Worship Guide
April 14, 2024
Third Sunday of Easter
Creating Disciples of Jesus who Transform the World
ENTRANCE WITH PRAISE
Greetings:
Minister: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!
People: And also with you!
Special Music: Stefanie
Centering Words:
Trust God. Trust the miracles you have known. Trust the miracle you can be.
*Call to Worship:
Leader: Turn to Christ,
People: who calls us here.
Leader: Place your trust in God,
People: who protects our lives.
Leader: Lean into Spirit,
People: as we worship in Spirit and truth.
Leader: Let us pray.
ALL: God of miracles and truth, bless us, as we gather for worship, with the power of your Holy Spirit. Reveal your presence in our midst and open our hearts and minds to receive your miraculous love. Strengthen our faith this day, that we may go forth as witnesses of your miraculous love. Amen
Hymn: “Sanctuary”
Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary,
pure and holy, tried and true.
With thanksgiving, I'll be a living sanctuary for you.
Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary,
pure and holy, tried and true.
With thanksgiving, I'll be a living sanctuary for you.
Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary,
pure and holy, tried and true.
With thanksgiving, I'll be a living sanctuary for you.
I'll be a living sanctuary for you.
PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD
Words of Assurance
God fills our hearts with joy and covers our lives with grace.
Rest in this truth and be at peace. All is well and all will be well.
Thanks be to God. Amen
*Gospel Reading: Luke 24:36-48
36 Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look 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.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate in their presence.
44 Then 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.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.
Leader: This is the Word of God for the people of God
People: Thanks be to God.
WORD AND RESPONSE
Time with Young Friends: “Jesus Loves Me”
Children’s Message: “Mirror, Mirror”
Hymn: “Close to Thee”
Thou my everlasting Portion,
more than friend or life to me,
all along my pilgrim journey,
Savior, let me walk with thee.
Close to thee, close to thee,
close to thee, close to thee,
all along my pilgrim journey,
Savior, let me walk with thee.
Not for ease or worldly pleasure,
nor for fame my prayer shall be;
gladly will I toil and suffer,
only let me walk with thee.
Close to thee, close to thee,
close to thee, close to thee,
gladly will I toil and suffer,
only let me walk with thee.
Lead me through the vale of shadows,
bear me o'er life’s fitful sea;
then the gate of life eternal
may I enter, Lord, with thee.
Close to thee, close to thee,
close to thee, close to thee,
then the gate of life eternal
may I enter, Lord, with thee.
Sermon: “We Purify in Hope” 1 John 3:1-7
1 See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. 3 And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
4 Everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
Hymn: “Loving Spirit”
Loving Spirit, loving Spirit,
you have chosen me to be--
you have drawn me to your wonder,
you have set your sign on me.
Like a mother, you enfold me,
hold my life within your own,
feed me with your very body,
form me of your flesh and bone.
Like a father, you protect me,
teach me the discerning eye,
hoist me up upon your shoulder,
let me see the world from high.
Friend and lover, in your closeness
I am known and held and blessed;
in your promised is my comfort,
in your presence I may rest.
Loving Spirit, loving Spirit,
you have chosen me to be--
you have drawn me to your wonder,
you have set your sign on me.
Psalter: Psalm 4
1 Answer me when I call, O God of my right!
You gave me room when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer.
2 How long, you people, shall my honor suffer shame?
How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies?
3 But know that the Lord has set apart the faithful for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him.
4 When you are disturbed, do not sin;
ponder it on your beds, and be silent.
5 Offer right sacrifices,
and put your trust in the Lord.
6 There are many who say, “O that we might see some good!
Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord!”
7 You have put gladness in my heart
more than when their grain and wine abound.
8 I will both lie down and sleep in peace;
for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.
Gloria Patri
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.
Prayers of the People: Joys and concerns:
Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer
SENDING FORTH
Hymn: “God of Grace and God of Glory”
God of grace and God of glory,
on thy people pour thy power;
crown thine ancient church’s story,
bring her bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
for the facing of this hour,
for the facing of this hour.
Lo! the hosts of evil ’round us,
scorn thy Christ, assail his ways!
Fear and doubts too long have bound us;
free our hearts to work and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
for the living of these days,
for the living of these days.
Cure thy children’s warring madness,
bend our pride to thy control;
shame our wanton selfish gladness,
rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Lest we miss thy kingdom’s goal,
Lest we miss thy kingdom’s goal.
Save us from weak resignation,
to the evils we deplore;
let the search for thy salvation
be our glory evermore.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
serving thee whom we adore,
serving thee whom we adore.
Benediction
