Fifth Sunday of EasterEASTER CALL TO WORSHIP P: Alleluia! Christ is risen! C: Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia! CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS P: Trusting in the mercy of God, let us confess our sins. P: God of mercy, C: we confess that we have not borne the fruit of the Spirit. We have not loved others as you have loved us. We have denied the promises of baptism and cut ourselves off from you. Forgive us, restore us, that we may abide in your love and live out your mercy, for the sake of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen. P: You have already been cleansed by the word that God has spoken to you. In baptism God claimed you and joined you to Christ, as branches to a vine. Believe the promise given to you: in Jesus Christ, + you are forgiven. C: Amen. HYMN “Let All Things Now Living” PRAYER OF THE DAY P: Wondrous Vinegrower, you make all things new in water and Word, feeding your people with love, joy, and peace. Lead us today and every day to the font of new beginnings. Teach us to love what you have commanded and to prune what does not nourish your creation, in the name of the Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. READING: Acts 8:26-40 26An angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a wilderness road.) 27So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it.” 30So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. 32Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. 33In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.” 34The eunuch asked Philip, “About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. 36As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?” 38He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. 39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea. SERMON HYMN “We Know That Christ is Raised” PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION after each petition… P: Let us join with all creation in praying for the good of the earth. P: O God, we give you thanks for your Holy Spirit whose work at creation continues in us. Through Christ Jesus you have shown your love for this earth you made. We pray that all the world may know your power and goodness; God, who makes us one, C: hear our prayer. P: Word of life, reveal the wonder of your world to all people. Show us anew what lives around us, over us, beneath us, within us. Enliven the church with your Spirit, that we may honor your earth with responsible care. God, who makes us one, C: hear our prayer. P: Almighty God, uphold our sisters and brothers who endure disasters caused by weather. We pray for those affected by the recent storms. Hold in your love people who have lost their homes, who are scared and overwhelmed. Be with those who are organizing relief efforts. God, who makes us one, C: hear our prayer. P: Giver of all good things, bring trust and empathy to the nations of the world. Strengthen peacemakers wherever there is conflict. Give wisdom to leaders and hope to those who are scared. God, who makes us one, C: hear our prayer. P: Good healer, we pray for all who are in need of comfort. Comfort those who mourn; uphold those who are sick, or awaiting words of hope, (especially Julie, Karla, Stephanie, Cammie, Nancy, Beverly, Micala, Murlene, Brian and Mary Jo). God, who makes us one, C: hear our prayer. P: Trusting in your mercy, we commend to you all those we have named and those whose needs are known only to you, in the name of your Son, Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. OFFERING PRAYER A special collection of "needed items" will be taken throughout May for Heartland Boys Home. Information is in your newsletter. P: Through our offerings, O God, give your loving Spirit to a world in need of comfort. Make our many gifts one offering for the world; in the name of Jesus. C: Amen. LORD’S PRAYER Spanish BENEDICTION P: The blessing of Almighty God be upon you today and always. C: Amen. HYMN “Now the Green Blade Rises” CHARGE P: Go And...Tell the Story! C: Thanks be to God. Printed by permission oneliscense.net A-717495
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Third Sunday of EasterEASTER CALL TO WORSHIP P: Alleluia! Christ is risen! C: Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia! CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS P: Trusting in God’s mercy, let us confess our sin. P: To you, O God, C: all hearts are open, to you all desires known. We come to you, confessing our sins. Forgive us in your mercy, and remember us in your love. Show us your ways; teach us your paths; and lead us in justice and truth, for the sake of your goodness in Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen. P: By water and the Holy Spirit God gives you a new birth, and through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God forgives you all your sins. The God of mercy and might strengthen you in all goodness and keep you in eternal life. C: Amen. HYMN “Christ Has Arisen, Alleluia” PRAYER OF THE DAY P: Holy and righteous God, you are the author of life, and you adopt us to be your children. Fill us with your words of life, that we may live as witnesses to the resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. First Reading: Acts 3:12-19 12[Peter] addressed the people, “You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk?13The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. 14But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, 15and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you. 17“And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. 19Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out.” Gospel: Luke 24:36b-48 Jesus himself stood among [the disciples] and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43and he took it and ate in their presence. 44Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things.” SERMON Rev. Lori E.L. Kitzing HYMN “The Strife is O’er the Battle Done” PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION P: Rejoicing that Jesus is risen and love has triumphed over fear, let us pray for the church, the world, and all those in need of good news. P: O God our holy one, you feed our deepest hungers. As we share the holy meal that is the body and blood of Jesus given for us, lead us to share all that we have, and find, in generosity, abundant life. God of grace, C: hear our prayer. P: O God our creator, you bring forth all life on earth. Calm storms, bring water to parched places, and protect the soil. Be with our farmers as they prepare for planting season. God of grace, C: hear our prayer. P: O God our savior, you offer wisdom and guidance beyond all human knowledge. Guide lawmakers, judges, and elected officials in making decisions grounded in your justice and care for all people. God of grace, C: hear our prayer. P: O God our heavenly parent, you care for all your children. Encourage those who are in times of transition, facing the loss, and anticipating change. Guide those who journey in grief, hope, and uncertainty (especially Julie, Karla, Stephanie, Cammie, Nancy, Beverly, Micala, Murlene, Brian and Mary Jo). God of grace, C: hear our prayer. P: O God our center, you bring all people together in you. Help us to remember our identity and purpose in our ministry. Move us to love our neighbors as ourselves and to share in beloved community. God of grace, C: hear our prayer. P: O God our resting place, your Son Jesus promised that we are held in your love forever. We remember our beloved who have died. As we remember and share their love, comfort those who mourn. God of grace, C: hear our prayer. P: Into your hands, most merciful God, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your abiding love; through Jesus Christ, our resurrected and living Lord. C: Amen. OFFERING PRAYER Financial gifts can be sent to the church P: Risen One, you call us to believe and bear fruit. May the gifts that we offer here, today, be signs of your abiding love. Form us to be your witnesses in the world, through Jesus Christ, our true vine. C: Amen. LORD’S PRAYER Sung BENEDICTION P: Alleluia! Christ is risen! C: Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia! P: The God of resurrection power, the Christ of unending joy, and the Spirit of Easter hope + bless you now and always. C: Amen. HYMN “This Joyful Eastertide” CHARGE P: Go And...Tell the Story! C: Thanks be to God. Printed by permission oneliscense.net A-717495 2nd Sunday of EasterArtwork by Bernardo Ramonfaur EASTER CALL TO WORSHIP three times P: Alleluia! Christ is risen! C: Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia! CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS P: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Trusting in God’s mercy, let us confess our sin. Silence for personal reflection P: O God, C: You have shown yourself to us by Word and Spirit, with signs and wonders, in flesh and blood, yet we still struggle to live and believe the good news of Jesus Christ. Have mercy on us; forgive us. Enter into our lives and cast out our fear so that we may come to trust in you and have life in Jesus’ name. Amen. P: We have an advocate with God— Jesus Christ, the righteous one— who offered his life in love to save the world from sin. This is the good news of the gospel: in Jesus Christ you are forgiven. C: Thanks be to God. HYMN “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice and Sing” PRAYER OF THE DAY P: Almighty God, with joy we celebrate the day of our Lord’s resurrection. By the grace of Christ among us, enable us to show the power of the resurrection in all that we say and do, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. GOSPEL: John 20:19-31 19When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” 24But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” 26A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” 30Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name. SERMON Rev. Lori E.L. Kitzing HYMN “We Walk by Faith” PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION P: Rejoicing that Jesus is risen and love has triumphed over fear, let us pray for the church, the world, and all those in need of good news. P: Your church cries out, O God, and you listen. As you drew near to the disciples, draw near to us this day. Give us the gift of your Holy Spirit, that our faith may be renewed. God of grace, C: hear our prayer. P: Your creation cries out, O God, and you listen. Nurture trees, crops, wildflowers, and all growing things. Guide farmers, gardeners, and others who tend the soil and nurture plants into life. God of grace, C: hear our prayer. P: Your world cries out, O God, and you listen. Guide police, firefighters, paramedics, and other first responders to work for the well-being of communities and the dignity of every person, that no one may need to live in fear. God of grace, C: hear our prayer. P: Your children cry out, O God, and you listen. Hear your people crying out for justice, for an end to racism and other oppression, and for a world where all are fed and safe. We pray for all who cry out in suffering or pain (especially Julie, Karla, Stephanie, Cammie, Nancy, Beverly, Micala, Murlene, Brian and Mary Jo.). God of grace, C: hear our prayer. P: Accept our gratitude, O God, for the lives of those who now rest in you. Grant us your peace amid our fears. God of grace, C: hear our prayer. P: Into your hands, most merciful God, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your abiding love; through Jesus Christ, our resurrected and living Lord. C: Amen. OFFERING PRAYER P: Holy God, we give you thanks and praise for light and life and love, and—above all— the presence of the living Lord among us. By your Spirit, strengthen our faith, use our gifts, and work in us so that our lives would bear witness to the resurrection of Christ our Lord, in whose name we pray. C: Amen. LORD’S PRAYER Cantonese BENEDICTION P: With the power of the Holy Spirit, let your life be a sign of Christ’s + life so that others may come to believe that the Lord is risen indeed. C: Amen. HYMN “Jesus Christ is Risen Today” CHARGE P: Go And...Tell the Story! C: Thanks be to God. Printed by permission oneliscense.net A-717495 |
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