Worship Service Bulletin
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: The Lord hears us when we call:
People: Come, let us put our trust in God.
Leader: The Lord fills our hearts with gladness:
People: Come, let us sing God’s praises with shouts of joy!
Leader: The Lord grants peace to our weary souls:
People: Come, let us rest by the quiet waters of God’s grace.
*Hymn (Back Page) “Thine Is the Glory”
*Call to Confession:
To repent is to turn away from sin and turn toward Christ Jesus. Scripture promises that when we confess, God hears our cries and wipes away our sin. Trusting in God’s promises of new life, let us confess our sins and the sin of this world, first in silence, and then aloud together.
*Prayer of Confession, In Unison (2)
(Begin with individual silent prayer before joining in unison)
God of empty tombs: Peter speaks with power and clarity of his faith, while we remain silent. The psalmist speaks of trusting in you, while our doubts overwhelm us. Jesus is ready to come and grace us with peace, but our fears keep our hearts shuttered and locked. God of full hearts: your love can change us from scared people to children of grace. You can weed doubts from our hearts and plant seeds of joy in their place. You can silence the panic of our souls with the peace Jesus offers to each of us. Transform us into Easter people, through the power of Jesus Christ, our risen Lord and Savior.
*Assurance of Forgiveness:
“See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are” (1 John 3:1). Children of God, we are claimed by God, forgiven of our sins, and set free for love. Thanks be to God! Alleluia!
*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
*Passing of the Peace:
As Jesus offered forgiveness and grace to his disciples through the greeting of peace, may we likewise offer forgiveness and grace to one another. May the peace of Christ be with you. And also with you.
Prayer for Illumination:
Let us pray: Holy One, as the risen Christ opened the minds of the disciples to understand the scriptures and gave them power through the Holy Spirit to walk boldly in this world, open your people today to the healing, wisdom, and faith given in your Word. Amen.
Children’s Time:
First Scripture Reading: 1 John 3:1-7 (pg. 1196)
Second Scripture Reading: Luke 24:36b-48 (pg. 1039)
Leader: This is the Word of the Lord
People: Let our thanks and praise be to God!
Sermon: “Scars of Faith”
*Hymn #449 “I Stand Amazed”
*Affirmation of Faith, (3)
We believe there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus; for we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to God’s purpose. We are convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all (continued) creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Call to Offering:
As Jesus gave himself fully for us and then appeared to the disciples bringing peace, so let us now bring wholeness and healing to others through our tithes and gifts.
Offering,
Monetary gifts may be placed in the offering plates by the door to the sanctuary or in the narthex.
Offerings of volunteer hours may be made by filling out a slip of paper regarding the number and type of hours, and putting it into the jar on the table by the door inside the sanctuary.
*Doxology #109
Praise God from whom all blessings 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: Lord God, we offer to you only a portion of what you have given to us. All that we have is from your creative hand. All that we can give away we do through Jesus’ love. All our renewal comes from the Holy Spirit’s wisdom. Deal graciously with these gifts so that others may have joy; in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Prayers of the People
After hearing “Living God”, respond in unison with “hear our prayer.”
….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 #333 “Now Thank We All Our God”
*Charge & Blessing,
*Choral Response: “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”
Mortals, join the happy chorus which the morning stars began,
Love divine is reigning o’er us joining all in heaven’s plan.
Ever singing, march we onward, victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us sunward in the triumph song of life.
*The Choral Amen,
Amen, Amen, Amen.
(1) © Presbyterian Outlook, 2023, written by Rev. Ellen Williams Hensle
(2) by Thom Shuman
(3) from Romans 8.