SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY
4th Sunday of Easter: May 7, 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 Alleluia Mozart/McCleary
O Be Joyful
C. Dobrinski
WELCOME, ANNOUNCEMENTS, REGISTRATION
CHORAL INTROIT Come
Adoring E.
Harris
LIGHTING
THE CHRIST CANDLE
*CALL TO WORSHIP
from former
PCUS Declaration of Faith
We
are to offer nations and people in Christ’s name
fullness of life now and forever.
We must not distort the gospel
by weakening its promises or demands,
by identifying it with oppressive structures,
by pointing to ourselves instead of Christ.
We
must not restrict our proclamation to persons just like ourselves.
We invite people everywhere
to believe in Christ and become his followers.
We urge them to join us in telling
others the good news
and in struggling for justice, compassion, and peace.
*PROCESSIONAL HYMN # 150 Come, Christians, Join to Sing
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (unison) from former
PCUS Declaration of Faith
God sends us to proclaim the gospel.
God sent his Son
to proclaim release to those who are bound,
to announce that God’s promised kingdom is at hand,
to urge everyone to repent and believe the good news.
The Lord is moving toward the time
when the glorious liberty of the children of God
will be manifest throughout the whole creation.
We testify God is at work here and now
when people obey Christ’s commission
to witness to him and make disciples of all nations,
when they spread the good news by their words
and embody it in their lives.
*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
ANTHEM Alleluia
E. Harris
WORD WITH CHILDREN
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Jonah 3: 1-4:1 (NRSV)
SERMON “Off Limits to God”
RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD
PRAYER FOR US AND OTHERS from Walter
Brueggemann, “An answering and refusing,”
Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth: Prayers of Walter Brueggemann, p. 100
We confess you to be the God who calls
who wills,
who summons,
who
has concrete intentions for your creation,
and addresses human agents who do your will.
We image ourselves called by you…
Yet a strange lot:
called but
cowardly,
obedient but
self-indulgent,
devoted to you, but
otherwise preoccupied.
In our strange mix of answering and
refusing,
we give thanks for your call.
We pray this day, for ourselves fresh vision;
for our friends, great courage,
for people
in
places more dangerous than ours, deep freedom.
As we seek to answer your call, may we
be haunted
by your large
purposes,
We pray in the name of the utterly
called Jesus. Amen.
AN OFFERING OF OURSELVES TO GOD’S PURPOSES
Call to
Respond
OFFERTORY Jubilant
Song
M. L. Lightfoot
Welcome of
New Members Randall D. Aylesworth – Carrol S. Aylesworth
Hymn
# 438 Blest Be the Tie That Binds
PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND INTERCESSION, THE LORD’S
PRAYER
DEPART IN GOD’S NAME
*HYMN # 339
Be Thou My Vision
*CHARGE (Please sit
for the Benediction and Postlude)
CHORAL BENEDICTION Dona Nobis Pacem arr. H. Hopson
POSTLUDE Fanfare J. Roman
*Congregation
stands as able
Next Week’s Scriptures: Acts
8: 26-40; Ps. 22: 25-31; 1 John 4: 7-21; John 15: 1-8
|
Liturgist |
Rev. Linda
McClanahan |
|
Sermon |
Rev. William
R. Leety |
|
Word with Children |
Rev. Linda
McClanahan |
|
Musical Leadership |
Sarah Shaffer,
Director |