The Celebration of the Gospel

May 10, 2015 —Sixth Sunday of Easter

I no longer call you my subordinates: I call you my friends
— John 15.15

_______ We Gather as The Body of Christ_______

GREETING
PRELUDE     Take Time To Be Holy    Tune: HOLINESS, arr: Lloyd Larson

[As we listen to the music we quiet our minds and bodies,
listen for our hearts’ deepest desires,
and become present to the Holy One who is lovingly present for us.]

* CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: O God, Energy of Love, you call us into being.
All:    We abide in your love, and your joy is in us.
Heart of Love, you guide us in each moment, each breath.
We abide in your love, and your joy is in us.
The world does not understand love, but your love conquers the world.
We abide in your love, and your joy is in us. Alleluia!

* SONG   What a Friend We Have in Jesus Blue hymnal #526

(10:30) CHILDREN’S TIME

___________ We Attend to the Word___________

(10:30) THE WORD IN SONG    Ave verum corpus     W. A. Mozart

Ave verum corpus, natum de Maria Virgine, vere passum, immolatum in cruce pro homine cuius latus perforatum fluxit aqua et sanguine: esto nobis praegustatum in mortis examine.

Hail, true Body, born of the Virgin Mary, who having truly suffered, was sacrificed on the cross for mankind, whose pierced side flowed with water and blood: May it be for us a foretaste [of the Heavenly banquet] in the trial of death

PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Pastor:   The grace of God be with you.
Congregation: And also with you.
Trusting in God’s tender mercy, let us confess our sin to God with one another.
God of love, help us to see ourselves with the eyes of love,
to see all that is in us that is loving,
and all that is not loving.
By the grace that we know in Christ,
forgive us, heal us, and perfect your love in us.
SILENT PRAYER …   THE WORD OF GRACE

RESPONSE   Alleluia     Black hymnal #2014
PASSING THE PEACE

PRAYER OF THE DAY
Gracious God, your commandments are not burdensome. Help us to hear with joy, to be changed in trust, and to live in faith, bearing your love into this world in the name of Christ.   Amen.
FIRST READING        Acts 10.44-48
[The “gentile Pentecost,” when the people at the house of Cornelius (who was not a Jew) receive the Holy Spirit and are baptized.]

While Peter was speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.
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NEW TESTAMENT       1 John 5. 1-5
[John invites us to love God and obey God’s commands to love others. This love, humble as it may seem, actually conquers the world.

Leader: Everyone who trusts that Jesus is the Messiah has been born of God.
All: Everyone who loves God loves the one who came from God.
We know we love God’s children when we love God and follow God’s commandments.
The love of God is this: that we follow God’s commandments.
God’s commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world.
What is born of God conquers the world! Our trust in this is our victory.
Who is it who conquers the world? Those who trust in Jesus, the Only Begotten of God.
The Word of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
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GOSPEL     John 15.9-17
[Jesus gives us his commandment: to love one another just as he has loved us. This is what he has called us for. But he does not call us as subordinates: he has chosen us as his friends. Though we may have chosen to follow Jesus, he chose us first.]

Jesus said, “As my Abba God has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept Abba God’s commandments and abide in God’s love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.    This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Abba God. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that God will give you whatever you ask in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.
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SERMON

SONG You Are Mine   Black hymnal #2218

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

THE WORD IN SONG    I Am His Child   Moses Hogan

_____ We Are Sent in Ministry to the World______

OFFERING OUR GIFTS Reflection On “Schmücke Dich”    Robert Lau

* OFFERING SONG   More Precious than Silver   Black hymnal #2065

* PRAYER    Blue Hymnal # 493

THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD

* SONG   How Can We Name a Love   Blue hymnal #111

* THE BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
RESPONSE   We stand and sing to our neighbors:
May the grace and peace of Christ be with you my friends.
Go and share the love of God, love that never ends.

POSTLUDE “Minuet Finale” from Firework Music   G. F. Handel, arr: E. Power Biggs

[During the postlude there are people ready to pray with you at the candles in the corners.]