Order of Worship

Livestream
Order of Worship

First Presbyterian Church
Order of Worship

Link to our livestream worship page.

Sunday Worship
March 1, 2026 - 10 a.m. EST

Prelude - Dearest Jesus, at Your Word (arr. Paul Manz)

Ringing of the Church Bell

Call to Worship
Wallace W. Bubar

One: What is it like to begin again?

All: It’s like flowers in the spring that push through frozen ground.

One: Like babies learning to walk, one clumsy step at a time.

All: Like Nicodemus in the night, asking Jesus for guidance.

One: May we find God in our seeking.

All: May we learn as we go.

One: May we be brave enough to begin again.

All: Let us worship the God of new beginnings.

Hymn - Dearest Jesus, at Your Word

Dearest Jesus, at your word
we have come again to hear you;
let our thoughts and hearts be stirred
and in glowing faith be near you
as the promises here given
draw us wholly up to heaven.

All our knowledge, sense, and sight
lie in deepest darkness shrouded
till your Spirit breaks the night,
filling us with light unclouded.
All good thoughts and all good living
come but by your gracious giving.

Radiance of God’s glory bright,
Light of Light from God proceeding,
Jesus, send your blessed light;
help our hearing, speaking, heeding,
that our prayers and songs may please you,
as with grateful hearts we praise you.

Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
praise to you and adoration!
Grant us what we need the most;
all your gospel’s consolation
while we here on earth await you,
till in heav’n with praise we greet you.

Call to Confession

Prayer of the Confession [unison]

God of new life, you call us into unknown places, and we bury our heads in the sand. You promise all the stars in the sky, and we doubt it can be true. You speak of new life in the Spirit, and we tell ourselves we’ve missed our chance. Over and over and over again, you invite us closer to you. Show us the way. Forgive our mistakes. Give us the courage to begin again with you. Amen.

Response 579 - Kyrie eleison (translation: “Lord, have mercy”)

Kyrie eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
Kyrie eleison.

Words of Forgiveness

Exchange of Peace

One: The peace of Christ be with you.

All: And also with you.

Welcome and Announcements

Old Testament Reading - Genesis 12:1-4a
Lisa Holtsberry, liturgist

One: The Word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God.

Anthem - God So Loved the World (John Stainer)
Chancel Choir

Word with Children
Kristin Ream

New Testament Reading - John 3:1-10

One: The Gospel of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God.

Sermon - “By Night”

Hymn 817 - We Walk by Faith and Not by Sight

We walk by faith and not by sight;
with gracious words draw near,
O Christ, who spoke as none e’er spoke:
“My peace be with you here.”

We may not touch your hands and side,
nor follow where you trod;
but in your promise we rejoice
and cry, “My Lord and God!”

Help then, O Lord, our unbelief;
and may our faith abound
to call on you when you are near
and seek where you are found.

And when our life of faith is done,
in realms of clearer light
may we behold you as you are,
with full and endless sight.

Prayers of the People

One: Lord, we look to you:

All: Receive our prayer.

Offertory - Song Without Words in E Major, Op. 19 No. 1 (Felix Mendelssohn)

Give online at granpres.org/give

Doxology 606 - Praise God, from Whom All Blessing Flow

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.

Sacrament of Communion

Eucharistic Prayer

One: The Lord be with you.

All: And also with you.

One: Lift up your hearts.

All: We lift them up to the Lord.

One: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

One: ... and join their unending hymn:

Sanctus 562 - Holy, Holy, Holy

Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might.
Heaven and earth are full,
Full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest,
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes
In the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest,
Hosanna in the highest.

One: ... now and forever.

All: Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer [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.

Invitation to the Table

Sharing of Communion

Prayer After Communion

Hymn 634 - To God Be the Glory

To God be the glory;
great things he has done!
So loved he the world
that he gave us his Son,
who yielded his life
an atonement for sin,
and opened the life-gate
that all may go in.

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord;
let the earth hear his voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord;
let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father
through Jesus the Son,
and give him the glory:
great things he has done!

Great things he has taught us;
great things he has done,
and great our rejoicing
through Jesus the Son;
but purer and higher
and greater will be
our wonder, our transport,
when Jesus we see.

Benediction

Postlude - O Love, How Deep (arr. Kristina Langlois)
Philip Everingham

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