NOTES:As we continue on the passage from Easter to Pentecost, we take a Sunday to ponder the love of God, through Jesus Christ, which has brought us to this place. This love is a complete commitment of the self to the work and action of loving. As we set about to love our world so deeply, we draw strength and comfort from the love which holds and protects, strengthens and grows, motivates and inspires us.
SCRIPTURE: I John 3:16-24
I John 3:16-24
6 We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. 17 How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister[f] in need and yet refuses help?
18 Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. 19 And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him 20 whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; 22 and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.
23 And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.
John 10:11-18
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18 No one takes[a] it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”8:30 AM Order of Service
The Gathering
Welcome
Prelude
We Gather in The Light of Christ
Lighting the Christ Candles
Children come forward to light the candles as we share the responsive reading.
Leader: In the beginning, God said,
People: 'Let there be light' and there was light!
Leader: We light these candles today,
People: Because God is with us in this time and in this place!
Hymn of Praise: CH #93 "Praise Him! Praise Him!" sts. 1 & 3
Call to Worship
Leader: Because the Lord is our Shepherd,
People: In
the darkest valley,
Leader: At the banquet table;
People: In the hard work of life,
Leader: At the moments of ease;
People: In our day-to-day reality,
Leader: At times set aside–
People: Like this time, now–
Leader: For worship, for listening, for paying attention;
People: With every step we take:
Leader: Goodness and mercy follow us;
People: Our cups overflow,
Leader: At the banquet table;
People: In the hard work of life,
Leader: At the moments of ease;
People: In our day-to-day reality,
Leader: At times set aside–
People: Like this time, now–
Leader: For worship, for listening, for paying attention;
People: With every step we take:
Leader: Goodness and mercy follow us;
People: Our cups overflow,
Leader: And God's house is our forever home.
~
written by Joanna Harader and posted on Spacious Faith. https://spaciousfaith.com/
Invocation (UNISON)
My dearest Lord.
Be Thou a bright flame
before me.
Be Thou a guiding star
above me.
Be Thou a smooth path
beneath me.
Be Thou a kindly
shepherd behind me.
Today and evermore.
~ excerpted from a longer prayer by St. Columba.
We Contemplate God’s Word
Scripture
Sermon
We Pray Together
We Share Our Joys &
Concern
Prayer Hymn: CH #546 "Amazing Grace" sts. 1, 2 & 4
Praying Together
Gracious God,
We thank you for the sense of sight, sound, touch and smell
with which we greet the coming of spring.
We also thank you for the delicate signals
that try to tell us when we are too busy, too distracted,
or too engrossed in our work to pay attention to:
The unhurried opening of buds,
The increasing bird song,
The warmth of the sun on our faces.
We pause for a moment to become aware.
(silence)
As our awareness deepens, we notice the fine, invisible threads that bind us to each other and we pray:
For grown children wo need to forgive parents for real or perceived failigs,
For parents who watch as negative influences beyond their control seek to undermine the values they want for their children,
For grandparents struggling to bridge the gap between the world as they knew it and the one in which their grandchildren must live.
Let all who face these and similar challenges find people whose hard-won wisdom can help them live creatively with new realities.
Let those known to us who are sick or hurting to sense your healing presence,
The lonely to find themselves in your company,
The exhausted to experience your restorative strength,
The bereaved to be enfolded in your comfort.
Help us to throw open the windows, sealed tight from winter to let the freshening breezes of your Spirit blow through, removing all that is stale dusty and dead. Bring us to new life and hope. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
-Portions of "When We Are Too Busy" by Robert Winfield Shaffer in "Heartfelt Prayers for Your Life Today. Berea College Printing Services. 2017. Used by permission.
Gracious God,
We thank you for the sense of sight, sound, touch and smell
with which we greet the coming of spring.
We also thank you for the delicate signals
that try to tell us when we are too busy, too distracted,
or too engrossed in our work to pay attention to:
The unhurried opening of buds,
The increasing bird song,
The warmth of the sun on our faces.
We pause for a moment to become aware.
(silence)
As our awareness deepens, we notice the fine, invisible threads that bind us to each other and we pray:
For grown children wo need to forgive parents for real or perceived failigs,
For parents who watch as negative influences beyond their control seek to undermine the values they want for their children,
For grandparents struggling to bridge the gap between the world as they knew it and the one in which their grandchildren must live.
Let all who face these and similar challenges find people whose hard-won wisdom can help them live creatively with new realities.
Let those known to us who are sick or hurting to sense your healing presence,
The lonely to find themselves in your company,
The exhausted to experience your restorative strength,
The bereaved to be enfolded in your comfort.
Help us to throw open the windows, sealed tight from winter to let the freshening breezes of your Spirit blow through, removing all that is stale dusty and dead. Bring us to new life and hope. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
-Portions of "When We Are Too Busy" by Robert Winfield Shaffer in "Heartfelt Prayers for Your Life Today. Berea College Printing Services. 2017. Used by permission.
We Gather at The Lord’s Table
Invitation to the Table
Communion Hymn: CH #403 "In Remembrance of Me" ALL
Communion Hymn: CH #403 "In Remembrance of Me" ALL
The Elder’s Prayer of
Communion
Words of Institution
The Lord’s Supper
All are welcome to share at the
Table. Come forward using the center
aisle. As you partake of the bread and
the cup you are welcome to place an offering in the wooden bowl in front of the
table. The offering you share supports
the ministries and life of Christ’s church.
The Lord’s Prayer
We Go Forth into the World
Challenge for Discipleship
Discipleship Hymn: CH# 558 "Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us" sts. 1 & 3
Blessing
People: For God has placed the light in us!
