First Presbyterian ChurchKNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE

- Founded 1792 -

“For Christ in the Heart of Knoxville,” the First Presbyterian Church seeks

! to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ! to nurture those within its influence! to serve spiritual and human needs

Senior Recognition Sunday

ORDER OF WORSHIPSIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

MAY 17, 2020

dTHE PREPARATION OF GOD'S PEOPLEd

PRELUDE Adagio Rolf LovlandNathan Pace, Violin

WELCOME AND CONCERNS OF THE CONGREGATION

CALL TO WORSHIP Adapted from Psalm 146One: Happy are those whose hope is in God,

maker of heaven and earth--Many: for God keeps faith forever! One: God executes justice for the oppressed

and gives food for the hungry.Many: God sets the prisoners free

and opens the eyes of the blind.One: God lifts up those who are bowed down.Many: God watches over the strangers

and upholds the orphan and the widow.One: People of God, sing praise to the One who is your help—Many: for God keeps faith forever! Let us worship God!

OPENING HYMN 321 The Church’s One Foundation Aurelia

1. The church’s one foundationin Jesus Christ her Lord.She is his new creationby water and the word.From heaven he came and sought herto be his holy bride.With his own blood he bought her,and for her life he died.

2. Elect from every nation,yet one o’er all the earth,her charter of salvation:one Lord, one faith, one birth.One holy name she blesses,partakes one holy food,and to one hope she presses,with every grace endured.

3. Though with a scornful wonderthis world sees her oppressed,by schisms rent asunder,by heresies distressed,yet saints their watch are keeping;their cry goes up: “How long?”And soon the nigh of weepingshall be the morn of song.

4. Mid toil and tribulation,and tumult of her war,she waits the consummationof peace forevermore:till with the vision gloriousher longing eyes are blest,and the great church victoriousshall be the church at rest.

5. Yet she on earth has unionwith God, the Three in One,and mystic sweet communionwith those whose rest in won:O happy ones and holy!Lord give us grace that we,like them, the meek and lowly,may live eternally.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (All)

Gracious God, we were once strangers in a strange land, enslaved and broken, but youheard our cries and saved us. Yet we turn away from you and treat you as a stranger,forgetting that all that we are and have is because of your grace. You unite us in Christ,who is our cornerstone, but we often pave other paths away from you and each other.Forgive us for the dividing walls of hostility we build and welcome us back into yourhousehold. Transform our walls of hostility into the banquet house of your joy where allknow you and each other. Turn our hearts to Christ, your holy temple and our dwellingplace together. (silent confession)

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

MUSICAL RESPONSE 248 Christ is Risen! Shout Hosanna!Christ is risen! Earth and heaven nevermore shall be the same.Break the bread of new creation where the world is still in pain.Tell its grim demonic chorus: “Christ is risen! Get you gone!”God the First and Last is with us. Sing Hosanna, everyone!

PASSING OF THE PEACESince God has forgiven us, we are free to forgive one another. You are invited to reach out toyour church family through phone calls, texts, faxes, carrier pigeons, or social media and greeteach other with a virtual sign of Christ’s peace.

dTHE PROCLAMATION OF GOD'S WORDd

FIRST SCRIPTURE LESSON Psalm 146 Alex McGavic

RECOGNITION OF THE 2020 GRADUATES See Insert Below

ANTHEM Abide With Me Arr. Malcolm ArcherRyan Ford, Cynthia Smith, Frederick Wagoner, Carrie Wright

Abide with me, fast falls the eventide, The darkness deepens, Lord, with me abide. When other helpers fail andcomforts flee, help of the helpless, oh, abide with me. Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day, earth's joys grow dim, its

glories pass away, change and decay in all around I see, o Thou who changest not, abide with me. Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes, shine through and point me to the skies.

Heaven's morning breaks and vain shadows flee; O lord abide with me.

SECOND SCRIPTURE LESSON Ephesians 2:11-22

SERMON No Longer Strangers Rev. Meredith Loftis

dTHE RESPONSE OF GOD'S PEOPLEd

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (All) The Apostles’ Creed (traditional) I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ

his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary,suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell;the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on theright hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quickand the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; theforgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

HYMN OF RESPONSE 301 Let Us Build a House Two Oaks

1. Let us build a house where love can dwell and all can safely live,a place where saints and children tellhow hearts learn to forgive.Built of hopes and dreams and visions,rock of faith and vault and grace;here the love of Christ shall end divisions:

REFRAINAll are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.

