The Order of Worship – April 26, 2026

This is the 116th Day of 2026.
There are 240 more days remaining in 2025.

Filled with the Holy Spirit,
we are a people of prayer
committed to love one another
and equipped to share Christ’s love throughout the world.

Prelude:

Welcome & Announcements:
This month’s mission focus is the Cross of the Flatlands
Bible Study is all new at afaithtalk.com on Tuesday!
Call to Worship: Silence, Frenzied, Unclean Spirit…No. 264, (Bb)

Responsive Reading: Psalm 23
My head anointed with oil

¹ The LORD is my shepherd, 
I shall not want.

² He makes me lie down in green pastures; 
he leads me beside still waters;

³ he restores my soul. 
He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.

⁴ Even though I walk through the darkest valley, 
I fear no evil; for you are with me; 
your rod and your staff– they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; 
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, 
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD my whole life long.
 Praise the LORD!

Opening Hymn: All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name…#154 vs 1-4 & 6 (F)
Verse 1

All hail the power of Jesus’ name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
bring forth the royal diadem and crown him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem and crown him Lord of all.

Verse 2 

Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race, ye ransomed from the fall,
hail him who saves you by his grace,
and crown him Lord of all.
Hail him who saves you by his grace,
and crown him Lord of all.

Verse 3

Sinners, whose love can ne’er forget
the wormwood and the gall,
go spread your trophies at his feet, and crown him Lord of all.
Go spread your trophies at his feet, and crown him Lord of all.

Verse 4

Let every kindred, every tribe on this terrestrial ball,
to him all majesty ascribe, and crown him Lord of all.
To him all majesty ascribe, and crown him Lord of all.

Verse 6

O that with yonder sacred throng we at his feet may fall!
We’ll join the everlasting song, and crown him Lord of all.
We’ll join the everlasting song, and crown him Lord of all.

Affirmation of Faith:
The Apostle’s Creed..No. 881

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 Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified,
dead,
and buried;
the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and sitteth at 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 Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

Gloria Patri…Page 70

Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen. Amen.

Praise Song: They’ll Know We Are Christians (Fm)

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that our unity will one day be restored
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
Yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love

We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;
And together we’ll spread the news that God is inner land.
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
Yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love

We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we’ll guard each man’s dignity and save each man’s pride
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
Yeah, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

All praise to the Father, from whom all things come;
We will praise to Christ Jesus, His only Son.
And all praise to the Spirit, who makes us one.
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
Yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love 

Pastoral Prayer
Contact us here to add your concern to our prayer list.

The 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 trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
forever. Amen.

Anthem: Down in the River to Pray (A)

Offertory

Doxology:

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen

Children’s Moment
Children’s Song (Raise a Hallelujah)
Verse 1

I raise a hallelujah
in the presence of my enemies
I raise a hallelujah
louder than the unbelief
I raise a hallelujah,
my weapon is a melody
I raise a hallelujah,
Heaven comes to fight for me

Chorus

I’m gonna sing in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive 

Verse 2

I raise a hallelujah
with everything inside of me
I raise a hallelujah,
I will watch the darkness flee
I raise a hallelujah
in the middle of the mystery
I raise a hallelujah,
fear, you lost your hold on me

Chorus

I’m gonna sing in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive 

Ending

I raise a hallelujah
I raise a hallelujah
I raise a hallelujah
I raise a hallelujah 

Prayer for Illumination
Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit, that as the Scriptures are read and your Word is proclaimed, we may hear with joy what you say to us today. Amen.

Gospel Reading: John 10:1-10
Christ the shepherd

¹ “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. ² The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. ³ The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. ⁵ They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” ⁶ Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

⁷ So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸ All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. ⁹ I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

 Leader: The Word of God for the people of God
All: Thanks be to God

New Testament  Reading: 1 Peter 2:19-25
Follow the shepherd, even in suffering

¹⁹ For it is a commendable thing if, being aware of God, a person endures pain while suffering unjustly. ²⁰ If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do good and suffer for it, this is a commendable thing before God. ²¹ For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.

²² “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” ²³ When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.

²⁴ He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. ²⁵ For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

Leader: The Word of God for the people of God
All: Thanks be to God 

Sermon Text: Acts 2:42-47
The believers’ common life

⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. ⁴³ Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All who believed were together and had all things in common; ⁴⁵ they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.

⁴⁶ Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Leader: This is the Word of God for the people of God
All: Thanks be to God

Sermon:  “Church: Living in the Spirit”

Closing Hymn: God Be With You ‘Till We Meet Again…#672

Verse 1

God be with you till we meet again,
by his counsels guide, uphold you,
with his sheep securely fold you;
God be with you till we meet again.

Refrain

Till we meet, Till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus’ feet;
Till we meet, Till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.

Verse 4

God be with you till we meet again;
keep love’s banner floating o’er you,
smite death’s threatening wave before you;
God be with you till we meet again.

Refrain

Till we meet, Till we meet,
Till we meet at Jesus’ feet;
Till we meet, Till we meet,
God be with you till we meet again.

Filled Up and Poured Out

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