SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY

3rd Sunday of Easter:  April 30, 2006, 10:30 a.m.

 

GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

The Prelude begins worship—a time to prepare to meet with other believers, and with God.

 

PRELUDE                                          Andante Maestoso                      G. Holst/K. McChesney

Fanfare from “The Planets” (Jupiter)

                                                    When We All Get To Heaven                          Wilson/Waldrop

 

WELCOME, ANNOUNCEMENTS, REGISTRATION

                       

CHORAL INTROIT                   Trust and Obey, Stanza 1                                                                                                                                                                       

*CALL TO WORSHIP                                                        from Psalm 30:4-5a, 11-12 (NRSV)

            Sing praises to the Lord, O you his faithful ones, and give thanks to his holy name.

               For God’s anger is but for a moment; his favor is for a lifetime.            

            Lord, you have turned my mourning into dancing…and clothed me with joy,

               So that my soul may praise you and not be silent.

               O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever.

           

*PROCESSIONAL HYMN # 108                                                                      Christ Is Alive!

 

*CONFESSION OF WHO WE ARE                                                                   on Jonah 2/wrl     

Lord, why do good things happen to wicked people?

By chance?  By your mercies?

It’s nearly impossible for us to think our own sin “wicked”—

   “Mistaken?”—sure.  “Misguided” too,

   “wrong-headed,” “hard-hearted,” but not “wicked!”      

Yet our eagerness to even the scores on others’ sin is surely wicked—

   showing in our tolerance of death penalties, 3 strikes ‘n’ out, no mercy—

   counter to your compassion toward wicked Ninevites.

Be as merciful with us as with Nineveh, as with Jonah;

   as in Jesus, whose name means “the Lord saves.”

(time for silent, personal confession)  Amen.

 

*ASSURANCE OF WHOSE WE ARE                                                            on Jonah 4: 2/wrl

God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,

   And ready to relent from punishing. Thanks be to God!

 

*THE PEACE

            The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

               Peace be with you.

(worshipers exchange words and gestures of peace)

 

PROCLAIM GOD’S WORD

 

NEW TESTAMENT LESSON                                                         Matthew 12: 38-42 (NRSV)

 

ANTHEM                                        How Great Thou Art                                                S. Hine                                   

 

WORD WITH CHILDREN

 

OLD TESTAMENT LESSON                                                                            Jonah 2 (NRSV)

 

   Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the belly of the fish, saying,

“I called to the LORD out of my distress, and he answered me;

out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice.

You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me;

all your waves and your billows passed over me.

Then I said, ‘I am driven away from your sight;

how shall I look again upon your holy temple?’

The waters closed in over me; the deep surrounded me;

weeds were wrapped around my head at the roots of the mountains.

I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever;

yet you brought up my life from the Pit, O LORD my God.

As my life was ebbing away, I remembered the LORD;

and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple.

Those who worship vain idols forsake their true loyalty.

But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you;

what I have vowed I will pay. Deliverance belongs to the LORD!”

   Then the LORD spoke to the fish, and it spewed Jonah out upon the dry land.

 

SERMON                                                                                               ‘Deliverance belongs…’

 

RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

 

AN OFFERING OF OURSELVES TO GOD’S PURPOSES

   Call to Respond

   OFFERTORY                                Go Down, Moses                                      spiritual/R. Frey                      

  *RESPONSE # 592                                             Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow

  *Prayer of Dedication

 

PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND INTERCESSION, THE LORD’S PRAYER

 

DEPART IN GOD’S NAME

 

*HYMN # 111                                                               Good Christians All, Rejoice and Sing!

 

*CHARGE & BENEDICTION

 

*CHORAL RESPONSE              Trust and Obey, Refrain

 

POSTLUDE                                 Monkland (Hymn # 244)                                    arr. A. Travis                      

*Congregation stands as able

Next Week’s Scriptures: Acts 4: 5-12; Ps. 23; 1 John 3: 16-24; John 10: 11-18

 

WE ARE A STEPHEN MINISTRY CONGREGATION

 

WORSHIP LEADERS

Liturgist 

Rev. Jonathan C. Siehl

Sermon

Rev. William R. Leety

Word with Children

Rev. Jonathan C. Siehl

Musical Leadership

Overbrook Belles

Chancel Choir

Sarah Shaffer, Director

Nancy Deeth, Organist