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 The King of Love My Shepherd Is (ST. COLUMBA) arr. Sam Batt Owens

INTROIT Spirit of God, Come Dwell Within Me Scottish folk melody The Summer Women’s Choir LEAVING OF LISMORE

†CALL TO WORSHIP (adapted from the prayer of St. Columba)

†OPENING HYMN, No. 664 Morning Has Broken BUNESSAN

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

RESPONSE Lord, Have Mercy LAND OF REST Congregation and Choir

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

†ACT OF PRAISE Gloria Patri MEINEKE

†PASSING OF THE PEACE

THE WORD

A TIME WITH CHILDREN Julia Nance Farrell Leader: As you depart from us now, the children of God say: Children: God be with you as you stay. Congregation: God be with you as you go.

RESPONSE, No. 730 I Sing a Song of the Saints of God GRAND ISLE Congregation and Choir Children may exit at this time. Parents of children 2 years old -1st grade may take their children to the CE Building for Summer Session, Room CE 105. There is no Worship Center during the summer months.

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

FIRST SCRIPTURE READING Exodus 2:11-14 Pew Bible, page 47; large print, page 61

(Bibles are located in the racks beneath the pews.)

ANTHEM Sinner Man Spiritual The Summer Women’s Choir arr. Roger Emerson

SECOND SCRIPTURE READING Acts 9:1-5 Pew Bible, page 119; large print, page 154

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

SERMON Questionable Resumés & Dubious Exemplars Rev. Dr. Chris Currie

RESPONDING TO GOD’S WORD

†AFFIRMATION OF FAITH The Apostles’ Creed

†HYMN, No. 802 The King of Love My Shepherd Is ST. COLUMBA

MOMENT FOR DISCIPLESHIP

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER

PRESENTATION OF OUR OFFERING Offertory Who at My Door Is Standing? Irish folk melody The Summer Women’s Choir arr. K. Lee Scott

Be a bright flame before us, O God, and a guiding star above us.

Be a smooth path below us and a kindly shepherd behind us.

In your presence, we are never alone.

No matter how hard it is to see the way, we are never lost.

We are more secure in the palm of your hand,

More secure than if a multitude around us stand.

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 the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he

shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

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

Spirit of God, come dwell within me. Open my heart, oh, come set me free, Fill me with love for Jesus, my Lord, Come, fill me with living water.

Lord Christ, your church is a mystery: it is not a human amalgamation of people trying to be loyal to you; it is not an army of soldiers drilling together to achieve something brave; it is not a human list of souls trying sincerely to be good. It is a mystery of your own creating: it is your continuing body on earth; it is flesh of your flesh and bone of your bone; it is your bride. Let us pray especially for the less worthy members of the church: they are already limbs of your mystical body, forgetful you are already the head, and they the limbs; less worthy members who retain signs of their one-time earthiness, with continuing prejudices, all too ready to whisper the damaging libel about their neighbors, especially when the libel is true; all too eager to retell the nasty joke to gain popularity, forgetting the weaker brothers and sisters; all too tribal, as if Bethlehem were a Scottish village and Nazareth an English town or Capetown were Calvary itself when you really died for all humanity everywhere.

Yes, Lord, we pray for the less worthy members of the church. They are of course none other than ourselves.

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.

(Continue your personal prayer of confession in silence.)

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.

Oh, sinner man, where you gonna run to? All on that day. Run to the rock; rock, won’t you hide me? All on that day.

Run to the sea; sea was a-boilin’ All on that day. Oh, sinner man, should-a been a-prayin’ All on that day.

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.

(from an Iona prayer written by George MacLeod, founder of the Iona Community)

Jesus is living, Jesus is here. Jesus, my Lord, come closer to me: Jesus, our Saviour; dying for me, And rising to save his people.

Who at my door is standing, There patiently drawing near, Who entrance is demanding? Whose is the voice I hear? Sweetly the tones are falling: “Now open the door for me!

If thou wilt heed my calling, I will abide with thee.” Within, the rooms are darkened, All filled with dust and sin; How shameful, how unworthy For Christ to enter in.

