Gathering
Prelude “The Old Rugged Cross” arranged by Larry Shackley
* GREETING # 307 “God of Grace and Glory” stanza 1
Harry Emerson Fosdick, 1930 Tune: cwm rhondda
1.
God of grace and God of glory,
on thy people pour thy power;
crown thine ancient church’s story;
bring its bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage.
for the facing of this hour,
for the facing of this hour,
* CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Let us worship God.
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
People: He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Luke 24:34
L: Glory and honor,
P: Dominion and power,
L: Be to God forever
P: And ever. Revelation 7:12
L: Praise the Lord
P: The Lord’s name be praised. Psalm 113:1,3
* HYMN # 307 “God of Grace and Glory” stanzas 2 & 3
Harry Emerson Fosdick, 1930 Tune: cwm rhondda
2.
Lo! the hosts of evil round us
scorn thy Christ, assail his ways!
From the fears that long have bound us
free our hearts to faith and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
for the living of these days,
for the living of these days.
3.
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.
* CALL TO CONFESSION
* PRAYER OF CONFESSION
ALL: Almighty God, in raising Jesus from the grave,
you shattered the power of sin and death.
We confess that we remain captive to doubt and fear,
bound by the ways that lead to death.
Forgive us, God of mercy.
Help us to trust your power
to change our lives and make us new,
that we may know the joy of life abundant
given in Jesus Christ, the risen Lord.
* SILENT CONFESSION
* DECLARATION OF PARDON (Responsively)
Leader: Sisters and Brothers in Christ: . . .
Friends, believe the good news.
People: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
* SUNG RESPONSE# 307 “God of Grace and Glory” stanza 4
Harry Emerson Fosdick, 1930 Tune: cwm rhondda
ALL: Save us from weak resignation
to the evils we deplore.
Let the gift of thy salvation
be our glory evermore.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
serving thee whom we adore,
serving thee whom we adore.
* THE PASSING OF THE PEACE OF CHRIST
L: The peace of Christ be with you.
All: And also with you.
L: Let us share the peace of Christ with one another.
CONCERNS AND CELEBRATIONS
TIME WITH YOUNG DISCIPLES
THE WORD
FIRST READING Acts 4:32-35
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
PSALM 133 “O Look and Wonder”
text and music, Pablo Sosa, 1972 Tune: miren qué bueno
cantor: Melissa Ray
Antiphon (all sing):
O look and wonder:
how good it is! (repeat)
GOSPEL READING John 20:19-31
Leader: The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
PREACHING OF THE WORD
“Believers Share Their Possessions”
* HYMN # 316 “Where Charity and Love Prevail”
Latin hymn, ca. 8th century Tune: twenty-fourth c.m.
stanzas 1 & 4 & 5
* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH:
The Second Helvetic (Swiss) Confession (1566)
ALL: We believe and teach
that the same Jesus Christ our Lord,
in his true flesh
in which he was crucified and died,
rose again from the dead,
(not that another flesh was raised
other than the one buried,
or that a spirit was taken up
instead of the flesh),
but that Jesus Christ retained his true body. (5.073)
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE (Responsively)
One: O Lord our God, ...bring your peace into our militant world.
All: As you sent Christ, now send us.
One: We pray for the church …serving not ourselves but your glory.
All: As you sent Christ, now send us.
One: We pray for religious and secular authorities who speak truth to power.
All: As you sent Christ, now send us.
One: We pray for those in need of healing and hope.
All: As you sent Christ, now send us.
One: We pray for the wounded in our world, those who suffer from war, oppression, famine, and disease.
All: As you sent Christ, now send us.
One: Grant that our words and actions . . . your faithful witness and our Lord and Savior.
All: Amen.
SUNG RESPONSE Tune: ubi carita (Taizé)
Text: Latin 8th century
After each intercession, respond with alternating English & Latin
OFFERING OF GIFTS
OFFERING OF MUSIC “Via Dolorosa”
flautist, Maddie Smoyer
* DOXOLOGICAL RESPONSE Tune: easter hymn
ALL: To the Father, and the Son, Alleluia!
And the Spirit, Three in One. Alleluia!
Honor, praise, and glory be, Alleluia!
Now and in eternity. Alleluia!
* PRAYER of THANKSGIVING
Leader: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
L: Lift up your hearts.
P: We lift them to the Lord.
L: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
P: It is right to give God thanks and praise.
We give you thanks, great God,
for the hope we have in Jesus,
who died but is risen and rules over all.
We praise you for his presence with us.
Because he lives, we look for eternal life,
knowing that nothing past, present, or yet to come
can separate us from your great love
made known in Jesus Christ our Lord. (BCW, p. 323)
The Lord’s Prayer (the summary of all 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.
