Christ Presbyterian Church

Worship Service

April 23, 2023

Facebook Live: @christpc
Call and Listen: 351-888-7756
Sanctuary Parking Area: FM105.3
 Welcome to Sunday Worship Service
Third Sunday of Easter
April 23, 2023 10:00AM
* Please stand if you are able.

Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
Minute for Missions
GATHERING AROUND THE WORD

Call to Worship
One: We have come from many places, following different roads.
All: We come hungering for greater understanding.
One: We have come to hear the wisdom of Scripture.
All: We come seeking companions in the faith.
One: We have come to discover the One revealed in the breaking of the bread.
All: We come to grow as disciples of Christ.
One: Come, let us worship God, made known in Christ Jesus.

Prayer of Adoration
Loving God, we gather in Your name this day, united by your Spirit by all faithful
followers throughout all time and space. It is amazing to consider how lives not so very
different from our own have carried your love from one generation to another, from one
church to another, and from one part of the world to another. As we join together in
worship, open our eyes to new opportunities to express our love for you, and share
your love in the lives we touch; for we are your people and we praise God in your holy
name. AMEN

*Hymn
Jesus Shall Reign Where’re the Sun
Jesus shall reign where'er the sun does its successive journeys run;
his kingdom stretch from shore to shore, till moons shall wax and wane no more.

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 Blessings abound where'er he reigns: the prisoners leap to loose their chains;
the weary find eternal rest, and all who suffer want are blest.
Let every creature rise and bring honors peculiar to our King;
angels descend with songs again, and earth repeat the loud Amen!

Prayer of Confession
Week by week we open our lives before you, acknowledging ways we sometimes get off
track following you. Have mercy when we are driven and feel busy so we let trivial things
come before you in our lives. We confess changes sometimes distract us and we don’t
know where to turn. Forgive us when we overlook that you are with us day by day. Renew
us in your love, we pray. AMEN

Silent Confession
Assurance of Pardon
*Affirmation of Faith Apostle’s Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his
only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered
under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day
he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God
the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe
in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of
sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. AMEN.

PROCLAIMING THE WORD

Prayer of Illumination
Reading from the Old Testament
Psalms 34
I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul makes its
boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. 3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt
his name together. 4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed. 6 This poor soul cried, and
was heard by the Lord, and was saved from every trouble. 7 The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them. 8 O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are
those who take refuge in him. 9 O fear the Lord, you his holy ones, for those who fear him have
no want.
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989)
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Reading from the New Testament
Acts 2:14, 38-42
But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all
who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 38 ‘Repent, and be
baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you
will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all
who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.’ 40 And he testified with many
other arguments and exhorted them, saying, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’ 41
So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons
were added. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking
of bread and the prayers.
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989)

One: This is the Word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God!

Family Choir
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not;
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
Refrain
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
refrain
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
refrain
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Reading from the Gospel
Luke 24:13-35
Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles
from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While
they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16 but their eyes
were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, ‘What are you discussing with each other
while you walk along?’ They stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, whose name was
Cleopas, answered him, ‘Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things
that have taken place there in these days?’ 19 He asked them, ‘What things?’ They replied, ‘The
things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all
the people, 20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death
and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides
all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. 22 Moreover, some women of our
group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23 and when they did not find his
body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that
he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women
had said; but they did not see him.’ 25 Then he said to them, ‘Oh, how foolish you are, and how
slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! 26 Was it not necessary that the
Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?’ 27 Then beginning with Moses
and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. 28 As
they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 29
But they urged him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is
now nearly over.’ So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took
bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened, and they
recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts
burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to
us?’ 33 That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and
their companions gathered together. 34 They were saying, ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and he
has appeared to Simon!’ 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been
made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989)

One: This is the Word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God!

