Seventh Sunday of Easter
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We Gather
CENTERING WORDS
May we all be one.
PRELUDE
WELCOME and CALL TO WORSHIP
To worship and pray,
we have come this day.
To meditate on God’s teachings,
we have come this day.
Gathered as one family of Christ,
we come together in love.
OPENING HYMN Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah No.65 (Because the singing of hymns is discouraged during this period of pandemic, you are invited to hum or meditate on the verses below.)
Guide me, O thou great Jehovah,
pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but thou art mighty.
Hold me with thy powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
feed me till I want no more;
feed me till I want no more.
Open now the crystal fountain,
whence the healing stream doth flow.
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
lead me all my journey through.
Strong deliverer, strong deliverer,
be thou still my strength and shield;
be thou still my strength and shield.
When I tread the verge of Jordan,
bid my anxious fears subside.
Death of death, and hell's destruction,
land me safe on Canaan's side.
Songs of praises, songs of praises
I will ever give to thee;
I will ever give to thee.
CALL TO PRAYERS
We gather as God's people, believing the promises fulfilled in Christ. We do not come to be reconciled to God out of dread or fear, but in trust that God is faithful to forgive us and make us new. Let us pray.
PRAYERS OF APPROACH & CONFESSION3
Holy Spirit, be with us in our worship this day. Draw us ever closer to you, that we may become one. Draw us ever closer to your word, that we may be wise. Draw us ever closer to your world, that we may serve and love as you guide us to do. In your holy name, we pray. Amen.
(Silence)
We delight in your law, O God, but we don’t always follow the rules. Shower us with your mercy, that we may know your forgiveness and your grace. Guide our steps, that we may follow you more closely. Draw us ever closer to you and to one another, that we might support one another as we follow where you lead us in our efforts to create a world of unity and boundless love. In your mercy and grace, we pray. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF GOD WITH US
God watches over us with mercy and grace. Christ’s forgiveness flows freely, redeeming us and making us whole.
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
Called to be one in Christ Jesus, we are made to love one another in unity and grace. Let’s share signs of unity and grace as we pass the peace of Christ with one another this day.
The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
We Reflect
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION5
Let us pray.
Generous and loving Lord, help us to listen with love to your instruction revealed in the scripture we’re about to hear. Amen.
SCRIPTURE LESSON Acts 10:44-48 SCRIPTURE LESSON John 17:6-19
SERMON Justin Warner Chosen
We Respond
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Lord in your mercy/in thanksgiving,
Hear our prayer.
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.
OUR GIFTS OF SACRIFICE and THANKSGIVING Invitation
And now, not because we have to, but because we are grateful, let us return to God what is ours to share. Let us joyfully offer our time, our treasure, our commitment, our prayers.
Thank you for sending your offerings.
They make a great difference to our church’s work in the world.
Musical Meditation
Prayer of Dedication
Bless these gifts to be nourishment for a world hungry for your grace. Bless us to be nurturers of love for a world hungry for your compassion. Bless us to be one in ministry with you and with one another, through the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.
We Are Sent
CLOSING HYMN Go, My Children, with My Blessing No. 547 (You are invited to hum or meditate on the verses below.)
“Go, my children, with my blessing, never alone.
Waking, sleeping, I am with you, you are my own.
In my love’s baptismal river I have made you mine forever.
Go, my children, with my blessing, you are my own.”
“Go, my children, fed and nourished, closer to me.
Grow in love and love by serving, joyful and free.
Here my Spirit’s power filled you; here my tender comfort stilled you. Go, my children, fed and nourished, joyful and free.”
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
All songs not in the public domain are used by permission of CCLI #1124594.
For references and songs please see the bulletin here