WORSHIP MATERIALS

Order of Service

Sundar, March 5, 2024 10:00 am

 A SERVICE OF THE WORD

Sixth Sunday of Easter

“Friends enjoy being together and spending time together. 

Friends who do not spend time together do not remain friends for very long.”    Aristotle

“We do not choose our friends; they are brought to us by God.”

Augustine

RINGING OF THE BELL

PRELUDE                             

OUR COMMUNITY TOGETHER

*CALL TO WORSHIP          

Sisters and brothers in Christ, we gather in the name of Jesus Christ, Our crucified and resurrected Lord.  Amen. Jesus announced to his followers,

As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.

As we abide in God’s love, we praise God.  God’s love has been poured abundantly upon the world.

God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

As we abide in God’s love, we praise God.  God’s love has been poured abundantly upon the church.

By one Spirit we were baptized into one body—Jews and Greeks, slaves or free---And we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

As we enter worship, we praise God.  God’s love has been poured abundantly into the hearts of those who believe.

God’s love has been poured into our hearts

Through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

*THE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST STATEMENT OF FAITH

We believe in You, O God, Eternal Spirit, God of our Savior Jesus Christ and our God, and to Your deeds we testify:  You call the worlds into being, create persons in your own image, and set before each one the ways of life and death.  You seek in holy love to save all people from aimlessness and sin.  You judge people and nations by your righteous will declared through prophets and apostles.

In Jesus Christ, the man of Nazareth, our crucified and risen Savior, You have come to us and shared our common lot, conquering sin and death, and reconciling the world to yourself.

You bestow upon us Your Holy Spirit, creating and renewing the church of Jesus Christ, binding in covenant faithful people of all ages, tongues and races.

You call us into Your church to accept the cost and joy of discipleship, to be Your servants in the service of others, to proclaim the Gospel to all the world and resist the powers of evil, to share in Christ’s baptism and eat at his table, to join Him in his passion and victory.

You promise to all who trust You:  forgiveness of sin and fullness of grace, courage in the struggle for justice and peace, Your presence in trial and rejoicing, and eternal life in Your Realm which has no end.  Blessing and honor, glory and power, be unto You.  Amen.

*HYMN      “Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore” # 342 (English Words)

*PRAYER OF BROKENNESS

One of the beautiful moments in our worship of God is when we speak of our brokenness.  We are imperfect people.  We are bruised.   We have caused harm to others.  I invite you to join your voice with mine as we pray.

God of our Lord Jesus Christ, we come before you as wayward children.  In our heart of hearts, we know our need for you, and yet we are stubborn. We know that you rule overall, and yet we are fiercely strong-willed and independent.  Too often, we have ignored our baptismal promises.  We have forgotten our innermost identity as your beloved.  We have resisted the hard work of peace and reconciliation.   Receive our confession and lead us along that pathway that gives evidence of our love for you.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON

The joy of a Christian’s life is the knowledge that we are loved, forgiven, and embraced by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Praise be to God for the enduring presence of our Lord in whom we live and die.  Amen.

*RESPONSE                    “Gloria Patri                           ”# 35

“Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen.  Amen.”

PASSING OF THE PEACE

The peace of Christ be with you.

And also with you!

PSALM 98                               Reader: Keri Koenig

(Psalm 98 is a hymn that proclaims the future establishment of God’s reign on the earth.  This is a bold proclamation of our hope in faith and trust.)

O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things. His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory.

The Lord has made known his victory; he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.

He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises.

Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody.

With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord.

Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who live in it.

Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing together for joy

At the presence of the Lord, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.

A PASTORAL LETTER TO THE CHURCH I John 5:1-6

Reader: Keri Koenig

(In the text you’re about to hear, the church is informed that our love for God and Jesus Christ is sufficient to resist the ways of the world.)

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth.

SERMON ON THE STEPS               “Four Feet, Two Sandals”

*HYMN                      “When Love Is Found”               # 499

THE GOSPEL             John 15:9-17 Reader: Keri Koenig

As the Father 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 my Father’s commandments and abide in his 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 Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

SERMON                         “Friends of Jesus”

THE IN-GATHERING OF PRAYER REQUESTS

PASTORAL PRAYER 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.    

REPORT ON THE MISSION TRIP TO KENTUCKY

Karl and Carol Knoener

INVITATION TO GENEROSITY    

God provides all we need, enabling us to be in a constant posture of giving. “The earth and all of its fullness is God’s.”   Giving back to God is a matter of faith – it is the natural reaction to our saying “yes!” to following Christ. Once you know the invincible love of God, you can’t help but share it.   

OFFERTORY

*DOXOLOGY

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God all creatures here below;

Praise God above ye heavenly hosts; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.  Amen.

*OFFERTORY PRAYER

Please pray with me,

You are the God who sustains us. How can we ever thank you for all that you have granted us?  You have granted us our very lives.  You have created us in your own divine image.  You have shown us what is good, what is faithful and what is honorable.  Thank you for the capacity and the privilege of giving. In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

*HYMN               “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” # 585

*COMMISSION AND BENEDICTION

*POSTLUDE