2. Let us build a house where prophetsspeak, and words are strong and true,where all God’s children dare to seekto dream God’s reign anew.Here the cross shall stand as witnessand a symbol of God’s grace; here as one we claim the faith of Jesus:

REFRAIN

3. Let us build a house where love is foundin water, wine, and wheat;a banquet hall on holy groundwhere peace and justice meet.Here the love of God, through Jesus,is revealed in time and space; as weshare in Christ the feast that frees us:

REFRAIN

4. Let us build a house where handswill reach beyond the wood and stoneto heal and strengthen, serve and teach,and live the Word they’ve known.Here the outcast and the strangerbear the image of God’s face;let us bring an end to fear and danger:

REFRAIN

5. Let us build a house where all arenamed, their songs and visions heardand loved and treasured, taught andclaimed as words within the Word..Built of tears and cries and laughter,prayers of faith and songs of grace;let this house proclaim fromfloor to rafter:

REFRAIN

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER Rev. Dr. Jeff McCrory Jr.Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will bedone, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us ourdebts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us fromevil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

RECEPTION OF TITHES AND OFFERINGSDuring this unique time of online worshiping, you are invited to mail in your tithes and offerings to the churchoffice or give online at www.fpcknox.org/donate.

OFFERTORY ANTHEM Meditation from Thais Jules MassenetNathan Pace, Violin

DOXOLOGY AND PRAYER OF DEDICATION 606 Old Hundredth

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.

CLOSING HYMN 761 Called as Partners in Christ’s Service Beecher

1. Called as partners in Christ’s service,called to ministries of grace,we respond with deep commitmentfresh new lines of faith to trace.May we learn the art of sharing,side by side and friend with friend,equal partners in our caringto fulfill God’s chosen end.

2. Christ’s example, Christ’s inspiring,Christ’s clear call to work and worth,let us follow, never faltering,reconciling folk on earth.Men and women, richer, poorer,all God’s people, young and old,blending human skills togethergracious gifts from God unfold.

3. Thus new patterns for Christ’s mission,in small or global sense,help us bear each other’s burdens,breaking down each wall or fence.Words of comfort, words of vision,words of challenge, said with care,bring new power and strength for action, make us colleagues,free and fair.

4. So God grant us for tomorrow ways to order human life that surroundeach person’s sorrow with a calm that conquers strife. Make us partners in our living, our compassion to increase,messages of faith, thus givinghope and confidence and peace.

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE Allegro Joseph Hector FioccoNathan Pace, Violin

LEADERS IN WORSHIPThe Rev. Dr. Jeff McCrory Jr., Transitional Pastor

The Rev. Meredith Loftis, Associate PastorMr. Mark Pace, Organist/Choirmaster/Harpist

Mr. Alex McGavic, Children and Youth Ministries Coordinator

CHOIR MEMBERSRyan Ford

Cynthia SmithFrederick Wagoner

Carrie Wright

Nicholas Bolinger

Nicholas Cassell

Archie Pennoyer

Zachary Ramsay

2020 High School Graduates

Nicholas Bolinger, son ofTodd and Susan Bolinger,graduated from Farragut HighSchool this year and plans toattend the University ofTennessee this fall.

Nicholas Cassell, son ofDon and Sarah Cassell,graduated from BereanChristian School, where hewas a member of theswimming and diving teams.Nicholas is heading to theUniversity of Tennessee tobegin his studies in the falland will be a member of boththe UT Springboard and Platform Diving teams.

Archie Pennoyer, son ofTedd and Joanna Pennoyer,graduated from ConcordChristian School. He isexcited to take the next stepin life and is considering theUniversity of Tennessee andEast Tennessee StateUniversity but is currentlyundecided.

Zachary Ramsay, son of Edand Terri Ramsay, graduatedfrom West High Schoolwhere he was a member ofthe football team. He isheading to the University ofTennessee where he willbegin studying ConstructionManagement in the fall.

Andrew Cook

Amy Rosenbalm

Laura Skipper

Idi Melendez

2020 College Graduates

Andrew Cook graduated withhis Associates of AppliedScience in Nursing. He will sitfor his RN certificationexam/boards this summer. Hehas been offered and accepteda position in Blount MemorialHospital's Emergency Room.He will also keep his CriticalCare Paramedic License validas well. Andrew is lookingforward to continuing to serveand care for others and

especially the citizens of Blount County.

Amy Rosenbalm, graduated inMay, from Mississippi College ofClinton, MS with a Bachelor ofScience in Nursing. In the future,she plans to enroll in a Master ofScience program to become anurse practitioner.”

Laura Skippergraduated in May fromthe University ofTennessee's HaslamCollege of Business,with a B.S. in BusinessAdministration, withdouble majors ofsupply chainmanagement andhuman resourcemanagement, and acollateral area of studyin international business. After graduation, she willbegin a full-time position with Mars, Inc. in Franklin,TN where she will be a part of the Petcareorganization. Laura is the daughter of David andMaria Skipper and the grand-daughter of Ron andJean Mayer.

Law School Graduate

Idi Melendez graduated from Lincoln Memorial University’s Duncan School of Lawwith a Juris Doctor degree in May. She plans on taking the bar exam in July and willpursue practicing both immigration law and family law. She is excited to be in this stageof her life and hopes to help immigrants like herself in this political climate who may beliving in fear of the next decision that could potentially turn their lives upside down. Shestates, “I hope that I am able to assist in some way, to keep their American dream alive.America's story is an immigrants’ story.“