ORDER OF WORSHIP - MAY 4TH, 2025 10:30 AM

Union Church
May 7
4 min read

FOURTH SUNDAY IN EASTER

MOTHER’S DAY

**Kindly stand if you are able

PRELUDE Mary Lee Farris, Organ

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

CALL TO WORSHIP (Adapted from Psalm 95)

Leader: O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!

PEOPLE: Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

Leader: the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.

PEOPLE: In his hand are the depths of the earth the heights of the mountains are his also.

Leader: The sea is his, for he made it, and the dry land, which his hands have formed.

PEOPLE: Come, let us worship, let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

INVOCATION

In the love for our mothers, we come to this day in honoring them for their warmth and wisdom, for their care and concern for their dedication to us and our siblings. Praise be to all our mothers on this day of love and honor. Amen

OPENING HYMN “Savior Like Shepherd Lead Us” Red #522

CALL TO CONFESSION

The face of God is always turned toward us, even though we often don’t see it. Let us look to our God as we come closer to him as we seek a greater understanding of his grace and love in our lives.

PRAYER FOR UNDERSTANDING

God of loving kindness, look upon us with mercy and the grace that flows from you. Inspire our hearts with your truth, and instill in us the image of the Good Shepherd to guide us in caring for one another in the true spirit of understanding your love and grace, In Jesus’ name, Amen.

(a moment for silent personal confession)

ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS

The love of our mothers is outmatched only by the endless love of our Lord God, by whom and in the name of Jesus, we are understood and forgiven. Amen.

**GLORIA PATRI (Avery & Marsh, back cover of the Red Hymnal)

**PASSING OF THE PEACE

**AFFIRMATION OF FAITH – (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.

**HYMN OF PRAISE “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” Red #95

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

Holy God, Word made flesh, let us come to this word open to being surprised. Silence our agendas; banish our assumptions; cast out our casual detachment. Confound our expectations; clear the cobwebs from our ears; penetrate the corners of our hearts with this word. We know that you can, we pray that you will, and we wait with great anticipation. Amen.

SCRIPTURE READINGS

OLD TESTAMENT READING Psalm 23 Theresa Cotanche

NEW TESTAMENT READING: Acts 9: 36-43

GOSPEL READING: John 10: 22-30

SERMON MESSAGE Believe it or Not! John Redman, CRE

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE CHURCH

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:

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:

Let us all consider what we have been blessed with and how we can best share it with those in

greater need, even as we gift our church for its greater work to the Glory of God and the undying love of Jesus. Amen.

OFFERTORY “The King of Love My Shepherd Is”

**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.

HYMN OF PARTING “Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing” Red #834

BENEDICTION

POSTLUDE “For All The Saints” Mary Lee Farris, Piano