The Celebration of the Gospel

May 18, 2014 — Fifth Sunday of Easter

Receive and experience the amazing grace of the Master,
 Jesus Christ, deep, deep within yourselves.

— Philippians 4:23

 

If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.

—Galatians 5.25

______________ We Gather as The Body of Christ

GREETING

PRELUDE                                                                                                 (8:15)   Processional Joy

by Louise Frier (Ring Tones)

(10:30)   His Eye Is On The Sparrow

Charles Gabriel, arr: Mark Hayes

[As we listen to the music we quiet our minds and bodies

and become present to the Holy One who is lovingly present for us.]

* CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: Let us worship God with listening hearts.

All:  We come to listen.

Let us worship Jesus with an eagerness to learn.

We come to learn.

Let us worship the Holy Spirit with a desire to be in a deeper relationship with the Spirit and with one another.

We come searching for deeper connections.  We are here and we are ready. 

Let’s worship the Lord with joy!

* SONG                                                                                                                   The Summons

                                                                                                                    Black hymnal # 2130

(10:30) CHILDREN’S TIME

______________________ We Attend to the Word

(10:30) THE WORD IN SONG                                                                             Song of Triumph

by Arnold Sherman (Bells of St. Matthew’s; Julie Spring, harp)

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Lord, we come together today not really understanding the depth of your love for us.  We seek to know with our hearts that your everlasting love calls us by name.  We simply ask you to help us listen and to fill us with a desire to follow you, so that we may more fully share your love with the world.  In Jesus name we pray.  Amen

OLD TESTAMENT                                                                              Jeremiah 6:16 MSG

RESPONSE: The Word of life.  All: Thanks be to God.

NEW TESTAMENT                                                                       Galatians 5:22-26 MSG

RESPONSE: The Word of God for the people of God.  All:  Thanks be to God.

NEW TESTAMENT                                                                         Romans 8:15-17 MSG

RESPONSE: The Word of God for the people of God.  All:  Thanks be to God.

SERMON

SONG                                                                                  Open My Eyes, That I May See

                                                                                                           Blue hymnal  # 454

* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH

We gather as people of the Way,

leaving paths that have brought us this far

to find new directions,

discover new stories,

daring to explore horizons and truth.

 On the Way, life meets us, hungry for justice

for bread and for peace;

it calls us to see,

to hear and to act,

finding new words and the courage to speak.

In our meeting together comes strength

to serve; the least and the little,

the unseen, the neglected,

the lost and rejected,

and love overcoming fear of the cost.

 We come celebrating the Way that we travel,

the community created;

the joy of experience,

the love we walk,

and the peace, that never lets us rest.

 For the Way that stretches in front of us,

we say thank you.

For the Way that lies behind us,

we say thank you.

For the Way that we will become,

we hope with thankful hearts. Amen.

SONG                                                                                                        Here I Am, Lord

                                                                                                           Blue hymnal  # 593

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

RESPONSE: This is my prayer.  All: This is our prayer.

THE PRAYER OF JESUS
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 trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass 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.

 

PASSING THE PEACE

___________ We Are Sent in Ministry to the World

(10:30) THE WORD IN SONG                                                  Come, My Way, My Truth, My Life

arr: Hal H. Hopson

OFFERING OUR GIFTS                                                                                   (8:15)   Simple Song

by Schumann (Ring Tones)

(10:30)   Monologue

Josef Rheinberger

*  OFFERING SONG                                                                                                Awesome God

Black hymnal  # 2040

PRAYER

Gracious God, we give you these gifts as symbols of our lives.  Receive them with love, bless them with grace and use them according to your will.  Send us into the world so that others who long to know you will see your risen presence in us, and come to love and trust you.  We pray in the name and the spirit of Christ.  Amen.

THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD

*  SONG                                                                                                                        Pass It On

Blue hymnal # 572

*  THE BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH

RESPONSE   8:15:  Please stand and sing to your neighbors:

May the grace and peace of Christ be with you my friends.

Go and share the love of God, love that never ends.

10:30:  Choir.

 POSTLUDE                                                                                                         Fugue in D Minor

J.S. Bach