First Presbyterian Church of LaGrange Texas

Text: John 1:35-49
Sermon: "Seen Anything Good"     Rev. Martha Langford
John points to Jesus and his disciples seek Jesus out. A conversation about where Jesus was staying becomes an invitation to "Come and see." Andrew has an experience of Jesus and then shares that good news, which changes everything. I'm struck that this is the way that God works, by invitation and response. Imagine what good news God is generating through our lives as we experience and share the grace and peace of Jesus Christ.

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Text: Mark 1:4-11
Sermon: "Waters of Life "     Rev. Martha Langford
Mark's gospel hits the ground running—no angels, no shepherds, no Maji, no manger. Instead, we meet John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness. What begins as an ordinary day on the Jordan River turns into an an extraordinary day for the whole of human kind. Perhaps that's the true story of baptism—ordinary water revealing the extraordinary ways of God.

Liturgy by Clive Halder

Ushers: Nancy and Robb Muil

Pianist: Sherise Davis

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For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.  (John 3:16)

Twas the Days After Christmas Elder Gene Oeding

Liturgy by Clive Halder

Ushers: Nancy and Robb Muil

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…my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel. (Luke 2:30-32)

A Tale of Three Trees written by Angela Elwell Hunt and read by W. O. Wood

Liturgy by Bill Schovajsa

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Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  Luke 2:11

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Sermon: “Great Things”         

Rev. Martha Langford  Hear the Service
When the Angel Gabriel comes to Mary he tells her she has "found favor" with God. This is not an empty accolade and it does not signal a life of ease. Her story will join the stories of Noah and Moses, two others who "found favor" with God. It will not be an easy road but, as Mary says "Yes" to God, she will take her place in the salvation story of human kind. In joy, she proclaims, "God has done great things for me and holy is his name." As we take our place in God's salvation story, what shall our lives proclaim?

Text: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11   Hear the Sermon
Sermon: “Shout for Joy”         Rev. Martha Langford         
Isaiah brings good news to a people returning from exile. What has been broken will be restored, the city rebuilt, the people reconnected as a people of God. As God's presence enlivens the people, God's blessing will spill over to all the nations. That is the good news that comes to us this day. When we are living in exile, God enacts restoration and lifts our hearts in praise! 

Text: Isaiah 40:1-9
Sermon: “Make Way”         Rev. Martha Langford     Hear the Service

Isaiah gives the prophesy, "A voice cries out: 'In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.' " This is how John the Baptist is described—as the voice in the wilderness. John called faithful people to PREPARE the way for our Lord. The Advent Season provides a time to prepare our hearts, to repent our estrangements from God, to reconcile with others, to seek justice in the world around us. Where are the rough places we need to smooth in order to welcome our Savior?

Text:Isiah 64:1-9     Hear the Sermon
Sermon: “Come Lord Jesus”         Rev. Martha Langford
In Advent, we will hear the refrain "O Come, All Ye Faithful" as we light the Advent candles. We will consider the response of faithful people; the response of those who await their Savior. This Sunday, Isaiah prays the longing of the people, "O that you would tear open the heavens and come down." He knows, as the people know, what it means to wait in uncertainty, what it means to long for restoration, what it means to hope in God. As we enter this season, we find our invitation to PRAY.

Text:Matthew 25: 31-46   Hear the Sermon   
Sermon: “Remember When?”      Rev. Martha Langford
In the final Sunday before Advent, we celebrate the Reign of Christ and hail Christ as King. Jesus talks to his disciples about the kingdom by talking about the king and his subjects. The one who bears the "name above all names" says that he will be encountered in those on the margins, the powerless and helpless, who go without notice. We might wonder what it means that neither "sheep" or "goats" were aware of their behavior, until the king speaks. How might Christ's words open our eyes and the eyes of our hearts?

With many apologizes, due to equipment malfunction.....no one hit the record button....the service was not recorded for Sunday November 8.  Rev. Martha will have the sermon documented and we will post in the Sermon section of the website as soon as possible.  We are sorry for the inconvenience.  The sermon script can be found here

All Saints Day Service  Hear the Sermon Here

Text: Revelation 7:9-17
Sermon: "Vision Beyond Sight"     Rev. Martha Langford
Among the prayers used at Presbyterian funerals are these words: "Almighty God...Give us faith to see, beyond touch and sight, some sure sign of your kingdom, and, where vision fails, to trust your love which never fails."  On this All Saints Sunday, we will look for the promises of the kingdom and of eternal life given in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Text: Matthew 22: 34-46
Sermon:  "Law of Love" 
                    Rev. Martha Langford

Hear the Sermon Here

The Pharisees are at it again, taking time to interrogate Jesus about Torah. They want to know the greatest commandment and Jesus gives them two. We've heard the words so many times--Love God... Love your neighbor... At the heart of the gospel, these are both commands and a promise.; "You shall love..." Perhaps that is the heart of the gospel, the relationships that transforms us and the practices that grow us in the love of God, the acceptance of self, the love of our neighbor.

