NOTES: We will have a guest minister on this Sunday and next. Rev. Erin Miller Cash is the director of Admissions at Lexington Theological Seminary.
Scripture: Acts 11:1-18
Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, 3 saying, “Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?” 4 Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. 6 As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. 7 I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’ 8 But I replied, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 But a second time the voice answered from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, you must not call profane.’ 10 This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. 11 At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. 12 The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; 14 he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.’ 15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?” 18 When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, “Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.”
Worship Material Text: Revelation 21:1-6
8:30 am Order of Service
We Gather in God's Presence
Welcome Lay LiturgistPrelude
Lighting the Christ Candles
Praise Hymn#72 "To God Be the Glory" (all verses)
Call to Worship Lay Liturgist
Leader: As followers of Christ, we are called to bring
a hopeful understanding of our world
People: Declaring that God called the created universe "good."
Leader: We are called to bring this hope in God
with us wherever we go
People: Declaring that God makes all things new again.
Leader: Jesus taught that we should love God and love one another.
People: So let's join together in our love of God
to worship and give thanks.
~ posted on The Minor Keys. http://theminorkeys.blogspot.ca/
Invocation Lay Liturgist
O Living God of past and future,
we praise you
for this present moment.
Fill us with your joy and empower us with your Holy Spirit,
that our strength may be renewed
to sing a new song of your glory
in a world which longs for your justice and peace.
All this we ask in the name of Jesus,
in whom we become
your new creation.
~ from All Things New, written by Rev. Susan A. Blain and Rev. Scott Ressman. Posted on the United Church of Christ website. http://www.ucc.org/50/pdfs/worship-resources.pdf
We Contemplate God's Word
Scripture Guest Preacher, Rev. Erin Miller CashSermon Guest Preacher, Rev. Erin Miller Cash
We Pray Together
Joys & Concerns Lay LiturgistPrayer Hymn#259 "Spirit of the Living God" (sing twice)
Praying Together Prayer Leader
Prayer for Others (inspired by Isaiah 55:1-5, John 4:13-15, Psalm 63:1-2, John 7:37-39, Revelation 21:6)
Holy God,
whose Spirit moved over the waters at the dawn of creation,
hear our prayers for all who thirst today.
We pray for those who are spiritually thirsty,
who long to know Your presence, but don’t know where to find You.
We pray for those who are alone and without hope,
those who long to feel needed and loved,
those who are searching for meaning and purpose.
O healing river,
pour down Your waters, and heal Your people.
We pray for all who are physically thirsty,
who don’t have enough water to drink, or feed their animals,
whose fields are parched, whose crops have withered;
those who have to walk long distances to find enough water to survive,
or who have to be content with water that is unclean.
We pray for those whose homes and villages are torn apart
because of drought or famine.
O healing river,
pour down Your waters, and heal Your people.
We pray for those who are thirsty for justice,
who long for an equal sharing of resources among peoples and nations;
those who put their lives at risk to protect streams and rivers and oceans;
those who are working to find clean water,
and make it available to those who need it.
O healing river,
pour down Your waters, and heal Your people.
God, we ask that you would open our hearts to the needs of all who thirst.
Give us courage to work together for justice,
to stand alongside those who are thirsty,
so that all people, everywhere, may live without want or fear,
and may discover the abundant life You promise to each one.
In the name of Jesus Christ—the source of living water—we pray. Amen.
~ written by Christine Longhurst, in Worship Resources for Lent & World Water Day, 2013. Posted on the Canadian Foodgrains Bank website. http://foodgrainsbank.ca/lent_worship_resources.aspx
We Come to the Lord's Table
Invitation to the Table Guest Preacher, Rev. Erin Miller CashCommunion Hymn#452 "Here I Am, Lord" (verses 1 & 3)
Elder's Prayer
Words of Institution
The Lord's Supper with instrumental meditation
Prayer of Thanksgiving Lay Liturgist
We Go Forth into the World
Challenge for Discipleship Lay LiturgistDiscipleship Hymn#608 "I Would Be True" (all verses)
Blessing Lay Liturgist
10:40 am Order of Service
We Gather in God's Presence
Welcome Lay LiturgistPrelude
Call to Worship Lay Liturgist
Leader: As followers of Christ, we are called to bring
a hopeful understanding of our world
People: Declaring that God called the created universe "good."
