May 3, 2020
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Download the Worship Bulletin Here
We Gather
CENTERING WORDS
The Good Shepherd calls his sheep by name.
Listen, for our shepherd is calling.
WELCOME
GATHERING MUSIC
You’ll Never Walk Alone
Richard Rodgers, composer
Oscar Hammerstein II, lyrics
Cassy James, vocalist
CALL TO WORSHIP
We gather here, listening for the voice of the giver and guardian of our lives.
God comes to us as the good shepherd, calling us by name.
We gather here, longing to follow in just paths of life.
God comes to us as a good shepherd, leading us in right ways.
We gather here to follow and praise God,
whose good and steadfast love abounds all of our lives.
*OPENING HYMN I Come with Joy No. 515
1. I come with joy, a child of God,
forgiven, loved, and free,
the life of Jesus to recall,
in love laid down for me,
in love laid down for me.
2. I come with Christians
far and near
to find, as all are fed,
the new community of love
in Christ’s communion bread,
in Christ’s communion bread.
3. As Christ breaks bread
and bids us share,
each proud division ends.
The love that made us,
makes us one,
and strangers now are friends,
and strangers now are friends.
4. The Spirit of the risen Christ,
unseen, but ever near,
is in such friendship
better known,
alive among us here,
alive among us here.
5. Together met, together bound
by all that God has done,
we’ll go with joy,
to give the world
the love that makes us one,
the love that makes us one.
CALL TO CONFESSION
Day by day, God would lead us to places of hope and healing, even as we continue to turn and go our own way. Let us confess our lives as we draw near to the One who restores us to wholeness.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God, we confess that we can be scared to hear your voice, out of fear of what we may need to let go of to follow you. We stray, following ways that entice us and distract us from knowing you. We substitute pride of possession for partici- pation in your beloved community. We resist gathering at your table because of who else you invite. Forgive us, we pray. Return us to you and your steadfast love. Lead us in your right paths all our days. Help us trust and abide in you always. Amen.
In humility, let us lift our silent prayers to God for the brokenness of this world and for the needs of our community and our hearts.
Please refer to the deacon’s prayer list in your bulletin.
Silence
ASSURANCE OF GOD WITH US
Children of God, hear the good news! God, who abounds in compassionate love that we cannot limit or bind, forgives us. Praise be to God! Amen.
SONG OF RESPONSE No. 240
Alleluia, alleluia!
Give thanks to the risen Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Give praise to his name.
Come let us praise the living God,
Joyfully sing to our Savior. [Refrain]
*PASSING OF THE PEACE
God’s table is spread with forgiveness and grace. Here, we are called to life and love.
The peace of Christ be with you!
And also with you.
PEACE MUSIC
We Reflect
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Loving God, we pray that your Holy Spirit will strengthen us to be devoted to the teachings of your Word, that through it we may hear your voice and follow it into eternal life. Amen.
SCRIPTURE Acts 2: 42-47
John 10: 1-10
SERMON Knowing the Shepherd
Rev. Kathryn R. Mustaro
We Respond
CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
The Invitation
The Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the God of green pastures be with you!
And also with you.
God calls us to open our hearts to others,
for they are filled to overflowing with grace.
Every day, let us rejoice in the Restorer of our lives.
We sing glad songs to the One who leads us.
The Lord’s 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.
The Words of Institution
The Communion
Musical Meditation Will You Let Me Be Your Servant
Prayer following Communion
Lord God, in deep gratitude for this moment, this meal, these people, we give ourselves to you. Take us out to live as changed people because we have shared the living bread and cannot remain the same. Ask much of us, expect much from us, enable much by us, encourage many through us. So, Lord, may we live to your glory, both as inhabitants of earth and citizens of the commonwealth of heaven. Amen.
OUR GIFTS OF SACRIFICE and THANKSGIVING
Invitation
Our God has prepared a table before us and our cup overflows. So let us give generously from our common wealth, as our way of praising God and giving to those in need.
Thank you for sending your offerings.
They make a great difference to our church’s work in the world.
Musical Meditation
You'll Never Walk Alone
*Doxology
Praise God
whose breath fills all the earth,
whose love
reveals our sacred worth,
whose Spirit
forms one family,
whose grace and peace
bring harmony.
Amen.
*Prayer of Dedication
O God, may these offerings of our money, possessions, time, and self be used to provide for the needs of your people. May they be a source of joyful testimony to you, your compassion, and your provision in our world. Amen.
We Are Sent
*CLOSING HYMN No. 504
We Come as Guests Invited
1. We come as guests invited
when Jesus bids us dine,
his friends on earth united
to share the bread and wine;
the bread of life is broken;
the wine is freely poured
for us, in solemn token
of Christ our dying Lord.
2. We eat and drink, receiving
from Christ the grace we need,
and in our hearts believing
on him by faith we feed;
with wonder and thanksgiving
for love that knows no end,
we find in Jesus living
our ever-present friend.
3. One bread is ours for sharing,
one single fruitful vine,
our fellowship declaring
renewed in bread and wine:
renewed, sustained, and given
by token, sign, and word,
the pledge and seal of heaven,
the love of Christ our Lord.
*BENEDICTION
*POSTLUDE
Something Got A Hold Of Me
Thank you to Elder Heather Kainer for being our liturgist today, and to Elder Carol Thomson for assisting with communion setup and service.
All songs not in the public domain are used by permission of CCLI License #1124594.
You'll Never Walk Alone, from Carousel, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II; composed by Richard Rodgers.
Scifres, Mary. The Abingdon Worship Annual 2020 . Abingdon Press. Kindle Edition.
Call to Worship, Prayer of Confession, Assurance of God With Us and Prayer of Dedication - fromSeasons of the Spirit, SeasonsFusion, Lent, Easter 2020 (Columbia: WoodLake 2018) 136-138.
Prayer for Illumination and Invitation to the Offering - Feasting on the Word Worship Companion, Liturgies for Year A, Volume 1, Kimberly Bracken Long, editor (Louisville, WJKP 2013) 149-150.