First Presbyterian Church of Ponchatoula

Sunday Worship: March 10th, 2019

1st Sunday of Lent

(The liturgist will meet with the pastor at 10 minutes before worship begins.)

PRELUDE:
When the Prelude is over, the liturgist walks to the lectern.

WELCOME: (Pastor)

Good morning. Welcome to First Presbyterian Church of Ponchatoula! We are

happy you are here to worship God with us this morning!

ANNOUNCEMENTS: (Pastor)
Insert Announcements here.

*CALL TO WORSHIP (From Psalm 91): (Liturgist)

Please stand if you are able and join me now in the call to worship.
L: You who live in the shelter of the Most High, say to the LORD, "My refuge and my
fortress; my God, in You I trust."
P: For he will command his angels concerning us to guard us in all our ways.
L: On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a
stone.
P: We live in the shelter of the Most High, we abide in the shadow of the Almighty!
OPENING PRAYER OF THE DAY: (Liturgist)
Lord God, as we gather for worship this morning, help us to overcome our
unbelief. Use our worship to touch us deep in our souls and to correct any false beliefs we
have about how much you love us. We know that your love is absolute, unconditional,
and never-failing. We know that you only desire the very best for us. So teach us how to
believe you fully as we praise your name. Amen.

*OPENING HYMN OF PRAISE: We Gather Together # 559

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(After the song completes, the liturgist stands and walks to the lectern.)

*CALL TO CONFESSION: (Rom. 5:8; Heb. 4:16) (Liturgist)

The proof of God’s amazing love is this: While we were sinners Christ died for us.
Because we have faith in him, we dare to approach God with confidence. In faith and
penitence, let us confess our sin before God and one another.

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Liturgist) (Unison):

Loving God, we call to you and name you as eternal, ever-present, and
boundless in love. Yet there are times, O God, when we fail to recognize you in the
dailyness of our lives. Sometimes shame clenches tightly around our hearts, and we
hide our true feelings. Sometimes fear makes us small, and we miss the chance to
speak from our strength. Sometimes doubt invades our hopefulness, and we degrade
our own wisdom. Holy God, in the daily round from sunrise to sunset, remind us
again of your holy presence hovering near us and in us. Free us from shame and
self-doubt. Help us to see you in the moment-by-moment possibilities to live
honestly, to act courageously, and to speak from our wisdom.

Please take a few moments to silently confess specific sins to God.

*SILENT PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Wait about 10 seconds)
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON (Liturgist… with some emotion!)

Hear the good news! Who is in a position to condemn? Only Christ, and Christ died for
us, Christ rose for us, Christ reigns in power for us, Christ prays for us. Anyone who is in
Christ is a new creation. The old life has gone; a new life has begun. Know that we are
forgiven and be at peace. Amen.
*GLORIA PATRI Page 597
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

THE WORD

Please be seated. (Wait about 3 seconds)

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PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION (Liturgist) (unison)

Please join me now as we pray for illumination.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Have mercy on us sinners. As we hear your
Word, pour out your Spirit upon us so that all the meditations of our hearts and
words of our mouths are acceptable in your eyes. Amen.

*HYMN OF PREPARATION: Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days # 81

GOD’S WORD FOR CHILDREN (Liturgist)

At this time I would like to invite all the children up front for God’s Word for
Children.

(At this point in the service, the liturgist’s leadership is finished. The liturgist is welcome
to participate in the remainder of the service from the seat in the chancel area next to
the pastor, or the liturgist may sit down in the pews with the rest of the congregation.)