​MUSICAL OFFERING
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Let me remind you quickly of our protocols for everyone’s safety.                  
·  Attendance was taken by Ushers as you entered.
· Offerings may be placed in the plate by the doors.
· Please write your prayer request on the Yellow cards.  An usher will pick them up during the 1st hymn.
· Please join us after service for fellowship in Calvin Hall
· Dr Dyke has started a Bible study on Wednesdays  at 3pm sign-up  sheet outside Pastor Study
 
Schedule reminders:
         Session has voted to open the church during the week once again from
Monday- Thursday; 9:30-1:30 PM.
July 18th Congregational Meeting to re word By-laws
July 21st Mission and Outreach Meeting
July 21st Bible Study
 
PRAYER REQUESTS
     Gary Iverson, all who are seeking Jesus, Bob Bock, Joan Boyd, Jack Braden, Wanda Hirl, Marilyn Neymeyer, Joan Pinkston, Maxine Wagner, Valerie Jerez, a person seeking a job, Annette Conzett, Jim Roling and family, Jackie with difficult pregnancy, Jo Lefleur,  Dr Dyke, Jane with upcoming knee surgery, Deb Weller death of father in-law and upcoming surgery, people of India, Amy Jacobs, Cornell Family two deaths in the past week, Bonnie Pillers, Pawlik Family in the loss of an infant, people in Florida affected by the collapse building, the Wynn family at the loss of Lamette, Mike Niles, and Tom Kelly
 
PRELUDE
 
WORDS OF WORSHIP
      Leader: Have mercy on me, O God according to Thy steadfast love.
      Response: Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse my sin.
      L: For I know my transgressions and my sin is ever before me.
      R: Create in me a clean heart, o God
      L: Restore to me the joy of thy salvation
      R: and uphold me with a willing hand.
 
GATHERING PRAYER (Unison)
      Eternal God, in whom we live and move and have our being; whose face is hidden from us by our sins, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love You, and worthily magnify Your holy name, through Christ our Lord. Amen
 
*HYMN                 There’s A Wideness In God’s Mercy                                   No. 298
                       
 CONFESSION AND PARDON   (Unison)   
           Most holy and merciful Father, we acknowledge and confess to You our sinful nature prone to evil and slothful in good. We bring you all our shortcomings and offenses. You alone know how often we have sinned in wandering from
Your ways, in wasting Your gifts, and in forgetting Your love. But you, o Lord, have mercy on us who are ashamed and sorry for all the ways we have displeased You.
Cleanse us from our secret faults and forgive our sins for the sake of Your dear son. Amen.
.
 
Assurance of Pardon
Almighty God, who freely pardons all who repent and turn to Him, now fulfill in every contrite heart the promise of redeeming grace; remitting all  our sins and cleansing us from an evil conscience, through the perfect sacrifice of Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen
 
*ANTHEM:  
 Hold On Jesus Will Come
Crown Quartet coming to Clinton                  
 
*THE PASSING OF THE PEACE
 
ITHE OFFERING AND OFFERTORY
    
OFFERTORY PRAYER
As you have freely given us every blessing, so accept these our sacrifices that we gladly give to Your service. All things come from You, and of Your own, we have returned our due portion. Bless what we give that it may enable Your Church to do great things in Your Name. Amen.
 
INTERLUDE
Word
 PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Master, may Your Gospel come into us, not only in word, but in power and the Holy Spirit with much assurance. We know and trust that, properly understood, every word of Your Holy Bible is true and useful for the guiding of our lives. Amen.
 
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
John 1: 9-18
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”) 16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
 
    Romans 5: 6-11
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
 
    Romans 9: 14-18
14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15 For he says to Moses, “ I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,  and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”16 It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17 For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden.
 
  Ephesians 2: 1-10     
2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.  
 
SERMON                         Saved by Grace     
 
     Good morning! This is a very important day in the life of the First Presbyterian Church of Clinton, Iowa. Today, following morning worship , we will have  Congregational Meeting to update our bylaws and elect some new officers.  This is the Facebook broadcast of our morning worship on July 11th.
 
     I am Rev. Rev Dr. Dale A Dykstra, the interim minister here and I have served the Presbyterian Church (USA) for 49 years in churches in Pennsylvania, Illinois and Iowa.
 
     Some folks think there isn’t much of a difference between religions really. Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Shinto, Confucianism ---all of them want us to lead morel lives and respect whoever they call God.  There are others who agree with this sameness, but who reject all of it saying “It doesn't matter” they say.
 
      You probably presume (correctly) that I could not disagree with these people more! Jesus Christ was not just another holy man or prophet. He was
(and is) the very Son of God. Fully human but also fully divine. NO other religion claims their founder WAS GOD –let alone that He still is! Confucius – a very wise man-was very much in touch with nature. Mohammed was actually not very successful in his own day—being ostracized from his own country, though countless millions worship Allah now, Shintoists worship nature and are your model “tree huggers.”
 
      One of the most basic differences between religions is in their view of the nature of mankind.  All of the Eastern major religions hold that the goal of life is to become pure or good by renouncing evil deeds and thoughts –the perfection of man will lead to an internal blessing of some kind.
 
       Christianity cannot be more OPPOSITE for its understanding of the nature of man. We hold that God created man perfect, but that sin entered the world through the temptations of Satan. Our understanding is stated in Romans , chapter 3. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” We are all sinners by nature through the fall of original sin—but also the sins of our own lives.
 
     Other faiths – and philosophers – talk of “man’s inhumanity to man.” But we hold to man’s Inhumanity to OTHERS. Selfishness, pride, greed, all of these are universal!  Now this is a typically Jewish understanding! Their response to that sinfulness in the presence of God is to offer sacrifices as a “payment” for their offenses.
 
      Jesus came and upset this apple cart LITERALLY when he overturned the money changers tables in the Temple. He declared that God HATED their sacrifice of animals! He called upon the prophesy tht Amos declared – “I desired mercy and not sacrifice.” Jesus quoted that to the Pharisees who were in the business of conducting sacrifices. What did he mean? Jesus declares a new sacrifice. The very sacrifice of Jesus as being himself as the new sacrificial lamb. “whose blood takes away the sin of our lives.
 
     “To those who receive him , who believe in His name, he gave power to become children of God.” Now, many of us have been parents and we understand that children make mistakes and sometimes are willful, yet we forgive them and urge them to make a new start. This is called MERCY, or GRACE.
 
     Romans 9 tells us that “it depends not on human will, but on God  WHO SHOWS MERCY. Romans 5 says “For while were still weak, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly ---US! “God proves his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. “ This is even more than mercy –the mere acquittal of guilt. This is GRACE that declares THAT THE SIN IS gone.
 
      Some of you like my penchant for making complex ideas into anagrams that are much easier to remember. I want to give you another one – an anagram for Grace.
 
How do you spell grace?  C’mon 1, 2, 3,   G-R-A-C-E. thank you. Now here is what real grace in Christ means:
 
            GOD’S REDEMPTION AT CHRIST’S EXPENSE.
 
     He redeems us from our life of sin by His blood on the cross of Calvary! THAT is grace. Ephesians 2 declares :” You were dead through your sins in which you once lived following the course of this world. But God, rich in mercy, made us alive.
 
                                BY GRACE YOU ARE SAVED.
 
     Other religions stress doing good works as the way of salvation – but not us. We are forgiven of our sins and made whole to be able to stand in God’s judgement seat and be saved to enter heaven. “Go raised us up with Him and seated us in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. We are saved from what?? The punishment due us for our sins – that is what. They are erased from the divine record book.
 
     Because of Grace—do you know that when you are at God’s judgment throne and Satan or one of his demons bring up your mis-deeds and failures =- do you know what Jesus will say???
                                                      WHAT SINS?
 
     They are gone and you are forgiven. Enter into the joy of your creator!
                           
                                      WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE!!!        
 
*Hymn                           Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing                                 No. 356
                         
                          
*AFFIRMATION Apostle’s Creed, Ecumenical Version
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven,
He is seated on the right hand of the Father,
And he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
 
MORNING PRAYER AND LORD’S PRAYER
 
Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done in earth,
as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom,
​and the power, and the glory,
for ever. Amen.
 
Sending
 
*HYMN                                Amazing Grace                                                  No. 280                                             
                                             
  CHARGE & BLESSING
And now, may the grace, mercy, and peace which proceeds from God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Son, and into the Holy Spirit within us, rest and abide within us, now and forever more.
 
POSTLUDE
*Stand as you are able.

