Christ Presbyterian Church

Worship Service

August 6, 2023
Facebook Live: @christpc
Call and Listen: 351-888-7756
Sanctuary Parking Area: FM105.3
 Welcome to Sunday Worship Service
Tenth Sunday After Pentecost
August 6, 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
Mysterious and merciful God, we praise you for all the ways you offer us abundant life.
When the sun rises and the earth blooms around us, we are thankful for your gift of a
new day. When evening falls and we find ourselves in a lonely place, we count on your
presence for comfort. For the times you show us the way and give us guidance, we
praise you. For the healing you offer when we are broken and hurting, we rejoice. Your
grace satisfies us in every situation, and so we worship you for you are the Source of
life and love, comfort and courage day by day by day. Receive our prayers and praise,
O God, this day and every day, now and always. AMEN.

*Hymn
O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing
O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer's praise,
the glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of God’s grace!

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 Christ speaks, and listening to his voice new
life the dead receive;
the mournful waken to rejoice;
the poor in heart, and peace.
To God all glory, praise, and love
be now and ever given
by saints below and saints above,
the church in earth and heaven.

Prayer of Confession
Gracious and merciful God, In Jesus you show us the way of compassion and
forgiveness, yet we neglect the suffering of others. We blame and judge each other in
the moments you call us to act with kindness and mercy. Free us from greed and from
grievance. Open our hearts so that we may embody Jesus’ teachings and walk in his
way. 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

Special Music
You Are Mine
Solo – Susan Taylor

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Prayer of Illumination
Reading from the Old Testament
Psalms 145:8-9
The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 9 The Lord
is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, 1989)

Reading from the New Testament

Romans 9:1-5
I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit—
2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were
accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the
flesh. 4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the
giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; 5 to them belong the patriarchs, and from
them, according to the flesh, comes the Messiah, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.
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;
he reigns from heaven above
with wisdom, pow’r, and love.
Our God is an 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!

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Reading from the Gospel
Matthew 14:13-21
Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself.
But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When he went
ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. 15 When
it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is
now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for
themselves.” 16 Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to
eat.” 17 They replied, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.” 18 And he said,
“Bring them here to me.” 19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the
five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and
gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And all ate and were
filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. 21 And
those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
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 Rev. William Cowfer

“The Miracle of Sharing”

RESPONDING TO THE WORD

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

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Hymn
Break Thou the Bread of Life
Break thou the bread of life, dear Lord, to me,
as thou didst broke the loaves beside the sea.
Beyond the sacred page I seek thee, Lord;
My spirit pants for thee, O living Word!
Bless thou the truth, dear Lord, now unto me,
as thou didst bless the bread by Galilee.
Then shall all bondage cease, all fetters fall.
And I shall find my peace, my all in all.

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:
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.

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 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
Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ
Let us talents and tongues employ,
reaching out with a shout of joy:
bread is broken; the wine is poured;
Christ is spoken and seen and heard.
Refrain
Jesus lives again; earth can breathe again;
pass the Word around: loaves abound!
Christ is able to make us one;
at the table he sets the tone,
teaching people to live to bless,
love in word and in deed express.
refrain
Jesus calls us in, sends us out
bearing fruit in a world of doubt,
gives us love to tell, bread to share:
God (Immanuel) everywhere!
refrain

Benediction
Postlude
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 ANNOUNCEMENTS
Neighborhood Ministries
*Currently the “Neighborhood Funds” are running low any financial contributions to support
the food ministries will be welcomed.*
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 ended but will continue once the school year resumes in the fall.
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.
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.