PREPARING TO HEAR GOD’S WORD

CHIMES (The congregation is asked to pray for the blessing of God upon this service.)

God of power, may the boldness of your Spirit transform us, the gentleness of your Spirit lead us, and the gifts of your Spirit be our goal and our strength. Amen.

PRELUDE Improvisation Hollice S. Watson The Children’s Choirs - Raynelle Stanage, conductor

This is the day that the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

†CALL TO WORSHIP

†OPENING HYMN, No. 645 Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above MIT FREUDEN ZART

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

KYRIE ELEISON, No. 551 Lord, Have Mercy LAND OF REST

Congregation and Choir

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

†ACT OF PRAISE Gloria Patri MEINEKE

†PASSING OF THE PEACE

THE WORD

A TIME WITH CHILDREN Betty Henderson Leader: As you depart from us now, the children of God say: Children: God be with you as you stay. Congregation: God be with you as you go.

RESPONSE, No. 155 Raise a Song of Gladness JUBILATE DEO

Congregation and Choir Children may exit at this time. Parents of children ages 3 years and younger may take their children to the CE building for Extended Session, Room CE 105. Children in K4 through 1st grade will remain in the sanctuary with their family for worship.

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

FIRST SCRIPTURE READING Deuteronomy 18:15-22 Pew Bible, page 168; large print, page 218

(Bibles are located in the racks beneath the pews.)

SECOND SCRIPTURE READING Mark 1:21-28 Pew Bible, page 33; large print, page 43

This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

SERMON What Is This? Rev. Dr. Chris Currie

RESPONDING TO GOD’S WORD

†AFFIRMATION OF FAITH - The Nicene Creed

†HYMN, No. 181 Silence! Frenzied, Unclean Spirit EBENEZER

MOMENT FOR DISCIPLESHIP

PRESENTATION OF OUR OFFERING Offertory The Apple Tree Carol Austin C. Lovelace The Sanctuary Choir

†Doxology LASST UNS ERFREUEN

(Sung to the tune of Hymn No. 15, All Creatures of Our God and King)

SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

This is the day that the Lord has made!

May our eyes be clear to see it.

This is the day that the Lord has made!

May our minds be ready to receive it.

This is the day that the Lord has made!

May our hearts be up to the challenge.

This is the day the Lord has made.

Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from

We are thankful O God, that we would not even know we were sinners unless we first already knew your grace. We love, because you first loved us. We serve you, because you first served us. We forgive, because we have been forgiven in Christ.

Forgive us for thinking that we could recognize our brokenness or our righteousness apart from you. Forgive us for pursuing forms of happiness and fulfillment that have nothing to do with you.

By the power of your Holy Spirit, draw us out of ourselves and more deeply into the life that is ours in Jesus Christ. Through Jesus Christ, forgive what we have been, amend what we are, and shape us so that we may more fully reflect his grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Amen.

Stand, as you are able, and greet one another saying: “The peace of Christ be with you.”

Respond by saying: “And also with you.”

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, Amen.

(Continue your personal prayer of confession in silence)

Raise a song of gladness, Peoples of the earth. Christ has come, bringing peace, Joy to every heart.

Alleluia, alleluia, Joy to every heart! Alleluia, alleluia, Joy to every heart!

Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and Virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death, and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated on the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

I sat down under his shadow with great delight, And his fruit was sweet to my taste. The tree of life my soul hath seen, Laden with fruit, and always green: The trees of nature fruitless be Compared with Christ the apple tree. His beauty doth all things excel: By faith I know, but ne’er can tell The glory which I now can see

In Jesus Christ the apple tree. I’m weary with my former toil, Here I will sit and rest awhile: Under the shadow I will be Of Jesus Christ the apple tree. This fruit doth make my soul to thrive, It keeps my dying faith alive; Which makes my soul in haste to be With Jesus Christ the apple tree.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Alleluia, Alleluia. Praise God above, ye heavenly hosts; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Invitation Great Prayer of Thanksgiving The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise. . .

