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UPCOMING WORSHIP:

View a PDF of the Worship bulletin here. 

                                                                                       April 28, 2024
                                                                              Fifth Sunday of Easter

                                                                 We Come Together as God’s People

Prelude                                                            Prelude on ST. COLUMBA                                            Harold Friedell
                                                                             Dr. John Allegar, organ                                                  (1905-1958)

Welcome                                                                                                                             Rev. Christopher A. Henry

* Call to Worship                                                                                                           Rev. Madison M. VanVeelen

      One:       Worship can always hold your story:

      All:         We bring our joy, our sorrow, our heartbreak, and our hope.

      One:       Worship always proclaims a new story:

      All:         God is always with us, so we are never alone.
                      We are called by name and claimed by love.
                      The hungry will be fed, the grieving will be comforted, the sick will be healed.

      One:       With trust and anticipation, with imagination and expectation:

      All:         Let us worship God.

Reception of New Members

    Sacrament of Baptism

* Processional Hymn #423              Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun                                         DUKE STREET

Invitation to Confession

Prayer of Confession

      Gracious God,
      Most days we do not know what we are doing or where we are going.
      We have become proficient at pretending, but that is exhausting.
      We keep secrets that burden us.
      We tell lies that eat away at us.
      We lose track of your vision.
      We push others away.
      We need help, but it is so hard to ask.
      So come to us, O God.
      Meet us here, hold us close, and make us right. (Silent Prayer)

Assurance of God’s Grace

Response of Praise                                     Sing Praises to the Lord                                          Ruth Elaine Schram
                                             Children’s Choirs; Patrick Pauloski & Carol Baker, directors
                                                           Danny Fisher, piano; Tom Ristine, guitar

        Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord. Praise the Lord!
        Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord. Praise the Lord!
        The birds in the trees, the bugs and the bees,
        the fish in the sea, and you and me!
        Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord. Praise the Lord!
        Praise the Lord!

* Passing the Peace of Christ

* Hymn #390                                              O Savior, in This Quiet Place                                                   ST. STEPHEN

                                                                          We Experience God’s Word

Children’s Anthem                                                 Isaiah 58:12                                                     Patrick Pauloski
                                                                                                                                                                                 (b. 1993)

        You’ll be known as those that can fix anything,
        You’ll be known as those that can fix anything,
        Restore old ruins, rebuild, and renovate.
        Make the community livable again.

The Word with Children

Prayer for Illumination                                                                                                                           Teri Cochran

First Scripture Lesson                                 Psalm 72:1-2, 4, 12-13                                                             (p. 522)

Anthem                                                     Draw Us in the Spirit’s Tether                                           Harold Friedell
                                                    Sanctuary Choir; Dr. Michelle Louer, conductor                            (1905-1958)

        Draw us in the Spirit’s tether; For when humbly, in thy name,
        Two or three are met together, Thou art in the midst of them:
        Alleluya! Alleluya! Touch we now thy garment’s hem.

        As the brethren used to gather In the name of Christ to sup,
        Then with thanks to God the Father Break the bread and bless the cup,
        Alleluya! Alleluya! So knit thou our friendship up.

        All our meals and all our living Make as sacraments of thee,
        That by caring, helping, giving, We may true disciples be.
        Alleluya! Alleluya! We will serve thee faithfully.

                        Text: Percy Dearmer (1867-1936)

Second Scripture Lesson                              Isaiah 56:1-2, 6-8                                                                (p. 672)

Sermon                                                                                                                              Rev. Christopher A. Henry

                                                                        Warning: Construction Area
                        “These I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer;
                                          their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar;
                                                  for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”
                                                                                      (Isaiah 56:7)

Moment of Silent Meditation

                                                                             We Give Thanks to God

* Affirmation of Faith  A Declaration of Faith                                                                       Rev. Karen L. Lang

      We believe our hope in God gives us courage for the struggle.
      The people of God have often misused God’s promises
            as excuses for doing nothing about present evils.
      But in Christ the new world has already broken in
            and the old can no longer be tolerated.
      We know our efforts cannot bring in God’s kingdom.
      But hope plunges us into the struggle
            for victories over evil that are possible now
            in the world, the church, and our individual lives.
      Hope gives us courage and energy
            to contend against all opposition,
            however invincible it may seem,
            for the new world and the new humanity
            that are surely coming.
      Jesus is Lord!
           He has been Lord from the beginning.
           He will be Lord at the end. Amen.

Prayers of the People and 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.

Invitation to Discipleship and Generosity

Offertory                                                       Three Versetti in F Major                                                Giacomo Puccini
                                                                                                                                                                          (1858-1924)

* Doxology                                                                                                                                       OLD HUNDREDTH

* Prayer of Dedication

                                                                                We Go Forth to Serve

* Closing Hymn #434                    Today We All Are Called to Be Disciples                                         KINGSFOLD

* Charge and Benediction

* Choral Benediction                                          Song of Hope                                                            ARGENTINA

      May the God of hope go with us every day,
      Filling all our lives with love and joy and peace.
      May the God of justice speed us on our way,
      Bringing light and hope to every land and race.

      Praying, let us work for peace,
      Singing, share our joy with all,
      Working for a world that’s new,
      Faithful when we hear Christ’s call.

Postlude                                                       Toccata on “O Filii et Filiae”                                       Lynnwood Farnam
                                                                                                                                                                          (1885-1930)