Service for the Lord’s Day, 7th Sunday of Easter

                                                     May 16, 2010 - 10:30 a.m.

 

                                                   GATHER IN GOD’S NAME

 

IN SILENCE                                                            Jay Parini, Why Poetry Matters, “Preface,” p.v

 

            I try to break what Wallace Stevens once called the “bread of faithful speech”…,

            and to repeat in a softly insistent voice to anyone who cares to listen: take, eat.

 

THE WORD INVITES                                                             on Acts 20: 7 & Wallace Stevens

               On the first day of the week, when we met to break bread,

               Paul was holding a discussion with believers;

               since he intended to leave the next day, he continued speaking until midnight.

                    We too meet to be nourished with the “bread of faithful speech.”

               As we worship we discuss, with one another and with God, and within our hearts.

                    Though today we do not intend to let Paul go on speaking until midnight!

 

PRELUDE                                    Prelude and Passacaglia                                     M. Helman

 

WELCOME, ANNOUNCEMENTS, REGISTRATION

 

CHIMES & CHORAL CALL TO WORSHIP

             LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE

 

*CALL TO WORSHIP                                                                                  on Psalm 19: 1-3/wrl

            The heavens tell the glory of God;

               and the universe proclaims God’s artistry.

            Sunday, Monday and Tuesday – every day – pours forth speech;

               and every night – Wednesday, Thursday, Friday – teaches truth.

            There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard!

               Yet the voice of days and nights goes out through all the earth,

               and their words to the end of the world.

            And we gather to listen to the voice of days and nights;

               and pay attention to our lives, and our life together,

                    in God’s wonderful and worded world.

 

*PROCESSIONAL HYMN # 482                                       Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty

 

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH & THE PEACE                                          on 1 Corinthians 15

 

            This is the good news which we received, in which we stand,

            and by which we are saved:

                 That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

                 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day;

                 that he appeared to the faithful women and to Peter,

                 then to the Twelve and to many faithful witnesses.

            We believe he is the Christ, the Son of the living God. 

            He is the first and the last, the beginning and the end.

            He is our Lord and our God.

           

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

                 The peace of the Lord be with you.

                      (worshipers exchange words and gestures of the peace of Christ)

 

                                                   PROCLAIM GOD’S WORD

 

FIRST LESSON                                                                                     Acts 16: 16-34 (NRSV)

                                                                                                                          Pew Bible p. 128

 

ANTHEM                                                   Witness                                            arr. J. Halloran

 

WORD WITH THE YOUNG

 

SECOND LESSON                                                                                  Acts 20: 7-12 (NRSV)

                                                                                                                           Pew Bible p.132

 

SERMON                                                                                                           Window Pain”

 

                                                 RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

 

OFFERING OURSELVES TO GOD’S HANDS

     OFFERTORY                          A Heavenly Celebration                                        M. Hayes

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

 

 *PRAYER OF DEDICATION                                                          Ruth Duck, Touch Holiness

 

          Loving God, our hunger is never better satisfied than at your table.

             Our gifts can have no higher value than when they are offered to you.

          Because you fill our spirits, we hunger to serve.

             And we pray that these gifts may be as food to nourish the living body of Christ.

             Amen.

 

PRAYERS THANKING AND ASKING GOD, THE LORD’S PRAYER

 

                                                        GO IN GOD’S NAME

 

*HYMN # 327                                                                                   O Word of God Incarnate

 

*CHARGE & BLESSING

 

*CHORAL RESPONSE

 

POSTLUDE                                           The Blessing                                           P. McKlveen

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

 

                            WE ARE A STEPHEN MINISTRY CONGREGATION

 

                                                        WORSHIP LEADERS

Liturgists

Jane Leemhuis

Sermon

Rev. William R. Leety

Word with Children

Rev. Michael Ludwig

Musical Leadership

Chancel Chimes

Chancel Choir

Celebration Singers

Sarah Shaffer, Choirmaster

Nancy Deeth, Organist/Pianist

Greeters

Elmer & Sandy Fischer

Concerned Deacon

Carol Pitt

Head Usher

John Rich