Text: Matthew 22:15-22
Sermon: "First Things First" 
                    Rev. Martha Langford

Hear the Sermon Here

It was a test, and either/or litmus test given by opposition parties to trap Jesus in a compromising answer. But Jesus moves beyond the either/or to get at the heart of the matter lifting up our ultimate allegiance and purpose in this life. If you can find it, bring some loose change as we consider the image engraved in our very being.

Picture, Confirmation 2013

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Text: Philippians 2:1-13
Sermon: "Good Posture"      Rev. Martha Langford
God acts with compassion to redeem the world through Jesus Christ--this is the hymn that Paul sings to the church in Philippi. The community is a tiny outpost of the glory to come, when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess Jesus as Lord. Yet Paul encourages a posture of humility and obedience that mirrors the humility and obedience of their Lord. How might sharing in the "mind of Christ" move in and through us for the sake of the gospel?

Photo:  Remembering gifts

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Text:  Romans 14:1-12
Sermon: "By Comparison"      Rev. Martha Langford
Paul has poured out his heart to the believers in Rome, seeking to build the church on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ. Yet even as he writes, the church is involved in a dispute over table manners that threatens its peace and unity. Paul warns of comparative judgments on debatable points and urges this fledgling community to practice the open-hearted welcome that they have all received from God.

With many apologizes, we didn't get the tape recorder turned on prior to our services yesterday.

Please check back next week.  We promise to do better.

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The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Matthew 15: 7-8
Sermon: "Mouthing Off"      Rev. Martha Langford

Jesus and the Pharisees have had yet another confrontation--over interpretation of Torah. It's all about identity and the practices that set folks apart as God's holy people. What does it mean for our hearts to be near to God and our actions to honor our Creator?

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The Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

Text: Matthew 14:27-28
Sermon: "Extraordinary Ordinary"      Rev. Martha Langford

Jesus sends his disciples ahead of him by boat. Offshore and under assault by wind and wave, they are met by Jesus walking on the water. Then Peter undertakes his expedition on the waves and before this encounter is over all the disciples bow down in worship declaring Jesus the Son of God. In these extraordinary ordinary times, how do we hear Jesus calling?

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Text: Matthew 14:13-21
Sermon: "A Giving God"      Rev. Martha Langford
This week we follow Jesus and his disciples as they minister to a hungry crowd. This miracle story is so familiar, we might as if it has anything new to tell us. Yet, there is compassion and challenge and awe and wonder, and hope; hope for the way that God's generosity overflows into the lives of ordinary people.

Regardless          Rev.  Martha Langford

The recording for Worship Services from July  26, is not available on the Worship | Services Page

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life,
nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present,
nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God 
in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39, NRSV)

The recorded service for 7/19/2020 is now available on the Worship | Services page.

The Rev. Dr. Jerry Hurst talks to us about "Tongue Lashing"

Who is wise and understanding among you?  Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.  But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hears, do not be boastful and false to the truth. (James 3: 13-14, NRSV)

Friends, video from our gathered worship service on 28 June is now available on the Worship Video page. In his letter to the church at Rome, the Apostle Paul speaks to early Christians about navigating the life of faith. In Romans 6:11-23 we are encouraged to live as those who belong to God and live in a world awash in God's grace.

Friends, video from our gathered worship service on 21 June is now available on the Worship Video page. In Matthew's gospel, Jesus tells us not to fear, even when the life of discipleship makes us vulnerable and our work and witness seem risky. I am reminded of the old saying: courage is fear that has said its prayers. This week, we will consider the courage of our calling.  

Friends, video from our gathered worship service on 14 June is now available on the Worship Video page.

Friends, video from our gathered worship service on 7 June is now available on the Worship Video page.

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord!” Psalm 122:1

Friends, the last time we gathered in our Sanctuary we were “observing a Holy Lent.” In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we joined people around the globe striving to flatten the curve of transmission, seeking to stop this terrible disease. Eleven weeks ago, we suspended in-person gatherings in our building. This week, we share the good news that we will resume gathered worship on Sunday, June 7th.

For more information about the precautions we are taking, please read the June 2nd letter to the congregation. You can also watch this short video about what to expect as we resume worship in our building.

