Service for 4th Sunday of Easter

                                                      10:30 a.m., May 3, 2009

 

                                                  GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

 

OPENING SENTENCES

Jesus, Good Shepherd by whom the lost are sought and guided into the fold:

     Feeds, heals and leads so that we may be with him,

            with God and the Holy Spirit.

 

                                     Beautiful Treasures of Heaven                            arr. C. Wiltse

                               Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken                           F. J. Haydn

 

WELCOME, REGISTRATION & ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

CHORAL INTROIT                              Alleluia                                                        E. Harris

              LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE

 

*CALL TO WORSHIP                                                                       on Psalm 23 & John 10:11-18/wrl

               Come into the flock of the Good Shepherd.

                 The loving Shepherd feeds our hungers and thirsts.

            Come into the flock to rest in security and stillness.

                 Our Shepherd seeks the lost and puts us on right and loving paths.

            Come into the fold, grateful for Jesus’ other folds and other sheep.

                 We praise Jesus, Shepherd and Servant, Guard and Guide.

 

*OPENING HYMN # 473                                                           For the Beauty of the Earth

 

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH                                                    from A Brief Statement of Faith

                                                                   The Book of Confessions, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

            We trust in God the Holy Spirit

                        everywhere the giver and renewer of life.

                 The Spirit justifies us by grace through faith,

                        sets us free to accept ourselves and to love God and neighbor,

                        and binds us together with all believers

                        in the one body of Christ, the Church.

                 The same Spirit

                        who inspired the prophets and apostles

                        rules our faith and life in Christ through Scripture,

                        engages us through the Word proclaimed,

                        claims us in the waters of baptism,

                        feeds us with the bread of life and the cup of salvation,

                        and calls women and men to all ministries of the Church.

                 In a broken and fearful world the Spirit gives us courage

                        to pray without ceasing,

                        to witness among all peoples to Christ as Lord and Savior,

                        to unmask idolatries in Church and culture,

                        to hear the voices of peoples long silenced,

                        and to work with others for justice, freedom, and peace.

                 In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit,

                        we strive to serve Christ in our daily tasks

                             and to live holy and joyful lives,

                        even as we watch for God’s new heaven and new earth,

                             praying, “Come, Lord Jesus!”

 

*THE PEACE

            The peace of Jesus born of Mary, who was and is, and is to come, be with you all.

                 Peace be with you.

            (worshipers greet one another with words and gestures of the peace of Christ)

 

                                                  PROCLAIM GOD’S WORD

 

LESSON FROM HISTORY                                                                   Acts 4: 1-12 (NRSV)

                                                                                               Pew Bible New Testament p. 113

 

ANTHEM                                       Sing A Jubilant Song                                 D. and J. Perry

 

MOMENT WITH THE YOUNG

 

THE LETTER                                                                                    1 John 3: 11-24 (NRSV)

                                                                                               Pew Bible New Testament p. 226

 

SERMON                                                                                          “’what’s love got to do?’”

 

                                                RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

 

OFFERING OURSELVES TO GOD’S PURPOSES

            Call to Respond

               OFFERTORY                         Lonesome Valley                         spiritual/M. Schubert

            INSTALLATION of Deacon

            HONORING VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR 2008

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

 

PRAYERS THANKING AND ASKING GOD, THE LORD’S PRAYER     Hymnal p. 16

 

                                             GO TO SERVE IN GOD’S NAME

 

*HYMN # 369                                                                I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me

 

*CHARGE                                                                                                                                      1 John 3: 11

               “The message that we have heard from the beginning,” is

“that we should love one another…”

     This love is God’s call and God’s charge.

            But before all else, this love is God’s gift

     to us and to the world.

 

*BLESSING

 

POSTLUDE                                          Toccato Brevis                                         D. Gawthorp

                                 (Note that some will be seated and others depart in joy and silence.)

 

                            WE ARE A STEPHEN MINISTRY CONGREGATION

 

                                                       WORSHIP LEADERS

Liturgists

Rev. Jonathan Siehl

Sermon

William R. Leety

Moment with the Young

Hope Boring

Musical Leadership

Canterbury Ringers

Westminster Choir

Sarah Shaffer, Choirmaster

Nancy Deeth, Organ/Piano

Head Usher

Robert Glaeser