Click here to download printable copy of the order of worship
TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
April 12, 2026
GATHERING AND PREPARING TO WORSHIP GOD
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Leader: Christ is risen!
People: He is risen indeed!
PRELUDE: “In the Garden” arr. Carol McMillen
Readying Our Hearts (A time of silent prayer and reflection in preparation for worshiping God together.)
Scriptures for Reflection and Memorization: Mark 10:15
“I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
CALL TO WORSHIP (from Psalm 118)
Leader: Give thanks to the Lord for He is good.
People: His love endures forever.
Leader: Let Israel and the House of Aaron say
People: His love endures forever.
Leader: Let those who fear the Lord say;
People: His love endures forever.
All: Together let us worship Almighty God whose love, justice and mercy endure forever.
PRAYER OF ADORATION/INVOCATION
*GATHERING SONG: #287 “Lift High the Cross
Refrain: Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim
till all the world adore his sacred name.
Come, Christians, follow where our Savior trod,
Our King victorious, Christ the Son of God. (Refrain)
All newborn servants of the Crucified
Bear on their brow the seal of Christ who died. (Refrain)
O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree,
Your death has brought us life eternally. (Refrain)
So shall our song of triumph ever be:
Praise to the Crucified for victory. (Refrain)
SCRIPTURE READING: Mark 9:33-37 (Pew Bible p. 1569)
They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”
Leader: This is the word of the LORD.
People: Thanks be to God.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION: (Unison prayer after a time of silent personal confession.)
Gracious God, have mercy upon us and take away the awful stain of our transgressions. For we admit our shameful thoughts, words and deeds. They haunt us day and night. We confess faith in You but then we refuse to surrender our lives to You. We confess love for You but then we turn away from neighbors in need. We confess that our hope is in You but then we fortify our lives with the securities of this world. In all too many ways, our actions nullify our confession and expose instead our self-centered lives. Lord, in Your mercy, wash us with the life-giving blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Cleanse us from the guilt of our sins and create in us hearts filled with honorable thoughts and right desires. Restore to us the joy of new and abundant life in Christ. And, through Your Holy Spirit, make us willing and able to obey You. We ask all this in Jesus’ name.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON:
Leader: Who is in a position to condemn? Only Christ, and Christ died for us, Christ rose for us, Christ reigns in power for us, Christ prays for us. If anyone is in Christ that person becomes a new creation, the old is gone and the new has come. Therefore, by the grace of God, in Christ we are forgiven.
*All: (Gloria Patri)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.
ENCOUNTERING GOD THROUGH GOD’S WORD
SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 18:18-30 (Pew Bible pp. 1629-1630)
A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good – except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’”
“All these I have kept since I was a boy.”
When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.
Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”
Jesus replied, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”
Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!”
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and in the age to come, eternal life.
Leader: This is the word of the LORD.
People: Thanks be to God.
*SONG: #294 “Christ Arose!”
Low in the grave He lay — Jesus my Savior,
Waiting the coming day — Jesus my Lord!
Refrain: Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o`er His foes;
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever with His saints to reign.
He arose! (He arose) He arose! (He arose)
Hallelujah! Christ arose!
Vainly they watch His bed — Jesus, my Savior,
Vainly they seal the dead — Jesus my Lord! (Refrain)
Death cannot keep his prey — Jesus, my Savior,
He tore the bars away — Jesus my Lord! (Refrain)
SCRIPTURE READING: Mark 10:13-16 (Pew Bible p. 1570)
People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, ayone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.
Leader: This is the word of the LORD.
People: Thanks be to God.
SERMON: “Acceptance and Dependence: Keys to the Kingdom”
RESPONDING TO GOD’S WORD THROUGH AFFIRMATION,
OFFERING, AND PRAYER
*SONG OF REFLECTION AND RESPONSE #93 “Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness”
Praise the One who breaks the darkness with a liberating light.
Praise the One who frees the prisoners, turning blindness into sight.
Praise the One who preached the gospel, healing every dread disease,
Calming storms and feeding thousands with the very bread of peace.
Praise the One who blessed the children with a strong yet gentle word.
Praise the One who drove out demons with a piercing two-edged sword.
Praise the One who brings cool water to the dessert’s burning sand.
From this well comes living water quenching thirst in every land.
Praise the one true love incarnate: Christ, who suffered in our place.
Jesus died and rose for many that we may know God by grace.
Let us sing for joy and gladness, seeing what our God has done.
Praise the one redeeming glory; praise the One who makes us one.
