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First Memorial Presbyterian ChurchSmall enough to know you, big enough to care!

51 West Blackwell Street, Dover, New Jersey 07801(973) 366-0216

www.fmpsd over.o rg http://facebook.co/presbyterian.dover_____________________________________________________________________________

June 21, 2020 — 3rd SUNDAY after PENTECOST — for U-TUBE_____________________________________________________________________________

— A TIME FOR GATHERING —Prelude: — Rachel Persenaire

Words of Welcome: — Rachel Persenaire

Praise Song: — Rachel Persenaire

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“Grace Is Enough”

Call to Worship: Alan: God is good.Rachel: All the time. Alan: All the time.Rachel: God is GOOD! Alan: In Jesus Christ we are fully alive to God the Father.Rachel: Come, let us worship God!

Call to Confession: — Rev. Alan R. Schaefer, H. R. Alan: Let us trust the love of God and confess our sin, that we might receive grace and find true freedom.

Prayer of Adoration and Confession: — Rev. Alan R. Schaefer, H. R. Alan: We confess to you, Father, and before our brothers and sisters, that too often we turn against them; while failing to care for the weak & poor among us.

We pay little heed to the cries of the powerless

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when we are seeking our own advantage. Your Son emptied himself upon a Roman cross and revealed your eternal, self-giving love. Please forgive us, merciful God. Wipe sin from our lives and let us find ourselves wholly in Jesus Christ our Savior…From “Prayer of Confession” as found in FEASTING ON THE WORD, WORSHIP COMPANION for Year A, Vol. 2, Copyright 2013 by Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, KY. Page 40.

(…a moment of silent reflection and personal prayer…)Assurance of Forgiveness: — Rachel PersenaireRachel: God, who loves us, does not abandon or forsake us. Our Savior hears and answers when we cry out from the wastelands of sin. Death cannot bind us, for the risen Christ sets us free. Hear the good news: in Jesus Christ you are forgiven!“From Declaration of Forgiveness” as found in FEASTING ON THE WORD, WORSHIP COMPANION for Year A, Vol. 2. Copyright 2013 by Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, KY. Page 41.

Summary of the Law: — Rachel PersenaireRachel: Remember this teaching of Jesus Christ: -

John 13:34 I give you a new commandment, That you love one another as I have loved you.

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Summary of the Law: — Rachel Persenaire

All praise and thanks to God,Who reigns in highest heaven.

To Father and to Son, And Spirit now be given.The one eternal God, Whom heav’n and earth adore.

The God who was, and is, And shall be evermore.From REJOICE IN THE LORD, Copyright 1985. All rights reserved.

Prayer of the Day: — Rev. Alan R. Schaefer, H. R. Alan: Please think of a face, any face, important or unknown, whom you have seen in the news this week for any reason, as I say, “The peace of Christ be with you all…”Written by Alan R. Schaefer, 2020.

God of the covenant, your compassion reaches beyond the mere making and keeping of promises. Teach us to listen to one another with YOUR heart, Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.From “Prayer of the Day” as found in FEASTING ON THE WORD, WORSHIP COMPANION for Year A, Vol. 2. Copyright 2013 by Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, KY. Page 41.

Children’s Message: — Karen Rega

— A TIME FOR INSPIRATION —Prayer for Illumination: — Karen Rega

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O God, you have the power to make the desert a place of renewal and a cross the sign of redemption. Send your Holy Spirit so that we can hear you and entrust ourselves completely to you, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Savior. From “Prayer for Illumination” as found in FEASTING ON THE WORD, WORSHIP COMPANION for Year A, Vol. 2. Copyright 2013 by Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, KY. Page 41.

The Lesson for the Day: — Karen RegaToday’s Scripture Lesson is taken from……the Book of Proverbs, chapter 3: verses 1 through 12.Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church… 1 My child, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; 2 for length of days and years of life and abundant welfare they will give you. 3 Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and of people. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.

6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

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8 It will be a healing for your flesh and a refreshment for your body. 9 Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce; 10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.

11 My child, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, 12 for the Lord reproves the one he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION Bible (a translation),Copyright 1989 by athe Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U. S. A. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

Adult’s Message: — Rev. Alan R. Schaefer, H. R.

“A Father’s Love”TEXT: Proverbs 3: 12 for the Lord reproves the one he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

Responsorial: “Good, Good Father” — Rachel Persenaire Rachel Persenaire, vocal & instrumental

— A TIME FOR RESPONDING —Call for the Offering & Prayer of Dedication: — Rev. Alan R. Schaefer, H. R.We are grateful to have you with us as we worship on this 3rd Sunday after Pentecost, also known to us as Father’s Day!

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We hope you can be with us in ministry as you have been with us for worship.Even though the lights in our building are off at night, and our parking lot is empty, our ministries continue, both near and far.To that end, please consider mailing an offering to our Church office @ 51 West Blackwell Street, here in Dover, NJ 07801.

Let us pray…Holy One, incarnate One, dynamic One, God who is Trinity, we lift our voices in praise and thanksgiving for the life in Christ Jesus we receive from you.We thank you for your steadfast love that keeps covenant with your people. In Christ we know the depth of your care for all that you create. We invite the Holy Spirit to help us so that we can praise you eternally.Amen.From “Prayer of Thanksgiving/Dedication” as found in FEASTING ON THE WORD, WORSHIP COMPANION for Year A, Vol. 2. Copyright 2013 by Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, KY. Page 43.

Joys and Concerns — Megan Berg

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Prayer of & for the People, & Lord’s Prayer… — Rev. Alan R. Schaefer, H. R.Father God, we thank you for everyone who is kin to us, everyone who is family and everyone who has acted like family.On this Father’s Day we pause to think of the sacrifice, the worry, the work, the time, the patience and the prayer which our Dads have invested in us.Though a few have managed to make the job look effortless, those of us who have tried it have learned that it is not.We think of our family of faith, and of our neighbors and our friends, who have had their share of difficulty with illness, with the fear of illness, with economic hardship, injustice, and national and world politics.

And we, like they, turn to you with our prayers for good health, sufficient wealth, peace in our streets and peace around the world.As we often do, we ask you to answer our plea to watch over our young.

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Keep them from wandering from the faith and values we have tried to teach them and demonstrate for them as well as we ask you to keep them from harm’s way.Similarly, we ask you to watch over our elders.Keep THEM from loneliness, heart ache and despair.These things, and more, we pray, in the name of Jesus, who taught us when praying to say…Written by Alan R. Schaefer, 2020.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be they 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.Lead us not into temptation, deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

—A TIME TO TAKE GOD’S “GOOD NEWS” TO THE WORLD—

Closing Song: — Rachel Persenaire

“This Is Amazing Grace”

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Pastoral Charge and Benediction: — Rev. Alan R. Schaefer, H. R.I charge you to stay close to our Lord, who, like the Good Shepherd that he is, will not lead you to a place where he cannot keep you safe.And now… May the POWER of the Holy Spirit come to rest upon YOU …as a passionate FIRE BURNING in your heart to do the will and the work of Jesus Christ our Lord.May God bless us, every one…And, may God Bless America! Amen.

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Our Next Lord’s Day Celebration of Communion Will Be On July 5, 2020.

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