Christ Presbyterian Church

Worship Service

January 22, 2023

Facebook Live: @christpc

Call and Listen: 351-888-7756
Sanctuary Parking Area: FM105.3
 Welcome to Sunday Worship Service
Third Sunday After Epiphany
January 22, 2023 10:00AM
* Please stand if you are able.

Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
GATHERING AROUND THE WORD

Call to Worship
One: The Lord is our light and salvation.
All: We will not be afraid.
One: Behold the beauty of the Lord.
All: God will shelter us on any day of trouble and set up upon a rock.
One: Let God’s people shout for joy!
All: For Christ calls us and claims us as his own.
One: Come and worship in unity and love; let us rejoice together!
All: For Christ calls us and claims us as his own.

Invocation
Gracious God, shepherd us by still waters and guide us along paths of justice and
peace. Send your comfort and courage to relieve our tears and fears in the shadows of
death and despair. We offer our praise in love and loyalty for you are always with us.

*Hymn
Come Sing, O Church, In Joy
Come sing, O church in joy! Come join, O church in song!
For Christ the Lord has led us through the ages long!
In bold accord, come celebrate the journey now and praise the Lord!
Long years have come and gone, and still God reigns supreme,
empowering us to catch the vision, dream the dream!
In bold accord, come celebrate the journey now and praise the Lord!

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 Let courage be our friend; let wisdom be our guide,
as we in mission magnify the Crucified!
In bold accord, come celebrate the journey now and praise the Lord!
Come sing, O church in joy! Come join, O church in song!
For Christ the Lord has triumphed O’er the ages long!
In bold accord, come celebrate the journey now and praise the Lord!

Prayer of Confession
Merciful God, you call us to follow your way of forgiveness and compassion but
sometimes we are critical of one another. You call us to follow your way of peace but
sometimes we remain divided. You call us to trust you but sometimes our fears and
doubts overwhelm us. Forgive us, O God, and strengthen our commitment to follow
your ways of love and compassion. Amen.

Silent Confession
Assurance of Pardon
*Affirmation of Faith 1 Corinthians 13:4-13
I believe Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It
does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in
wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,
endures all things. Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for
tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know only in part,
and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an
end. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child;
when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly,
but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I
have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest
of these is love.

PROCLAIMING THE WORD

Prayer of Illumination
Reading from the Old Testament
Isaiah 9:2-7
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep
darkness— on them light has shined. 3 You have multiplied the nation, you have increased
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its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder.
For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian. For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the
garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. 6 For a child has been born for
us, a son given to us; Authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful
Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 His authority shall grow
continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will
establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onwards and for
evermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (Isa 9:2-7). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Reading from the New Testament

1 Corinthians 1:10-18
Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you
should be in agreement and that there should be no divisions among you, but that you should
be united in the same mind and the same purpose. 11 For it has been reported to me by
Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. 12 What I mean
is that each of you says, ‘I belong to Paul’, or ‘I belong to Apollos’, or ‘I belong to Cephas’, or
‘I belong to Christ.’ 13 Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you
baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and
Gaius, 15 so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also
the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom,
so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power. 18 For the message about the
cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power
of God.
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (1Cor 1:10–18). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

One: This is the Word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God!

Family Choir
Great Is the Lord
Great is the Lord; he is holy and just,
by his power we trust in his love.
Great is the Lord; he is faithful and true,
by his mercy he proves he is love.
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 Great is the Lord, and worthy of glory!
Great is the Lord, and worthy of praise!
Great is the Lord! Now lift up you voice; now lift up your voice:
Great is the Lord! Great is the Lord!
Great is the Lord; he is holy and just,
by his power we trust in his love.
Great is the Lord; he is faithful and true,
by his mercy he proves he is love.
Great are you, Lord, and worthy of glory!
Great are you, Lord, and worthy of praise!
Great are you, Lord! I lift up my voice; I lift up my voice:
Great are you, Lord! Great are you, Lord!
Reading from the Gospel
Matthew 4:12-23
Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth
and made his home in Capernaum by the lake, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that
what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: the people who sat in
darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death
light has dawned.’ From that time Jesus began to proclaim, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven
has come near.’ As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is
called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen.
And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.’ Immediately they left
their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of
Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and
he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him. Jesus went
throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the
kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (Mt 4:12–23). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

One: This is the Word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God!

