories show,
Alleluia, gloria!
Saints within God's courts below,
Alleluia, gloria!
Angels round the throne above,
Alleluia, gloria!
All that see and share God's love,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, gloria!
Earth to heaven and heaven to earth,
Alleluia, gloria!
Tell the wonders of God's worth,
Alleluia, gloria!
Age to age and shore to shore,
Alleluia, gloria!
Praise God forevermore!
Alleluia, gloria!
Praise the Lord, great mercies trace,
Alleluia, gloria!
Praise the providence and grace,
Alleluia, gloria!
All that God for us has done,
Alleluia, gloria!
All God sends us through the Son.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, gloria!
Sermon Peace Be With You
Will You Be There? Revelation 7:9-17
Affirmation of Faith - from A Declaration of Faith (1985)
We testify God is at work here and now when people obey Christ's commission to witness to him and make disciples of all nations, when they spread the good news by their words and embody it in their lives. We believe that God sends us to tell all nations that Christ calls everyone to repentance, faith and obedience. We are to proclaim by word and deed that Christ gave himself to set people free from sin and self-hatred, from ignorance and disease, from all forms of oppression, and even from death. We are to offer them in Christ's name fullness of life now and forever. We must not distort the gospel by weakening its promises or demands, by identifying it with oppressive structures, by pointing to ourselves instead of Christ. We must not restrict our proclamation to persons just like ourselves. We invite people everywhere to believe in Christ and become his followers. We urge them to join us in telling others the good news and in struggling for justice, compassion, and peace.
Closing Hymn #109 Christ is Risen
Benediction
Postlude At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing
Kirchengeseng/Paul Manz
