Service for 6th Sunday of Easter

                                                     10:30 a.m., May 17, 2009

 

                                                  GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

 

OPENING SENTENCES

 

                                                      Song of Joy                                            A. Sherman

                                              Standin’ in the Spirit                                 Arr. H. Morris

                                                                       

WELCOME, REGISTRATION & ANNOUNCEMENTS

       Minute for Pentecost Offering for Children & Youth at Risk

 

LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE

 

*CALL TO WORSHIP                                                                                 from Psalm 98/wrl

 

            Sing God a new song.  God does marvelous things, signs of victory of good.

                 No nation, neither ours nor theirs, can dispute God’s victory.

            God’s enduring love and faithfulness stretch forth—

                 From God’s people Israel to the ends of the earth.

            Make joyful noise to the Lord, you who are here and you who are there!

                 Sing praise and gratitude to the victorious Lord

who approaches us still and again.

 

*PROCESSIONAL HYMN # 142                                    All Hail the Power of Jesus Name

 

*CONFESSION OF WHO WE ARE                                              from Call to Worship 42.1

 

            Jesus calls disciples “friends,” and commands us to love one another.

            Loving God, so often we fail.

            We confuse loving one another with liking one another.

            When we cannot like one another we give up on loving.

            We speak ill of others, fake smiles of hospitality,

                        and grieve you with our weak love.

            Have mercy on us, God.  Choose us again by your Spirit.

            Secure in your love, help us love, not only one another,

but also neighbors, and enemies,

and the world you love in Jesus Christ.

                                             (silent, personal confession)  Amen.

*ASSURANCE OF WHOSE WE ARE & THE PEACE

 

            God’s friendship is the block on which we build our friendship.

            Our loving work shows God’s love to others.

                 In God’s encircling love shown in Jesus’ life, death, and raising,

                        we are forgiven and empowered to love.

            The peace of the risen Lord, be with you all.

                 Peace be with you.

                    (worshipers practice God’s love with gestures and words of peace)

 

                                                  PROCLAIM GOD’S WORD

 

LESSON FROM THE LETTER                                                             1 John 5:1-6 (NRSV)

                                                                                               Pew Bible New Testament p. 227

 

ANTHEM                                 I Will Arise and Go to Jesus                                      J. Carter

 

MOMENT WITH THE YOUNG

 

LESSON FROM HISTORY                                                               Acts 10: 44-48 (NRSV)

                                                                                               Pew Bible New Testament p. 122

 

SERMON                                                                                                        “Water Pressure”

 

 

                                                RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

 

OFFERING OURSELVES TO GOD’S NEW WAYS

            Call to Respond

               OFFERTORY           How Can I Keep From Singing              Tomlin/Redman/Cash

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

 

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

 

                                                        GO TO SERVE GOD

 

*HYMN # 321                                                                                   Holy Spirit, Truth Divine

 

*CHARGE & BLESSING

 

POSTLUDE                           There Is a Name I Love to Hear                           Arr. J. Carter

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

 

                            WE ARE A STEPHEN MINISTRY CONGREGATION

 

                                                       WORSHIP LEADERS

Liturgists

Ed Cotter, Rev. Jonathan Siehl

Sermon

William R. Leety

Moment with the Young

Hope Boring

Musical Leadership

Overbrook Bells

Chancel Choir

Celebration Singers

Sarah Shaffer, Organ/Choirmaster

Head Usher

Jeff Soderholm

 
 
                                                 IN MEMORIAM
 
                                               Marjorie Marshall
                                               October 13, 1923 ~ May 11, 2009
 
                                                “I am the resurrection and the life.
                                Those who believe in me, though they die, will live.”
                                                                 -John 11:25