THE CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER AND OFFERING
Invitation
Affirmation of Faith: The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through Him all things were made. For us and for our salvation He came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered death and was buried. On the third day He rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Words of Institution
Partaking of the Elements and the Giving of Our Offering
“Were You There?/Crown Him with Many Crowns” arr. Marilyn Ham
(For those joining us in the Sanctuary this morning, you are invited, as you come forward to receive the Communion Elements, and as you feel so led, to place your offering in one of the plates up front. For those unable to be with us physically, you are encouraged to partake of the elements in your home at this time. Also, as you are able, we invite you to set aside your offering as an act of personal dedication at this time, either to be mailed in, dropped off at the church, or brought in when you are able to join us in worship. Let this time be one of receiving from and offering yourself to our Lord — to the praise of His glory.)
Prayer of Commitment
*Sung Response (Doxology)
Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts; Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
SHARING OF JOYS AND CONCERNS
PASTORAL PRAYER OF INTERCESSION/SUPPLICATION
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done; on 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 forever. Amen.
BRINGING OUR WORSHIP INTO OUR WORLD
MINUTE FOR MINISTRY: Women’s Ministry Jen McAuley
*SENDING SONG: #310 “Thine is the Glory”
Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son;
Endless is the victory Thou o’er death hast won.
Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
Kept the folded grave clothes where Thy body lay.
Refrain:
Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son;
Endless is the victory Thou o’er death hast won.
Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb;
Lovingly He greets us, scatters fear and gloom.
Let His church with gladness hymns of triumph sing,
For her Lord now liveth: death hath lost its sting. (Refrain)
No more we doubt Thee, glorious Prince of life!
Life is nought without Thee: aid us in our strife.
Make us more than conquerors, through Thy deathless love:
Bring us safe through Jordan to Thy home above. (Refrain)
*BENEDICTION (1 Thessalonians 5:23)
May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Postlude: “Easter Alleluia” Joseph Ottenwalder
__________________________________
ANNOUNCEMENTS
(Note: Church’s email address – office@trinitychurchtroy.org. Website address – www.trinitychurchtroy.org.)
- If you would like to help support the work of Hope 7 in our local community, we encourage you to drop off non-perishable food items, toiletries and other hygiene items either at Trinity Church, or at Hope 7 directly (M-F 9:30-11:45), or call Sue Laz (518-892-4042) to arrange for a pick-up.
- We are receiving new or gently used clothes for the Capital City Rescue Mission (CCRM). There is a box in the narthex for donations. You may bring your items to the church or call Sue Laz to arrange for a pick-up.
- Church “business-style” cards are available in the narthex. You are encouraged to take some to hand out as you invite others to join us in worship.
- Sunday morning prayer, 8:30-9:00am in the Prayer Room/Library. Join us as we pray for Sunday’s worship as well as other needs, concerns, praises, and thanksgivings. (On Easter morning prayer time will be from 8:45-9:15.)
- Adult Sunday morning Bible Study meets before worship (9:15-10:00am). We’re doing a short study (approx. 8 weeks) on “Revival: Spiritual Awakening in the Reformed Tradition.”
- We will hold a clothing giveaway on April 18th from 10-1. This is a great time to interact with families in our community and fill a need they have, and hopefully have opportunities to share our faith and invite them to worship with us. If you can help with setup Friday morning and/or Saturday during the event please speak with Sue Laz.
- Serving at the Capital City Rescue Mission, Saturday, April 18th. We will meet at the church at 5:00 for those wishing to carpool to the mission or you can meet us there around 5:30. Serving involves ensuring the tables are set for dinner, serving the meal, and cleaning up the tables afterwards. If you can help, please speak with Sue Laz.
- Spring Clean Up Day, April 25th at 9:00 If you can help please speak with Andy Miller. The tasks to be done will be determined based on the volunteers available to help.
- Blood Drive – Saturday, May 2. We will be hosting a blood drive with the American Red Cross. Please keep this in your prayers that God will bring donors to our church to help supply blood donations that are so desperately needed. Consider donating yourself — your small act of giving blood can be a lifesaving blessing to someone in need. If you would like to provide some snacks for the donors we could use fruit juice boxes, oranges, granola bars or homemade cookies. If you would like to help during the drive either checking in donors or talking with them at the refreshment table, please speak with Peter Laz.
- Community Yard Sale, June 6th from 9-2. If you would like to reserve a space, please speak with Andy Miller. If you would like to help with set-up, clean-up, or manning the food table or church information table, please speak with Sue Laz.
- Hearts of Hope Women’s Luncheon to benefit Capital City Rescue Mission’s ministries for women and children will be held on Friday, May 1st at Wolfert’s Roost Country Club. Tickets are $30.00 and RSVP’s are needed by April 22nd. Details are posted in the church office.