​ 
SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY
July 04, 2021
Gathering
MUSICAL OFFERING
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Let me remind you quickly of our protocols for everyone’s safety.                   
·  Attendance was taken by Ushers as you entered.
· Offerings may be placed in the plate by the doors.
· Please write your prayer request on the Yellow cards.  An usher will pick them up during the 1st hymn.
· Please join us after service for fellowship in Calvin Hall
· Dr Dyke has started a Bible study on Wednesdays  at 3pm sign-up  sheet outside Pastor Study
 
Schedule reminders:
The office and the rest of the building remain closed, but you can contact Karla during her office hours.
July 4th Independence Day
July 7th Bible Study
July 11th Session
July 18th Congregational Meeting
July 21st Mission and Outreach Meeting
 
PRAYER REQUESTS
     Gary Iverson, all who are seeking Jesus, Bob Bock, Joan Boyd, Jack Braden, Wanda Hirl, Marilyn Neymeyer, Joan Pinkston, Maxine Wagner, Valerie Jerez, a person seeking a job, Annette Conzett, Jim Roling and family,  , Jackie with difficult pregnancy, Jo Lefleur,  Dr Dyke, Jane with upcoming knee surgery, Deb Weller death of father in-law and upcoming surgery, people of India, Amy Jacobs, Jeff Fish, Cornell Family two deaths in the past week, Bonnie Pillers, Pawlik Family in the loss of an infant, people in Florida effected by the collapse building, and the Wynn family at the loss of Lamette
 
PRELUDE
WORDS OF WORSHIP
      LEADER: Our heavenly Father, we worship and adore You.
     Response: We are Your children and we come to You this day.
     L: You are our guide, our Savior, and our friend.
     R: may the grace of our Lord Jesus be the joy of our salvation always.
     L: God be merciful to us and bless us.
     R: Show us the light of Your countenance and be merciful toward us.
 
GATHERING PRAYER
      Eternal and ever-blessed God, Lord of heaven and earth; we praise Your glorious majesty. Your wisdom is seen in all Your works. Your grace and truth are revealed in Jesus Christ, your Son. Your power and presence are blessed to us through the holy Spirit. We therefore adore Your holy name, o blessed Trinity, forever and ever. Amen.    
 
HYMN                                My Country, “Tis of Thee                                 No. 561
 
CONFESSION AND PARDON.
      O most merciful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; who pardons everyone who truly repents of their sin and turns to You; we humbly confess our sins and implore Your mercy. We have not loved You with a pure heart fervently, nor our neighbor as ourselves. We have not done justly, nor loved mercy, nor walked humbly with You, our God. Please have mercy upon us according to Your loving-kindness and blot out our sins. Amen.
 
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
     Almighty God, who freely pardons all who confess their sins and turn to You, now fulfill in every contrite heart the promise of redeeming grace. We pray that You would remit our sins and cleanse us from an evil conscience, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
 
ANTHEM                      More Than Just  Enough
                                         Hope College Chapel Choir
     
THE PASSING OF THE PEACE
 
THE OFFERING AND OFFERTORY
    
OFFERTORY PRAYER
      O God, of whose bounty we have all received, we pray that You would accept this offering of Your people and so follow it with Your blessing that it may promote peace and good will among the people of our community, country, and world. May we advance the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
 
INTERLUDE
 
                                                    Word
 
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
      Heavenly Master, we have come to the place of the reading of Your Holy Word. May we quiet the concerns of our lives so that we are free to receive the blessings You seek to provide us. On this day of celebration for our land, may we direct our hearts and minds to hear Your instructions for living as a Godly citizen of a Godly country. Amen.
 
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
  Psalm 33: 12-22
 
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.13 From heaven the Lord looks down     and sees all mankind; 14 from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth— 15 he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. 16 No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength.  17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.  18 But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him,  on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, 19 to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine 20 We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. 21 In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.22 May your unfailing love be with us, LORD, even as we put our hope in you.
 
Mark 6: 1-6
 
1 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith.
 
   Hebrews 11: 8-16
 
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
 
                                  
 
SERMON                                   “His Own Country”
                                          
     Welcome to the Fourth of July Independence Day morning worship service of the First Presbyterian Church of Clinton, Iowa! May you all have a blessed and meaningful holiday and Lord’s Day!
 
     I am Rev. Dr. Dale A. Dykstra and on this past Friday, I celebrated my 49th anniversary of my ordination as a minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA) after graduating from Princeton Theological Seminary. I have served a total of ten different congregations with a parish of four of them being my first call in Pennsylvania. I have also served in Illinois and now Iowa.
 
     I suppose you came today expecting to hear patriotic hymns (you will) and a sermon about how great our country is. Well, one out of two isn’t bad! You WILL hear about how great our country HAS been and how godly our country CAN be.
 
     The Bible lifts up God’s demands for all countries to be blessed –even including Israel – “the chosen people.” God absolutely DOES promise to bless nations who are faithful to Him and obey His commandments. Throughout Scripture there are times where people have been blessed for their faithfulness to God.  There are also times where God has sent prophets and preachers to warn wayward peoples of God’s upcoming judgements on the unfaithful.
 
     Our own nation is unique among all the people’s of the world because it was carefully crafted in a brand-new way. There were many patriots who met in Philadelphia for an entire hot and muggy summer to craft the principles and the procedures by which a free and independent people could govern themselves in ways designed to please our holy God.
 
     They were quite group –gentlemen farmers, land owners, merchants, former state politicians, and even one Presbyterian minister whose name was John Witherspoon. I have worshipped and sung in his Nassau Presbyterian Church in Princeton, New Jersey. It would be a serious mistake –and I have actually heard this said by some authorities who should have known better –that the Continental Congress were all of one mind.
 
      HARDLY! There were Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Methodists, Puritans, Anabaptists and even a few Roman Catholics from South Caroline. There were also some pretty famous atheists represented! They came from the thirteen rather weak colonies loosely bound together by the Articles of Incorporation.
 
    Fortunately they kept journals of the proceedings of their deliberations. If you have read the journals, the discussions got very heated at times and positions were held passionately.
Large states vs small states; and how to represent them both in an equitable manner.
Slave owners and those opposed to slavery.
Strong central government vs a loose confederation.
Strong executive vs those who fear that one might return to being a king.
And many other debates.
 
     What unified them then? Their faith in God first and foremost. They were BELIEVERS. They also shared a Christian understanding of morality that was far more strict than ours is today. They also rebelled against Britain’s taxation and control – and eventually their military as well. (Or have you forgotten “redcoats?”) They cherished freedom from coercion and the right to self-determination. They also had an understanding that “we all stand together or we all fall together.” They had to work together just for their survival.
 
     Toward the end of June ---about this time of year -- most of the big choices and decisions ended in
 
                                              COMPROMISE
 
      That is something I wish our current politicians would understand. We would get a lot more done!
 
     The Biblical principles undergirded everything they did. They believed and defended the worth of every free man. They upheld the right to keep and bear arms. They established courts to ensure obedience to the laws.
 
     I go through all the American history for you because the faithful foundations of our country are VITAL. I added II Chronicles as a promise of God to Israel and any other country that is faithful to the one true God. “If my people, who are called by my Name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven AND I WILL HEAL THEIR LAND.”
 
     That is God’s promise. It is a covenant and we just had a whole sermon about covenants, didn’t we? It says that God will heal our badly divided LAND.
 
                                       IF We keep our part of the covenant.
 
Called by my name- we must claim our name as CHRISTIANS publicly and declare Him Lord and His will as supreme—even over the president or congress!
 
Humble themselves -not claim our power or wisdom is supreme, but openly seek God’s forgiveness of our sins and His grace.
 
Pray -how many times have you heard of this from me? We need to talk to God and listen to His answers as HE GUIDES OUR LAND.
 
Seek God’s face -we need to FACE God –not turn away to our own desires and devices.
 
Turn from our wicked ways -Repent and STOP the sins against God, then walk in newness of life.
 
     I also took you to Psalm 33. “Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord. Our land is strained and stressed and we all would like it to be a happy place. This is how our country can regain happiness.
 
   
     Mark 6 shows that we are not the first nation WHO SHOULD HAVE BELIEVED, but did not. Jesus’ own hometown of Nazareth questioned the reality of His ministry. But Jesus still did works of healing there FOR PEOPLE OF FAITH! He will do the same for Christians in our country – even if the country strays away.
 
     We further need to remember that as much as we love, honor, and cherish America – THIS IS NOT OUR HOME!! God has prepared “a place for us”. Hebrews is crystal clear about our heavenly home. Jesus spoke of our “mansion” that awaits us.
 
     Abraham looked forward to a city that had foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Now, Abraham only lived in tents all his life, so we know he was looking forward to heaven!
 
     We need to serve as America’s Christians to make our land as godly as we can, but also prepare ourselves for the home that waits for us on high! Amen.
   
HYMN                        God of the Ages                                                         No. 262                            
                                
AFFIRMATION   Apostle’s Creed, Ecumenical Version
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven,
He is seated on the right hand of the Father,
And he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
 
INVITATION TO THE LORD’S SUPPER
 
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
      The Lord be with you.
      And also with you.
      Lift up your hearts.
    We lift them to the Lord.
      Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
      It is right to give our thanks and praise.
      O Holy God…we lift our hearts in joyful praise.
 
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might.                                          Hymnal #581
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest.
 
 
We praise you…together, we proclaim the mystery of our faith.
 
