April 28, 2024 Bulletin - 5th Sunday of Easter
April 28, 2024
Fifth Sunday of Easter
CHIMING THE HOUR
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRAYER OF APPROACH
PRELUDE
CALL TO WORSHIP (From Psalm 22)
One: I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you.
All: You who fear the Lord, praise him!
One: For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one;
All: he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.
One: All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord,
All: and all the families of the nations will bow down before him,
One: for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations. Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord.
All: They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it! Let us worship the Lord!
*HYMN # 339 “Be Thou My Vision”
CALL TO CONFESSION
Nothing can be hidden from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth,
whose wisdom is endless, whose mercy is great. Trusting in God’s grace, let us confess our sin.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (UNISON)
Holy Lord, you have perfected love among us by sending us your Son. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins. We humbly acknowledge that your gift to us is an overwhelming pronouncement of grace. We share these tithes and offerings today with the hope that your children everywhere will be anointed with the knowledge that your perfect love casts out all fears. Amen.
One: Now that we have confessed as a body, let us take the truths that have troubled our hearts to God silently. Let us not be worried about the awkwardness of silence, as we take some time to focus on speaking with our God.
SILENT REFLECTION
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
GLORIA PATRI # 579
PASSING OF THE PEACE
One: Since God has forgiven us in Christ,
let us forgive one another.
The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
All: And also with you.
One: Let us share signs of peace with one another.
FIRST NEW TESTAMENT LESSON Acts 8:26-40
MUSICAL OFFERING
EPISTLE READING 1 John 4:7-21
GOSPEL LESSON John 15:1-8
SERMON “Withering Branches” Rev. Kirsty H. Dickson-Maret
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH The Apostles’ Creed
I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by
the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to
judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
*HYMN # 2113 “Lamb of God”
JOYS AND CONCERNS
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE and THE LORD’S PRAYER
CALL FOR THE OFFERING
The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it. Let us return to God the offerings of our life
and the gifts of the earth. Let us offer them with joy in our hearts and a deep sense of gratitude.
OFFERTORY
DOXOLOGY
PRAYER OF DEDICATION (UNISON)
Holy Lord, you have perfected love among us by sending your son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. We humbly acknowledge your gift is an overwhelming pronouncement of grace. We share these tithes and offerings today with the hope that your children everywhere will be anointed with the knowledge that your perfect love casts out all fears. Amen.
HYMN # 538 “Lord, Dismiss Us with thy Blessing”
CHARGE
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE