Christ Presbyterian Church

Worship Service

A Place for New Beginnings

March 3, 2024
Facebook Live: @christpc
Call and Listen: 351-888-7756
Sanctuary Parking Area: FM105.3
 Welcome to Sunday Worship Service
3rd Sunday in Lent
March 3, 2024 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: We gather to worship God, for God is good.
All: God’s steadfast love endures forever.
One: We gather to worship God, for God has called us, God’s own people, and
has given us gifts to be a faithful people.
All: We remember that God’s steadfast love endures forever.
One: Let us now offer worthy worship to God,
All: Whose steadfast love endures forever.
One: Together, let us rejoice! Let us worship God!

Prayer of Adoration
God of majesty and mercy, Christ, both Lord and Redeemer, Spirit of life
anew, Your mystery embraces all your creation, and yet you are present with
us in the course of our daily lives. Even a spark of your wisdom reveals a
glimpse life’s mysteries. Your love renew our hope. Deepen our sense of your
holy presence this day. Your love assures us of eternal grace. So here we
offer our praise and our prayers to you this day. Lord hear our prayer; with
humble hearts and faith we seek to open our hearts and minds to deeper
understanding. AMEN.
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*Hymn
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven, to earth come down,
fix in us thy humble dwelling;
all thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, thou art all compassion;
pure, unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation;
enter every trembling heart.
Breathe, O breathe thy loving
Spirit into every troubled breast;
let us all in thee inherit;
let us find the promised rest.
Take away the love of sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
end of faith, as its beginning,
set our hearts at liberty.
Come, Almighty, to deliver;
let us all thy life receive;
suddenly return, and never,
nevermore thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray, and praise thee without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.

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 Finish then thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be;
let us see thy great salvation
perfectly restored in thee:
changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.
Prayer of Confession
Loving and merciful God, you have searched us and known us and still you
love us. We confess that we take this love and mercy for granted; we are
careless with our gifts and resources, and we refuse to focus on you and
your will for all creation. You call us to lead with love but we are reluctant
leaders or we lead with only rules and efficiency in mind. Grant us, O God,
caring hearts, attentive minds and renewed commitment to follow you and
to help lead others to you. In the saving grace of Christ Jesus, we pray.
Amen.
Silent Confession
Assurance of Pardon
One: The psalmist reminds us that God wants to gather us in like a mother
hen gathers her brood under her wings. Under the wings of God’s love,
we can let go of sin and guilt. We can abide in the love and mercy of
Jesus Christ. Friends, in Christ we are forgiven and loved.
All: Together we are the Body of Christ. Thanks be to God!

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*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
In The Silence
Solo – Susan Taylor
PROCLAIMING THE WORD

Prayer of Illumination
Reading from the Old Testament
Micah 7:18-20
Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of
the remnant of your possession? He does not retain his anger forever, because
he delights in showing clemency. 19 He will again have compassion upon us; he
will tread our iniquities under foot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the
sea. 20 You will show faithfulness to Jacob and unswerving loyalty to Abraham,
as you have sworn to our ancestors from the days of old.
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, 1989)

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Reading from the New Testament
Ephesians 4:29-32
Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up,
as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. 30 And
do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for
the day of redemption. 31 Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger
and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, 32 and be kind to one
another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.
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!
Family Choir
Awesome God
Our God is an awesome God;
he reigns from heaven above
with wisdom, pow’r, and love.
Our God is an awesome God!
Our God is an awesome God!
Reading from the Gospel
Luke 19:1-10
He entered Jericho and was passing through it. 2 A man was there named
Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 He was trying to see
who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short
in stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because
he was going to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came to the place, he looked up
and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house
today.” 6 So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. 7 All who saw it
began to grumble and said, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.”
8 Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions,
Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay
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back four times as much.” 9 Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come
to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came
to seek out and to save the lost.”
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
“It’s All About You”
RESPONDING TO THE WORD
Hymn
Where Charity and Love Prevail

Where charity and love prevail,

there God is ever found;
brought here together by Christ's love,
by love we are thus bound.
Let us recall that in our midst
dwells Christ, God's holy Son.
As members of each body joined,
in him we are made one.
Let strife among us be unknown;
let all contentions cease.
Be God's the glory that we seek;
be his our only peace.
Let us forgive each other's faults
as we our won confess,
that we may love each other well
in Christian gentleness.
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 Love can exclude no race or creed
if honored by God's name;
our common life embraces all
whose Maker is the same.
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
Sacrament of Holy Communion
Invitation to The Lord’s Table
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
One: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
One: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them to the Lord.
One: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
One: It is truly right and our greatest joy to give you thanks and
praise, O Lord our God, creator and ruler of the universe
who forever sing to the glory of your name:
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 All: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven
and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
One: You are holy, O God of majesty, and blessed is Jesus
Christ, your Son, our Lord. In Jesus, born of Mary, your
Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and
truth. Great is the mystery of Faith:
All: Christ has died, Christ is Risen. Christ will come again.
One: Gracious God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon
these your gifts of bread and wine, that the bread we break
and the cup we bless may be the communion of the body
and blood of Christ
Receiving the Bread and Cup
Post Communion Prayer
Gracious God, through the gift of this spiritual feast you heal our
brokenness and strengthen our spirits. Increase our faith that the power of
your Holy Sacrament will bring us to new life in Jesus Christ our Lord.
AMEN!
GOING OUT INTO THE WORLD

*Hymn
This Is My Father’s World
This is my Father's world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres.

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 This is my Father's world;
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas,
his hand the wonders wrought.
This is my Father's world.
O, let me ne'er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father's world.
The battle is not done:
Jesus who died shall be satisfied,
and earth and heaven be one.
Benediction
Postlude

**Please join us for coffee fellowship today in Parlor after worship.**

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 ANNOUNCEMENTS
CPC Night Out on The Town
Join us on Thursday March 21st at 5 PM for dinner at O’Keefe’s 1219 S Ft
Harrison Ave, Clearwater. If interested, please contact the church office at
727-584-8695 or Chad Bender at 727-304-7577 by Monday March 18th to
make a reservation.
Adult Education
Rev. Jim Glenn is leading a Bible study on the book of Romans. The
class is on Tuesdays at 10:00 AM in the choir room. Hope to see you
there.
Wednesday Night Dinner
Take-out meals will be available for delivery or pickup at 4:45 PM on Wednesdays.
The cost is $10 per meal. This week’s menu is salad, chicken, rice pilaf, mixed
veggies, and apple crisp. 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.
Maundy Thursday Service and Dinner
No dinner on Wednesday March 27th.
Join us for Maundy Thursday Service on March 28th at 4:00 PM
followed by dinner by Chef June. The cost is $10 per meal.
Reservations are required for dinner, please contact June
Sanchez at 727-409-4199 or the church office at 727-584-8695.
Easter Dinner
Easter dinner will be held on Sunday March 31st at 12:00PM following the Easter
Wordship Service. The cost of dinner is $15.00 per person. Reservations are
required for dinner, please contact June Sanchez at 727-409-4199 or the
church office at 727-584-8695.

Easter Lilies
Easter is a beautiful time of year and time to beautify our Sanctuary in
honor of our Lord Jesus Christ’s resurrection. The cost of the lilies is
$12.00 per plant. If you are interested and would like to dedicate a plant
in memory of or in honor of someone, please complete the order form and
place it offering the offering plate together with your payment.
The deadline for orders is March 24th. Extra forms will be available in
the Narthex as you come into church or in the church office.
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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 4PM to 5PM. 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 continues to provide food bags to students at
Anona Elementary.

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

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