Christ Presbyterian Church

Worship Service

A Place for New Beginnings

October 29, 2023

Facebook Live: @christpc
Call and Listen: 351-888-7756
Sanctuary Parking Area: FM105.3
 Welcome to Sunday Worship Service
22nd Sunday After Pentecost
October 29, 2023 10:00AM
* Please stand if you are able.

Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
One: The Peace of Christ be with You.
All: And also with You.
GATHERING AROUND THE WORD

Call to Worship
One: Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised!
All: Each day God brings to us new opportunities to learn and grow.
One: God is near to all of us.
All: We will not fear to call upon the Lord.
One: Come, let us praise God who walks with us daily.
All: Let us open our hearts and spirits to God who loves and lives with
us.
Prayer of Adoration
Surprising and mysterious God, you come to us when we least expect it,
calling us out of our routines and plans, inviting us to follow Christ into new
opportunities. We praise you for the many ways you come to us. In moments
of fear, you speak with words of reassurance. In moments of doubt, you reach
out your hand to hold. In moments of turmoil, you bring calm to the storm.
You are faithful to us through everything life can bring. And so we place our
trust in you this day and every day, and honour you as our Redeemer and
Saviour, in the name of Christ, our Lord and friend. Amen.

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*Hymn
Jesus Shall Reign Where’re the Sun
Jesus shall reign where'er the sun
does its successive journeys run;
his kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
till moons shall wax and wane no more.
To him shall endless prayer be made,
and praises throng to crown his head;
his name, like sweet perfume, shall rise
with every morning sacrifice.
People and realms of every tongue
dwell on his love with sweetest song,
and infant voices shall proclaim
their early blessings on his name.
Blessings abound where'er he reigns:
the prisoners leap to loose their chains;
the weary find eternal rest,
and all who suffer want are blest.
Let every creature rise and bring
honors peculiar to our King;
angels descend with songs again,
and earth repeat the loud Amen!
Prayer of Confession
Faithful God, we come before you with many issues on our hearts. We get
frustrated and angry at the way things are going in the world. We want your
immediate intervention; and when we don’t see things happening the way
we think they should be, we are quick to dismiss you and any thought of
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your presence. Help us stop our selfishness and our quick anger. Remind
us that you will work with us and through us for peace and hope. Release
us from the traps of quick tests of your faithfulness and help us see the
“big picture” of your awesome love that spans all of time. Forgive us for
our pettiness and our stubbornness. Bring us back to you, O Lord. Help us
shout your praises and live lives of joyful service. For we ask these things
in Jesus’ Name.
Silent Confession
Assurance of Pardon
*Affirmation of Faith Apostles’ Creed
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.
Special Music
My Tribute
Solo – Susan Taylor

PROCLAIMING THE WORD

Prayer of Illumination

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Reading from the Old Testament
Psalm 77:7-14
“Will the Lord spurn forever, and never again be favorable? 8 Has his steadfast
love ceased forever? Are his promises at an end for all time? 9 Has God
forgotten to be gracious? Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” Selah 10
And I say, “It is my grief that the right hand of the Most High has changed.” 11 I
will call to mind the deeds of the Lord; I will remember your wonders of old. 12 I
will meditate on all your work, and muse on your mighty deeds. 13 Your way, O
God, is holy. What god is so great as our God? 14 You are the God who works
wonders; you have displayed your might among the peoples.
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, 1989)

Reading from the New Testament

Acts 3:1-10
One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, at
three o’clock in the afternoon. 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried in.
People would lay him daily at the gate of the temple called the Beautiful Gate so
that he could ask for alms from those entering the temple. 3 When he saw Peter
and John about to go into the temple, he asked them for alms. 4 Peter looked
intently at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention
on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no
silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,
stand up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and
immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 Jumping up, he stood and
began to walk, and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and
praising God. 9 All the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and they
recognized him as the one who used to sit and ask for alms at the Beautiful Gate
of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had
happened to him.
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, 1989)

One: This is the Word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God!

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Family Choir
Oh, How He Loves You and Me!
Oh, how He loves you and me;
Oh how He loves you and me.
He gave his life, what more could he give?
Oh, how He loves you,
Oh, how he loves me,
Oh, how he loves you and me.
Jesus to Calvary did go,
His love for people to show.
What he did there brought hope from despair.
Oh, how He loves you;
Oh, how he loves me;
Oh, how he loves you and me.
Reading from the Gospel
Mark 9:14-29
When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and some
scribes arguing with them. 15 When the whole crowd saw him, they were
immediately overcome with awe, and they ran forward to greet him. 16 He asked
them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 17 Someone from the crowd
answered him, “Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him
unable to speak; 18 and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he
foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast
it out, but they could not do so.” 19 He answered them, “You faithless generation,
how much longer must I be among you? How much longer must I put up with
you? Bring him to me.” 20 And they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw
him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about,
foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the father, “How long has this been
happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 It has often cast him into
the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, have
pity on us and help us.” 23 Jesus said to him, “If you are able! —All things can
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be done for the one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried
out, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 25 When Jesus saw that a crowd came running
together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You spirit that keeps this
boy from speaking and hearing, I command you, come out of him, and never
enter him again!” 26 After crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and
the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus
took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he was able to stand. 28 When he
had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast
it out?” 29 He said to them, “This kind can come out only through prayer.”
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, 1989)

