Worship Guide
April 30, 2023
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: “Goodness of God” Stefanie
Centering Words:
God of goodness and mercy, follow me all my days! Source of grace and compassion, flow from me all my days!
*Call to Worship:
Leader: Hear Jesus’ great truth: I am the gate for the sheep!
People: We recognize this voice. We’ve heard these words before.
Leader: Come in! You belong here! You are safe and cared for here!
People: We recognize the voice of our shepherd.
Leader: Follow and find green pastures and still waters!
People: We hear his voice.
Leader: I come to give life and give it abundantly.
People: Come one, come all!!
Leader: Let us pray
ALL: Risen Savior, Reliable Shepherd, we hear your voice calling us to follow. We remember our ancient brothers and sisters who gathered in prayer and praise. Today, we too gather in prayer and praise. Enliven us with your resurrection power– a power that frees us from despair. Enliven us with your abundant life. May your living power flow through us in all we are and do! Amen.
Hymn: “Love Lifted Me”
I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore,
very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more,
but the Master of the sea, heard my despairing cry,
from the waters lifted me, now safe am I.
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help Love lifted me!
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help Love lifted me!
Souls in danger look above, Jesus completely saves;
he will lift you by his love, out of the angry waves.
He’s the Master of the sea, billows his will obey,
he your Savior wants to be, be saved today.
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help Love lifted me!
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help Love lifted me!
PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD
Words of Assurance
Jesus is our gate. We will enter and be saved.
Jesus is our shepherd. We will walk upon his paths.
Jesus restores our souls, and makes us whole. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives.
And we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Amen.
Special Music: “Hold On to Me” Meagan
*New Testament Reading: Acts 2:42-47
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
43 Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
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: “Look Like Jesus”
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.
Sermon: “Guardian of the Soul” 1 Peter 2:19-25
19 For it is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. 20 If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God’s approval. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.
22 “He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
23 When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
Hymn: “Lord of the Dance”
I danced in the morning when the world was begun,
and I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun,
and I came down from heaven and I danced on the earth,
At Bethlehem I had my birth.
Dance, then, wherever you may be;
I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.
And I’ll lead you all wherever you may be,
And I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.
I danced for the scribe and the Pharisee,
but they would not dance
and they would not follow me;
I danced for the fishermen, for James and John;
they came to me and the dance went on.
Dance, then, wherever you may be;
I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.
And I’ll lead you all wherever you may be,
And I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.
I danced on the sabbath when I cured the lame,
the holy people said it was a shame;
they whipped and they stripped and they hung me high;
and they left me there on a cross to die.
Dance, then, wherever you may be;
I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.
And I’ll lead you all wherever you may be,
And I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.
I danced on a Friday and the sky turned black;
it’s hard to dance with the devil on your back;
they buried my body and they thought I’d gone,
but I am the dance and I still go on.
Dance, then, wherever you may be;
I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.
And I’ll lead you all wherever you may be,
And I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.
They cut me down and I leapt up high,
I am the life that’ll never, never die;
I’ll live in you if you’ll live in me;
I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.
Dance, then, wherever you may be;
I am the Lord of the Dance, said he.
And I’ll lead you all wherever you may be,
And I’ll lead you all in the dance, said he.
Psalter: A Modern Affirmation
Where the Spirit of the Lord is,
there is the one true church,
apostolic and universal,
whose holy faith let us now declare:
We believe in God the Father,
infinite in wisdom, power, and love, whose mercy is over all his works, and whose will is ever directed to his children's good.
We believe in Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of man,
the gift of the Father's unfailing grace, the ground of our hope, and the promise of our deliverance from sin and death.
We believe in the Holy Spirit as the divine presence in
our lives, whereby we are kept in perpetual remembrance of the truth of Christ, and find strength and help in time of need.
We believe that this faith should manifest itself in the
service of love as set forth in the example of our blessed Lord, to the end that the kingdom of God may come upon the earth.
Amen
Praise God from Whom All Blessing 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
Special Music: “Perfectly Loved” Stefanie & Charles
Prayers of the People: Joys and concerns
Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer
Special Music: “Remember” Meagan
SENDING FORTH
Hymn: “Leave it There”
If the world from you withhold of its silver and its gold,
and you have to get along with meager fare,
just remember in his Word how he feeds the little bird,
take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
Leave it there, leave it there,
take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
If you trust and never doubt, he will surely bring you out;
take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
If your body suffers pain, and your health you cant regain,
and your soul is almost sinking in despair,
Jesus knows the pain you feel, he can save and he can heal,
take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
Leave it there, leave it there,
take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
If you trust and never doubt, he will surely bring you out;
take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
When your enemies assail, and your heart begins to fail,
don't forget that God in heaven answers prayers;
he will make a way for you, and will lead you safely through,
take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
Leave it there, leave it there,
take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
If you trust and never doubt, he will surely bring you out;
take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
When your youthful days are done, and old age is stealing on,
and your body bends beneath the weight of care,
he will never leave you then, he'll go with you to the end,
take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
Leave it there, leave it there,
take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
If you trust and never doubt, he will surely bring you out;
take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.
Benediction