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

WORSHIP NOTES WE WELCOME FRIENDS AND VISITORS. This church is for anyone who wants to be counted as a disciple of Jesus Christ, and who wants to be included in its worship and work. Thank you for signing your name and address on the attendance pad. There is an information center with material about our church and Presbyterianism in the foyer of the Jordan Street entrance to the sanctuary. CHILDREN ARE ALWAYS WELCOME IN WORSHIP! Childcare is provided if needed. The Infant and Toddler nursery is found in CE 106 & 108. Our staff provide a loving and safe environment where children can play and explore. A comfort and cry room is located on the same floor as the sanctuary, behind the gathering area, around the corner and down the hall from the elevators. The cry room is equipped with a speaker and volume control, so you will be able to hear the worship service while there. During the summer months we are offering Summer Session for children 2 years old -1st grade. In Summer Session, children will watch a “Hermie and Friends” movie and learn about caring, sharing, telling the truth, and other important lessons. Worship Center will not meet during the summer. Instead we encourage families to try experiencing worship together or attending Summer Session when needed. WORSHIP BAGS are available for children elementary age and younger. Inside each bag a variety of worship aids can be found to help children participate fully in worship, including bookmarks, children’s bulletins, crayons, pencils, and more! Worship Bags can be found in the narthex and at the front entrances of the sanctuary. Please return them at the end of the service. Children’s Bibles are also available for children’s use during worship and can be found at the end of every pew. OUR FINAL SAINT AND SINNER is St. Columba. Columba arrived in Iona (off the west coast of Scotland) from Ireland in the middle of the sixth century, around 563, founded a monastery there, and launched a great missionary movement that led to the evangelization of much of Scotland and parts of Europe.

The present structure of Iona Abbey was built as a Benedictine Abbey in the 13th century and fell into disrepair at the time of the Reformation. After the devastation and destruction of World War II, the Church of Scotland minister, ecumenical activist, and spiritual leader, George MacLeod, along with his colleagues in the Iona community, rebuilt the ruined medieval Abbey on Iona as a sign of reconciliation, renewal, and hope. The Iona Abbey and Iona community exist today with an emphasis on the integration of worship and work, prayer and politics. To find out more about the Iona community and their rule, go to http://iona.org.uk/ WE EXPRESS SINCERE SYMPATHY to Cindy Natale, the First Presbyterian Day School Director, and family in the death of her mother, Coral Kaburick, of Texarkana, Texas, who died August 21, 2015, and we rejoice with them in the assurance of resurrection. TODAY IS the last Sunday for the Summer Women’s Choir to be providing music for our worship! Although we are sad for them to leave the choir loft, we appreciate the fantastic job they have done leading us in song, and the hard work and talent they have given to the effort. Many thanks, women! THE SANCTUARY CHOIR will be beginning its fall rehearsals this Thursday, September 3. Now is a perfect time to join! For your convenience, two separate rehearsal times are offered: 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. and 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. For more information, contact Dr. Holly Watson at the church.

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

August 30, 2015 Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

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

†Doxology LASST UNS ERFREUEN (Sung to the tune of Hymn No. 15, All Creatures of Our God and King) †Prayer of Dedication

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

†CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

†RESPONSE Through the Love of God Our Savior Welsh tune The Summer Women’s Choir AR HYD Y NOS

†POSTLUDE Jig Fugue in C Major Dietrich Buxtehude

† Worshipers standing if able.

Elder Reader: Piper Moritz Ushers: Neil Erwin (captain), Glenda Erwin, John Guth, Paul Schuetze, Margaret Schuetze, Michelle Phelan

The flowers today are given to the glory of God and in memory of Frank Hodgson by his family.

The flowers today in the Narthex are given to the glory of

God and in memory of Norman Z. Fisher by his family.

Please join us in the gathering area following the service for a time of fellowship.

Yet, the tones are falling: “Now open the door for me! If thou wilt heed my calling, I will abide with thee.” Door of my heart, I hasten! Thee will I open wide.

Though he rebuke and chasten, He shall with me abide. Sweetly the tones are falling: “Now open the door for me!” Lord God, I hear thee calling, Come now, abide with me.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Alleluia, Alleluia. Praise God above, ye heavenly hosts; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

THE CHURCH TRIUMPHANT Norman Zagal Fisher—August 23, 2015

We express sincere sympathy to the family and friends of Norman Fisher, and we rejoice with them in the assurance of resurrection.

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.

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.