Dying, you destroyed our death; rising, you restored our life.                    Hymnal #582
 
Gracious God… all glory and honor are yours,
Almighty God, now and forever.  Amen.
 
                                                                Sending
HYMN                               O Beautiful for Spacious Skies                              No. 564             
.
 
CHARGE & BLESSING
         And now, may the grace, mercy, and peace which proceeds from God the Father, through Jesus Christ, the Son, and into the Holy Spirit within us, rest and abide with us, this day and forevermore. Amen.
 
POSTLUDE

 SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY
June 27th, 2021
Gathering
MUSICAL OFFERING
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Let me remind you quickly of our protocols for everyone’s safety.                   
·  Attendance was taken by Ushers as you entered.
· Offerings may be placed in the plate by the doors.
· Please write your prayer request on the Yellow cards.  An usher will pick them up during the 1st hymn.
· Please join us after service for fellowship in Calvin Hall
· Dr Dyke has started a Bible study on Wednesdays  at 3pm sign-up  sheet outside Pastor Study
 
Schedule reminders:
The office and the rest of the building remain closed, but you can contact Karla during her office hours.
June 30th Bible Study
July 4th Independence Day
July 11th Session
July 18th Congregational Meeting
July 21st Mission and Outreach Meeting
 
PRAYER REQUESTS
     Gary Iverson, all who are seeking Jesus, Bob Bock, Joan Boyd, Jack Braden, Wanda Hirl, Marilyn Neymeyer, Joan Pinkston, Maxine Wagner, Valerie Jerez, a person seeking a job, Annette Conzett, Jim Roling and family, Sara Feilmeier, Jackie with difficult pregnancy, Jo Lefleur,  Dr Dyke, Jane with upcoming knee surgery, Deb Weller death of father in-law and upcoming surgery, people of India, Tom Kelly facing Surgery, Amy Jacobs, Jeff Fish, Cornell Family two deaths in the past week, Bonnie Pillers, Pawlik Family
 
PRELUDE
 
WORDS OF WORSHIP
     Leader: Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled.”
     Response: “You believe in God; believe also in me.”
     L: I go to prepare a place for you.”
     R: “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again!
     L: I am the way, the truth, and the life.
     R: No one comes to the Father, but by me
 
.GATHERING PRAYER (Unison)
Jesus said, “Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.  O God, our heavenly Father, who has made known Your love in Jesus Christ and Your presence by Your Holy Spirit,; we praise You, we adore You, and we worship You, world without end. Amen.
 
*HYMN                                  Precious Lord                                                   No. 404                      
 
 
CONFESSION AND PARDON   (Unison) 
                Eternal God, in whom we live and move and have our being, whose face is hidden from us by our sins and whose mercy we forget in the blindness of our hearts; cleanse us, we ask You from all our offenses and deliver us from proud thoughts and vain desires. We seek to draw near to You, confessing our sins, confiding in Your grace forever. Amen
 
Assurance of Pardon
     Almighty God, whose nature is to forgive sinners and ever to have compassion on them that turn to You, grant you perfect remission of all your sins and full assurance of pardon. May He strengthen and confirm you in all good works and bring you to eternal life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
     
*ANTHEM     
                          
*THE PASSING OF THE PEACE
 
THE OFFERING AND OFFERTORY
 
OFFERTORY PRAYER
   .O giver of every good and perfect gift, we acknowledge Your bounty in these gifts which we now offer and dedicate unto You. We ask You to accept them and multiply them for the work of Your church and the spread of your kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
 INTERLUDE
 
                                                    Word
 
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
O Master, in a world with multiple voices always seeking to give direction and purpose to our lives, help us to focus today upon Your timeless voice of Truth in a world of confusion and sin. Amen.
 
​
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
Psalm 130: 1-6
 
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; 2 Lord, hear my voice.  Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.  3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you.  5 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.  6 I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.
 
Matthew 17: 14-21
14 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”  17 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.  19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”  20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” ]
 
Mark 5: 21-43
21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22 Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23 He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” 24 So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”  31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”  32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”  35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”  36 Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.
 
SERMON               When Things Get Desperate 
 
    We come to the close of the first half of the year 2021 today! What a year-full of trouble and distress it has been in our land and in the world! Yet, the people of God gather in this place to thank God for His manifold blessings in the midst of all the struggle we have encountered. This is the Facebook broadcast of the morning worship service of the First Presbyterian Church of Clinton, Iowa.
 
     I am Rev. Dr. Dale Dykstra, the interim minister here for the past 15 weeks. I have been a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) for the past nearly 49 years, with July 2 being the anniversary of my ordination by the Presbytery of Chicago. I have served churches in Pennsylvania, Illinois, and now in Iowa.
 
     I have been blessed to be of service to many people over the years who have faced terrible situations and events in their lives. Just this very week I got a phone call from a woman I did not know.  She was a distraught great-grandma whose little great-grandson had passed away very soon after his birth.  I was priviledged to bring the comforting words of our Savior to her wounded heart. After the call, I recognized that she was one of the people that this sermon is pointed to. I contend that every one of us faces times in our lives that seem desperate; times of hopelessness.
 
     It seems that we all turn to our faith and our Church when we have encountered desperate times that seem totally beyond our control. We are pretty good at managing our lives through normal difficulties and stresses, but there are times beyond our capabilities.
 
     I took you to David once again in his famous Psalm 130. Do you recall much of David’s story? He was the shepherd’s youngest son. He was the smallest and weakest among a family of burly outdoorsmen, One day, the great judge Samuel came to their house because God had sent him there to anoint a new King for Israel.
After looking at all the other men, Samuel chose David. He faced overwhelming odds many times. The first one was a Philistine giant named Goliath—remember? There was NO WAY that a boy armed  with a slingshot he used to chase away predators from his sheep should have defeated a huge and strong man with armor, a sword, and a shield! BUT HE DID !! God blessed Israel and David with the victory.
 
     There were several stories about various enemy nations –like the Ammonites, the Edomites, the Philistines, the Moabites, and others—who came up against Israel. They usually had much larger armies than the Hebrews did. In that day and age before sophisticated weaponry and explosives; usually the LARGER army would win the battle. Often times the smaller army captain simply surrendered, rather than sustaining great losses in conflict. Yet David turned to God EVERY TIME and Israel was blessed.
 
     But there was one time where David got himself into terrible trouble! Remember Bathsheba? You know the story of his adultery- Even worse than taking her in sin—David sent her husband Uriah to his death in battle in order to cover up his own unfaithfulness. David was no longer God’s obedient servant – he became public enemy #1.
 
     That is why I took you to Psalm 130. It was written just after his sins were proclaimed publicly by the prophet Nathan. It answers a critical question that every one of us faces sometimes.
 
                                       WHAT DO I DO NOW??
 
     David says – and means – “out of the depths I cry to you, o Lord.” “If You should mark sin, who could stand?” David confessed his sin openly, brought the mistakes of his ways to God, and stopped his sin. The Psalm declares that David feels God’s forgiveness as he hopes for grace to continue life in obedience as he starts over.
     There are critical lessons here:
Realize your errors and sins
Confess them to God
Hope for grace and mercy from God.
Start fresh walking in newness of life
 
     I also took you to a story of two different people in desperate situations. There was a leader in the synagogue – a man of influence and power in the community – named Jairus. His twelve-year-ole daughter was at the point of death –the physicians could do no more for her. What could her desperate father do?
 
     He had heard about this miracle-worker named Jesus. He had created quite a stir when he cast demons out of a man in the neighboring town of Gergasa. It seemed that the demons went into a big herd of pigs and made them run pell-mell into the sea! Boy were the swineherds mad!! Yet the story caused Jairus to have hope that Jesus might be the only possible solution! He humbled himself (fell at his feet) and BEGGED Jesus to come and heal her.
 
     Here again, coming to Jesus in desperate times was the right answer!
 
     But Jesus wasn’t able to go to Jairus’ house directly. I read you the next story about the woman with a 12-year hemorrage! She done all the right things- gone to every doctor , gotten all their help – but to no avail. Here was a pitiful hopeless woman.  She had used up all her resources, and not received a healing. She was desperate, too!
 
     This lady could not address Jesus like Jairus did. She was a common woman without any “clout” like the cantor of the synagogue had. She tried to SNEAK a blessing. If she could just touch Jesus, her faith told her that would be enough to heal her---so she grabbed him as he went on his way to this very important journey to heal the little girl. Now, we all know that was not the right way to seek a rescue from despair!
 
                                      BUT IT WORKED!!!
 
She was healed! But she did not get away with stealing the blessing. Jesus felt the touch! His disciples didn’t understand his statement; thinking there was quite a crowd and of course somebody bumped him. Jesus said “No, I felt some healing power leave me- I need to know who touched me, and why! She had to admit her fraud to the Master.
 
              BUT HE SAID: “GO IN PEACE, YOUR FAITH HAS MADE YOU WELL.”
 
