Worship Celebration
Worship Celebration
April 15, 2018
Guiding Vision
“We are a diverse, Christ-centered people, learning together and reaching out to serve the community in faith, hope, and love.”
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We Open Ourselves to God and Each Other
Prelude “Beautiful Savior” Arr: Dale Wood
Welcome
Choral Introit “Surely The Presence”
*Call to Worship
One: When fear and doubts stroll through our doors:
All: God stands beside us, whispering of peace.
One: When we toss and turn late at night:
All: God sits by our beds, singing lullabies of love.
One: When we stumble through the shadows of sin:
All: God illuminates the paths of goodness and joy.
*Opening Hymn “Fairest Lord Jesus” #189
Call to Reconciliation
One: If our actions mirrored our words, if our hands were mentored by our hearts, if we walked the talk – we would be God’s children. But too often, it is our silence, our doubts, our fears which tell others who we truly are. Let us confess to God how we have not been as faithful as we hope, as we pray, saying,
Unison Prayer of Forgiveness
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 read 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.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon read responsively
One: What marvelous love, what wondrous grace, what abundant mercy God offers – to us! We really are God’s people – that is exactly who we are!
All: We are God’s children – those whose lives have been changed by the One who loves us and for gives us. Thanks be to God! Amen.
Passing the Peace
We invite the congregation to openly greet one another. Show a smile, shake a hand, give a hug. Let’s share God’s love with one another. During the singing of “Kum Ba Yah” please find your way back to your seat as we continue fellowship.
*Song of Response sung while on the way back to our seats
“Kum Ba Yah” #494 VS 1
Kum ba yah, my Lord, kum ba yah.
Kum ba yah, my Lord, kum ba yah.
Kum ba yah, my Lord, kum ba yah.
Oh, Lord, kum ba yah!
Moment as Children
We Listen Together for the Divine Word
Anthem “Awake, My Heart” Jane Marshall
Prayer of Illumination
One: Holy God,
remove the stones that block the portals of our minds…
shine your light so that it may take over the darkness within…
and fill our thoughts with your perfect vision for creation
so we may go, and tell, and be, and do. Amen.
1st Scripture Reading Psalm 4
One: Here ends the reading pew Bible p. 425
All: Thanks be to God.
2nd Scripture Reading Luke 24: 36-48
One: Here ends the reading pew Bible p. 861
All: Thanks be to God.
Sermon “Open the Door” Rev. Charlene Hill
We Respond to God’s Call
Hymn of Response “Open My Eyes, That I May See” #454
Invitation to the Offering
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Offertory “Sonata in A”, ”Adagio” Mendelssohn
*Doxology
“Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” #95
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
Sharing of Joys and Concerns
Congregants are invited to share requests for prayer.
After each the pastor will offer:
Pastor: Come Holy Spirit—
And the people respond:
People: Hear our prayer!
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer read together
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 sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, forever. Amen.
*Closing Hymn “Restore in Us O God” #219 (Insert)
Benediction read responsively
One: Go now, to be God’s children in the world.
All: We will open our minds to understand the needs around us.
One: Go now, to be Christ’s servants in the world.
All: We will open our hands to share our blessings with all.
One: Go now, to be the Spirit’s hope for the world.
All: We will open our hearts to welcome those who have no one to care for them.
Postlude
April Monthly Luncheon
Our monthly lunch will be this Sunday directly after church. The April birthday people will be supplying the meal. Please join us for fellowship and celebration of those born in April.”
In Worship Today
Pastor: Rev. Charlene Hill
Director of Music – Organist: Joe Wilkinson
Liturgists: Cal and Ann Audrain
1st Scripture Reading
Psalm 4
Confident Plea for Deliverance from Enemies
To the leader: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.
1 Answer me when I call, O God of my right!
You gave me room when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer.
2 How long, you people, shall my honor suffer shame?
How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies?Selah
3 But know that the LORD has set apart the faithful for himself;
the LORD hears when I call to him.
4 When you are disturbed,[a] do not sin;
ponder it on your beds, and be silent.Selah
5 Offer right sacrifices,
and put your trust in the LORD.
6 There are many who say, “O that we might see some good!
Let the light of your face shine on us, O LORD!”
7 You have put gladness in my heart
more than when their grain and wine abound.
8 I will both lie down and sleep in peace;
for you alone, O LORD, make me lie down in safety.
2nd Scripture Reading
Luke 24:36-48
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
36 While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”[a] 37 They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.[b]41 While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate in their presence.
44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah[c] is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from