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4th Sunday of Easter

                                   Mother's Day

05/11/2025 - 10:30 pm

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

CENTERING MUSIC          Interlude No. 5  by Paul A. Tate

MOMENT OF HOPE

CALL TO WORSHIP

 Loving, compassionate parent-God,

As a mother hen gathers her chicks,

so you draw the whole human family to yourself.

Bring us together now, God, that we may today and forever be united under your wing in all our sorrows and joys. Amen.

*OPENING HYMN  #7   Mothering God, You Gave Me Birth

PRAYER CONFESSING OUR NEED FOR GOD’S GRACE

Loving God, we know your love because we have mothers.

We thank you for the mothers who carried us in their wombs, nourishing, protecting, and bringing us into the world.

We thank you for the mothers who did not give birth to us, yet loved us just the same.

With gratitude we remember their words of encouragement when we have felt unsure or afraid;

we thank you for their kindness when the world has treated us unkindly;

we thank you for their soft, comforting arms and the gentle way they kissed away our tears;

we thank you that they protected us with the fierceness of a lioness protecting her cubs;

we thank you for the times when they corrected us rather than letting us continue down wrong paths.

Help us to live so that their investment in us might not be in vain.

We honor our mothers with lives of service to you in the name of the Risen Christ, for it is in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

MOMENT OF SILENT PRAYER

SONG OF RENEWAL   #240 Refrain

Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen lord, alleluia, alleluia, give praise to his name.

 

ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE

God’s love for us is beyond all measure!

Thanks be to God!  Amen.

 

*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)

ANTHEM                   "Shout Amen!"                          by Jay Althouse.

BLESSING THE CHILDREN AND SINGING TO GODLY PLAY

                Today’s Story                 “The Story of the Easter Eggs”
                                                    Kathleen Krentz & Joyclyn Van

            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:            Lord in your mercy,
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  Genesis 16:1-15; Genesis 21:8-22

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    Hagar

MOMENT OF SILENT REFLECTION

*HYMN OF RESPONSE   #803   My Shepherd Will Supply My Need  

MOMENT OF THANKS
OFFERING                            Apres un Reve                 by Bussine
                                          sung by Jasmyn Barkley

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

Dear God, out of your great love for us you have provided for our needs.

There is food for our tables, clothes to cover us, a roof over our heads and someone to love us. For these gifts we are grateful.

Bless now, our tithes and offerings, we ask, so that they may be used to make disciples for Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

*CLOSING HYMN           You Formed Us In Your Image    (see insert)

You Formed Us in Your Image, Lord

GREENSLEEVES 8.7.8.7 with Refrain ("What Child Is This?")

You formed us in your image, Lord;
You call us your own children.
In you, each one is loved, adored —
Unique among the millions.
Bless, Lord, the families
Who know the joy: Christ claims and frees!
Bless, too, the ones who weep,
Forgetting that you love them.

You made our homes to honor you
With love the strong foundation.
In serving God and neighbor too,
We find our life's vocation.
Bless families large and small
Who love and serve you when you call.
Bless, too, the ones who fear —
Whose trust and love are shattered.

Christ loved and honored family,
Yet showed us what is greater.
He taught a higher loyalty
To God our good Creator.
Bless, Lord, the ones who long
To build up homes where faith is strong.
Bless children, women, men
Who risk to serve your kingdom.

In home and church our faith is formed;
We learn your love and caring.
From here we're called to face the storm,
Your love and justice bearing.
Each day your Spirit sends!
We go to strangers, neighbors, friends.
Peace, justice, joy we bring
To all your human family.

*CHARGE AND BENEDICTION:

POSTLUDE                                      Feeling Good                   by Bricusse and Newley,
                                                   sung by Jasmyn Barkley          

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