Worship

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Fifth Sunday in Easter

04/28/2024

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

CENTERING MUSIC That Easter Day with Joy Was Bright Dale Wood
French Melody

MOMENT OF HOPE

CALL TO WORSHIP

One: A new day has dawned. God’s gift of life is renewed in you and me.

People: Praise God for today! Praise God for the creative spirit in our midst.

One: Be still and know that God is here. Let the Spirit in.

People: We are ready to pray and think and rejoice. We are ready to hear God’s word.

One: Then listen and respond to God, who meets us in new ways and in different sounds, today in worship, and every day in the world.

People: Come to us, O God, and guide our worship. Speak. Speak to us the Word we need, and let that Word change us and empower us to be your people. Amen.

*OPENING HYMN#619Praise, My Soul, the God of Heavenvs. 1-3

Praise, my soul, the God of heaven;

glad of heart your carols raise;

ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven

who, like me, should sing God's praise?

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Praise the Maker all your days!

Praise God for the grace and favor

shown our forebears in distress;

God is still the same forever,

slow to chide, and swift to bless:

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Sing our Maker's faithfulness!

Like a loving parent caring,

God knows well our feeble frame;

gladly all our burdens bearing,

still to countless years the same.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

All within me, praise God's name!

PRAYER CONFESSING OUR NEED FOR GOD’S GRACE

Almighty God, you have called us into your church to be your servants in the service of others. But as the church we sometimes struggle with our priorities. Sometimes we have loved our buildings more than our brothers and sisters, and have been more concerned with budgets than with justice and peace. We have been more ready to talk about Christ than to live in Christ’s image. Cut through our evasions, increase our courage, renew our vision. Make us, and the whole Church, more nearly what you would have us be; through Jesus Christ, whose Body we are. 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!

CELEBRATION OF GOD’S GRACE

One: The good news is that God loves us, forgives us, frees us, and brings us home. God has given us Christ to be living water and true bread. Let us accept with joy these precious gifts of abundant life.

All: Amen.

ANTHEM In Celebration, Sing Alleluia! Mary McDonald
Choir w/Piano & Organ

BLESSING THE CHILDREN AND SINGING TO GODLY PLAY

This Little Light of Mine

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!

Today’s Story "The Road to Emmaeus"
Kathleen Krentz & Cyndi Sneeringer

Leader: And as we continue our worship…

Congregation: May God be with you there.

Children: May God be with you here.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Leader: God in your grace,

People: Hear our prayer

PASTORAL PRAYER

THE LORD’S PRAYER

As we pray together the Lord's Prayer, you are invited to say this in whatever version is most comforting and meaningful to you. Here is one possible version (ecumenical version) that you can use:

Our Father, who is in heaven, holy be your name.

Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

SCRIPTURES: 1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Mark 1:35-37

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

All: Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord,

Our rock and our redeemer. Amen

SERMON Being In Unity

MOMENT OF SILENT REFLECTION

*HYMN OF RESPONSE #250 In the Bulb There Is a Flower

In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed an apple tree;

In cocoons a hidden promise; butterflies will soon be free!

In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be,

Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody;

There’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me.

From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery,

Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity;

In our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity.

In our death a resurrection; at the last, a victory,

Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

MOMENT OF THANKS

OFFERING OURSELVES AND OUR GIFTS

OFFERTORY

*DOXOLOGY

Sung to: All Creatures of our God and King

Praise God the giver and the gift,

Hearts, minds and voices now uplift:

Allelulia! Alleluia!

Praise, praise the Breath of glad surprise,

Freeing uplifting opening eyes,

Three in Oneness, Love community,

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

One: For every breath we take, we give you thanks.

People: For every day we live we give you thanks.

One: For the grace to recognize the good around us in each moment, we give you thanks.

People: And for the strength to change that which harms others, we give you thanks.

All: Take our gifts and use them for the good of all creation. Amen.

*CLOSING HYMN #766 The Church of Christ Cannot Be Bound vs. 1-4

The church of Christ cannot be bound by walls of wood or stone.

Where charity and love are found, there can the church be known.

True faith will open up the door and step into the street.

True service will seek out the poor and ask to wash their feet.

True love will not sit idly by when justice is denied.

True mercy hears the homeless cry and welcomes them inside.

If what we have we freely share to meet our neighbor’s need,

Then we extend the Spirit’s care through every selfless deed.

*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

*PASSING THE PEACE

Pastor: The peace of Christ be with you.

People: And with you also.

Pastor: Let us pass the peace of Christ.

People: The peace of Christ be with you. (To one another)

POSTLUDE Christ the Lord Is Risen Today James Mansfield
“Easter Hymn”