WORSHIP MATERIALS

Order of Service

Sunday, May 4, 2025 10:00 am

Ringing of the Bell

Prelude

Welcome & Announcements

Confession (a favorite prayer of Mother Teresa's, "Soul of Christ")

Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me. Blood of Christ, inebriate me. Water from the side of Christ, wash me. Passion of Christ, strengthen me. O good Jesus, hear me. Within your wounds, hide me. Do not allow me to be separated from you. From the malicious enemy, defend me. In the hour of my death, call me, and bid me come unto you, that with your saints I may praise you, forever and ever. Amen.

Pardon

Passing of the Peace

*Opening Hymn:                                   562 – Because He Lives

Call to Worship (adapted from Psalm 30)

Leader: Lord, yours all praise and glory be. Out of the depths you lifted me; you healed me and you kept my foes from gloating over all my woes. You spared me from death's desolation, for you, Lord, heard my supplication.

Congregation: Sing to the Lord, you saints of his, and praise him for his faithfulness. God's anger quickly fades away; his love will for a lifetime stay. Tears fill the night, but soon thereafter the morning dawns with joy and laughter.

L: To you I cry for mercy, Lord. What profit can my death afford? If I go down into the grave, can dust proclaim your power to save? Lord, hear me! Show your grace and favor. Come to my help and be my Savior.

C: You turned my mourning and distress to joyful dance and happiness, stripped off my sackcloth of despair and gave me robes of joy to wear. O Lord my God for your great favor I will give thanks and praise forever. Amen.

*Hymn:                                           561 – It is Well with My Soul

Reading of God’s Word

Acts 9:8-19

John 21:4-19

Children’s Sermon

Sermon                                                    The Crucible of Choice

*Response of Faith                               358 - The Nicene Creed

Prayers of the Community, for the Church, and the World

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.

Offering

*Doxology & Prayer of Dedication

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise him, all creatures here below;

Praise him above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.  Amen.

The Lord's Supper or Holy Communion

Leader: The Lord be with you.

Congregation: And with your spirit.

L: Lift up your hearts.

C: We lift them up to the Lord.

L: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

C: It is meet and right so to do.

L: It is very meet, right, and our bound duty, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to you, O Holy Lord, Father Almighty, Everlasting God, who did create the heavens and the earth and all that is in them, who did make humanity in your own image, and whose tender mercies are over all your works. With patriarchs and matriarchs, prophets and apostles, the martyrs and the holy Church throughout all the world and in heaven, together with the innumerable company of angels round about your throne, we worship and adore your glorious name, joining the song of the Cherubim and Seraphim, praying:

C: Holy! Holy! Holy! Lord God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of your glory; glory be to you, O Lord most high! Amen.

L: For we received from the Lord the teaching that we now pass on in perpetuity: that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took a piece of bread, gave thanks to God, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in memory of me.”

L: We break this bread for those who love God, wherever they may be in their spiritual life and their walk towards God.

C: We break this bread for our green earth, that one day God’s creation will be restored.

L: We break this bread for those who have no bread, that one day this planet may be a home for everyone.

C: We break this bread for the broken hearts within each of us, that one day we may experience the wholeness that is of Christ. Amen.

L: In the same way, after the supper he took the cup and said, “This cup is God's new covenant, sealed with my blood. Whenever you drink it, do so in memory of me.”

L: We raise this cup for the depressed, the hopeless, and all those in distress, that one day they may find comfort in Christ.

C: We raise this cup for the forgotten, for those nobody prays for, that one day they may find happiness in Christ.

L: We raise this cup for the persecuted, the minorities, the refugees and the aliens, that one day God comforts them and turns the hearts of their persecutors from hearts of stone to human hearts.

C: We raise this cup in the midst of wars and bloodshed, that one day we may all celebrate peace and justice. Amen.

L: This means that every time we eat this bread and drink from this cup, we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes again.

C: Amen.

L: Let us pray: O merciful Father, send your Holy Spirit upon us, and upon these elements of bread and wine, that the bread which we break may be to us the Communion of the body of Christ, and the cup of blessing which we bless may be to us the Communion of the blood of Christ. Be pleased now, O merciful Father, to graciously receive this memorial of the blessed sacrifice of your Son, which we offer to you in union with the sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise, consecrating our whole selves in soul and body, in property and life, to spend ourselves in service to and praise of you. Look upon us through the mediation of our great High Priest, our Lord Jesus Christ. Make us accepted in the Beloved, and let his name be as a pure and holy incense, through which our worship may come before you, acceptable and well pleasing in your sight; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory.

C: Amen

L: All persons of faith, who feel at peace with God our Father, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and have the Holy Spirit dwelling in your hearts by grace through faith are welcome at the Lord's table. At Immanuel we use leavened bread and wine for the sacrament, but there are gluten free bread and grape juice provided in the center of the trays for those who desire to partake in that manner. As you are served each element, I invite you to hold it until all are served, so that we may all partake together - first the bread, then the wine. So come, come, whoever you are - wanderer, worshiper, or lover of leaving. It doesn't matter. Ours is not a caravan of despair. So come, even if you have broken your vows a thousand times. Come yet again, come to the Lord.

Distribution of the elements.

L: Let us pray:

C: Almighty God, we thank you for your great mercy given to us in this sacrament, whereby we are made partakers of Christ and all his benefits. So, enrich us by the Holy Spirit that the life of Jesus may be made manifest in our mortal bodies, and all our days may be spent in your love and service; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

*Closing Hymn:             560 – Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

*Benediction

Postlude