Embedded Files
A Service for the Lord’s Day
3rd Sunday of Easter
(*Please stand in body or in spirit)
The Instrumental Prelude and Time for Meditation
Announcements, Rev. Hana Elliott
Celebrations and the Birthday Song,
Happy birthday, happy birthday, your friends are all singing.
May the year that is coming bring gladness to you.
May it teach you to be helpful, kindhearted, and loving.
Happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to you.
*Call to Worship: (1)
Leader: I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on God’s name;
People: I will pay my vows to God in the presence of the holy congregation.
Leader: I will offer a thanksgiving sacrifice and call on God’s name;
People: For you have delivered my soul from death. Praise the Lord!
*Hymn #37 “When Morning Gilds the Skies”
*Call to Confession:
Christ himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. Trusting in God’s grace, let us confess our sin, first in silence, and then aloud together.
*Prayer of Confession: (2)
(Begin with individual silent prayer before joining in unison)
Merciful God, even as we proclaim the saving life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we fail to see the living Christ in our midst. We find ourselves preoccupied with our own well-being and success, forgetting your command to love our neighbor as ourselves. We turn away from systems that challenge our way of thinking, choosing to justify our actions instead of examining our intentions. Show us again how to live a resurrection faith, a faith that sees life and hope in the midst of death and destruction. Transform our hearts so that where they are hardened toward you, neighbor, and self, they may once again be filled with love and moved to actions of grace and mercy.
*Assurance of Forgiveness:
Scripture tells us “the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” Receive the good news: children of God, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God!
.*The Gloria #108, In Unison
Glory be to the Father
And to the Son and to the Holy Ghost
As it was in the beginning,
Is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, Amen
*.Passing of the Peace:
May mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance. May the peace of Christ be with you. And also with you.
Prayer for Illumination:
Let us pray together: Holy Creator, reveal yourself to us in the reading and proclamation of your Word. Give us ears to hear your voice, eyes to see you among us, and hearts that are willing to follow where you lead. In the name of Jesus the Christ, we pray. Amen.
First Scripture Reading: Exodus 8:1-7 (pg. 95)
Second Scripture Reading: Acts 2:14a, 36-41 (pg. 1703)
Leader: This is the Word of the Lord
People: Let our thanks and praise be to God!
Children’s Message: Becky Noel
Sermon:
*Hymn #90 “Tell Me the Old, Old Story”
*Affirmation of Faith: (3)
Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible. All things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn of the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. Amen.
Minute for Mission: Dr. Scott Van der Aa
Call to Offering:
What shall we return to God for all God’s bounty to us? Let us offer ourselves to God as we present our tithes and offerings.
Offering: Monetary gifts may be placed in the offering plates as they are passed through the pews.
*Doxology #109
Praise God from whom all blessing flow,
Praise God all creatures here below,
Praise God above ye heavenly host,
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*Prayer of Dedication:
Let us pray together: Gracious God, who called us from death to life, we give ourselves to you; and with the church through all ages we thank you for your saving love in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayers of the People: (4)
…Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.
Choral Response,
Hear our prayer, O Lord, hear our prayer, O Lord,
Incline thine ear to us, and grant us thy peace. Amen
*Hymn #449 “I Stand Amazed”
*Charge & Blessing:
*Choral Response: “Go, My Children, with My Blessing”
Go, my children, fed and nourished, closer to me.
Grow in love and love by serving, joyful and free.
Here my Spirit’s power filled you;
here my tender comfort still you.
Go, my children, fed and nourished, joyful and free.
*The Choral Amen:
Amen, Amen, Amen.
(1) from Psalm 116.
(2) Prayer of Confession, Assurance of Forgiveness, and Prayer for Illumination written by Ashley Mertz, © Presbyterian Outlook, 2026.
(3) Colossians 1:15-20
(4) from Hear Our Prayer, by Jon White and Lisa Graves (Church Publishing, 2024)
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