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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.fmpsdover.org http://facebook.com/presbyterian.dover_____________________________________________________________________________

July 5, 2020 — 5th 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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“All Who Are Thirsty” - Brown/Robertson

Call to Worship: Alan: This weekend we have much to celebrate, much deserving of our gratitude. Let us not fail to see God's hand in our national history, and in our own.Rachel: We worship the God who watches over us like no one else can. – Written by Alan R. Schaefer, 2020.

Call to Confession: – Rev. Alan R. Schaefer, H. R.Alan: God upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bent over with a heavy burden.

That's why we can confess our sins with every confidence that we will be lifted up.– FEASTING ON THE WORD, WORSHIP COMPANION for Year A, Vol. 2, © 2013 by Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, KY. Page 66.

Prayer of Adoration and Confession:Alan: O God of all the nations, you have been especially generous to ours as we recall our nearly two and a half years of history. But, like many other peoples and nations, after you have completed our rescue from strife and conflict, we put such thoughts aside as we move on to living the life to which we feel entitled as if such a way of life was some kind of reward. Forgive us, we pray,

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for our short-lived gratitude and failing memory…

– Written by Alan R. Schaefer 2020.

Assurance of Forgiveness: – Rachel Persenaire Rachel: Friends, hear the good news of our faith: God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. We are forgiven, we are freed, let us go forth joyfully and share the peace God has given us with one another.

– FEASTING ON THE WORD, WORSHIP COMPANION for Year A, Vol. 2, © 2013 by Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, KY. Page 66.

A Summary of the Law: – Rachel PersenaireHear the teaching of Jesus Christ: - John 13:34

I give you a new commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Chorus of Gratitude (Hymn 555): – Rachel Persenaire3. 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.- "Now Thank We All Our God," verse 3, © 1985. All rights reserved. Used with permission granted under C. C. L. I. lic. #070294.

Peace & Prayer of the Day: – Rev. Alan R. Schaefer, H. R.Alan: Please picture the face of someone you know to be in any kind of need, and pray for them every day this week,

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as I say to you, "The peace of Christ be with you all…" (sweep hand across room)– Written by Alan R. Schaefer, 2020.

Let us pray…Providential God, the 'Founding Fathers,' Revolutionary War soldiers-and-sailors, and a majority of the colonists sensed your guidance and protection on the road to independence —much like Moses and the Israelites, and the Jews exiled in Babylon, did.In that spirit, many of our fellow citizens have been known to petition you with the heart-felt words, "God Bless America," and we join them again, this weekend.We cling to those words in our time, and for the sake of future citizens, that you will continue to watch over our country and guide those at every level of government to count on your benevolent guidance which never fails when it is followed. Amen.– Written by Alan R. Schaefer, 2020.

Children's Message: – Karen Rega

A Time for InspirationPrayer for Illumination: – Karen Rega

Comforting God, by your Holy Spirit lift the burdens from our souls

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through the reading of your Word for us, that we may be led to understand how living in a loving relationship with you is not only possible, but is part of your plan. Amen.– "Prayer for Illumination" as found in FEASTING ON THE WORD, WORSHIP COMPANION for Year A, Vol. 2, © 2013 by Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, KY. Page 67.

The Lesson: – Karen Rega

Today's Scripture Lesson is taken from… The Paul's Letter to the Romans, Chapter 7: verses 15 thru 25a – THE NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION BIBLE, © 1989.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church… - Revelation 2:7

15 I do not understand my own actions.

For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.16 Now if I do what I do not want (to do), I agree that the law is good.17 But in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me.18 For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh.19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do.20 Now if I do what I do not want,

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it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me.21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand.22 For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self,23 but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.24 Wretched man that I am!

Who will rescue me from this body of death?25aThanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Karen: …This is the Word of the Lord! Thanks be to God!– NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION Bible ( a Translation), © 1989 by the 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

"We're Not Done Yet"TEXT: Romans 7: 21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand.

Responsorial (Hymn No. 344): - Walter John Mathams, c. 1915 "Christ of the Upward Way"

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Rachel Persenaire, vocal & instrumental

A Time for RespondingCall 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 5th Sunday after Pentecost!Again, we hope you can be partners with us in our ministry as you have been with us for our 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.