Leader: We go in peace!
People: Amen!
Children extinguish the candles as we share the responsive reading.
Leader: The light that was in one place at one time, is now in all places and all times,People: For God has placed the light in us!
Leader: We go in peace!
People: Amen!
10:40AM Service
Welcome
Prelude
Prelude
We Gather in the Light of Christ
Call to Worship
Leader: Because the Lord is our Shepherd,
People: In
the darkest valley,
Leader: At the banquet table;
People: In the hard work of life,
Leader: At the moments of ease;
People: In our day-to-day reality,
Leader: At times set aside–
People: Like this time, now–
Leader: For worship, for listening, for paying attention;
People: With every step we take:
Leader: Goodness and mercy follow us;
People: Our cups overflow,
Leader: At the banquet table;
People: In the hard work of life,
Leader: At the moments of ease;
People: In our day-to-day reality,
Leader: At times set aside–
People: Like this time, now–
Leader: For worship, for listening, for paying attention;
People: With every step we take:
Leader: Goodness and mercy follow us;
People: Our cups overflow,
Leader: And God's house is our forever home.
~
written by Joanna Harader and posted on Spacious Faith. https://spaciousfaith.com/
Hymn of Praise: CH #93 "Praise Him! Praise Him!" sts. 1 & 3
Invocation (UNISON)
My dearest Lord.
Be Thou a bright flame
before me.
Be Thou a guiding star
above me.
Be Thou a smooth path
beneath me.
Be Thou a kindly
shepherd behind me.
Today and evermore.
Passing of the Peace
We return to our seats as the piano music begins.
Hymn of Faith: CH# 480 "I Love to Tell the Story" sts. 1 & 2
We Offer Our Hearts to God
Call to Offering
The offering you share supports
the ministries and life of Christ’s church.
Offertory
Doxology CH #46
Prayer of Dedication
We Contemplate God’s Word
Scripture
Anthem
Children’s Sermon
Sermon
We Prayer Together
We Share Our Joys &
Concerns
Prayer Hymn: CH #546 "Amazing Grace" sts. 1, 2 & 4
Praying Together:
Gracious God,
We thank you for the sense of sight, sound, touch and smell
with which we greet the coming of spring.
We also thank you for the delicate signals
that try to tell us when we are too busy, too distracted,
or too engrossed in our work to pay attention to:
The unhurried opening of buds,
The increasing bird song,
The warmth of the sun on our faces.
We pause for a moment to become aware.
(silence)
As our awareness deepens, we notice the fine, invisible threads that bind us to each other and we pray:
For grown children wo need to forgive parents for real or perceived failigs,
For parents who watch as negative influences beyond their control seek to undermine the values they want for their children,
For grandparents struggling to bridge the gap between the world as they knew it and the one in which their grandchildren must live.
Let all who face these and similar challenges find people whose hard-won wisdom can help them live creatively with new realities.
Let those known to us who are sick or hurting to sense your healing presence,
The lonely to find themselves in your company,
The exhausted to experience your restorative strength,
The bereaved to be enfolded in your comfort.
Help us to throw open the windows, sealed tight from winter to let the freshening breezes of your Spirit blow through, removing all that is stale dusty and dead. Bring us to new life and hope. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
-Portions of "When We Are Too Busy" by Robert Winfield Shaffer in "Heartfelt Prayers for Your Life Today. Berea College Printing Services. 2017. Used by permission.
Praying Together:
Gracious God,
We thank you for the sense of sight, sound, touch and smell
with which we greet the coming of spring.
We also thank you for the delicate signals
that try to tell us when we are too busy, too distracted,
or too engrossed in our work to pay attention to:
The unhurried opening of buds,
The increasing bird song,
The warmth of the sun on our faces.
We pause for a moment to become aware.
(silence)
As our awareness deepens, we notice the fine, invisible threads that bind us to each other and we pray:
For grown children wo need to forgive parents for real or perceived failigs,
For parents who watch as negative influences beyond their control seek to undermine the values they want for their children,
For grandparents struggling to bridge the gap between the world as they knew it and the one in which their grandchildren must live.
Let all who face these and similar challenges find people whose hard-won wisdom can help them live creatively with new realities.
Let those known to us who are sick or hurting to sense your healing presence,
The lonely to find themselves in your company,
The exhausted to experience your restorative strength,
The bereaved to be enfolded in your comfort.
Help us to throw open the windows, sealed tight from winter to let the freshening breezes of your Spirit blow through, removing all that is stale dusty and dead. Bring us to new life and hope. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
-Portions of "When We Are Too Busy" by Robert Winfield Shaffer in "Heartfelt Prayers for Your Life Today. Berea College Printing Services. 2017. Used by permission.
We Gather at The Lord’s Table
Invitation to Communion
Christians of all denominations
and backgrounds are welcome to share in communion. Please hold each
element as we partake in unison.
Communion Hymn: CH #403 "In Remembrance of Me" ALL
Prayers for Bread & Cup and Words of Institution
The Lord’s Prayer
We Go Forth into the World
Challenge for Discipleship
Discipleship Hymn: CH# 558 "Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us" sts. 1 & 3
Discipleship Hymn: CH# 558 "Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us" sts. 1 & 3
Acolytes come forward.
Blessing
Leader: We go in peace!
People: Amen!
Parting Song: MRN #126 "He is Lord" Sing Once
Acolytes extinguish the candles as we share the responsive reading.
Leader: The light that was in one place at one time, is now in all places and all times,
People: For God has placed the light in us!Leader: We go in peace!
People: Amen!
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