First Presbyterian Church of Charleston, IL

09/08/2026

Let us pray:
Father, thank you for our churches. Please help us to welcome everyone as you would. Holy Spirit, please teach us how to serve together in generations. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

09/08/2026

Psalm 114
Tremble, O earth

114:1
When Israel went out from Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language,

114:2
Judah became God's sanctuary, Israel his dominion.

114:3
The sea looked and fled; Jordan turned back.

114:4
The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs.

114:5
Why is it, O sea, that you flee? O Jordan, that you turn back?

114:6
O mountains, that you skip like rams? O hills, like lambs?

114:7
Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the God of Jacob,

114:8
who turns the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a spring of water.

09/07/2026

Let us pray:
Loving God, you who gave us eternal life, you who shares the power of your love through others, you who amaze us when we expect the worse, help us love as you love us. Amen.

09/07/2026

Exodus 14:19-31
Israel delivered at the sea

14:19
The angel of God who was going before the Israelite army moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and took its place behind them.

14:20
It came between the army of Egypt and the army of Israel. And so the cloud was there with the darkness, and it lit up the night; one did not come near the other all night.

14:21
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and turned the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided.

14:22
The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.

14:23
The Egyptians pursued and went into the sea after them, all of Pharaoh's horses, chariots, and chariot drivers.

14:24
At the morning watch the LORD, in the pillar of fire and cloud, looked down on the Egyptian army, and threw the Egyptian army into a panic.

14:25
He clogged their chariot wheels so that they turned with difficulty. The Egyptians said, "Let us flee from the Israelites, for the LORD is fighting for them against Egypt."

14:26
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea, so that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and chariot drivers."

14:27
So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at dawn the sea returned to its normal depth. As the Egyptians fled before it, the LORD tossed the Egyptians into the sea.

14:28
The waters returned and covered the chariots and the chariot drivers, the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea; not one of them remained.

14:29
But the Israelites walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.

14:30
Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.

14:31
Israel saw the great work that the LORD did against the Egyptians. So the people feared the LORD and believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.

09/06/2026

09/05/2026

Let us pray:
Gracious God, in Jesus Christ you reached out with your love for all. Make us generous in reaching out with the love of Jesus Christ to those we know and to those we are just meeting. Especially bless those who go out of their way to care for others in Jesus’ name. For it is in Jesus’ name that we pray. Amen.

09/05/2026

Ezekiel 33:7-11
The prophet's responsibility

33:7
So you, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.

33:8
If I say to the wicked, "O wicked ones, you shall surely die," and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand.

33:9
But if you warn the wicked to turn from their ways and they do not turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but you will have saved your life.

33:10
Now you, mortal, say to the house of Israel: Thus you have said: "Our transgressions and our sins weigh upon us, and we waste away because of them; how then can we live?"

33:11
Say to them: As I live, says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?

09/04/2026

Let us pray:
O God of love greater than we can imagine, teach us how to love all your children as you have loved us, especially those who suffer unnecessarily. Give us boldness to argue and plead for your reign, especially in your house. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

09/04/2026

Psalm 119:33-40
Walking in the path of the law

119:33
Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes, and I will observe it to the end.

119:34
Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.

119:35
Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.

119:36
Turn my heart to your decrees and not to selfish gain;

119:37
be gracious to me according to your word.

119:38
Confirm to your servant your promise, which is for those who fear you.

119:39
Turn away the disgrace that I dread, for your ordinances are good.

119:40
See, I have longed for your precepts; in your righteousness be gracious to me.

09/03/2026

Let us pray:
God, you called us before we knew our names; you walk beside us when our steps are uncertain; you whisper before we know the words to speak. Continue in your teaching and help us to bear witness to your unfolding story among us. Amen.