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

November 1, 2020 All Saints’ Day

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

Icon in Multiple Registers, Pskov, Russia. Egg tempera on wood, ca. 1550.

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 Larghetto George F. Handel Robert Schaumburg, violin

INTROIT Ain’t-a That Good News African-American spiritual Dylan Davis, tenor

CALL TO WORSHIP Lynace Veit

†OPENING HYMN, No. 326 For All the Saints SINE NOMINE

1. For all the saints who from their labors rest, Who thee by faith before the world confessed, Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest. Alleluia! Alleluia!

2. Thou wast their rock, their fortress, and their might; Thou, Lord, their captain in the well-fought fight; Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true light. Alleluia! Alleluia!

3. O blest communion, fellowship divine! We feebly struggle; they in glory shine; Yet all are one in thee, for all are thine. Alleluia! Alleluia!

4. And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long, Steals on the ear the distant triumph song, And hearts are brave again, and arms are strong. Alleluia! Alleluia!

The church of Jesus Christ is catholic, universal, and so are all her actions. When she baptizes a child, that action concerns us, for that child is connected and engrafted into the body of which we are all members.

And when the church buries a person, that action concerns us all. All humanity is of one Author and is one volume.

When a person dies, a chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into better language. God employs several translators; some are translated by age, some by sickness, some by war, some by justice, but the Lord’s hand is in every translation.

None of us are an island unto ourselves. We are a piece of the continent, a part of the main.

Anyone’s death diminishes us, because we share one humanity in Jesus Christ. We never seem to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for us all.

I got a crown up in-a that kingdom, Ain’t-a that good news! I’m-a gonna lay down this world, Gonna shoulder up-a my cross. Gonna take it home-a to my Jesus, Ain’t-a that good news!

I got a Savior in-a that kingdom, Ain’t-a that good news! I’m-a gonna lay down this world, Gonna shoulder up-a my cross. Gonna take it home-a to my Jesus, Ain’t-a that good news!

CALL TO CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

RESPONSE For All the Saints SINE NOMINE

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

†ACT OF PRAISE Gloria Patri MEINEKE

†PASSING OF THE PEACE

THE WORD

A TIME WITH CHILDREN Lynace Veit

RESPONSE, No. 543 God be the Love to Search and Keep Me GREEN TYLER

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.

God is with us here. God is with you there. God is with us everywhere.

Eternal God, you have knit your people of all times and places into one communion in the mystical body of our Lord Jesus Christ. In every age you have raised up men and women to live and die in faith. In this time and space, we remember those saints who have left us and the challenges posed to our grief and our remembrance of them.

We confess that we are indifferent to your will. You call us to proclaim your name, but we are silent. You call us to do what is just, but we remain idle. You call us to live faithfully, but we are afraid. In your mercy, forgive us.

Grant us your Holy Spirit of encouragement and strength so we may persevere in our leg of the race of faith until such time as we join the great cloud of witnesses who cheer us on the way. Keep us one with all who proclaim your gospel until such time as we finish our race, collapsing into your arms where you wait for us at the finish of your new creation begun in Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Life everlasting.

(Continue your personal prayer of confession in silence.)

5. From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,

Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host, Singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Alleluia! Alleluia!

For lives cut short, no time or space to grieve; For saints and servants you have now received; For all who still bear witness and believe: O Lord, have mercy. O Lord, have mercy.

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

FIRST SCRIPTURE READING Psalm 34

SECOND SCRIPTURE READING Revelation 7:9-17

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

SERMON Gathered Fragments Rev. Dr. Chris Currie

RESPONDING TO GOD’S WORD

†HYMN, No. 481 AND AFFIRMATION OF FAITH I Believe in God the Father GENEVAN 42

MOMENT FOR DISCIPLESHIP

PRESENTATION OF OUR OFFERING

Offertory What Wondrous Love Is This Walker’s Southern Harmony, 1835 Sarah Saturnino, mezzo-soprano arr. Trevor Manor Robert Schaumburg, violin

†Doxology, No. 608 PRAISE GOD (Hopson)

1. I believe in God the Father, merciful and mighty Lord, Maker of the earth and heavens, whom we worship and adore; And in Jesus Christ the Son, only Savior, sovereign one, By the Holy Spirit given, born of Mary, blessed virgin.