Special Music
Love Is
Solo – Susan Taylor

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Sermon Rev. Bill Cowfer
“Beginnings and Endings”
RESPONDING TO THE WORD

Invitation to Giving
Doxology
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
Take Thou Our Minds, Dear Lord

Take thou our minds, dear Lord, we humbly pray;

give us the mind of Christ each passing day;
teach us to know the truth that sets us free;
grant us in all our thoughts to honor thee.
Take thou our hearts, O Christ; they are thine own;
come thou within our souls and claim thy throne;
help us to shed abroad thy deathless love;
use us to make the earth like heaven above.
Take thou our wills, Most High! Hold thou full sway;
have in our inmost souls thy perfect way;
guard thou each sacred hour from selfish ease;
guide thou our ordered lives as thou dost please.
Take thou ourselves, O Lord, heart, mind, and will;
through our surrendered souls thy plans fulfill.
We yield ourselves to thee: time, talents, all;
we hear, and henceforth heed, thy sovereign call.

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Prayers of the People
The Lord’s Prayer
GOING OUT INTO THE WORLD

*Hymn
Lord, Speak to Me That I May Speak
Lord, speak to me that I may speak
in living echoes of your tone.
As you have sought, so let me seek
your erring children, lost and lone.
O lead me, Lord, that I may lead
the wandering and the wavering feet.
O feed me, Lord, that I may feed
your hungering ones with manna sweet.
O teach me, Lord, that I may teach
the precious truths which you impart.
And wing my words that they may reach
the hidden depths of many a heart.
O fill me with your fullness, Lord,
until my very heart o'erflow
in kindling thought and glowing word,
your love to tell, your praise to show.
O use me, Lord, use even me,
just as you will, and when, and where
until your blessed face I see,
your rest, your joy, your glory share.
Benediction
Postlude

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 ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please join us for coffee fellowship today in Narthex E after worship
Initial Offering for Per Capita for the PC(USA) and Offering Envelopes
The Presbytery of Tampa Bay asks each of our congregations to contribute $36.00 for each member (per capita)
for each member on the roll of active members of the church. Please help Christ Presbyterian Church continue
meeting our commitments to support the work of the greater church. Offering books are available for pickup
Sunday in the sanctuary or in the office during normal business hours.
Finance Update
In November we received the insurance payment of $23,770 for our July 2022 lightning damage to our electronic
sign and various other items around the church. Since it will cost $28,000 to replace the sign, we are waiting
until we collect the additional $4,230 before proceeding.
Church Office Hours
The office volunteers are available to assist you in the office Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 9 AM to 11:30 AM
or by an appointment.
Wednesday Night Dinner
The menu this week is salad, ham, parsley potatoes, carrots, and chocolate mousse cake. Dinners are available
for delivery or in person at 5:15 PM on Wednesdays. Please call the church office at 727-584-8695 or June at
727-409-4199 to make a reservation for dining in person or meal delivery.
Neighborhood Ministries
Please help us keep the pantry full as our community continues to struggle with hunger. Food items can be
dropped off on Sunday mornings prior to service and placed in the wheeled grocery cart or at the church office.
The Neighborhood Meals continue to provide bagged meals on Tuesdays at 5PM in front of the church.
Ways to support your church in tithes and offerings
1. Online at www.largocpc.org
2. Through Vanco Mobile Faith Engagement App on Apple or Android devices
3. Mail a gift directly to the church or drop in office mail slot
4. Use the bill pay option through your bank
5. Scan the QR code to the right using your phone

CHRIST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Phone: 727-584-8695 • Fax: 727-585-1079 • 3115 Dryer Ave, Largo FL 33770
www.LargoCPC.org • email: Office.largocpc@gmail.com
Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 9 AM – 11:30 AM or by appointment.
Face covering coverings remain optional for personal use.

Secretary Sarah Reeves email: Office.largocpc@gmail.com

Director of Music Steven Radeck email: StevenRadeck@gmail.com
Custodian June Sanchez email: JuBug616@aol.com
All songs used by permission CCLI #863215 and streaming CPSL 139714, Expiration date 7/31/2023
Video and audio equipment are used for the livestreaming
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By participating in this service, you consent to being recorded for this purpose.