For those who are unable or not yet ready to attend in-person worship. We will continue publishing our worship services on this website. In these first few weeks, there will be a delay between the worship event and the day that the video posts. We plan to improve that experience week to week as we improve our technology and our know-how.

Blessings to you all, Pastor Martha
revmclangford@gmail.com  

Friends, on May 31, Pentecost Sunday, you will be able to attend worship on the church Facebook page  or the Worship Video page of this website. The service video will premier at 10:30am. Download the Order of Worship so that you can fully participate in this service. 

As we celebrate the gifts of the Spirit, may God's grace and peace attend you.

Blessings, Pastor Martha
revmclangford@gmail.com

Friends, on May 24, you will be able to attend Sunday worship on the church Facebook page  or the Worship Video page of this website. The service video will premier at 10:30am. Download the Order of Worship so that you can fully participate in this service. Prayer requests can be sent to me or added to the prayer page on this website. 

And please do continue to send in your photos of you and your families so that we can share your faces and space and the things that are bringing meaning to your lives.

Blessings, Pastor Martha
revmclangford@gmail.com

Friends, on May 17, you will be able to attend Sunday worship on the church Facebook page  or the Worship Video page of this website. The service video will premier at 10:30am. Download the Order of Worship so that you can fully participate in this service. Prayer requests can be sent to me or added to the prayer page on this website. 

And please do continue to send in your photos of you and your families so that we can share your faces and space and the things that are bringing meaning to your lives.

Blessings, Pastor Martha
revmclangford@gmail.com

Friends, on May 10, our Sunday worship service will be available on the church Facebook page and on the Worship Video page of this site. The service video will premier at 10:30am. Download the Order of Worship so that you can fully participate in this service. Prayer requests can be sent to me or added to the prayer page on this website. 

And please do continue to send in your photos of you and your families so that we can share your faces and space and the things that are bringing meaning to your lives.

Blessings, Pastor Martha
revmclangford@gmail.com

Friends, this Sunday, we will celebrate The Lord's Supper during our worship service. I encourage you to gather your improvised communion elements in preparation for the service. The video will premier on the church Facebook page and on the Worship Video page of this site at 10:30am on Sunday May 3. Download the Order of Worship so that you can fully participate in this service. Prayer requests can be sent to me or added to the prayer page on this website. 

And continue to send in your photos, of you and your families of the things that continue to calm and center you in these tumultuous times.

Blessings, Pastor Martha
revmclangford@gmail.com

Friends, this pandemic is bringing with it many changes and our worship services are no exception. This week, we will transition to collective video worship format. The worship team is working to collect the music and liturgy for our service so that we can weave it together into a single video. The video links will "go live" on the Facebook page and on the Worship Video page of this site at 10:30am on Sunday April 26. Download the Order of Worship so that you can fully participate in this service. Add your prayer requests to our prayer page.

You can also help us with this effort. In the week ahead, send us a snapshot of the ways that you are connecting to God in these days of COVID-19.

Blessings, Pastor Martha
revmclangford@gmail.com

Friends, the worship service from April 19 is now available on our Worship page, Pastor Emeritus Jerry Hurst preaching "Left Behind."  Use this link to download the Order of Worship for this service. 

Blessings, Pastor Martha

Friends, you can find our Palm Sunday worship service among the Worship Videos and use this link to download the Order of Worship.  This is a communion service, so gather your personal supplies for communion* and join in with the gathered, yet dispersed community of First Presbyterian Church.

*For communion, we will use the common elements of our pantries as communion elements, so bread and cup will come from your pantry staples: bread or crackers (or even biscuits) and juice or other beverage (even wine).

Blessings, Pastor Martha

Although the Sunday live stream did not go as planned, a video of the Sunday Worship service is available on the church's Facebook Page and on the website using this link: Worship Videos.

Use this link to download the Order of Worship.

Grace and Peace to you, Pastor Martha Langford

You will find a recording of our live-streamed worship from March 22 [here]. Download the Order of Worship for March 22nd and join in with the gathered, yet dispersed community of First Presbyterian Church.

Blessings, Pastor Martha

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff--they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)

Friends, at noon today, Governor Gregg Abbott issued four statewide orders intended to slow the spread of COVID 19 (https://gov.texas.gov/news).

