Leading Us in Worship Today
Minister of Word and Sacrament Rev. Jaci Smith Patman
Liturgist Donna Jordon
Organist/Director of Music Dr. Heather Ankerbrand
Prelude Like the Murmur of the Dove's Song
Peter Cutts/James Biery
Welcome and Announcements
Opening Prayer & Gathering #252 Day of Arising, vs. 4
Christ, our companion, hope for the journey, bread of compassion, open our eyes.
Grant us your vision, set all hearts burning that all creation with you may rise.
Call to Worship
Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of praise be heard!
God has kept us among the living and has not let our feet slip.
We went through fire and through water, yet God has brought us out to a spacious place.
Come and hear what God has done for us, all who fear God.
Surely God has listened to us and heard our prayers!
Blessed be God, who is steadfast love.
Opening Hymn #246 Christ Is Alive!
(Please remain standing through the sung response)
Call to Confession
God does not reject our prayers. God does not withdraw love from us. Even when we fail to love others and struggle to love ourselves, God’s love is steadfast. Let us lift our prayers to God.
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 Forgiveness and Exchange of Peace
Because Christ lives, we also live. Not because of anything we have done, not because of our belief or faithfulness: we live because Christ lives.
This is the Christ who forgives us. This is the God who is in us.
This is the Spirit who is with us. Alleluia! Praise be to God!
May the peace of Christ be with you; And also with you.
Please exchange the peace of Christ with your neighbors.
Sung Response #447 We Are Forgiven
We are forgiven. We are forgiven. Thanks be to God. Thanks be to God. (Repeat)
Sermon for Faith Builders
Children are invited to go to Children’s Worship with our Children’s Ministry Coordinator, Ms. Marisa. They will return during the final hymn.
Cents-Ability
Prayers of the People and The Lord’s Prayer
Call to Offering
Offertory Now the Green Blade Rises French carol/Carl F Schalk
Sung Response #251 Christ Has Arisen, Alleluia, vs. 4
Let us sing praise to him with endless joy. Death’s fearful sting he has come to destroy.
Our sin forgiving, alleluia! Jesus is living, alleluia!
Prayer of Dedication
Hymn #286 Breathe on Me, Breath of God
Scripture Reading Genesis 1:1-2
Anthem #395 Blessed Jesus, at Your Word
T. Clausnitzer/C. Winkworth/J. R. Ahle
Sermon He Comes to Us John 14:15-21
Affirmation of Faith Confession of 1967, 9.22 (Adapted)
New life in Christ takes shape in a community in which people know that God loves and accepts them in spite of what they are. They therefore accept themselves and love others, knowing that no one has any ground on which to stand, except God’s grace.
Closing Hymn #282 Come Down, O Love Divine
Benediction
Postlude This Joyful Eastertide George Ratcliffe Woodward/Paul Bouman
