Worship Guide
May 8, 2022
Fourth 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: “A Mother’s Prayer” Stefanie
Centering Words:
Christ is our shepherd, who knows us and calls us. Our shepherd gives us eternal life; no one can snatch us from his hand.
*Call to Worship:
Leader: Christ is our shepherd.
People: We are Christ’s sheep.
Leader: The shepherd is calling us to join God’s flock.
People: We will follow our shepherd.
Leader: Rejoice, little one, for no one can snatch us from the shepherd’s hand.
People: In God’s flock, we rest secure.
Leader: Come! Let us pray.
ALL: Loving Shepherd, in the midst of sorrow and loss, you wipe away every tear from our eyes. May the wonders of your love reach down to us this day. As Peter raised Tabitha from the dead, raise us also to new life. Help us cling no longer to the darkness threatening to overcome our world, that we may reside in the glory of the Lamb. Wake us from the slumber that numbs our spirit, even as you nourish us in the strength of your Spirit. May the world see the shepherd living in us, and may we come to dwell in your pastures, which remain ever green. Amen.
Hymn: “He Leadeth Me”
He leadeth me, O blessed thought!
O words with heav’nly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be
still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.
He leadeth me, he leadeth me,
by his own hand he leadeth me;
his faithful foll’wer I would be,
for by his hand he leadeth me.
Sometimes ’mid scenes of deepest gloom,
sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom,
by waters still, o’er troubled sea,
still ’tis his hand that leadeth me.
He leadeth me, he leadeth me,
by his own hand he leadeth me;
his faithful foll’wer I would be,
for by his hand he leadeth me.
Lord, I would place my hand in thine,
nor ever murmur nor repine;
content, whatever lot I see,
since ’tis my God that leadeth me.
He leadeth me, he leadeth me,
by his own hand he leadeth me;
his faithful foll’wer I would be,
for by his hand he leadeth me.
And when my task on earth is done,
when by thy grace the vict’ry’s won,
e’en death’s cold wave I will not flee,
since God through Jordan leadeth me.
He leadeth me, he leadeth me,
by his own hand he leadeth me;
his faithful foll’wer I would be,
for by his hand he leadeth me.
PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD
Words of Assurance
Trust the words of our shepherd: “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them our of my hand.”
Rest secure that our shepherd loves us, and leads us into life.
Praises be to God.
*New Testament Reading: John 10:22-30
22 At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; 26 but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand.
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: “Dorcas”
Hymn: “Blessed Assurance”
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior, all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior, all the day long.
Perfect submission, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior, all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior, all the day long.
Perfect submission, all is at rest
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior, all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior, all the day long.
Sermon: “Get Up!” Acts 9:36-43
36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. 37 At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40 Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. 41 He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. 42 This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 Meanwhile he stayed in Joppa for some time with a certain Simon, a tanner.
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
Hymn: “I Am Thine, O Lord”
I am thine, O Lord, I have heard thy voice,
and it told thy love to me;
but I long to rise in the arms of faith
and be closer drawn to thee.
Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
to the cross where thou hast died.
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
to thy precious, bleeding side.
Consecrate me now to thy service, Lord,
by the power of grace divine;
let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
and my will be lost in thine.
Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
to the cross where thou hast died.
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
to thy precious, bleeding side.
O the pure delight of a single hour
that before thy throne I spend,
when I kneel in prayer, and with thee, my God
I commune as friend with friend!
Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
to the cross where thou hast died.
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
to thy precious, bleeding side.
There are depths of love that I cannot know
till I cross the narrow sea;
there are heights of joy that I may not reach
till I rest in peace with Thee.
Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
to the cross where thou hast died.
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
to thy precious, bleeding side.
Psalter: Psalm 23
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 The Lord makes me lie down in green pastures,
leads me beside still waters,
3 restores my life,
leads me in right paths for the sake of
the Lord's name.
4 Even though I walk through the darkest
valley, I fear no evil;
for you are with me; your rod and your
staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the
presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil, my cup
overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the
Lord as long as I live.
Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow
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
Prayers of the People: Joys and concerns
Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer
SENDING FORTH
Hymn: “There’s Within My Heart a Melody”
There’s within my heart a melody
Jesus whispers sweet and low:
Fear not, I am with thee, peace, be still,
in all of life’s ebb and flow.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
sweetest name I know,
fills my every longing,
keeps me singing as I go.
All my life was wrecked by sin and strife,
discord filled my heart with pain;
Jesus swept across the broken strings,
stirred the slumbering chords again.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
sweetest name I know,
fills my every longing,
keeps me singing as I go.
Though sometimes he leads through waters deep,
trials fall across the way,
though sometimes the path seems rough and steep,
see his footprints all the way.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
sweetest name I know,
fills my every longing,
keeps me singing as I go.
Feasting on the riches of his grace,
resting neath his sheltering wing,
always looking on his smiling face,
that is why I shout and sing.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
sweetest name I know,
fills my every longing,
keeps me singing as I go.
Soon he’s coming back to welcome me
far beyond the starry sky;
I shall wing my flight to worlds unknown;
I shall reign with him on high.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
sweetest name I know,
fills my every longing,
keeps me singing as I go.
Benediction