      Back to Jairus. The girl dies!!!   Jairus’s helpers come running up, telling him not to bother Jesus, because IT IS TOO LATE. With her dead, there was nothing there for Him to do. But Jesus doesn’t let him give up. Professional mourners at the house certify that, yes, the girl was dead. They had seen a lot of people die AND THEY CERTINLY RECOGNIZED DEAD!
 
                                      BUT JESUS RAISED HER TO LIFE AGAIN!
   
Last of my examples of people in desperate situations is the man with the epileptic son. He had done everything he could to keep him safe. He even sought the healing power that Jesus had given to his disciples, but even they could not heal him. Jesus healed the boy by casting out the demon. When asked by his disciples, he said they couldn’t do it because of their “little faith”.
 
      There are many ways of getting into desperate times. Our world has had a huge one in the global pandemic we are all just emerging from. Some of the troubles are our own fault –like those of David. Others are beyond our control, like those of the father of the epileptic boy. Some are physical in nature, like the woman with blood. Other desperate times affect other people that we care for—like those of Jairus.
 
 
     The key point is that ALL of these examples of truly helpless predicaments were brought to the Lord Jesus Christ and
 
                                                  HE OVERCAME THEM!
 
Will God in Christ heal every situation? Of course not, but many times when we feel hopeless can be overcome with answered prayer to the Lord our God. Amen.
 
 
 
 
*Hymn                                There Is a Balm In Gilead                             No. 394                
           
*AFFIRMATION Apostle’s Creed, Ecumenical Version
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
 
Was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven,
He is seated on the right hand of the Father,
And he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
 
MORNING PRAYER AND LORD’S PRAYER
 
Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done in earth,
as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever. Amen.
 
Sending
 
*HYMN                                Great Is Thy Faithfulness                                    No. 276                                             
 
 
  CHARGE & BLESSING
And now, may the grace, mercy, and peace which proceeds from God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Son, and into the Holy Spirit within us, rest and abide within us, now and forever more.
 
POSTLUDE
*Stand as you are able.
 

​ 
SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY
June 20th, 2021
Gathering
MUSICAL OFFERING
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Let me remind you quickly of our protocols for everyone’s safety.                  
·  Attendance was taken by Ushers as you entered.
· Offerings may be placed in the plate by the doors.
· Please write your prayer request on the Yellow cards.  An usher will pick them up during the 1st hymn.
· Please join us after service for fellowship in Calvin Hall
· Dr Dyke has started a Bible study on Wednesdays  at 3pm sign-up  sheet outside Pastor Study
 
Schedule reminders:
The office and the rest of the building remain closed, but you can contact Karla during her office hours.
June 20th Father’s Day
June 23rd Bible Study
 
PRAYER REQUESTS
     Family of Rose, Family of Chuck Thornton, Gary Iverson, all who are seeking Jesus, Bob Bock, Joan Boyd, Jack Braden, Wanda Hirl, Marilyn Neymeyer, Joan Pinkston, Maxine Wagner, Valerie Jerez, a person seeking a job, Annette Conzett, Jim Roling and family, Sara Feilmeier, Jackie with difficult pregnancy, Lois Seger, Jo Lefleur,  Dr Dyke, Clayton Mallory, Jane with upcoming knee surgery, Deb Weller death of father in-law and upcoming surgery, people of India, Tom Kelly facing Surgery, Amy Jacobs, Jeff Fish and Cornell Family two deaths in the past week
PRELUDE
WORDS OF WORSHIP (From Psalm 150)
     LEADER:  Praise the Lord!
     Response:   Praise God in His Sanctuary.
     L:  Praise Him in his mighty firmament!
     R: Praise Him for His mighty deeds.
     L: Praise Him according to His surpassing greatness!
     R:  Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!
 
GATHERING PRAYER
          O God, whose chosen dwelling is the heart that longs for Your presence and humbly seeks Your face, we come to You at the beginning of the day as the light and warmth of the sun projects Your eternal glow. Strengthen every desire to improve our lives according to Your holy Will. We ask You to restore the joy of our salvation as we proclaim Your grace to our personal worlds. Amen.
 
HYMN                                  Immortal, Invisible                                               No. 263                      
 
CONFESSION AND PARDON.
     O most merciful God, Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who pardons all who truly repent and turn to You, we humbly confess our sins and implore Your mercy. We have not loved You with a pure heart nor have we loved our neighbor as ourselves.
We have not done justly, nor loved mercy and walked humbly with our God. Have mercy upon us according to Your loving-kindness. According to the multitude of Your mercies, blot out our sin. We ask You to create a clean heart within us, Lord. Amen.
 
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
       Almighty God, who doth freely pardon all who repent and turn toward You, now fulfill in every contrite heart the promise of redeeming grace. We will remit all our sins and cleanse us from an evil conscience, through the perfect sacrifice of Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.
 
ANTHEM                                 More Than Just Enough                
                                Hope College Chapel Chorus – loaned by Jon Ryner
 
THE PASSING OF THE PEACE
 
RECOGNITION OF FATHERS
 
THE OFFERING AND OFFERTORY
    
OFFERTORY PRAYER
       As King David wondered what he could offer to God that was worthy, so we, also, come with our best gifts and realize that they fall so far short of Your divine goodness toward us. Help us to see our financial gifts to Your church as the symbols they truly are; representing the gift of our lives in Your service. Amen.
 
INTERLUDE
 
                                                    Word
 
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
      Heavenly Father, we come to hear the divine Word from the Holy Bible. We know that we cannot approach Your gospel without receiving Your blessing. Open our ears and hearts to accept what you teach us, and put it into practice in our lives. Amen,
 
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
 
     Psalm 68: 1-6
May God arise, may his enemies be scattered; may his foes flee before him.  2 May you blow them away like smoke— as wax melts before the fire,    may the wicked perish before God.  3 But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.  4 Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him—his name is the Lord. 5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,  is God in his holy dwelling.  6 God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.
 
Matthew 10: 24-33
24 “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household! 26 “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.[a] 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. 32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.
 
Ephesians 4: 25- 5:2
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
 5 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
 
 
SERMON                  The God Father
 
     Here we are at the First Presbyterian Church of Clinton, Iowa again, and this is the Facebook broadcast of our Father’s Day morning worship. Now, ladies, remember that you had a special sermon for you on Mother’s Day just a month ago, so TODAY IS THE MEN’S TURN!  I am still Rev. Dr. Dale Dykstra, the interim minister here and a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) for nearly 49 years. 10 churches have called me “Dr. Dyke” in Pennsylvania, Illinois and now Iowa.
     Well, I didn’t get through one paragraph without divulging the theme of today’s sermon. Jesus set it out in the Matthew 10 reading that I shared with you this morning. “ALL WHO ACKNOWLEDGE ME BEFORE MEN, WILL I ACKNOWLEDGE BEFORE MY FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN.”
 
     He called God “My Father”---since He was God’s holy Son. That statement led to the priests and the Pharisees calling Him a blasphemer—since that made him an equal with his Father God. Did you ever realize that we do the same thing? Haven’t you ever heard someone refer to a boy as “A CHIP OFF THE OLD BLOCK?” – meaning that he took after His father enough to resemble him? This might be a physical resemblance, but more often it is a mannerism or behavior that calls the father to mind.
 
     Let’s go even further with this simile--- Jesus extended His sonship to us! He said “Our Father”---including ME- AND YOU!! as the children of God himself! Now, He COULD have and really SHOULD have said “My Father” as a true statement; whether mankind recognized it or not. But He did not. MEN—YOU HAVE THE VERY WORDS OF JESUS –YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD!!
 
    Now that is not a license or privilege to claim. NO, it is a relationship of dependance. We have known, or certainly heard of men who take advantage of their parent’s position, or wealth, or education. We may not know them, but there are sons who are SPOILED by their fathers into believing that the world OWES them honor or recognition just because of their birth. These are, without question, NOT our favorite people. Not “role model” material, I am afraid.
 
      I have mentioned that my youngest grandson is just over a year old, now. It was just a few months ago that he couldn’t MOVE! Not even roll over! Do you remember the days when you could put your baby down and know that HE COULDN’T MOVE?
He was totally dependent upon his mother (my daughter), his father, and family. PS, he is not only rolling over now, but walking, even running and CLIMBING now—putting him into some dangerous situations. Still dependent; but a different way!
 
      We are a lot like that. We are not able to lead the righteous life that would remind others of Jesus on our own---we need to DEPPEND upon the aid of our Almighty Father.  We can’t be independent….but we don’t have to be so! Our Father REALLY IS our father! We don’t need to be independent and strong by ourselves. It is OK to rely upon the holiness of God. HE can do what we cannot.
 
    In his fatherhood, David tells us in Psalm 68 that God is “the father of the fatherless and the protector of widows.” How bereft is the man who has not got a father! What does a fatherless man LOSE?
 
    Psalms tells us that the fatherless man loses PROTECTION. From the beginning to the bumps and bruises of childhood to the heartaches of youth, a father protects his children. So, God, OUR FATHER protects us from the very worst that Satan can do to us. His Holy Spirit is IN us, to warn us and to protect us. There is comfort knowing that we are protected from evil by a heavenly Father.
 
      Men, have you shared an experience that I know all-too-well?  There have been times in my life where I faced important choices and temptations and was poised to make what would have been the wrong choice. Suddenly, I had an uneasy feeling—one that I recognize now as the warning of the Holy Spirit—and paused and reconsidered in time to avoid a terrible outcome. God, My Father, was protecting me IN SPITE OF MYSELF.
 
      You are also Malnourished without a Father. He is there to provide for you—to nourish you. Every father wants to give “Good gifts” to his children as our Lord, himself, said. Fathers go out to labor so that they can provide for their children. Now God provides for us –His children. He provides for me.
 
       God provides ---PEACE– My own father was not one to express emotion; but one odd thing about my childhood was when I would do a “stupid kid thing” and get scraped or dented in some fall or disaster. I would go home and seek out my dad—rather than my more obviously loving mother –because of his big hand! He would put that hand on my back and rub and say “It will be all right”—and I knew that it WOULD be.
 
     God provides COURAGE.  I knew that my dad was brave, strong, and would certainly protect my mom and me. I knew that because I heard the stories of his service in the army in the South Pacific during World War II. In second grade I wanted to bring the ribbon for his Good Conduct Medal to school’s show and tell. I learned later how much that meant to him. I felt safe at home, though we certainly did not live in the best part of Chicago.
 
     God provides FORGIVENESS.  We only had one car, and Dad used it every day for work. Early in my teen years he was very clear that I would NOT drive the family car. I could drive when I could afford a car and insurance! I came home from college during my freshman year and after I got my license, and BEGGED Mom to get Dad to allow me to drive JUST ONCE with my friends. I am sure she had to really work hard to get him to allow it; but he did. Wouldn’t you know—while out, another car pulled right in front of me, and we hade a fender bender. Oh no! I knew Dad would kill me!
 
     I was afraid and parked the car about a block from in front of the house and walked home. I went to my room until supper, where we all ate together. After a time, I couldn’t hold it in any longer, and blurted out that I had an accident as careful as I tried to be! AND MY DAD STARTED LAUGHING! Huh???
     Mom explained—Where does your dad work? I answered “At the newspaper, why?” She said that Dad had seen the police report of my accident come through the ticker at work BEFORE I EVEN CAME HOME!  He was grateful I confessed—and he FORGAVE ME. I will never forget it.
 
     God provides LOVE.  Dad showed his great capacity for love as mom’s health declined. He took such good care of her!
 
      Fathers give their sons a NAME.  My initials are DAD and my son’s initials are DAD, and my grandson’s initials are DAD too! That was to honor both of my parents’s deceased fathers when I was born. I have told the story to my grandson and its special meaning as he goes to college.
 
     God calls us “Christians” which means “little Christs” –the diminutive of Christ our Lord. WE HAVE HIS NAME and all it represents. Men, make sure that people respect God’s name in you!
 
     Most obviously, God provides LIFE!  Matthew again relates “He who finds his life will lose it, but he who loses his life for Christ’s sake will find it.” You were born in Christ in baptism and you live the life He gave you.
 
      God gives us His EXAMPLE. Remember when you tried to walk in Daddy’s shoes? CLOMP, CLOMP, CLOMP. Oops! Now move to Ephesians and St. Paul. He says ““Therefore, be imitators of God, as His beloved children.” How can we imitate one who is perfect, while we are so far from it?
       By loving others.
       By sharing and caring
       By living a straight life
       By confessing sin to God.
 
     No, we won’t be perfect like God—we can’t be! But we will be the best we can for him, ---and reflect Him in what we do, say, think, and say. We can make our Father PROUD! Do you remember a time Dad popped his britches because of you? My Seminary graduation and the ordination service in my home church in Chicago was when I saw the pride that my mom always told me was there.
 
    We can humbly and honestly MAKE GOD PROUD of us as his sons and we must do so while there is time.  Amen.
 
HYMN                                There’s a Wideness In God’s Mercy              No. 298                       
                                 “
   
*AFFIRMATION       Apostle’s Creed, Ecumenical Version
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
 
Was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven,
He is seated on the right hand of the Father,
And he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
 
MORNING PRAYER AND LORD’S PRAYER
 
Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done in earth,
as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever. Amen.
 
Sending
 
*HYMN                                Come, Thou Almighty King                               No. 139
 
 
  CHARGE & BLESSING
And now, may the grace, mercy, and peace which proceeds from God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Son, and into the Holy Spirit within us, rest and abide within us, now and forever more.
 
POSTLUDE
*Stand as you are able.

​ 
SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY
June 06 2021
 
MUSICAL OFFERING
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Let me remind you quickly of our protocols for everyone’s safety.                  
·  Attendance was taken by Ushers as you entered.
· Offerings may be placed in the plate by the doors.
· Please write your prayer request on the Yellow cards.  An usher will pick them up during the 1st hymn.
· Please join us after service for fellowship in Calvin Hall
· Dr Dyke is starting a Bible study on  Wednesday June 2rd at 3pm sign-up  sheet outside Pastor Study
 
Schedule reminders:
The office and the rest of the building remain closed, but you can contact Karla during her office hours.
June 6th Installation of Elders and Deacons
June 9th Bible Study
June 13th Session Meeting
June 17th Pulse Articles due
June 20th Father’s Day
 
PRAYER REQUESTS
     Family of Rose, Family of Chuck Thornton, Gary Iverson, all who are seeking Jesus, Bob Bock, Joan Boyd, Jack Braden, Wanda Hirl, Marilyn Neymeyer, Joan Pinkston, Maxine Wagner, Valerie Jerez, a person seeking a job, Annette Conzett, Jim Roling and family, Sara Feilmeier, Jackie with difficult pregnancy, Lois Seger, Jo Lefleur,  Dr Dyke, Clayton Mallory, Jane with upcoming knee surgery, Deb Weller death of father in-law and upcoming surgery, and people of India.
 
 
WORDS OF WORSHIP
  LEADER: Lord of heaven and earth, we praise Your glorious majesty!
     Response: Your wisdom is seen in all Your manifold works.
     L: Your grace and truth are revealed in Jesus Christ.
     R: God’s power and presence are seen in us through the Holy Spirit.
     L: We adore Your holy name, o blessed Trinity.
     R: You are our help and redeemer now and forevermore.
 
GATHERING PRAYER (Unison)
      We turn the page on another month, o Master. We prepare to receive the forgiveness of our sins through the Holy Sacrament of Communion together. Come to us through the answers to our most fervent prayers, the hearing of the words of the Holy Bible and our heartfelt confessions of sin. Strengthen us for the challenges we will face in the days to come. In Jesus’ precious and eternal name. Amen.
 
 
*Hymn    Let All Mortal Flesh                                  No. 5
 
 CONFESSION AND PARDON   (Unison)   
         O most merciful God, Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who grants pardon to all who truly repent of their sin and turn toward You, we humbly confess our sins and implore Your mercy. We have not loved You fervently with a pure heart, nor have we loved our neighbor as ourselves in the way You commanded. We have not done justly, nor loved mercy, nor walked humbly at Your side. Have mercy upon us, o Savior. Amen.
 
 
Assurance of Pardon
     Almighty God, who doth freely pardon all who repent and turn toward Thee, now fulfill in every contrite heart the promise of redeeming grace. We thank you for remitting our sins and cleansing us from an evil conscience through the perfect sacrifice of Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.
 
*ANTHEM:
 
*THE PASSING OF THE PEACE
 
INSTALLATION OF ELDERS AND DEACONS
 
THE OFFERING AND OFFERTORY
    
OFFERTORY PRAYER
         Father in heaven, you have told us that we shall reap what we sow. This is true not only for our character, but our conduct. We trust You today with our tithes and offerings, knowing that You will use them for Your kingdom and continue in Your provision for us who believe. Amen.
 
INTERLUDE
 
     Word
 
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
                  We approach the Holy Bible as the word of God, the inerrant truth of heaven, and the message of grace through the cross of Calvary. All of our hope comes from the refreshing message that, despite our shortcomings, You love us with an everlasting love. Teach us today what we need to understand for the living of the days to come. Amen.
 
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
     Genesis 9: 8-17
8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: 9 “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”17 So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.”
 
Luke 22: 14-20
14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
 
   Hebrews 8: 8-13
 
8 But God found fault with the people and said [a]: “The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel  and with the people of Judah. 9 It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord. 10 This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.  11 No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord, ‘because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. 12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”13   calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.
 
SERMON     
     Hello again! This is the morning worship service of the First Presbyterian Church of Clinton, Iowa. Today is a special Sunday, because we will install our Elders and Deacons to their offices, as well as receive the Sacrament of Holy Communion. You are invited to join us at the table at the end of the service to use your own bread, roll, or cracker and whatever juice or wine you may have at home. The Lord will bless the elements by the loving intent of the participant.
 
     I am Rev. Dr. Dale Dykstra, interim minister at this parish for 2 and ½ months so far. I have pastored a total of 10 churches of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in Pennsylvania, Illinois, and now Iowa for the past 48 years. Indeed, next month it will become 49 years on July 2nd. It is my joy to serve the Lord and His church!
 
