First Presbyterian Church
Order of Worship

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Sunday Worship
March 15, 2026 - 10 a.m. EDT

Prelude - Prelude on Herzliebster Jesu (arr. Fred Gramann)
Festivo Bells

Ringing of the Church Bell

Call to Worship
Wallace W. Bubar

One: Scripture is full of questions ...

All: Where are you?

One: Am I my brother’s keeper?

All: Whom shall I send?

One: Who do you say that I am?

All: How many times shall I forgive?

One: If God is for us, who can be against us?

All: Let us ask and seek after our merciful God.

Hymn 832 - Here on Jesus Christ I Will Stand

Here on Jesus Christ I will stand.
He’s the solid rock of my life.
He’s the solid rock of my life.
He’s the solid rock of my life.

There’s no other place I can hide
till the storm that rages subsides.
My voice cries to God from the flood,
and I’m saved because of his blood.

Here on Jesus Christ I will stand.
He’s the solid rock of my life.
He’s the solid rock of my life.
He’s the solid rock of my life.

It is not the work of my hands
that has washed away all my sins.
I’m redeemed, and all of my days,
Jesus Christ will be my heart’s praise.

Here on Jesus Christ I will stand.
He’s the solid rock of my life.
He’s the solid rock of my life.
He’s the solid rock of my life.

When my days on this earth are done,
and I stand at God’s holy throne,
my heart will not have any fear;
in Christ’s righteousness I am here.

Here on Jesus Christ I will stand.
He’s the solid rock of my life.
He’s the solid rock of my life.
He’s the solid rock of my life.

Call to Confession

Prayer of the Confession [unison]

Discerner of hearts, we confess that we have sinned. We put our heads in the sand. We ignore people in need. We make false assumptions and fail to be kind. We are in need of forgiveness. You look beneath our outward appearance and see your image in each of us. Banish in us the blindness that keeps us from recognizing things as they truly are, so that we may see the world through your eyes, and with the compassion of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer; in whose name we pray. 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

Birthday Refrain for Gail Klink, 85

Sweeter as the years go by,
Sweeter as the years go by,
Richer, fuller, deeper,
Jesus’ love is sweeter
Sweeter as the years go by!

Old Testament Reading - I Samuel 16:1-13
Keegan Kirwin, liturgist

One: The Word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God.

Anthem - Kindness Speaks (Mark Burrow)
Children’s Choir
Aaron Wilburn, Director

Word with Children
Kristin Ream

New Testament Reading - John 9:1-7, 13-17, 24-25

One: The Gospel of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God.

Sermon - “God Be in Mine Eyes”

Hymn 452 - Open the Eyes of My Heart

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord.
Open the eyes of my heart.
I want to see You.
I want to see You.

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord.
Open the eyes of my heart.
I want to see You.
I want to see You.

To see You high and lifted up,
Shinin' in the light of Your glory,
Pour out Your power and love,
As we sing holy, holy, holy.

Holy, holy, holy,
Holy, holy, holy,
Holy, holy, holy,
I want to see you.

Affirmation of Faith [unison]

We believe in a merciful God, a God who does not keep score, a God who wants good for us. We believe in a creative God, a God who would heal with mud, a God capable of seeing what we cannot. We believe in a saving God, a God who heals, a God who greets our questions with patience, a God who sends us out with hope in our step. What wondrous love is this! Amen.

Prayers of the People

One: Lord, we look to you:

All: Receive our prayer.

Offertory - Elegiaco (Jean Sibelius)

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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.

Prayer of Dedication

Hymn 649 - Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound

Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound!)
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come:
’tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me;
his word my hope secures;
he will my shield and portion be
as long as life endures.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.

Benediction

Postlude - Toccata in e minor (Johann Pachelbel)
Philip Everingham

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