Leader: We are called to bring this hope in God
with us wherever we go
People: Declaring that God makes all things new again.
Leader: Jesus taught that we should love God and love one another.
People: So let's join together in our love of God
to worship and give thanks.
~ posted on The Minor Keys. http://theminorkeys.blogspot.ca/
Praise Hymn#72 "To God Be the Glory" (all verses)
Lighting of the Candles
Invocation Lay Liturgist
O Living God of past and future,
we praise you
for this present moment.
Fill us with your joy and empower us with your Holy Spirit,
that our strength may be renewed
to sing a new song of your glory
in a world which longs for your justice and peace.
All this we ask in the name of Jesus,
in whom we become
your new creation.
~ from All Things New, written by Rev. Susan A. Blain and Rev. Scott Ressman. Posted on the United Church of Christ website. http://www.ucc.org/50/pdfs/worship-resources.pdf
Passing of the Peace Lay Liturgist
Faith Hymn #572 "Take Time to Be Holy" (verses 1, 3, & 4)
We Contemplate God's Word
Scripture Guest Preacher, Rev. Erin Miller CashChoir Anthem
Children's Sermon Guest Preacher, Rev. Erin Miller Cash
Sermon Guest Preacher, Rev. Erin Miller Cash
We Pray Together
Joys & Concerns Lay LiturgistPrayer Hymn#259 "Spirit of the Living God" (sing twice)
Praying Together Prayer Leader
Prayer for Others (inspired by Isaiah 55:1-5, John 4:13-15, Psalm 63:1-2, John 7:37-39, Revelation 21:6)
Holy God,
whose Spirit moved over the waters at the dawn of creation,
hear our prayers for all who thirst today.
We pray for those who are spiritually thirsty,
who long to know Your presence, but don’t know where to find You.
We pray for those who are alone and without hope,
those who long to feel needed and loved,
those who are searching for meaning and purpose.
O healing river,
pour down Your waters, and heal Your people.
We pray for all who are physically thirsty,
who don’t have enough water to drink, or feed their animals,
whose fields are parched, whose crops have withered;
those who have to walk long distances to find enough water to survive,
or who have to be content with water that is unclean.
We pray for those whose homes and villages are torn apart
because of drought or famine.
O healing river,
pour down Your waters, and heal Your people.
We pray for those who are thirsty for justice,
who long for an equal sharing of resources among peoples and nations;
those who put their lives at risk to protect streams and rivers and oceans;
those who are working to find clean water,
and make it available to those who need it.
O healing river,
pour down Your waters, and heal Your people.
God, we ask that you would open our hearts to the needs of all who thirst.
Give us courage to work together for justice,
to stand alongside those who are thirsty,
so that all people, everywhere, may live without want or fear,
and may discover the abundant life You promise to each one.
In the name of Jesus Christ—the source of living water—we pray. Amen.
~ written by Christine Longhurst, in Worship Resources for Lent & World Water Day, 2013. Posted on the Canadian Foodgrains Bank website. http://foodgrainsbank.ca/lent_worship_resources.aspx
We Come to the Lord's Table
Invitation to the Table Guest Preacher, Rev. Erin Miller CashCommunion Hymn#452 "Here I Am, Lord" (verses 1 & 3)
Elder's Prayer
Words of Institution
The Lord's Supper with instrumental meditation
Prayer of Thanksgiving Lay Liturgist
We Go Forth into the World
Challenge for Discipleship Lay LiturgistDiscipleship Hymn#608 "I Would Be True" (all verses)
Blessing Lay Liturgist
Closing Hymn "He Is Lord" ( sing once)
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