2. Under Pilate, Jesus suffered, faithful to his final breath. He was crucified and buried, and descended into death. From the grave he did arise; he ascended through the skies; Now enthroned with God in heaven, he will judge the dead and living.

3. I believe in God the Spirit, and the church in every place; Saints in glorious communion, all forgiven, full of grace; Flesh and blood will live again; life in Christ will never end. Holy Spirit, Son and Father: I will praise your name forever.

What wondrous love is this, O my soul! What wondrous love is this That caused the Lord of bliss To bear the dreadful curse for my soul? When I was sinking down; When I was sinking down

Beneath God’s righteous frown, Christ laid aside his crown for my soul. To God and to the Lamb I will sing; To God and to the Lamb, Who is the great “I AM”, While millions join the theme, I will sing!

God, be the love to search and keep me; God, be the prayer to move my voice; God, be the strength to now uphold me: O Christ, surround me; O Christ, surround me.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Christ, all people here below; Praise Holy Spirit evermore; Praise Triune God, whom we adore.

SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER Invitation

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving and Lord’s Prayer

Communion of the People

Response, No. 527 Eat This Bread BERTHIER

†Prayer after Communion †HYMN, No. 730 I Sing a Song of the Saints of God GRAND ISLE

†CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

BENEDICTION RESPONSE Through the Love of God Our Savior Welsh melody

†POSTLUDE Allegro Maestoso George F. Handel Robert Schaumburg, violin

1. I sing a song of the saints of God, patient and brave and true, Who toiled and fought and lived and died for the Lord they loved and knew. And one was a doctor, and one was a queen, and one was a shepherdess on the green: They were all of them saints of God, and I mean, God helping, to be one too.

2. They loved their Lord so dear, so dear, and God’s love made them strong; And they followed the right, for Jesus’ sake, the whole of their good lives long. And one was a soldier, and one was a priest, and one was slain by a fierce wild beast: And there’s not any reason, no, not the least, why I shouldn’t be one too.

3. They lived not only in ages past; there are hundreds of thousands still; The world is bright with the joyous saints who love to do Jesus’ will. You can meet them in school, or in lanes, or at sea, in church, or in trains, or in shops, or at tea; For the saints of God are just folk like me, and I mean to be one too.

1. Through the love of God our Savior All will be well; Free and changeless is his favor; All must be well; Precious is the love that healed us, Perfect is the grace that sealed us, Strong the hand stretched forth to shield us; All, all is well.

2. We expect a bright tomorrow, All will be well; Faith can sing through days of sorrow, All must be well; While his truth we are applying, And upon his love relying, God is every need supplying. All, all is well.

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.

“Eat this bread; drink this cup; come to me and never be hungry. Eat this bread; drink this cup; trust in me and you will not thirst.”

Roll Call of the Saints November 1, 2020

Patrick L. Hiers

Jasmine Morelock Field

Mary Elizabeth Pierce

Virginia Whatley Henderson

William Grimm Dewell

Elizabeth Ann Dodson

Carolyn Staman Ogilvie

Ruth Velotta Doreck

Annelle Johnston Clayton

Andrew Brutton Gallagher

Nelson Brook Boddie

Rosemary McClurg Moore

Harry David Simmons

Anthony Louis Roggero

Edward Neil Henderson

December 5, 2019

December 27, 2019

December 29, 2019

February 22, 2020

March 4, 2020

March 16, 2020

March 23, 2020

March 27, 2020

March 28, 2020

April 11, 2020

July 14, 2020

August 26, 2020

August 27, 2020

September 26, 2020

October 2, 2020

WORSHIP NOTES

The art on the cover of the bulletin today is Icon in Multiple Registers, Pskov, Russia. Egg tempera on wood, ca. 1550. Image courtesy of the Museum of Russian Icons. On display at the Chrysler Museum of Art, Chrysler.org.

