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CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH HAMILTON July 12, 2020 10:30 a.m.

Sunday Worship Minister – The Rev. Dr. J. Gregory Davidson, Ph.D.

Organist – Dr. Roger Bergs Soloist and Song Leader – Nicolas Buiron Time with the Children – Josiah Williams Psalm Readers – Lianne and Layna Fletcher

* Indicates standing, as you are able.

PRE-SERVICE PRAYER

At thy command nature and necessity are no more; all things are alike easy to God. Speak but thou the word, and my desires are granted; say, “Let there be light,” and there shall be light. Thou canst look me into peace, when the tumult of thoughts raise a storm within. Bid my soul be still, and all its tempests shall obey thee.

Elizabeth Singer Rowe (1647-1737)

PRELUDE

Freedom and Life are Ours (DIADEMATA) - Robert Powell Long Before Abraham (KREMSER) - Michael Burkhardt When Morning Gilds the Skies – Hal Hopson Long Before Abraham (KREMSER) - Matthew Corl When Morning Gilds the Skies – Mark Sedio

OUR APPROACH TO GOD

* ENTRY OF THE BIBLE

* HYMN – When Morning Gilds the Skies

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THE CALL TO WORSHIP PRAYERS OF ADORATION AND CONFESSION ASSURANCE OF PARDON THE PEACE

May the peace of Christ be with you; and also with you.

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS AFFIRMATION OF FAITH - Living Faith 3.1.1-3.1.2

To the world in its rebellion and alienation God promised blessing and restoration. The Lord chose Abraham and his descendants and through a covenant with them destined them to be bearers of that promise to all people. The Old Testament records God's message and mighty acts. It speaks of God's grace and judgment. It declares God's promise and points to the One to come.

* HYMN – By Grace We Have Been Saved

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TIME WITH THE CHILDREN

GOD SPEAKS TO US

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

* RESPONSIVE PSALM (p. 552) Psalm 101:1-6 “A Sovereign’s Pledge of Integrity and Justice”

Reader: I will sing of loyalty and of justice;

to you, O Lord, I will sing. Congregation: I will study the way that is blameless.

When shall I attain it? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; I will not set before my eyes anything that is base. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. Perverseness of heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil. One who secretly slanders a neighbor I will destroy. A haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not tolerate. I will look with favor on the faithful in the land, so that they may live with me; whoever walks in the way that is blameless shall minister to me.

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NEW TESTAMENT READING 1 John 5:1-4 “Faith Conquers the World”

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, 4 for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.

Hymn – Long Before Abraham

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GOSPEL READING (p.101) John 8:31-47 “True Disciples; Jesus and Abraham”

31 Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, ‘You will be made free’?”

34 Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. 36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you look for an opportunity to kill me, because there is no place in you for my word. 38 I declare what I have seen in the Father’s presence; as for you, you should do what you have heard from the Father.”

39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing what Abraham did, 40 but now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You are indeed doing what your father does.” They said to him, “We are not illegitimate children; we have one father, God himself.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on my own, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot accept my word. 44 You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is from God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear them is that you are not from God.”

SERMON – Freedom and Discipleship

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OUR RESPONSE TO GOD

OFFERING

OFFERTORY SOLO My Soul, O Find Your Rest in God Alone Words: adapted from Psalm 62:5-6 Music: Felix Mendelssohn Soloist: Nicolas Buiron, baritone

My soul, O find your rest in God alone, for the Lord is your Rock and your Salvation

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING, INTERCESSION and THE LORD’S PRAYER

GOD SENDS US

* HYMN – Freedom and Life are Ours * THE BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE When Morning Gilds the Skies - Robert Lind

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Sermon Notes: Freedom and Discipleship John 8:31-59

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PLEASE KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS Eileen Reynolds Linda Pearson Marie Davies

Word of the Day – freedom In popular usage as well as in many philosophies ancient and modern, freedom is understood as maximum autonomy and independence from all external constraint. By contrast, Christian theology understands the source of true freedom as God’s gift of liberation from the bondage of sin and death and for the new life of reconciliation, communion and service that God purposes for humanity. This distinctive understanding of human freedom is grounded in God’s own exercise of freedom – that is, God’s self-determination to be God with and for the world revealed decisively in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

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Congregational Givings

Thank you for your continued generosity. Donations to Central can be made via Interac E-Transfer or cheque.

Please send to bookkeeper@cpchamilton.ca, include your envelope # or mailing address for tax receipt purposes. P.A.R. is encouraged!

For ways to give, visit cpchamilton.ca/giving

Vital Signs To June 30, 2020

Budget Actual Actual

2020 2019

YTD YTD YTD

Congregational Givings 134,179 132,739 134,872

YTD = Year to date

“The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,

and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind,

not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance,

so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.”

(2 Corinthians 9:6-8)

Our givings help support our Family Ministries. Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper welcomed church and community people for an evening of food,

fellowship, and activities.

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First Time Worshippers Welcome to Central Livestream this morning!

If you would like to get to know Central better, please introduce yourself. Contact Helena (helena@cpchamilton.ca or 905-522-9098), and/or spend some time going through our Website (cpchamilton.ca). If you would like to be added to our email list, please let Helena or another staff member know. Central’s Prayer Team is available to receive needs in confidence. Contact Donna Thomas 905-644-8107. For Pastoral emergencies, please contact the Rev. Dr. Gregory Davidson at – Church: 905-522-9098 or Home: 905-628-1762. CPC Statement of Welcome: www.cpchamilton.ca/welcome-statement/

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How does Central share God's love with the world? Central’s mission partners and programs

Local - Hamilton Out of the Cold - weekly hot meal from November to March in church hall Inner City Outreach (Wentworth & Barton) - CPC host bimonthly dinners for Moms Community BBQ - outside front of church, weekly from April to August Durand Market - sharing our space, supporting local small enterprises, and being neighborly, May to October White Gifts - Christmas gifts for children connected to Inner City Outreach Central Public School - reading program Indwell - specific needs for residents collected once a year FoodShare - sharing for food bank, basket by front doors, taken monthly Grocery Cards - available from church office for families in need in the neighborhood Summer Camp Offerings - for summer camps at Inner City Outreach National and International - around the world Operation Christmas Stable - funds raised go to families doing small scale farming through World Vision Presbyterians Sharing - CPC commits over $36,000 per year, for chaplaincies, Indigenous ministries and seminaries in Canada, and mission partners in Taiwan, Hungary, Malawi, Philippines Presbyterian World Service and Development - international aid to places of crisis, including Haiti and Malawi, as needs emerge Refugee Sponsorship - 3 families to Canada since 2010

Minister – The Rev. Dr. J. Gregory Davidson

Minister Emeritus – The Rev. Dr. Alan M. McPherson Director of Pastoral Care - The Rev. Franklin Thomas

Director of Family Ministries - Melissa Kuipers, M.A. (on leave) Interim Director of Family Ministries – Bryan Fletcher, PhD Candidate

Coordinator of Adult Discipleship - Sara Traficante, M.Mus. Director of Music Ministries – Dr. Roger Bergs

Bookkeeper – Zafar Iqbal Office Administrator – Helena Bootsma, B.A. Nursery Coordinator – Theresa Monkelbaan

905-522-9098 cpchamilton.ca

info@cpchamilton.ca