PRELUDE Ta Wei Tsai
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Rev. Dr. Seth Thomas
CALL TO WORSHIP Randy Pries
Our God gathers us here.
We have been tested, we have suffered,
but God has brought us through.
Come, let us tell of what God has done for us!
We cried aloud to God,
and God listened and answered.
Therefore, we will praise God with shouts of joy!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
*HYMN OF PRAISE “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing” – GTG #610
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Holy One,
We love you imperfectly:
we do not always keep your commandments.
We love each other imperfectly:
we hurt those you call us to love
through our actions and our inaction.
We love ourselves imperfectly:
we struggle to believe that we are truly your children,
made in your image.
Forgive us.
By the power of your Spirit,
make us more faithful
that we might live as Christ has shown us,
reflecting your love and grace.
ASSURANCE OF GOD’S GRACE
*THE PEACE
The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
Psalm 66:8-20NRSV
John 14:15-21NRSV
CHORAL ANTHEM Walk in the Light
by Larry Shackley
SJPC Choir
SERMON READING John 14:15-21 pg. 109
SERMON “Abiding, Obeying, Loving” Rev. Dr. Seth Thomas
*HYMN OF RESPONSE “In Christ There Is No East or West” – GTG #317
WE RESPOND TO GOD’S INVITATION TO DISCIPLESHIP
JOYS & CONCERNS
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
THE LORD’S PRAYER
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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
OFFERTORY One Summer’s Day, from the movie Spirited Away
by Joe Hisaishi
*DOXOLOGY “For the Life That You Have Given” – GTG #717
For the life that you have given, for the love in Christ made known, With these fruits of time and labor, with these gifts that are your own; Here we offer, Lord, our praises; heart and mind and strength we bring; Give us grace to love and serve you, Living what we pray and sing.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
*SINGING WELCOME AS CHILDREN RETURN TO SANCTUARY
Welcome, children, welcome, we are glad you’re here.
Welcome, children, welcome. Now to God draw near.
*HYMN OF COMMITMENT “Abide with Me” – GTG #836
WE GO INTO THE WORLD AS GOD’S AMBASSADORS
*BLESSING & CHARGE
POSTLUDE
GODLY PLAY: Mary Mother of Jesus
This story follows the story of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Mary’s story parallels the stories of divine intervention in the birth of Isaac to Sarah and Samuel to Hannah.
We hope you will join us at 10:15am for songs and memory verse time in the lounge. At 10:30, children will go downstairs to Godly Play, and adults will go upstairs to worship. Students will be brought upstairs for the final hymn.
LECTIONARY TEXTS
For anyone wishing to study the lectionary texts this week,
May 14th, the Lectionary texts are:
Psalm 66:8-20 (worship)
John 14:15-21 (sermon)
1 Peter 3:13-22
Acts 17:22-31
Psalm 115
Ezekiel 34:1-7
MOVIE NIGHT - THIS FRIDAY!
Join us Friday evening May 19th in the St James fellowship hall for a TBD movie. Come at 6pm for pizza and fellowship and the movie will start at 6:30. Bring your favorite movie snacks to share! Let Tracy or Tess know if you are coming so we know how much pizza to order.
ST. JAMES WORK PARTY - THIS SATURDAY!
Time for spring cleaning! Join us and Boy Scouts troop 4007 on Saturday morning May 20th from 9-11am, to help spruce up the beautiful landscaping and building! We will be working in the gardens as well as cleaning up the inside of the building. No experience necessary and all tools and cleaning products will be provided, along with donuts!
ST JAMES TRAILMIXERS - THIS SATURDAY!
St. James Trailmixers is a new group of folks at the church that want to get outside and enjoy God’s creation and each others company. This group is for varying hiking abilities and we have chosen 4 days for spring and summer to hike, walk, maybe swim and have fun. This is for kids, adults, men, women and everyone in between. ALL ARE WELCOME! Walking together in community is inherently a type of pilgrimage. Being out in this beautiful world God created is a spiritual practice. Please invite friends and family even if they are not connected to St. James or church at all. Check the Pulse for future dates. Our first hike will be:
Date: May 20th
Location: Whatcom Falls Park
Time/Plan: Meet at Bloedel Donovan park at 11:00 AM, hike/walk in park for 2 hours. Optional trip to Lafeens Donuts near the park after our hike/walk.
What to Bring: Your lovely self!
*Email or call Ryan Knight if you want to carpool from the church instead of drive to Bloedell Donovan park. knight.ryanp@gmail.com
SIGN UP TO HELP
Do you love meeting new people? Do you consider yourself a warm and welcoming person? We need ushers for Sunday mornings! Have you been or are you an elder or deacon and would like to be involved in worship? We are also in need of communion servers! Sign-up sheets are in the horizon room for ushers and communion servers; sign up there or let the office know if you are interested but have any questions.
VBS IS BACK-REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
We will once again be partnering with First Presbyterian Church to offer a four day Vacation Bible School for children entering Kindergarten thru 5th grade. Registration is open and we hope you will join us as we Gather Around Jesus at Camp Creation. Volunteers are also needed, please talk to Tracy if you can help! Go to tinyurl.com/campcreation23 to register.
BOOK CLUB
St. James book club is currently reading When Books Went to War: The Stories That Helped Us Win World War II, a work of historical nonfiction by Molly Guptill Manning, explores the consequences of book burning during World War II, and how a group of librarians campaigned to save these books.Copies of the book are available in the office. We will meet the third Monday in May, May 15th, at 7:00pm via zoom. Contact Tracy for the zoom link.
PRAYERS, PRAISES, AND UPDATES
If you have a prayer request or update you would like to share, please email office@saintjamespres.org.
A video of the live service stream will be available by 10:30 am Sunday morning. You can click on the video to stream the service. Check back and refresh your page to receive new content.
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