The call to worship and prayer of confession are adapted from PC(USA) Service for the Lord’s Day All Saints Sunday which makes use of John Donne’s Meditation XVII of Devotions upon Emergent Occasions. Known for his poetry and religious verse, Donne was dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, 1621-1631. The prayer of confession response is used with permission from Dr. David Gambrell, associate for worship in the office of Theology and Worship.

NOTES TO THE CONGREGATION

We express sincere sympathy to Gray Teekell and family in the death of his brother, Scott Aylmer Teekell, October 16, 2020, and we rejoice with them in the assurance of resurrection.

Congratulations to Allison and Reed Markham, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, on the birth of their daughter, Lucy Grace, October 25, 2020. Proud First Presbyterian grandparents are Carole and Danny Mullen.

This Week at First Presbyterian

Current Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Friday 8:00 am - 2:00 pm

We are still observing social distancing, wearing masks and are not allowing members inside the building without an appointment. Call if you need to meet any of the staff at the church 318-222-0604.

SUNDAY, November 1 9:00 a.m. - Morning Prayer Service - Sanctuary (Please wear masks and practice social distancing.) 10:00 a.m. - Sojourners and Young Adults - Zoom Meeting (contact Kathryn McDowell with questions) 10:45 a.m. - Livestream Worship Service - On the website: https//www.fpcshreveport.org or on the First Presbyterian Facebook page 6:00 p.m. - Sunday Night LIVE: Chalk the Walk (commemorating those we have lost in 2020) - Church Grounds 7:30 p.m. - Adult Education Series: A Vocabulary of Faith Unit 1: Testimony 5, God in relationship (Zoom session with Chris Currie, Alex Pappas and Staff) MONDAY, November 2 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. - First Presbyterian Day School - CE Bldg. 10:00 a.m. - PW Council - PW Suite TUESDAY, November 3 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. - First Presbyterian Day School - CE Bldg. 9:30 a.m. - FPDS Chapel - Courtyard 6:30 p.m. - Taizé Instrumental Rehearsal - Sanctuary WEDNESDAY, November 4 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. - First Presbyterian Day School - CE Bldg. 9:00 a.m. - FPDS Chapel - Courtyard 9:30 a.m. - FPDS Chapel - Courtyard 12:00 noon - Midday Prayer Service and Communion in the Chapel. Please wear a mask and we will socially distance in the pews. 5:30 p.m. - Pathfinders Cocktails, Mocktails and Theology on Tap: Doesn’t religion hinder morality? Leader: Mark Williamson - Zoom Online (Let Joe know if you want the Zoom invitation.) THURSDAY, November 5 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. - First Presbyterian Day School - CE Bldg. 9:00 a.m. - FPDS Chapel - Courtyard FRIDAY, November 6 5:30 p.m. - Taizé Worship - Sanctuary SATURDAY, November 7 7:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. - Scouts “Cub Mobile” - Church Parking Area on Stoner Ave. 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. - CASA Training - Gymnasium

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

Church Staff Thomas Christian Currie Senior Pastor/Head of Staff Alexandra Pappas Stoer Pastoral Resident Hollice S. Watson Organist/Choir Director Lynace Pabst Veit Director of Children and Family Ministries Sam Beech Church Administrator Kathy Booth Director of First Presbyterian Day School Susan W. Abney Communications Director Jan Melton Church Librarian Susan B. Whaley Church Secretary Lona L. Lockard Staff Secretary Jeff A. McKenzie Sexton/Maintenance Coordinator Sheri Rowell Kitchen Coordinator Mitzie Kilpatrick University of FPC Susan Pierce/ Faith Community Nursing Michelle Phelan