One: This is the Gospel of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God!
Sermon Terry Mapes
“The Miracle Starts with You”
RESPONDING TO THE WORD
Hymn
The Woman Hiding in the Crowd
The woman hiding in the crowd
reached for Christ's garment hem
that simply by the touch of it
she might be healed within.
From Christ went forth the healing grace,
her health and her life restored.
"Who touched my clothes?"
the Savior asked, but no one said a word.

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 The woman knelt before
him then with joy and anxious fear,
and Jesus blessed her lovingly:
"In peace go forth from here."
The burdens now that weigh us down,
the sins we fear to speak,
the ache of the heart and empty soul
we lay before your feet.
So touch us, Lord, with healing grace
and make us whole again
that we may always live in you
and know your peace within.
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

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 GOING OUT INTO THE WORLD

*Hymn
Healer of Our Every Ill
Refrain:
Healer of our every ill,
light of each tomorrow,
give us peace beyond our fear,
and hope beyond our sorrow.
You who know our fears and sadness,
grace us with your peace and gladness;
Spirit of all comfort, fill our hearts.
refrain
In the pain and joy beholding
how your grace is still unfolding,
give us all your vision, God of love.
refrain
Give us strength to love each other,
every sister, every brother;
Spirit of all kindness, be our guide.
refrain
You who know each thought and feeling,
teach us all your way of healing;
Spirit of compassion, fill each heart.
refrain
Benediction
Postlude

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 ANNOUNCEMENTS
**Please join us for coffee fellowship today in Parlor after worship.**
Congregational Meeting
A congregational meeting is being held at 9:15 AM on Sunday, Oct. 29th. It will
provide an opportunity to ask questions of the pastor and session about the
report. If you would like to attend and do not have transportation to the church,
please call the church office at 727-584-8695 and leave a message. An attempt
will be made to find transportation for you.
Wednesday Night Take-Out Dinner
Take-out meals will be available for delivery or pickup at 4:45 PM on
Wednesdays. The cost per meal is $10. This week’s menu is salad, pork loin,
mashed potatoes, broccoli, and lemon cake. If interested in receiving a meal,
please contact June Sanchez at 727-409-4199 or the church office at
727-584-8695. The delivery area is limited.
CPC Night Out on The Town
Join us on Thursday November 16th at 5 PM for dinner at Roosterfish Grill on
Missouri Ave. If interested, please contact the church office at 727-584-8695 or
Chad Bender at 727-304-7577 by Monday November 13th to make a reservation.
Neighborhood Ministries
* To help support our food ministries you can make financial contribution
to the “Neighborhood Funds.”
The Neighborhood Food Program distributes bags of groceries 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.
Pak-a-Snack has resumed providing food bags to students at Anona
Elementary.

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 Projected 2024 Finances

2024 costs
@Essentially FIXED
*Personnel $ 83,000
#Insurance $ 72,000
Power $ 22,000
Water $ 10,000
Budgeted mission $ 4,925
$191,925
%Flexible
Maintenance & repairs $ 25,000
Other $ 12,000
$ 37,000
$228,925

2024 Donations and Reimbursements

Pledges $105,000
=Reimbursements $ 33,000
Unpledged, plate etc $ 20,000
$158,000
$158,000

@ These costs are essentially determined by our property and minimal

staffing

*Personnel costs reduced by $50,000 from years before 2023 by using part
time senior minister

Insurance costs will increase by up to 25% for 2024

#

%These costs are flexible to the degree that some maintenance and repairs
may not occur, or can be postponed

=Examples of reimbursements are payments for Wednesday meals,

applying Neighborhood Food donations to current purchases, applying NA,
AA, Quilters, Pipers etc donations to B&G expenses

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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

Our Vision:
To know God and to make Him known.

Our Mission:
We are a community of people committed to serve Jesus Christ,
empowered by the Holy Spirit, in the love of God,
and called to make that love real.

Our Core Values:

Seeking to be like Christ
Bringing the Good News to our world
Worshiping the Living God
Teaching and learning God’s Word
Supporting and serving one another.

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 7/31/2024
FYI - Video and audio equipment are used for the
12 livestreaming & recording of the worship service.