If you are able, please consider mailing an offering to our church office this week @ 51 West Blackwell Street, Dover NJ 07801.Let us pray…Compassionate God, we ask that you bless and multiply the gifts we receive this week, that they may be used to proclaim the glory of your kingdom and reveal your incredible love as demonstrated in your all your words and deeds.Amen. – "Prayer of Dedication" as found in FEASTING ON THE WORD, WORSHIP COMPANION for Year A, Vol. 2, © 2013 by Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, KY. Page 68.

Sacrament of the Lord's Supper: – Rev. Alan R. Schaefer, H. R.

Invitation (This communion is open to all who believe):7

In practical terms, this meal —spread upon this table before us— isn't even a snack.

But in Spiritual terms, …in eternal terms…, it is a FEAST —bought and prepared at a great price— the price of the blood of our Lord Jesus.

And you and I are invited to partake— —to taste the richness of God's love for us.

Remember his love for you?

Solo: "Rest” - Maher/Cockrell

Rachel Persenaire, vocal & instrumental

Consecration: Beginning with the words, "Let there be light…," you spoke the heavens and the earth into existence, O God.

You breathed life into every human form ever since, and set us upon the earth to celebrate & serve you!

And here we are, many generations later, rescued and redeemed by the blood of your Son who went to the cross in our place.

Like his first followers, we are still trying our best, relying on the power of your Holy Spirit, to continue the important work of introducing our generation to you.

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Please bless us, again, with your presence and love in these elements of bread and cup which we use to remember your savings acts. Amen.

Celebration (We partake of the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation):

On the night of his arrest, when Jesus was with his disciples in that upper room, celebrating the Passover Feast, he took the symbolic bread…

Appreciation: Gracious God, may we who have been blessed to receive this sacrament, live lives which bless others in your holy name.

And may we, who are blessed to live in America, live lives with the courage displayed by our founding Fathers, along with the courage displayed by those who bore arms to defend their declaration.

Thank you for the blessings of faith and nation on this Independence Day weekend. Amen.

Joys and Concerns – Megan Berg

Prayers of & for the People, & Lord’s Prayer…In this 244th occasion of 'national remembrance,'

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celebrated with fireworks, frankfurters and social distancing, we cannot imagine what the cost of freedom felt like to those who signed the Declaration, or to those who defended it.

But it is unlikely that they could have imagined what it feels like to us—to protect our liberty and freedom during our lifetime, along with that of people around the world.

As we are reminded that freedom isn't "free," the reading and studying of your Word, week by week, reminds us that love isn't 'free' either.

It too comes at a great price which Jesus exemplified so well, the price of putting others, and their needs, ahead of self.

Although not everyone in the world we live today loves us, people from everywhere in the world are still trying to get here, or to model their national life after our own.

Therefore our prayers continue on their behalf, for friend and foe alike, for peace on earth, for safety and security, for health and well-being, including the freedom to pursue happiness.

We pray for everyone, everywhere, who lives in want of food, water, clothes, health, work to support their families, education and opportunity for their children,

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and for freedom from bullies and from tyranny.

Similarly, we pray for everyone who is going through any form of difficulty or trial.

And we pray as people of faith, who stand in need of… your patience, your wisdom, your direction, and the strength to follow Jesus' example —including a life of prayer, which we celebrate now by praying the words he taught us, when he said…

…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.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 WorldClosing Song: – Rachel Persenaire “In The River” – Quilala/Silverberg/WilliamsPastoral Charge and Benediction:

One: Sisters and brothers, you have been given the spirit of freedom and saved for the sake of God's love.

Let us go forth with words and deeds such that our lives will be evidence of the presence of God in the world today.

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And, may the One who creates, redeems, and sustains you from everlasting to everlasting grant you the grace of peace, holiness, and eternal life.

God bless us, every one.

And, May God Bless America! Amen. - Compiled by Alan R. Schaefer, 2020

Postlude “O Beautiful for Spacious Skies” – Rachel Persenaire

Tower Carillon – Kim Forrester_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Our Next Lord's Day Celebration of Communion Will Be On August 2, 2020._______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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