900 Jordan St. Shreveport, Louisiana 71101 318.222.0604 www.fpcshreveport.org

WORSHIP NOTES WELCOME FRIENDS AND VISITORS. This church is for anyone who wants to be counted as a disciple of Jesus Christ, and who wants to be included in its worship and work. Thank you for signing your name and address on the attendance pad. There is an information center with material about our church and Presbyterianism in the foyer of the Jordan Street entrance to the sanctuary.

CHILDREN ARE ALWAYS WELCOME IN WORSHIP! Childcare is provided if needed. The Infant and Toddler nursery is found in CE-106 & 108. Our staff provide a loving and safe environment where children can play and explore. Extended Session (CE-103) is designed for 2-3 year olds, who will watch a short video Bible lesson, color, craft, and play.

A CRY ROOM is located on the same floor as the sanctuary, behind the gathering area, around the corner and down the hall from the elevators. The cry room is equipped with a speaker and volume control, so you will be able to hear the worship service while there.

WORSHIP BAGS are available for children elementary age and younger. Inside each bag a variety of worship aids can be found to help children participate fully in worship, including bookmarks, children’s bulletins, crayons, pencils, and more! Worship Bags can be found in the narthex and at the front entrances of the sanctuary. Please return them at the end of the service. Children’s Bibles are also available for children’s use during worship and can be found at the end of every pew.

A CONGREGATIONAL MEETING has been called by the session on February 8, 2015, for the purpose of receiving the 2015 budget from the session; voting on a change of terms of call for pastoral staff; voting on a request by Rev. Sarah Cooper Searight to ask the Presbytery of the Pines to dissolve her pastoral relationship with First Presbyterian Church of Shreveport, Louisiana, as of February 15, 2015.

WE APPRECIATE Dr. Horace English sharing his musical gifts with us during communion this morning! Horace and his wife Joyce are new members of the Sanctuary Choir.

SERVING THE FARTHEST PEW: Our worship service today will not end with the benediction but will be “extended” so that church officers can take the sacrament to members of our worshipping community who are unable by reason of circumstance to be with us this morning. This afternoon, church officers in teams of two will share prayer, confession, assurance of pardon, scripture, and the sacrament (along with some of the church’s fellowship) with absent church members who have expressed the desire to receive communion. If you or someone you know would be interested in receiving communion on the days we celebrate The Lord’s Supper in worship, please contact Rhodes Stipp (222-0604) or Frank Dodson (227-7722).

NEW MEMBER—We Welcome into the fellowship of this church, Megahn LaNell Williams, of Minden, Louisiana, January 25, 2015.

THE IMAGE on the cover of the bulletin today is Where the Question Is Born by artist Jan Richardson and is used with permission.

A Service for the Worship of God Ten Forty-Five O’Clock

February 1, 2015 Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us worship God.

The Lord’s Prayer

Communion of the People Prayer after Communion

†HYMN, No. 503 Lord, We Have Come at Your Own Invitation O QUANTA QUALIA

†CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

†RESPONSE Dear Lord and Father of Mankind REST

The Sanctuary Choir

†POSTLUDE Improvisation Hollice S. Watson

† Worshipers standing if able.

The flowers today are given to the glory of God.

Elder Reader: Piper Moritz Ushers: Anne Jenkins (captain), Oliver Jenkins, Mark Williamson, Laura Williamson, Leigh Taylor Worship Center: Anna Gnann, Brenda Nims

Please join us in the gathering area following

the service for a time of fellowship.

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.

. . .All glory and honor are yours, almighty Father, now and forever.

. . .who forever sing to the glory of your name:

Great is the mystery of faith:

Drop thy still dews of quietness, Till all our strivings cease; Take from our souls the strain and stress,

And let our ordered lives confess The beauty of thy peace.

CHURCH TRIUMPHANT Charles Burdette Trichel—January 23, 2015

We express sincere sympathy to Lee and family in the death of her husband, and we rejoice with them in the assurance of resurrection.

Where the Question Is Born by artist Jan Richardson