he Service in PDF format is at: May 2, 2021 Service

Video of service is at: Facebook Video

FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

May 2, 2021

PRE-SERVICE MUSIC

AS WE GATHER…One agricultural crop that is becoming better known in our days is the grape. Grapevines are everywhere in the United States, from New York and Virginia on the East Coast to California and Washington on the West Cost. Grapevines are particularly present in the Willamette Valley. Driving by a vineyard and seeing row after row of flourishing vines is a visually pleasant experience. Jesus speaks to the disciples and us that He is the true vine and we are the branches. He says that God looks for us to be fruit-bearing as we are grafted into our life-giving Lord. Through our worship together, we are nourished in fruitfulness by the Holy Spirit.

WELCOME

OPENING PRAYER

Pastor:   Father, you are good. You sent your Son for us and you are merciful to us daily, moment by moment, even to the final cost. Remind us today of Your sacrifice, keep it close to our heart. Make us not only thankful but a vessel of Your grace. Don’t let Your grace end here with us, but show it to others through us. May the gift of Jesus’ body and blood today strengthen us for service in Your name. In Jesus’ name.

People: Amen.

OPENING SONG: “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” LBW439

Text: Joseph Scriven, Tune: Charles C. Converse © Public Domain CCLI SONG # 27714

What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit;

Oh what needless pain we bear

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful

Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden,

Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do your friends despise, forsake you?

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

In his arms he’ll take and shield you;

You will find a solace there.

COMMUNION ADDRESS

Pastor:    Dear friends in Christ, it our intention to receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ, in which He strengthens our faith by giving us His body to eat and His blood to drink. This gift is not for those who think they are perfect, it is a gift for those who are troubled because of their sin and who humbly confess their sin—hungering and thirsting for God’s righteousness.

When the gift of Jesus’ body and blood is received, it is as if Jesus is saying to us, “I have had mercy on you by taking away your sin. Know that you have been grated into the true vine and have eternal life.”

To properly receive this gift, we examine our hearts and by doing so, discover our need for Jesus’ presence in our lives. We do so with a time of Confession and Forgiveness.   

WE CONFESS OUR SIN…

Pastor:    Hear my prayer, O Lord; 

People: let my cry come to You.

                                                                                           Psalm 102:1

Pastor:       In the day of my trouble I call upon You,

People:    for You answer me.

                                                                                            Psalm 86:7

People:   Hide Your face from my sins,

People: and blot out all my iniquities.

Pastor:    Create in me a clean heart, O God,

People: and renew a right spirit within me. 

Pastor:    Cast me not away from Your presence,  

People: and take not Your Holy Spirit from me.

Pastor:    Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,

People: and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Pastor:    Most merciful God,

People: we confess that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.

                                                                                                 Psalm 51

Silence for reflection

…HEARING GOD’S FORGIVENESS

Pastor:    Almighty God in His mercy sent His Son, Jesus, into our world to shine as a light for all people, including You. Jesus has died for your sins and is risen for your righteousness. Therefore, as a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.

People: Amen.

OPENING SONG: “How Great Thou Art”                      LBW 532

Text: Carl Boberg, arr. Stuart K Hine. © 1949 and 1953 Stuart Hine Trust CIO Stuart K. Hine Trust (Administration: USA All rights by Capitol CMG Publishing, except print rights for USA, administered by Hope Publishing.) CCLI SONG #14181

O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder

Consider all the worlds thy hand hath made,

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,

Thy power throughout the universe displayed;

CHORUS

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee,

How great thou art! How great thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee,

How great thou art! How great thou art!

When through the woods and forest glades I wander,

I hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;

When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur

And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze;

CHORUS

But when I think that God, his Son not sparing,

sent him to die, I scarce can take it in,

That on the cross my burden gladly bearing

He bled and died to take away my sin;

CHORUS

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,

And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!

Then I shall bow in humble adoration

And there proclaim, “My God how great thou art!”

