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SUNDAY
May 2, 2021
Fifth Sunday of Easter
PRELUDE “Be Thou My Vision” Dale Wood
Slane
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP (by Renita Weems):
One: O Amazing God, you come into our ordinary lives and set a holy table among us,
Filling our plates with the Bread of Life and our cups with Grace.
People: Send us out, O God, with tenderheartedness to touch an ordinary everyday world with the promise of your holiness.
OPENING HYMN #249 “Because You Live, O Christ”
Because you live, O Christ, the garden of the world has come to flower;
The darkness of the tomb is flooded with your resurrection power.
The stone has rolled away and death cannot imprison!
O sing this Easter day, for Jesus Christ has risen, has risen, has risen, has risen!
Because you live, O Christ, the spirit bird of hope is freed for flying;
Our cages of despair no longer keep us closed and life-denying.
The stone has rolled away and death cannot imprison!
O sing this Easter day, for Jesus Christ has risen, has risen, has risen, has risen!
Because you live, O Christ, the rainbow of your peace will span creation;
The colors of your love will draw all humankind to adoration.
The stone has rolled away and death cannot imprison!
O sing this Easter day, for Jesus Christ has risen, has risen, has risen, has risen!
Pastoral introduction to reversal of Grace and Confession.
CELEBRATION OF GOD’S GRACE
One: We celebrate that the Grace of God is today, is tomorrow, is forever.
People: We sigh with relief that there is nothing that is beyond God’s redemption and healing.
We dance in the joy of knowing God’s grace is far bigger than we could ever hope or imagine!
RESPONSIVE PRAYER CONFESSING OUR NEED FOR GOD’S GRACE
One: From that place of knowing we are given grace, we turn to you in confession:
O God, we’ve heard the old, old story and we confess our sin of indifference.
People: God, jolt our lives to turn and look at You once more.
One: Give us the ears to hear your amazing story that God would become one of us living among us, teaching us, sitting down at table with us, breaking bread and drinking wine with us and then dying among us. Amazing grace!
People: O God, we ask for your presence this day. Brush against us when we least expect it. Touch us with your Spirit. Take us by the shoulders and shake us awake to your incredibly truth.
One: We are your people and you are our God. Forgive our faithlessness, O Faithful God! And see beyond our apathy, our thoughtlessness, our self-centeredness, our wrong choices. See into our heart, for you are our Treasure!
People: We pledge once more to give to those who need us, that this world might be more human. We pledge to do away with indifference. We pledge to tell the old, old story in new life-changing ways. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.
MOMENT OF SILENT PRAYER
SONG OF RENEWAL #243 “Be Not Afraid”
Be not afraid: sing out for joy! Christ is risen, alleluia!
Be not afraid; song out for joy! Christ is risen, alleluia!
SPECIAL MUSIC “Apres Un Reve” Jasmyn Barkley
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Leader: God in your Grace,
People: Hear our prayer.
PASTORAL PRAYER
THE LORD’S PRAYER
SCRIPTURE READINGS: Luke 2:29-32
Acts 15:1-18
RESPONSE
Reader: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION, from Psalm 19 - responsively
Pastor: May the words of my mouth
People: And the meditations of our hearts
Be acceptable in your sight, O Lord,
Our rock and our redeemer. Amen.
SERMON: “Limiting God with Our Rules” Pastor Barbara Barkley
Moment for quite reflection
OFFERTORY “Sento Nel Core” Jasmyn Barkley
UNISON PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
O God, you flower the gardens for us and make green the wastelands. The mountains burst forth with streams of water and the fields are filled with your bounty.
Thank you, God for all good gifts, and make our hearts your home that we might serve you all of our days and live in the hope of your peace. Amen.
HYMN #507 “Come to the Table of Grace” vs. 1,2,3,5
Come to the table of grace. Come to the table of grace.
This is God’s table; it’s not yours or mine. Come to the table of grace.
Come to the table of peace. Come to the table of peace.
This is God’s table; it’s not yours or mine. Come to the table of peace.
Come to the table of love. Come to the table of love.
This is God’s table; it’s not yours or mine. Come to the table of love.
Come to the table of joy. Come to the table of joy.
This is God’s table; it’s not yours or mine. Come to the table of joy.
SACRAMENT OF COMMUNION
INVITATION TO THE TABLE
One: The Lord be with you
People: And also with you.
One: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
One: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
THE COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE: SHARING THE BREAD AND THE CUP
COMMUNION PRAYER
CLOSING HYMN #245 “Christ the Lord is Risen Today!” Vs. 1, 2, 3
Christ the Lord is risen today! Alleluia!
All creation, join to say: Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, O heavens and earth reply, Alleluia!
Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids him rise, Alleluia!
Christ has opened paradise. Alleluia!
Lives again our glorious king, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now your sting? Alleluia!
Jesus died, our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where your victory, O grave, Alleluia!
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE