Christ Presbyterian Church

Worship Service

February 26, 2023

Facebook Live: @christpc

Call and Listen: 351-888-7756
Sanctuary Parking Area: FM105.3
 Welcome to Sunday Worship Service
First Sunday in Lent
February 26, 2023 10:00AM
* Please stand if you are able.

Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
GATHERING AROUND THE WORD

Opening Prayer
Call to Worship
One: Let all who are faithful offer prayer to you; at a time of distress, the rush of mighty
waters shall not reach them.
All: You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me
with glad cries of deliverance.
One: I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go. I will counsel you with my
eye upon you.
All: Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright
in heart.
One: Let us worship God!

*Hymn
Lord, Who throughout These Forty Days
Lord, who throughout these forty days
for us did fast and pray,
teach us with you to mourn our sins
and close by you to stay.
As you with Satan did contend
and did the victory win,
O give us strength to persevere,
in you to conquer sin.

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 And through these days of penitence,
and through this Passiontide,
yes, evermore, in life and death,
O Lord, with us abide.
Abide with us, till when this life
of suffering shall be past,
an Easter of unending joy
we may attain at last.
Call to Confession
Prayer of Confession
Led by the crafter of lies, Lord God, we wander into the wasteland of wrong-doing. We
hunger for more and more, and feel emptier and emptier. We seek power, especially over
others, only to do harm. By our choices, we worship the false gods of success, wealth,
and spectacle. Have mercy on us, God of love, and forgive us for the power we give to
temptation in our lives. Help us to become as vulnerable as Jesus, for in that vulnerability,
we find the humility to trust you in all things; in that trust, we discover the grace which sets
us free from the grasp of the shrewd one; in that freedom, we can leave our badlands
behind, in order to follow Jesus in this life, and into the next.

Silent Confession
Assurance of Pardon
One: Be glad and rejoice! Give thanks with shouts of joy! Grace abounds for everyone.
All: With glad cries of deliverance, we offer our thanks to God who loves us and
forgives us. Amen.

Hymn
Amazing Grace
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
was blind, but now I see.

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 ’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed!
Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come.
‘Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me;
his word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be
as long as life endures.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
bright shining as the sun,
we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
than when we’d first begun.

PROCLAIMING THE WORD

Prayer of Illumination
Reading from the New Testament
Romans 5:12-19
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and
so death spread to all because all have sinned— 13 sin was indeed in the world before the
law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law. 14 Yet death exercised dominion from Adam
to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type
of the one who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died
through the one man’s trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in
the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many. 16 And the free gift is not like
the effect of the one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought
condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification. 17 If, because
of the one man’s trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will
those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise
dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. 18 Therefore just as one man’s trespass
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led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for
all. 19 For just as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one
man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (Rom 5:12-19). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

One: This is the Word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God!

Special Music
Reach Out and Touch
Solo – Susan Taylor

Reading from the Gospel

Matthew 4:1-11
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 He fasted
forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. 3 The tempter came and said to
him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he
answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from
the mouth of God.’ ” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle
of the temple, 6 saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written,
‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so
that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’ ” 7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do
not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain
and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; 9 and he said to him, “All
these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away with
you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’ ” 11 Then the
devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (Mt 4:1–11). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

One: This is the Word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God!

Sermon Rev. Bill Cooley

“Set Free by Grace”
RESPONDING TO THE WORD

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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.

Invitation to Giving
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
Family Choir
He Is Lord
He is Lord, he is Lord!
He is risen from the dead and he is Lord!
Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Prayers of the People

The Lord’s Prayer
GOING OUT INTO THE WORLD

*Hymn
Come! Live in the Light
Come! live in the light!
Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord!
We are called to be light for the kingdom,
to live in the freedom of the city of God.
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 Refrain
We are called to act with justice;
we are called to love tenderly;
We are called to serve one another,
to walk humbly with God.
Come! Open your heart!
Show your mercy to all those in fear!
We are called to be hope for the hopeless
so hatred and violence will be no more.
refrain
Sing! Sing a new song!
Sing of that great day when all will be one!
God will reign, and we'll walk with each other
as sisters and brothers united in love.
refrain
Benediction
One: May God lead us to all who are afraid.
All: We will follow God into the barren spots of our world.
One: May Jesus lead us to all who look for a friend, a companion in this life.
All: We will follow Jesus into all the places where the lonely live.
One: May the Spirit lead us to all who are tossed aside by the world.
All: We will follow the Spirit to the neighborhoods filled with injustice, to bring
hope.

Postlude

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 ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please join us for coffee fellowship today in Narthex E after worship
CPC Night Out on The Town
Join us on Thursday March 16th at 5 PM for dinner at Caddy’s Indian Shores. If interested, please contact
the church office at 727-584-8695 or Chad at 727-304-7577 by Monday March 13th to make a reservation.
Finance Update
The wood paneling near the parlor has finally been repaired. Also, the old cork board areas have been
refinished. Thanks to all who helped.
Adult Education
Pastor Jim Glenn is leading a Bible study on the book of Hebrews. The class begins at 10:00 AM on
Tuesdays in the pantry room next to the office. Hope to see you there.
Wednesday Night Take Out Dinner
Meals are available for delivery or pickup at 4:45 PM on Wednesdays. This week’s menu is pulled pork,
baked beans, coleslaw, chips, and brownies. If interested in receiving a meal, please contact June Sanchez
at 727-409-4199 or the church office at 727-584-8695. Delivery area is limited.
Neighborhood Ministries
Please help us keep the pantry full as our community continues to struggle with hunger. Food items can be
dropped off on Sunday mornings prior to service and placed in the wheeled grocery cart or at the church
office. The Neighborhood Meals continue to provide bagged meals on Tuesdays at 5 PM in front of the
church.
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: [email protected]
Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 9 AM – 11:30 AM or by appointment.
Face covering coverings remain optional for personal use.

Secretary Sarah Reeves email: [email protected]

Director of Music Steven Radeck email: [email protected]
Custodian June Sanchez email: [email protected]
All songs used by permission CCLI #863215 and streaming CPSL 139714, Expiration date 7/31/2023
Video and audio equipment are used for the livestreaming
8 & recording of the worship service.
By participating in this service, you consent to being recorded for this purpose.