     Have you ever made a promise? Of course you have! Probably very many of them. Have you kept EVERY ONE of them? Probably not—even with your best effort.
Many of them are in the category of “casual” promises, where we indicate a desire or intention; but without the commitment to abide by what we have said. We don’t mean to cause any trouble for anyone; but sometimes these can lead to hurt feelings or a lack of trust in our friends or acquaintances. I remember waiting for a friend for TWO HOURS because of a promise to meet together at a certain place and time!!
 
     OK, I get it----some promises are WAY more important than others, even though ALL promises indicate a commitment on our part. How many of you have ever had to sign a contract? Buy a car? Or a house? Even a dish washer or stove??  SURE! We have all done this by this time in our lives. A contract IS a promise, but one that is two-way.
 
     “I will give you this or do this for you if you will pay me so much money.” Right? And we are all “good people” –we do our level best to KEEP our promises that are in this form. As a matter of fact, there are punishments if we fail to keep a contract! That car can be repossessed! Heavens! The house can be foreclosed on! Those penalties are enforced to make sure that most folks would never THINK of breaking these promises.
 
     What about other kinds of promises? I had to take one with my first wife, Cheryl, when we adopted our children. That was a contract or agreement for the placement of another little human life in our care between the two of us and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania! And if we didn’t follow through with good care for the kids in the eye of the social workers on their inspections—they could withdraw them from our home by a heart-rending court procedure.
 
     Speaking of wives –and husbands too—did any of you make a very HIGH PROMISE called a VOW TO THEIR MATE?  “To love, honor, and cherish one another”? NOTE---the Presbyterian Church (USA) has not asked women to “obey” for literally centuries!! This higher level of commitment in a promise at the “vow” level has more severe punishments for breaking them. Separation and even divorce cause the rupture of a God-blessed relationship.
 
      Nor is that the only Vow that people take. We just celebrated Memorial Day where we honored all of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation’s freedom.   That service started with a vow to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States” and the penalties for breaking this promise include a visit from the MP’s and severe jail time!
 
     Do you realize that you have taken vows to God, too? When the George’s just joined our church by their confession of faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, that was a VOW to God Almighty. And nearly all of us have taken them. Now God does not send you to jail for unfaithfulness, friends. His punishment is far worse than jail---and is eternal!!
 
     Do you realize that there are promises FROM GOD as well? These are the very highest form of promises and are called COVENANTS. Essentially a covenant is a guarantee between two parties. More formal—and much more important than just a contract; they have the potential to enrich both parties ---or to destroy them.
 
     God introduced the relationship of covenant to man with what we call the Adamic Covenant. Note that God offered it to Adam and Eve. God promised that every tree of the garden would be good for food to keep them strong and healthy EXCEPT the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And, yes, there was a penalty for breaking this covenant. God told them that they risked DYING!
 
      Now the snake was the master of the half-truth. He still is! He told Eve that God did not mean what He said. No, they would not die. She chose to believe it. And Satan was right!!! They did not “drop dead.”; but they became mortal, and would eventually die. We had no mention of them dying before the broken covenants—God wanted to walk in the garden with them forever!
 
     The second covenant was the Noahic Covenant. “I will never again cut off all flesh with a flood.” This introduced a new aspect to the meaning of a covenant. God promised without a penalty for the people’s sin. This introduced the God of MERCY.
 
     There were other covenants in the Old Testament between God and His people. Kings – most notably David – made covenants for their nation. Israel, however, kept breaking their promise to be faithful to the one true God and to turn away from idols. The prophets kept warning them about failing to keep the covenant with God.
 
    I jump to the New Testament now. Jesus is at the Last Supper that we are going to celebrate together today. It, too, was a covenant. He says that “this cup that is poured out which is the New Covenant in my blood” Jesus, himself, BECAME the covenant as the sacred pure lamb of sacrifice through the blood shed on the cross. There Jesus paid the penalty of sin for all of us with His Sacred Blood. God’s MERCY became personal in Jesus.
 
     We cannot lead sinless lives, but through Jesus, we don’t need to! We DO need to do our best to live a life worthy of the calling to which we are summoned, but know that we can’t be perfect. Jesus paid with His death our broken covenant.
 
     There is one more divine covenant. I took you to Hebrews 8. In it, it says “I will establish a NEW COVENANT. “I will be their God and they shall be my people.” He forgave our sins as He says, “I will be merciful toward their iniquities and I will remember their sins no more.”
 
     Truly, through the goodness of God, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and by the Holy Spirit within each of us, OUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN. All that we have ever done and ALL THAT WE EVER SHALL STILL DO are covered by the cross as the atonement for the broken covenant between you AND ME AND God. Amen.                      
 
   
 
HYMN                       Let Us Break Bread Together                                   No. 513                          
                         
                      
AFFIRMATION   Apostle’s Creed, Ecumenical Version
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven,
He is seated on the right hand of the Father,
And he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen
INVITATION TO THE LORD’S SUPPER
 
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
      The Lord be with you.
      And also with you.
      Lift up your hearts.
      We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
O Holy God…we lift our hearts in joyful praise.
 
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might.                                          Hymnal #581
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest.
 
We praise you…together, we proclaim the mystery of our faith.
 
Dying, you destroyed our death; rising, you restored our life.                    Hymnal #582
 
Gracious God… all glory and honor are yours,
Almighty God, now and forever.  Amen.
 
 
                                                                Sending
*HYMN                                 Jesus, Thou Joy                                                 No. 510                                            
 
 
  CHARGE & BLESSING
And now, may the grace, mercy, and peace which proceeds from God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Son, and into the Holy Spirit within us, rest and abide within us, now and forever more.
 
​
 
POSTLUDE

​ 
SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY
May 30, 2021
 
MUSICAL OFFERING
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Let me remind you quickly of our protocols for everyone’s safety.                  
 Attendance was taken by Ushers as you entered.
Offerings may be placed in the plate by the doors.
Please write your prayer request on the Yellow cards.  An usher will pick them up during the 1st hymn.
Please join us after service for fellowship in Calvin Hall
Dr Dyke is starting a Bible study on Wednesday June 2nd at 3pm sign-up  sheet outside Pastor Study
 
Schedule reminders:
The office and the rest of the building remain closed, but you can contact Karla during her office hours.
Memorial Day May 31st  Office Closed
June 2nd  Bible Study at 3pm
June 6th Installation of Elders and Deacons
June 13th Session Meeting
June 17th Pulse Articles due
June 20th Father’s Day
 
 
PRAYER REQUESTS
                         Family of Rose, Family of Chuck Thornton, Gary Iverson, all who are seeking Jesus, Bob Bock, Joan Boyd, Jack Braden, Wanda Hirl, Marilyn Neymeyer, Joan Pinkston, Maxine Wagner, Valerie Jerez, a person seeking a job, Annette Conzett, Jim Roling and family, Sara Feilmeier, Jackie with difficult pregnancy, Lois Seger, Jo Lefleur,  Dr Dyke, Clayton Mallory, Jane with upcoming knee surgery, Deb Weller death of father in-law and upcoming surgery, and people of India.
 
WORDS OF WORSHIP
     Leader:  We praise you, O God for enabling us to freely worship You.
     Response: We thank you for blessing us with heroes in our wars and lives.
     L: As we gather, let us solemnly honor the memory of those who died.
     R And let us continue to honor those who currently serve.
     L: We are grateful for Your supreme sacrifice for Your Church
     R. May we continue to serve, to praise, and to love You. Amen.
 
GATHERING PRAYER
      Lord and Master, we have many thoughts on our mind because it is Memorial Day. Some are less serious, as we look forward to family gatherings and warmer weather. These are good gifts of Yours. Other ideas center on the sacrifice of our wartime heroes and contemporary civilian heroes of the pandemic. They, too, are good to ponder. The best reason for our worship is to praise God for His glorious victory over sin and death that leads us to new life in Christ. Amen.
 
HYMN                                  God of Grace and God of Glory                        No. 420                      
 
CONFESSION AND PARDON.
     O most merciful God, Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, we claim Your promise to pardon all sinners who truly repent of their sin and turn to You.  We have not loved You with a pure heart, nor loved our neighbor as ourselves. Have mercy upon us, o Lord, according to Your loving-kindness. Blot out our iniquity and renew a right spirit within us. Restore to us the joy of our salvation.
Amen.
 
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
        Almighty God, who freely pardons all who repent and turn to You, please fulfill in every contrite heart the promise of redeeming grace. Forgive our sins and cleanse us from a sinful existence. We pray through the perfect sacrifice of Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.
 
RECOGNITION OF VETERANS
 
TABLE OF HONOR LAMP LIGHTING
 
THE OFFERING AND OFFERTORY
    
OFFERTORY PRAYER
 
 
INTERLUDE
    
 
                                                    Word
 
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
      Jesus, it is time to bring our full attention to the Holy Bible and the messages it brings us for today. Help our attention and our devotion to your Word as it seeks to direct our lives in the week to come. Amen.
 
