ORDER OF WORSHIP
May 14, 2023 10:30 AM
SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
MOTHERS’ DAY
If you have individual prayer requests, please write them on prayer cards in the pews and bring them up or give them to an usher during the prelude.
**Kindly stand if you are able
PRELUDE “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” Mary Lee Farris, Piano
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP (Adapted from Psalm 66)
Leader: Bless our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard,
PEOPLE: who has kept us among the living, and has not let our feet slip.
Leader: Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for me.
PEOPLE: I cried aloud to him, and he was extolled with my tongue.
Leader: If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
PEOPLE: But truly God has listened; he has given heed to the words of my
prayer.
Leader: Blessed be God,
PEOPLE: because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me.
INVOCATION
Most loving God, who cares for us as a parent and shows us the way to overcome obstacles that would prevent us from loving in return, may we feel even deeper affection for you and the kind of faith that brings us closer to your will and to fuller lives for each of us, Amen.
**OPENING HYMN: “All Things Bright and Beautiful” Blue #267
CALL TO CONFESSION
The Living God pours out the Holy Spirit before us and to us, so that we may see our limited rituals as responses to limitless love and blessing, not as prerequisites for them. Let us pray together.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Gracious God, We come to you asking for help in knowing that we should not, and indeed cannot, confine your divine activity to our own schedules and prejudices. Help us to remain open in our own faith journeys to being pre-empted by your Spirit. In his name, we pray. Amen.
A moment for silent personal confession
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Friends, even death could not silence the message of love and grace brought to us in the life of Jesus. By the grace of God and the Love of Jesus, we are forgiven. Amen.
HYMN OF PRAISE: “Breathe on Me, Breath of God” Blue #316
PASSING OF THE PEACE
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
APOSTLES CREED (Adapted by John Redman)
I Believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was born of a young peasant woman, trained as a carpenter, and baptized by His cousin John. He taught many, He healed many, and He angered many. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He defeated death and He offers us grace and love in the name of God the Father Almighty; from that time through all time to come. I believe in the power of the Holy Spirit; the universal Church of Christ; the Communion of sharing our gifts with others; the forgiveness of our sins; the Grace of God’s love, and that each soul may have life everlasting. Amen.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
God, source of all light, by your Word you give light to the soul. Pour out on us the spirit of wisdom and understanding that our hearts and minds may be opened. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
NEW TESTAMENT READING: Acts 17:22-31 John Safran
GOSPEL READING: John 14: 15-21
SERMON “WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?” John Redman, CRE
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE and THE LORD’S PRAYER:
And Lord we pray for those in our own hearts whose names you already know, for their own healing and comfort, in your name and that of our redeemer Jesus Christ, who taught to pray, saying:
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
OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS
We give freely from the bounty we have been given by our Gracious God. May what we offer in these moments help to become the very blessing and hope that others need. This we pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
OFFERTORY: “How Beautiful”
**DOXOLOGY (Traditional)
PRAYER OF THANKS
Lord God, we thank you for these gifts. As we follow in faith, may we find ways to honor you by giving of our treasure, our time and our talents to glorify you and our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
CLOSING HYMN: “There’s a Sweet, Sweet Spirit” Red #291
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE. “This is My Father’s World”
Blessings!
John Redman, CRE
Mobile: (914) 474-0722
Union Church
44 Balmville Rd, Newburgh NY 12550
Phone: (845) 562-0954 Fax: (845) 562-0955
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