Christ Presbyterian Church

Worship Service

July 23, 2023

Facebook Live: @christpc
Call and Listen: 351-888-7756
Sanctuary Parking Area: FM105.3
 Welcome to Sunday Worship Service
Seventh Sunday After Pentecost
July 23, 2023 10:00AM
* Please stand if you are able.

Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
GATHERING AROUND THE WORD

Call to Worship
One: We gather in the presence of God;
All: We have come to worship and praise God’s name.
One: We gather in joy and expectancy;
All: We have come to encounter God in beauty and wonder.
One: Speak, Lord, for your servants are listening;
All: Speak your Word of life to us, O God.

Prayer of Adoration
Creator God, in you we live and move and have our being: You have been with us
through good and also difficult times. You give us strength to face the challenges
around us. You give us rest for our bodies and souls when life is demanding. We turn
to you for wisdom this day, trusting we will find the peace and comfort we long for in
your presence. We praise you for all you offer us in your great faithfulness. Fill us with
your Spirit in this time of worship. Open our minds and hearts, so that we may see as
you see, love as you love, and follow your ways in Christ our Lord. AMEN

*Hymn
Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.

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 Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might:
thy justice, like mountains high soaring above;
thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.
To all, life thou givest, to both great and small.
In all life thou livest, the true life of all.
We blossom and flourish like leaves on the tree,
then wither and perish; but naught changeth thee.
Thou reignest in glory; thou dwellest in light.
Thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight.
All praise we would render; O help us to see
'tis only the splendor of light hideth thee!

Prayer of Confession
Ever present God, you know our inmost thoughts and all our actions. We confess we
sometimes speak before careful thought. We pray your forgiveness if we have hurt others
in any way. We confess any selfishness, and ask forgiveness of in your mercy. In your
mercy, O God, forgive and amend who we are, and direct who we shall be, through Jesus,
the Christ, our Lord. 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 5 or rude.
It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in
wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all
things, endures all things. 8 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. 9 For we know
only in part, and we prophesy only in part; 10 but when the complete comes, the partial will
come to an end. 11 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. 12 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. 13 And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three;
and the greatest of these is love.
PROCLAIMING THE WORD

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Special Music
In the Silence
Solo – Susan Taylor

Prayer of Illumination
Reading from the Old Testament
Psalms 86:11-17
Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart to revere
your name. 12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your
name for ever. 13 For great is your steadfast love towards me; you have delivered my soul from
the depths of Sheol. 14 O God, the insolent rise up against me; a band of ruffians seeks my life,
and they do not set you before them. 15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, low to
anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. 16 Turn to me and be gracious to me;
give your strength to your servant; save the child of your serving-maid. 17 Show me a sign of your
favour, so that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame, because you, Lord, have
helped me and comforted me.
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989)

Reading from the New Testament

Romans 8:12-25
So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13 for if
you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body,
you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15 For you did not receive
a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba!
Father!” 16 it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if
children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we
may also be glorified with him. 18 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth
comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for
the revealing of the children of God; 20 for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but
by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage
to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole
creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; 23 and not only the creation, but we ourselves,
who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our
bodies. 24 For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is
seen? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989)

One: This is the Word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God!
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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.
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 13:24-30, 36-43
He put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who
sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds
among the wheat, and then went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds
appeared as well. 27 And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, “Master, did you not
sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?” 28 He answered, “An enemy
has done this.” The slaves said to him, “Then do you want us to go and gather them?” 29 But he
replied, “No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 30 Let both of
them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first
and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ 36 Then he left the crowds
and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, ‘Explain to us the parable of the
weeds of the field.’ 37 He answered, ‘The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; 38 the field
is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil
one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers
are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the
age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin
and all evildoers, 42 and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and
gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let
anyone with ears listen!
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989)

One: This is the Gospel of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God!
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Sermon Rev. William Cowfer
“Seeds and Weeds”

RESPONDING TO THE WORD

Hymn
All Creatures of Our God and King
All creatures of our God and King,
lift up your voice and with us sing, Alleluia! Alleluia!
O brother sun with golden beam, O sister moon with silver gleam,
sing praises! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
O brother wind with clouds and rain,
you nurture gifts of fruit and grain. Alleluia! Alleluia!
O sister water, flowing clear, make music for your Lord to hear.
Sing praises! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
O brother fire, so warm and bright,
chase off the shadows of the night. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Dear mother earth, who day by day unfolds such blessings on our way,
sing praises! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
All who for love of God forgive,
all who in pain or sorrow grieve, Alleluia! Alleluia!
Christ bears your burdens and your fears; so, even in the midst of tears,
sing praises! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
And you, most gentle sister death,
waiting to hush our final breath: Alleluia! Alleluia!
Since Christ our light has pierced your gloom, fair is the night that leads us home.
Sing praises! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
O sisters, brothers, take your part,
and worship God with humble heart. Alleluia! Alleluia!
All creatures, bless the Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit, Three in One! Sing praises! Alleluia!

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Invitation to Giving
Offertory
*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
Prayers of the People
The Lord’s Prayer
GOING OUT INTO THE WORLD

*Hymn
O for a World
O for a world where everyone respects each other's ways,
where love is lived and all is done with justice and with praise.
O for a world where goods are shared and misery relieved,
where truth is spoken, children spared, equality achieved.
We welcome one world family and struggle with each choice
that opens us to unity and gives our vision voice.
The poor are rich; the weak are strong; the foolish ones are wise.
Tell all who mourn: outcasts belong, who perishes will rise.
O for a world preparing for God's glorious reign of peace,
where time and tears will be no more, and all but love will cease.
Benediction
Postlude

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 ANNOUNCEMENTS
CPC Night Out on The Town
Join us on Thursday August 17th at 5 PM for dinner at Rooster Fish on Missouri Ave. If interested, please contact
the church office at 727-584-8695 or Chad at 727-304-7577 by Monday August 14th to make a reservation.
Church Office Hours
Office volunteers are always available on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 9 to 11:30 AM. Pastor Bill’s
office hours are on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM if you would like to reach him, please
call 727-434-2768 or the church office.
Neighborhood Ministries
*Currently the “Neighborhood Funds” are running low any financial contributions to support the food
ministries will be welcomed.*
Our “Blessing Box” food pantry delivery method has changed to a bag distribution on Wednesdays from 5PM
to 6PM. These bags provide additional food items to supplement caring for the families in need. Food items can
continue to be dropped off on Sunday mornings and placed in the wheeled grocery cart or at the church office.
Pastor Bill Cowfer’s Schedule and Contact Information
Tuesdays and most Thursdays in the Church Office from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM.
Appointments, Office Visits & Phone Calls ; invited and welcome.
Home & Residence Pastoral Visitation, generally in the afternoons.
Emergency or Special Pastoral Care as needed or requested.
Email address - cowferwj@gmail.com and Cell Phone # 727-434-2768
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, and Thursday 9 AM – 11:30 AM or by appointment.
Pastor Cowfer will be in the office on Tuesdays and most Thursdays from 9:00 AM – 12:00PM,
if you would like to reach him, please call 727-434-2768 or the church office.

Pastor Rev. William Cowfer email: Cowferwj@gmail.com

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
FYI - Video and audio equipment are used for the
8 livestreaming & recording of the worship service.