 
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
     Psalm 68: 1-6
1May God arise, may his enemies be scattered; may his foes flee before him.  2 May you blow them away like smoke—as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God.3 But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.4 Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds[b];  rejoice before him—his name is the Lord.5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. 6 God sets the lonely in families, [c]he leads out the prisoners with singing but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.
 
    John 15: 9-14
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command.
 
Hebrews 9: 23-28
23 It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,
 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him
 
 
 
SERMON                                          
     Hello. This is the Facebook broadcast from the sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church of Clinton, Illinois for May 30th. Today we will pay special honor to those who gave their lives in the service of our nation, and to veterans who are among us who have given some of their lives and much of their effort to protect us all. Blessed Memorial Day!
 
     I am the Rev. Dr. Dale Dykstra, the interim minister for this congregation. I have served for two and one half months now, and am getting to know the people and the strengths of this parish. I have served as a minister of the Presbyterian Church, (USA) for the past 48 years. This is my 11th congregation served in Pennsylvania, Illinois, and now Iowa.
 
      This Sunday is special because it precedes Memorial Day tomorrow. There are several reasons to look forward to this holiday. It is seen as the classic opening of the summer season and all its warmth and activity. In this year of the pandemic this has even more significance than usual as people can’t wait to get out and about! It is good to hear that nearly half of our country’s people have had at least one dose of the vaccine that will enable us to gather, to celebrate, and to participate together.
 
     Another reason we look forward to Memorial Day are the gatherings of family and friends that happen over this three-day weekend. We all have missed the close, loving contact that such opportunities offer us. This is particularly true for families who have had loved ones in nursing homes and retirement communities where they could not be visited for up to a year!
 
     Communities, also, have surrendered their traditional parades and celebrations that our veteran’s organizations usually offer at this time. Many of us have gone to our graveyards and honored the dead, as well as hearing inspiring speeches that renew our pride in the land of our birth. This year, I hope you will TAKE the time to attend these ceremonies. They will strengthen your hearts!
 
     Speaking of those cemeteries, we are reminded that even those stones have voices. Many of those from Clinton and the surrounding area who have served in wars from the civil war to the present Middle East hostilities are memorialized in the headstones that surround the flag of the land they defended. Many more of these headstones represents peacetime soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, guardsmen, coast guard, and reserves. I have helped to inter many of these heros over the years, and the sound of taps and the volley of rifle fire still gives me chills. All were willing to serve and sacrifice for the freedom that you and I possess.
 
      I looked it up and it is hard to fathom that OVER 400,000 have given the supreme sacrifice in defense of their country. It is important that churches like ours throughout the land lift up our voices in praise and song to their memory. God bless all of these true heroes of our American homeland!
 
      In the current world, these valiant heroes remind me of other ones. We quite properly call police, firemen, doctors, nurses, truck drivers, essential store and business owners by the same title! I am grateful to see that there are new recognitions and honors being given to these people—especially to those who have given THEIR lives in the fight. Do you realize that the pandemic HAS KILLED AS MANY AMERICANS AS ALL OF THE WARS WE HAVE FOUGHT?
 
      We watched as what happened in World War II –Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor as we were unprepared—has happened again as we have been caught unprepared for the devastation of the COVID-19 virus. The main thing to give glory to God about is to remember how swiftly and strongly we recovered and unified as a country after the conflict began.
 
     Benjamin Franklin said that “the way to be safe is to never become secure. We must never become complacent and assume that we deserve our freedoms and prosperity.” In the years following the 911 attacks, I have witnessed a great renewal of patriotism among the people of the United States. We need to maintain and even increase this loyalty.
 
     Let me bring some of the Biblical witness to the need to be “ON GUARD” as Christians. Psalm 68: 1-6 declares that Almighty God will scatter the enemies of His faithful people. We are to be joyful in God’s protection and praise Him for His protection. God will take care of the needy, the orphans, and widows---the weakest members of our society—but punishes the rebellious.
 
      Another Old Testament reference is I Chronicles 16: 30-36. It declares that God will save us and rescues us from among the nations. Go back a little earlier in time, and II Chronicles 7: 14 says “If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves , pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
 
     In the New Testament, I take you to I Peter 5: 10. “ After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you.” He speaks of the need to “Discipline yourselves and keep alert” as needs to be fully “ON GUARD” We have much to thank God for all those who have sacrificed from the revolutionary war to the current strife. They have passed on the task of being ON GUARD to us.
 
     If we are to carry the guardianship of our land, how can we accomplish this? Let us follow their example:
 
1.They were drafted to the defense of their nation or else volunteered for such service. We have many people who enlisted in occupations or departments such as hospitals, rescue, home health, mental health, police, fire, etc.
 
2.They went through training—basic training is known as grueling- yet countless inductees have not only survived it, but have been strengthened by it.  They learned new skills, strengthened their bodies, and kindled their spirit.
 
3.They were given superiors ---officers or supervisors ---who were experienced  leaders to help direct their service into a successfully coordinated attack on the enemy—stated or silent.
 
4.If you listen to many of today’s heroes, many express their need for prayer to face the danger. An old saying if that “There are no atheists in foxholes”. God has suddenly become ok for the heroes to mention even on prime-time shows.
 
5.When the “on guard” defenders were successful, they never fail to give God the praise and glory for the victory.
 
Let us apply these basics of military life to our own efforts:
 
A.We, as Christians, ARE a volunteer army. We all confessed our sins and were baptized and confirmed into saying Jesus is our Lord. He is our “commander-in-chief” whose Word (the Bible) is our training manual. We are encouraged to MEMORIZE our instructions!—Not a bad idea for us, either!
 
B.We are constantly going through training. Our pastors and teachers may not be as grueling as basic, but their lessons through Sunday School, Bible Study and  sermons can thoroughly train us to face up to our increasingly secular country with Jesus’ truth.
 
C.Yes, we have leaders –we must be careful in choosing who are Godly influences—media pastors, evangelists, local bishops, and executives. They give guidance to focus our efforts.
 
D.We must always be on our guard in prayer at all times to serve our Commander capably and victoriously. Prayer for the battle to lead our world to salvation.
 
E.Lastly, I am sure that God will give us the victory that will lead us back into His service. Keep your faith ON GUARD, and we will be blessed! Amen.
 
   
 
HYMN                          Eternal Father, Strong To Save                                   No. 562                            
                     
AFFIRMATION   Apostle’s Creed, Ecumenical Version
 
MORNING PRAYER AND LORD’S PRAYER
 
                                                                Sending
HYMN                           My Country ’Tis of Thee                                            No. 561                                            
.
CHARGE & BLESSING
       And now, may the grace, mercy, and peace which proceeds from God, the Father; through Jesus Christ, the Son; and into the Holy Spirit within us, rest and abide with us this day and forevermore. Amen.

​SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY
May 16, 2021
 
​
SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY
May 16th, 2021
Gathering
MUSICAL OFFERING
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Let me remind you quickly of our protocols for everyone’s safety.                  
 Attendance was taken by Ushers as you entered.
Offerings may be placed in the plate by the doors.
Please keep your masks on.
Please write your prayer request on the Yellow cards.  An usher will pick them up during the 1st hymn.
Please join us after service for fellowship in Calvin Hall
Schedule reminders:
The office and the rest of the building remain closed, but you can contact Karla during her office hours.
Session May 16th
Pentecost  May 23rd please wear red
 
PRAYER REQUESTS
                     Family of Rose, Family of Chuck Thornton, Gary Iverson, all who are seeking Jesus, Bob Bock, Joan Boyd, Jack Braden, Wanda Hirl, Marilyn Neymeyer, Joan Pinkston, Maxine Wagner, Valerie Jerez, a person seeking a job, Annette Conzett, Jim Roling and family, Sara Feilmeier, Jackie with difficult pregnancy, Lois Seger, Jo Lefleur and Dr Dyke
 
PRELUDE
 
WORDS OF WORSHIP
      LEADER: I will give thanks to You, o Lord, among the peoples.
      Response: And I will sing praises to You among the nations.
     L: For Your steadfast love is higher than the heavens.
     R: And Your faithfulness reaches the clouds.
     L: Be exalted, o God, above the heavens
     R: and let Your glory be over all the earth.
 
GATHERING PRAYER (Unison)
We come from our various and different worlds, to gather together in this beautiful building because we are joined by our love for Jesus Christ, the Savior. The difficulties, trials, and pains of this world have made us weary, Master. We need the refreshment we have found in bringing our spirits to join with Yours. We pray that you would lift us into the light and peace of Your presence. Amen.
 
*Hymn                          “The Church’s One Foundation                                      No. 442
 
 
                                             
CONFESSION AND PARDON   (Unison)   
       The seeds of grace, hope, joy, and love are planted deep within us. It is our prayer that they can bear fruit in our lives. We confess to resisting staying connected to our Savior, the Vine, thinking we can flourish on our own. We admit that we have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Please forgive us, so that we can once again feel God abiding deeply within us. Amen.
 
