The Bulletin is at: 04-29-2018 – Bulletin
The Service in PDF format is at: 04-29-2018 – Service
or the service is as follows:
FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
April 29, 2018
AS WE GATHER… In one of His several “I am” statements, Jesus says, “I am the vine. You are the branches.” Inviting His hearers to a place of rest and refuge, He says, “Abide in Me.” In the Epistle, John correlates confessing that Jesus is the Son of God with experiencing and coming to trust in the love God has for us. Abiding in Jesus means abiding in God’s love. And God Himself abides in us. This relationship of abiding in Jesus, who Himself is love, was experienced by the Ethiopian eunuch when Philip told him the Good News about Jesus and the Ethiopian was baptized.
P: In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen!
P: Praise the Lord!
C: Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens!
P: Praise Him for His mighty deeds; praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
C: Praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with lute and harp!
P: Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
C: Praise the Lord!
OPENING UP TO GOD…
P: God who is gracious and merciful:
C: We confess our sins to you, the sins in our thoughts, words and actions. You command us to love one another as You have loved us. Our love for others often misses the mark. Instead of warmly welcoming others, too often we have approached people with cold hearts. Instead of extending Your mercy and grace, too often we have kept it just for ourselves. Forgive us today on account of Your Son—Jesus. 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.
Silence for Reflection
…AND RECEIVE GOD’S FORGIVENESS
P: Jesus said, “Whatever you ask in my Father’s name, it will be given to you.” Having asked for forgiveness by confessing to the Father, now receive the forgiveness you desire. Jesus died for your sins and took on your punishment. You are forgiven. I announce God’s grace and forgiveness in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen!
SONG OF PRAISE: “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name”
- All hail the pow’r of Jesus’ name! Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem And crown him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem And crown him Lord of all.
- Let ev’ry kindred, en’ry tribe On this terrestrial ball
To him all majesty ascribe And crown him Lord of all.
To him all majesty ascribe And crown him Lord of all.
P: The Lord be with You!
C: And also with you!
P: We pray together:
C: O God, You make the minds of Your faithful to be of one will. Grant that we may love what You have commanded and desire what You promise, that among the many changes of this world, our hearts may be fixed where true joys are found. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
Philip is sent to meet the Ethiopian eunuch to tell him the Good News about Jesus.
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:
“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter
and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opens not his mouth.
In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”
And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
Jesus is the vine. We are the branches. Abide in Him and abide in love.
“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.
SERMON HYMN “This is My Commandment”
- This is my commandment that you love one another,
That your joy may be full.
This is my commandment that you love one another,
That your joy may be full.
That your joy may be full, that your joy may be full.
This is my commandment that you love one another,
That your joy may be full.
- This is my commandment that you trust one another
That your joy may be full. (2x)
- This is my commandment that you serve one another
That your joy may be full. (2x)
C: I have faith in God, in response to overwhelming love…I believe that God created me and all that I have, and has given to me gifts beyond measure.
I have faith in Jesus, who emptied Himself out of His love for me. I believe that Christ died on a cross for my sin, conquered death and the power of evil, and was raised to life on the third day. His death is mine, His resurrection is mine, new life is mine because of Jesus’ words and work.
I believe in the Holy Spirit in response to overwhelming love. I believe that the Holy Spirit is present here among us and lives within each person. The Spirit continues to call people by the Gospel, and creates and builds the church of Christ. Through the power of the Spirit I have power to stand in strength and against all adversity.
I believe that Jesus is preparing a place for me and will come again to take each of us to be with Him. Amen.
OFFERING
We offer our thanksgiving for what God has first given us—ourselves, our time, our possessions.
OFFERTORY
P: Lord Jesus, You are greater than all and have been given the name that is above every name. Tune our hearts to listen to Your voice, and draw us away from the voices that clamor to deceive us. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Good Shepherd, Your Word is true, and Your love is greater than any power on earth. Fill with our leaders Your love. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Gracious King, Your kingdom is greater than all, and Your rule is limitless and unbounded. Grant that the rulers of the kingdoms of this world would bow their knees to Your gracious reign, seeking only the knowledge of Your will and the power to carry it out. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Great Physician, Your healing power is greater than all the technology of human invention. Be at work for good through the vocations of all healthcare professionals, workers, and caregivers that those who suffer any affliction of body, mind, or spirit, (including…), would know the nearness of Your presence and experience the joy that comes from abiding in Your love. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Hope of all the saints, You have purposed and prepared a future greater than we can imagine in Your creation of a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells. Bring us together with all Your saints to experience Your love together gathered around the throne of the Lamb, who loves all people and gave Himself for us. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy, through Christ Jesus, our Lord.