• Order No. 1: In accordance with the Guidelines from the President and the CDC, every person in Texas shall avoid social gatherings in groups of more than 10 people.
• Order No. 2: In accordance with the Guidelines from the President and the CDC, people shall avoid eating or drinking at bars, restaurants, and food courts, or visiting gyms or massage parlors; provided, however, that the use of drive-thru, pickup, or delivery options is allowed and highly encouraged throughout the limited duration of this executive order.
• Order No. 3: In accordance with the Guidelines from the President and the CDC, people shall not visit nursing homes or retirement or long-term care facilities unless to provide critical assistance.
• Order No. 4: In accordance with the Guidelines from the President and the CDC, schools shall temporarily close.

These orders will be effective on a statewide basis starting at 11:59 PM on March 20, 2020 and will end at 11:59 PM on April 3, 2020, subject to extension thereafter based on the status of COVID-19 in Texas and the recommendations of the CDC.

In accordance with these orders, First Presbyterian Church has cancelled worship gatherings for the duration that these orders are in effect beginning March 22. We will work to provide a virtual service of worship each week (stay tuned for more details) and will establish provisions to gather Bible studies, small groups, and committees using some form of electronic conferencing technology.

These are extraordinary times, and this congregation's leadership is working to meet the challenges of leading us in worship and witness within this community. These are times to reach out to one another in love, with telephone calls and emails, with cards and letters. As we take up the challenges of social distancing let us make sure that distance does not become isolation.

We have established an email network for emergency communication and a phone tree for those without email. We are working on to provide contact and connection and additional support where needed. To quote the President of Austin Seminary, "we are bound up in the holy purposes of a big God... we need to be careful and wise, but not afraid... " Perhaps it is fitting that the Psalm reading for this coming Sunday is the 23rd Psalm; a psalm of extraordinary comfort that bears this reassurance that God is with us, we are NOT alone.

We have in Jesus Christ a Good Shepherd. Let us seek to be faithful to the commands of Jesus Christ, to love one another and to love our neighbors. Please be in prayer for this community, and for communities around the globe who are facing this pandemic.

In Christ,
Rev. Martha Langford
and the Session of First Presbyterian Church, LaGrange

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff-- they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4

Friends,

We are continually monitoring the situation and information provided by the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control, as well as state and local government.

Wednesday afternoon Lenten gatherings are cancelled. Devotional materials from each session will be emailed to the congregation on Wednesday, through April 1st.

Second Chance Emporium is closed through the end of March.

AMEN Food Pantry is altering its operating procedure to safeguard the health of volunteers and clients. Beginning March 23 will restrict hours to Mondays from 2-5.

Sunday morning worship gatherings will continue. We ask all who participate in these services to heed the following advice:

• If you have symptoms of an illness, please stay home.
• If you have an underlying medical condition—or are the caregiver for someone with an underlying medical condition—please consider staying home.
• For those who attend, please assume the responsibility to maintain social distance. No hugs or handshakes and extra space in the pews—let us love each other by putting other people’s health first.

Congregational Care and the church office are establishing a hybrid email/phone tree so that we may make quick notifications when things change. Updates will be sent by email and phone calls, will post on the church website and Facebook page.

For more information about measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19, click this link: https://youtu.be/bPITHEiFWLc

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1).

Friends,

The corona virus, COVID 19, continues to spread in the United States. Patients have been identified in Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, San Antonio, and now Austin Texas. The World Health Organization has declared this a global illness and is asking countries, communities, and individuals to take precautions against the spread of illness.

The two biggest pieces of prevention advice for individuals:

CLEAN YOUR HANDS. Twenty seconds of thorough hand washing helps prevent disease transmission. If you don’t have soap and water, use hand sanitizer with 60% alcohol. Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.

AVOID CLOSE CONTACT. Avoid people who are sick. COVID-19 is transmitted through near contact (within 6 feet) and through the respiratory droplets spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

The Center for Disease Control also recommends that everyone KNOW THE SYMPTOMS of the virus (fever, cough, shortness of breath). And everyone should remember that the disease can spread even before these symptoms begin in an infected person.

For gathering places like churches, the CDC has given some interim guidance.

“Older adults and people who have severe underlying chronic medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness. People who are at higher risk are encouraged to avoid crowds as much as possible.”

Sunday mornings at First Church do not meet the 250-person threshold for a crowd. However, if you have concerns about attending worship for any reason during this outbreak, please stay home. If you are not feeling well, again, please stay home. Then, be in contact with Pastor Martha.

First Church will continue to post the Sunday worship recordings and printed sermons on our website. Though Fayette County has not recorded a case of the corona virus, the Session will continue to communicate and create contingency plans that may—in the future—include canceling worship gatherings.

Please be in prayer for all those affected by this illness and for those who are working diligently to slow the spread and care for patients.

In Christ,
Rev. Martha Langford
and the First Presbyterian Church Session