Assurance of Pardon
             Because God abides in us, we can live for others, allowing God’s love to bear fruit in us. Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory, in our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
 
*ANTHEM: We will attempt to present recorded music as an anthem today
 
*THE PASSING OF THE PEACE
 
THE OFFERING AND OFFERTORY
    
OFFERTORY PRAYER
       O Father in heaven, you have told us that we will reap what we sow. This is true not only for our character, but in our conduct. We trust You today with our tithes and offerings, knowing that You are trustworthy to use them in your kingdom and continue in Your provision for us. Amen.
 
INTERLUDE
                                                    Word
 
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
            Search us, o God, and know our hearts: try us, and know our thoughts. Prepare our minds to understand what message you have for us today. See if there be any wicked way in us and lead us in the way everlasting. Amen.
 
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
Jeremiah 23: 1-6
 
Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering sheep of my pasture! “declares the LORD .this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil have done,” declares the LORD.“I myself will gather the remnant my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, they will be fruitful and increase in number.
will place shepherds them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares the LORD.
 
5“The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will raise up for David[a]righteous Branch, a King will reign do what is just and right in the land.
6his days Judah will be saved Israel will live in safety. This is the name which he will be called: The LORD Righteous Savior.
 
     Romans 11: 13-25
 
13I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, take pride in my ministry14in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy save of them.15For if their rejection brought reconciliation the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?16If the part of the dough offered as first fruits holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.17If some of the branches have been broken off, you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root,18do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.19You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.”20Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Not be arrogant,tremble.21For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either22Consider therefore the kindness sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.23And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.24After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!25I do not want you to be ignorant this mystery, and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: has experienced a hardening part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in,
 
     John 15:1-10
 
15“I am true vine, my Father is the gardener .cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, every branch that does bear fruit prunes[a]that it will be even more fruitful. Are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.in me, as I also remain in you. Branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.5“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; from me you can do nothing. You do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. You remain in me my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.is to my Father’s glory, you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.9“As the Father has loved me, have I loved you. Now remain in my love.10If you keep my commands, will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
   
SERMON                                          Branching Out                           
 
*Hymn                I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord                  No. 441
 
     It is another joyful Sunday morning to be with our friends and family of the First Presbyterian Church of Clinton, Iowa. I am the Rev. Dr. Dale Dykstra, the interim minister of this congregation. I have served the
Presbyterian Church (USA) for 48 years as a pastor in Pennsylvania and Illinois before coming to Iowa.
 
     I have now completed two months of service to this parish. We have done many things in that short amount of time. We are finally recovering from the limitations imposed upon us by the Covid-19 pandemic and actually worshipping Almighty God in our wonderful building once again!
 
     I guess you could say that I am a new thing we have done. I had just brought a 17-month Interim Ministry at Milan, Illinois to a close when your Clerk of Session contacted me to ask if I might be available to come here. I heard the clear voice of God in that “coincidence.” So---now you have a pastor—at least for half-time—to lead us and care for us. I try very hard to speak with each one of you every week and to know your names—something I consider very important.
 
     I have led many churches of different sizes –from 15 to one that was over 500 people. A four-church larger parish was my first field in Pennsylvania, making a total of 10 congregations led under my care. I also served as the Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of Huntingdon in Pennsylvania for ten years with responsibility for 58 congregations. I am able to lead renewal in a church IF I have the support and agreement of the Session. I have been very pleased with their desire to bring ever greater life to our faith family.
 
     We have restored a Fellowship life following worship each week. It is growing in attendance as we go! I thank the volunteers who make this an important addition to our parish life. It feels good to see Calvin Hall come alive in this pleasant and supportive way.
 
     Other blessings include your strong leaders. Your Ruling Elders and compassionate Deacons care for your ongoing and growing needs. We are blessed with amazing facilities --- and endowed with sufficient funds to maintain them while we seek to incorporate more people to fill them! There seems to be (to me) a new spirit of hope for our future that I seek to strengthen and support as we recover our strength and grow.
 
     I want to use today’s sermon to explain that optimism about our future. Let me start by saying that I fully believe that God has important work for the First Presbyterian Church of Clinton, Iowa to do!
 
     I took you first to the prophet Jeremiah. Now, I know that his is a VERY long book of prophesy. It wouldn’t surprise me if you are not as familiar with it as you are with other parts of the Holy Bible. Let me help you, then. In Jeremiah’s day, Israel had a string of kings who led them ever further away from worshipping and serving the ONE TRUE GOD. The latest of these was named Coniah. He continued the worship of idols and their persecution of the people of God.
 
     God had sent other prophets to warn Israel to repent of their sins and return to Him. Isaiah was primary among those with these warnings. None of them were listened to or heeded. Finally, God speaks to Jeremiah and tells him that the Almighty has HAD IT with this disobedience. God decided to punish Israel by having their enemy Babylon destroy Jerusalem –and the rest of the Hebrew nation by tearing it literally stone from stone. He would destroy their faithless nation.
 
     God had protected Israel from enemies for centuries – Egypt, Edam, Aram, Assyria, Babylon, Syria and others; but that protection was being withdrawn as a result of their sinfulness. Because of this message, Jeremiah is seen as a prophet of doom and gloom in his descriptions of the impending disasters. He foresaw that the survivors would be taken as slaves and hostages back to Babylon and none of God’s people would remain in Israel.
 
     But I took you to the passage where God declares that He will scatter the “shepherds” (or kings) of the flock of Israel AS THEY DESERVE. Yet, hear that Almighty God says, “Then I will gather the remnant of my flock ----and bring them back to their fold! They shall be fruitful and multiply.”
 
      Do you see? It is God’s will to restore his chosen people even after they and their nation are totally destroyed! God has RESTORATION of His people at heart. I see this being true for us, as well, folks. God will restore this church after all of our difficult days because THAT IS WHO GOD IS---AND WHAT GOD DOES!!
 
     Now, I have no idea who the people who will restore our church will be. They may be just like us—or they may be very different, but they will be called by God to be here! I took you to my favorite book, Romans, and the apostle Paul. The greatest divide in Bible times for Hebrews was the one between
 
Jews and Gentiles. Frankly, Jews HATED Gentiles. I have a story to show you that this hatred continues to this very day. On my tour of Israel with the group of pastor’s families 10 years ago, we were coming to the end of our days there. We were in Jerusalem at lunch time and our guide Isaac (who was a formerly Jewish Christian) told us we could scatter about and find our lunches. We were to reassemble at the fountain at 1 pm.
 
     I wanted a personal souvenir of my trip—a Bible from the Holy Land, and so I walked about a block to a shop that had a sign offering Bibles for sale. Great!  I entered the shop and the gentleman behind the counter was very helpful and I found just the book I wanted. I returned to the fountain feeling wonderful.  UNTIL!
 
     Isaac was there with some of the others, and he frowned when he saw the book in my hand. He asked where I got it, and I pointed back to where the store was. I was shocked and dismayed, because this converted Christian guide SPAT ON THE GROUND and cursed “Palestinian!!” That is how deeply the hatred between Jew and Gentile exists even today.
 
     Yet God CALLED Paul to preach Jesus Christ, risen from the dead and Savior of the ENTIRE world TO THESE HATED GENTILES! And it is a good thing He did!
 
     In AD 71, Rome came into Israel after it had an insurrection resisting Roman rule and totally destroyed it and slew many of its leaders. They deported these people once again and ISRAEL WAS NO MORE UNTIL 1948!! If Paul and others had not welcomed and invited Gentiles into the church, IT WOULD HAVE DIED. But again, God wanted the church to not only survive, but to thrive. Again, to any and all who will hear God’s love for them in this place. WE WELCOME YOU TO OUT FAITH FAMILY.
 
     Lastly, I took you to the wonderful image of Jesus being the VINE and believers being the branches. I have another image side-by-side with this one. A charcoal fire with briquets all heated and turning white from the fire. But take one briquet away from the rest of them for a while and watch it fade –and die. We have our spiritual life because we are in constant touch with Jesus Christ, our Lord. We gain our strength and hope from His grace and love.
 
     It is our task to extend our hands of faith to others that they may be joined to the VINE-Jesus-through their contact with the BRANCHES (us) We are to “branch out” and cause our church to grow and be restored in the days to come. May you reach out to anyone you know who needs the love of God we can provide here at First United Presbyterian. Amen.
 
 
                           
*AFFIRMATION Apostle’s Creed, Ecumenical Version
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven,
He is seated on the right hand of the Father,
And he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
 
MORNING PRAYER AND LORD’S PRAYER
 
Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done in earth,
as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever. Amen.
Sending
 
*HYMN                                  Blest Be the Tie That Binds                           No. 438
                                           
  CHARGE & BLESSING
And now, may the grace, mercy, and peace which proceeds from God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Son, and into the Holy Spirit within us, rest and abide within us, now and forever more.
                              
POSTLUDE
*Stand as you are able.