CHORUS

SERVICE OF THE WORD

The Gospel Lesson:                                                      John 15:1-8

Jesus says that He is the vine and His people are the branches.

 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

Reader: This is the Gospel of the Lord.

People: Praise to You, O Christ!

SERMON: CONNECTED

FOCUSED PRAYER

Pastor:    In peace let us pray to the Lord:

People: Lord, have mercy.

Pastor:    For the gift of divine peace and of pardon, with all our heart and with all our mind, let us pray to the Lord:

People: Lord, have mercy.

Pastor:    For the Christian Church, here and scattered throughout the world, and for the proclamation of the Gospel and the calling of all to faith—especially to today our brothers in sisters in Christ at College United Methodist Church in Philomath, let us pray to the Lord:

People: Lord, have mercy.

Pastor:   For this nation, for our cities and communities—especially the community of Philomath, let us pray to the Lord:

People: Lord, have mercy.

Pastor:   For seasonable weather and for the fruitfulness of the earth, let us pray to the Lord:

People: Lord, have mercy.

Pastor:   For those who labor, for those whose work is difficult or dangerous, and for all who travel, let us pray to the Lord:

People: Lord, have mercy.

Pastor:   For those in need, for the hungry and homeless, for the widowed and orphaned, and for all those in prison, let us pray to the Lord:

People: Lord, have mercy.

Pastor:    For…(additional bids for prayer)…let us pray to the Lord:

People: Lord, have mercy.

Pastor:    Finally, for these and for all our needs of body and soul, let us pray to the Lord:

People: Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Amen.

WORDS OF INSTITUTION

Pastor:    Blessed are you, Lord of heaven and earth. In mercy for our fallen world you gave your only Son, that all those who believe in him should not perish, but have eternal life. We give thanks to you for the salvation you have prepared for us through Jesus. Send now your Holy Spirit into our hearts, that we may receive our Lord with a living faith as he comes to us in his holy supper.

People: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Pastor:   In the night in which he was betrayed our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: “Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me. Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.

Communion Song: “At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing”          LBW 210 (vs. 1-4)

Public Domain © Public Domain, CCLI SONG #2873402

At the Lamb’s high feast, we sing

Praise to our victorious king,

Who has washed us in the tide

Flowing from his pierced side. Alleluia!

Praise we him, whose love divine

Gives his sacred blood for wine,

Gives his body for the feast –

Christ the victim, Christ the priest. Alleluia!

Where the Paschal blood is poured

Death’s dread angel sheathes the sword;

Israel’s hosts triumphant go

Through the wave that drowns the foe. Alleluia!

Praise we Christ, whose blood was shed,

Paschal victim, paschal bread;

With sincerity and love

Eat we manna from above. Alleluia!

LORD’S PRAYER

ALL:   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 and ever. Amen.

COMMUNION INSTRUCTIONS & MUSIC

  • Pay attention to the Ushers: They will guide you when to come up.
  • We will begin with the front rows first, and then work our way back.
  • We ask that you deposit the empty communion container into the bin. At this location there is also an opportunity to collect offering. This concludes the service. You are welcome to exit the parking lot by the east entrance. 

Distribution (Pastor and Elders)

SHORT PERSONAL DISMISSALS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

MEMORIAL SERVICES

  • May 22           10:00 AM      Don Malcolm’s Memorial

Service.

  • May 29           11:00 AM       Art Labahn’s Memorial Service.

CHURCH OFFICE HOURS:

  • Monday through Thursday
    • 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Sun., May 2               Drive in Communion Service

Mon., May 3              Office Closed

Tue., May 4               Office Open               9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Wed., May 5              Eat, Chat, Pray         7:30 AM

Office Open               9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Dementia Warriors 2:30 PM

Thu., May 6               Men @ Imagine       7:00 AM

Office Open               9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Ladies Guild (?)        1:00 PM

Fri., May 7                 Office Open               9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Sat., May 8                Office Closed

Sun., May 9               Sunday School          10:00 AM

                                    Worship                     11:00 AM