Special Music
Thee Will I Love
Solo – Susan Taylor
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Sermon Rev. William Cowfer
“The Walking and Talking”

RESPONDING TO THE WORD

Hymn
Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness
Refrain
Spirit, spirit of gentleness, blow through the wilderness calling and free.
Spirit, spirit of restlessness, stir me from placidness, wind, wind on the sea.
You moved on the waters; you called to the deep;
then you coaxed up the mountains from the valleys of sleep;
and over the eons you called to each thing:
"Awake from your slumbers and rise on your wings."
refrain
You swept through the desert; you stung with the sand;
and you goaded your people with a law and a land.
When they were confounded, with idols and lies,
then you spoke through your prophets to open their eyes.
refrain
You sang in a stable; you cried from a hill;
then you whispered in silence when the whole world was still.
And down in the city, you called once again
when you blew through your people on the rush of the wind.
refrain
You call from tomorrow; you break ancient schemes;
from the bondage of sorrow the captives dream dreams.
Our women see visions; our men clear their eyes.
With bold new decisions your people arise.
refrain

Invitation to Giving

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*Doxology
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Prayer of Dedication
Prayers of the People
The Lord’s Prayer
GOING OUT INTO THE WORLD

*Hymn
We Are One and The Spirit
We are one in the Spirit; we are one in the Lord;
we are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord,
and we pray that all unity may one day be restored:
Refrain
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love;
yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.
We will walk with each other; we will walk hand in hand;
we will walk with each other; we will walk hand in hand,
and together we'll spread the news that God is in our land:
refrain
We will work with each other; we will work side by side;
we will work with each other; we will work side by side,
and we'll guard human dignity and save human pride:
refrain
All praise to the Father, from whom all things come,
and all praise to Christ Jesus, God’s only Son,
and all praise to the Spirit, who makes us one:
refrain

Benediction
Postlude
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 ANNOUNCEMENTS
Donation of Toiletries
If you have traveled lately and have unused toiletries articles that can donated to one of mission groups
at St Vincent de Paul in their work with homeless. Please contact Jeanne Gres.
Hymn Studies
Want to learn and understand more about the hymns we sing on Sunday morning? Terry Mapes is
leading a discussion group each Tuesday at 10 AM in the pantry room next to the church office. Hope
to see you there!
Wednesday Night Take Out Dinner
Meals are available for delivery or pickup at 4:45 PM on Wednesdays. This week’s menu is salad,
meatballs & gravy, mashed potatoes, corn, and apple cake. If interested in receiving a meal, please
contact June Sanchez at 727-409-4199 or the church office at 727-584-8695. Delivery area is limited.
Neighborhood Ministries
Please help us keep the pantry full as our community continues to struggle with hunger. Food items
can be dropped off on Sunday mornings and placed in the wheeled grocery cart or at the church office.
The Neighborhood Meals continue to provide bagged meals on Tuesdays at 5PM in front of the church.
Pak-a-Snak continues until the end of the school year.
Financial contributions to support the food ministries will be welcomed.
Ways to support your church in tithes and offerings
1. Online at www.largocpc.org
2. Through Vanco Mobile Faith Engagement App on Apple or Android devices
3. Mail a gift directly to the church or drop in office mail slot
4. Use the bill pay option through your bank
5. Scan the QR code to the right using your phone

CHRIST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Phone: 727-584-8695 • Fax: 727-585-1079 • 3115 Dryer Ave, Largo FL 33770
www.LargoCPC.org • email: Office.largocpc@gmail.com
Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 9 AM – 11:30 AM or by appointment.
Face covering coverings remain optional for personal use.

Stated Supply Pastor Rev. William Cowfer email: Office.largocpc@gmail.com

Secretary Sarah Reeves email: Office.largocpc@gmail.com
Director of Music Steven Radeck email: StevenRadeck@gmail.com
Custodian June Sanchez email: JuBug616@aol.com
All songs used by permission CCLI #863215 and streaming CPSL 139714, Expiration date 7/31/2023
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Video and audio equipment are used for the livestreaming & recording of the worship service.
By participating in this service, you consent to being recorded for this purpose.