SENDING
* HYMN # 301 “Let Us Build a House” stanzas 2 & 5
Text and music, Marty Haugen, 1994 Tune: two oaks
* CHARGE & BLESSING
Leader: Go in peace. Go to celebrate…who loves us and sets us free.
All: Amen.
* HYMN # 301 “Let Us Build a House” stanza 4
Text and music, Marty Haugen, 1994 Tune: two oaks
*POSTLUDE
MINISTERS ALL GOD’S CHILDREN
Church Address: 1668 State Route 56
PO Box 154, Spring Church, PA 15686
Church e-mail: http://boilingspringschurch@yahoo.com
Church Telephone: (724) 478 – 1523
Church website: bspchurch.com
Offerings of your gifts mailed to the post office address above OR online gifts via PayPal on our church website are gratefully appreciated . . . THANK YOU!!!
For the duration of social distancing, we plan to livestream each service as well as upload it to our church website: bspchurch.webs.com.
PRAYER CONCERNS: Please keep these people in your prayers: our sisters and brothers in Christ of the Matyazo Sub Parish in Rwanda, those touched by the Coronavirus; for healing of political divisions in our country; Lois Conn, Dorothy Huselton, Bernice Bittinger, LaRue Householder, Pat & Bob Musick, Carol Townsend, Karen Townsend, Doug Stewart, Joe Klonowski, Florence Benninger, Bob Felgar, Virginia Callen, Bill Sloan, and Kelli Duriancik, Marjorie Baker, Connie Davis, and Josh Dunmire.
Contact the church secretary for any prayer requests you would like noted during our services.
http://boilingspringschurch@yahoo.com
PASTORAL EMERGENCIES: contact Peter Bower via e-mail at zpcbower@aol.com or (412) 621 - 0367.
Communicate with each other regarding:
* How everyone is surviving emotionally and spiritually?
* What needs are people experiencing?
* In what ways can our prayers for others lead to action for others?
* In what ways can we “shake hands” by touching hearts of neighbors near and far?
Please contact Dianna Sloan, moderator of the Deacons, regarding people about whom you are aware who could use a helping hand from the Deacons’ Fund.
EVERY SUNDAY – Deacons welcome contributions to our Food Basket . . . during the pandemic, the need is great!
NOTE: The per capita for 2021 is $33.65 per member.
TOMORROW -- Monday, 12 April - Session mtg. @ 6:00 p.m.
NOTE: There will be a presentation by a vender regarding their video equipment for us to consider purchasing. The more members who are involved and knowledgeable about this critical project the better, so EVERYONE is invited to be present tomorrow evening for the presentation at 6:00 p.m.
WEDNESDAY – Evening Prayer (Vespers) @ 6:00 p.m.
SUNDAY, April 18 – 3rd Sunday of Easter
9:45 a.m. – Children’s Sunday School AND
Adult Education Class Come join us!
11:00 a.m. – Corporate Worship
(weather permitting, in nature’s cathedral:“hope springs eternal”)
Now that spring temperatures have arrived, we plan to worship in the pavilion every Sunday, weather permitting. So, watch for a Sunday morning e-mail indicating we are OUTDOORS in the Pavilion
NEXT WEEK’S REVISED COMMON LECTIONARY TEXTS:
Acts 3:12-19 Psalm 4
I John 3:1-7 Luke 24:36b-48
In preparation for next Sunday, read the appointed biblical texts which are God’s gift to all the baptized. The text which will provide the basis for the sermon is boldfaced.
The more preparation we all can bring to Sunday morning, the more intentional can be our response: “Thanks be to God!
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CONGREGATIONAL MEETINGS:
A meeting of the Congregation of the Boiling Springs Presbyterian Church, Spring Church, Pennsylvania, is hereby called for Sunday morning, 25 April 2021 and 16 May 2021, following public worship, for the following purpose:
An update of our session’s conversations with the session of
the Apollo United Presbyterian Church about considering
either partnership or merger with the Apollo U. P. Church
(we need every member’s questions and comments).
–Patti Townsend, Clerk of Session
“2021 Summer Outing: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. St. Louis”
When: Saturday, 28 August 2021, @ 4:30 p.m.
Supper at the Bower’s home in the Burgh
cost: $25.00 per person
(includes Brunch AND game ticket)
(make checks payable to “Boiling Springs Presbyterian Church”)
(+ indicate at bottom: “Pirates Game”)
Preference to first 37 individuals to sign up AND pay.
NOTE: At the moment, the Pirates are limiting their seating capacity to only 25%, but have guaranteed that we will be part of that 25% for this game. So, you now may sign up on the sheet in the hallway, but we shall continue to monitor this situation. And, whatever the outcome, please SAVE THIS DATE as we shall substitute another churchwide activity if necessary.