C: Amen.
CHOIR ANTHEM Holy Manna Joel Raney, George Atkins
Lord! Shower us with holy manna, Lord, shower us from above. We gather here to sing hosanna, we gather to share your love. (x2)
We have gathered here to worship and adore the Lord, our God. Will you pray with all your power while we try to preach the Word?
All is vain unless the spirit of the Holy One comes down. Christians pray, and holy manna will be showered all around.
Lord! Shower us with holy manna, Lord, shower us from above. We gather here to sing hosanna, we gather to share your love.
Let us love our God supremely, let us love each other, too. We gather here to sing hosanna, we gather to sing your love.
(Lord! Shower us with holy manna, lord, shower us from above. Let us love and pray for sinners, till our God makes all things new.)
Christ will call us home to heaven, at his table we’ll sit down; Christ will gird himself and serve us with sweet manna all around.
O Lord! Shower us with holy manna, Lord, shower us from above. We gather here to sing hosanna, we gather to share your love. (x2)
We gather to share God’s love.
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Lift up your hearts.
C: We lift them to the Lord.
P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C: It is right to give Him thanks and praise.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
LORD’S PRAYER
DISTRIBUTION
“People Need the Lord”
Every day they pass me by, I can see it in their eye;
Empty people filled with care, headed who knows where.
On they go through private pain, living fear to fear.
Laughter hides the silent cries only Jesus hears.
People need the Lord. People need the Lord.
At the end of broken dreams He’s the open door.
People need the Lord. People need the Lord.
When will we realize people need the Lord.
We are called to take His light to a world where wrong seems right;
What could be too great a cost for sharing life with one who’s lost.
Through His love our hearts can feel all the grief they bear.
They must hear the words of life only we can share.
People need the Lord. People need the Lord.
At the end of broken dreams He’s the open door.
People need the Lord. People need the Lord.
That we must give our live for people need the Lord.
People need the Lord.
“Jesus Loves Me”
- Jesus loves me –
this I know, For the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to Him belong –
They are weak, but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.
- Jesus loves me –
loves me still, Though I’m very weak and ill;
That I might from sin be free,
Bled and died upon the tree.
Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.
- Jesus loves me –
He who died, Heaven’s gate to open wide;
He will wash away my sin,
Let His little child come in!
Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.
- Jesus loves me –
He will stay Close beside me all the way,
Though hast bled and died for me,
I will henceforth live for the.
Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.
“In His Time”
- In His time (in His time), in His time (in His time),
He makes all things beautiful, in His time (in His time).
Lord please show my ev’ry day as you’re teaching me your way,
That you do just what you say, in your time (in Your time).
- In Your time (in Your time), in Your time (in Your time),
you make all things beautiful in your time (in Your time),
Lord, my life to you I bring; May each song I have to sing.
Be to You a lovely thing, in Your time (in Your time).
CLOSING SONG: “Do, Lord! Psalm 27
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Look away beyond the blue.
You’re my light and my salvation, I won’t be afraid!
You’re the stronghold of my life, by You all things were made.
Foes attack me, hassle me, but I will never fade,
For I move in the strength of the Lord.
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Though a host encamp against me, I will never fear!
Even though a war surrounds me, You are always near.
One thing I have asked of you that I will seek for sure
Is to live in the house of the Lord.
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
You will hide me in Your shelter in the day of strife;
You’ll conceal me in Your tent or set me on the height.
Now my head is lifted up above the storms of night,
So I’ll sing to the name of the Lord.
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Glory be to God the Father and to God the Son;
Glory be to God the Spirit, ever Three in one.
As it was in the beginning, till our race is won
We can live in the light of the Lord.
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
P: Go in peace! Serve the Lord!
C: Thanks be to God!