The Order of Worship – April 14, 2024
Sunday, April 14, 2024
This is the 105th Day of 2024.
There are 261 days remaining in 2024.
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.
Third Sunday of Easter
Prelude:
Welcome & Announcements:
This month’s mission focus is the Cross of the Flatlands
Bible Study Tuesdays & Thursdays at afaithtalk.com
Call to Worship: Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord
Responsive Reading: Psalm 4
1 Answer me when I call,
O God of my right!
You gave me room when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me, and hear my prayer.
2 How long, you people, shall my honor suffer shame?
How long will you love vain words, and seek after lies?
3 But know that the LORD has set apart the faithful for himself;
the LORD hears when I call to him.
4 When you are disturbed, do not sin;
ponder it on your beds, and be silent.
5 Offer right sacrifices,
and put your trust in the LORD.
6 There are many who say, “O that we might see some good! Let the light of your face shine on us, O LORD!”
7 You have put gladness in my heart more than when their grain and wine abound.
8 I will both lie down and sleep in peace;
for you alone, O LORD, make me lie down in safety.
Opening Hymn: Come, Sinners, to The Gospel Feast…#339
Verse 1
Come, sinners, to the gospel feast;
let every soul be Jesus’ guest.
Ye need not one be left behind,
for God hath bid all humankind.
Verse 2
Sent by my Lord, on you I call; the invitation is to all.
Come, all the world! Come, sinner, thou!
All things in Christ are ready now.
Verse 3
Come all ye souls by sin oppressed,
ye restless wanderers after rest;
ye poor, and maimed, and halt, and blind,
and in Christ a hearty welcome find.
Verse 4
My message as from God receive;
ye all may come to Christ and live.
O let his love your hearts constrain,
how suffer him to die in vain.
Verse 5
This is the time, no more delay!
This is the Lord’s accepted day.
Come thou, this moment, at his call,
and live for him who died for 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.
Baptism of John Whittington Lawrence
INTRODUCTION TO THE SERVICE
Brothers and sisters in Christ: Through the Sacrament of Baptism we are initiated into Christ’s holy Church.
We are incorporated into God’s mighty acts of salvation
and given new birth through water and the Spirit. All this is God’s gift, offered to us without price.
PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATE
It is our joy to present James Whittington Lawrence for baptism, on April 14, 2024.
RENUNCIATION OF SIN AND PROFESSION OF FAITH
On behalf of the whole Church, I ask you: Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of your sin?
I do.
Do you accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves?
I do.
Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior, put your whole trust in his grace, and promise to serve him as your Lord, in union with the Church which Christ has opened to people of all ages, nations, and races?
I do.
According to the grace given to you, will you remain faithful members of Christ’s holy Church and serve as Christ’s representatives in the world?
I will.
Do you, as Christ’s body, the Church, reaffirm both your rejection of sin and your commitment to Christ?
We do.
Will you nurture one another in the Christian faith and life
and include James Whittington in your care?
With God’s help we will proclaim the good news and live according to the example of Christ. We will surround James Whittington with a community of love and forgiveness, that he may grow in his trust of God, and be found faithful in his service to others.
We will pray for him, that he may be a true disciple who walks in the way that leads to life.
Thanksgiving Over the Water
Leader: Let us pray.
Eternal Father:
When nothing existed but chaos, you swept across the dark waters and brought forth light. In the days of Noah you saved those on the ark through water. After the flood you set in the clouds a rainbow. When you saw your people as slaves in Egypt, you led them to freedom through the sea. Their children you brought through the Jordan to the land which you promised.
All: Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Tell of God’s mercy each day.
Leader: In the fullness of time you sent Jesus, nurtured in the water of a womb. He was baptized by John and anointed by your Spirit. He called his disciples to share in the baptism of his death and resurrection and to make disciples of all nations.
All: Declare Christ’s works to the nations, his glory among all the people.
Leader: Pour out your Holy Spirit, to bless this gift of water and those who receive it, to wash away their sin and clothe them in righteousness throughout their lives, that, dying and being raised with Christ, they may share in his final victory.
All: All praise to you, Eternal Father, through your Son Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns forever. Amen.
Praise Song: Child of Blessing, Child of Promise…No. 611
Verse 1
Child of blessing, child of promise,
baptized with the Spirit’s sign;
with this water God has sealed you
unto love and grace divine.
Verse 2
Child of love, our love’s expression,
love’s creation, loved indeed!
Fresh from God, refresh our spirits,
into joy and laughter lead.
Verse 3
Child of joy, our dearest treasure,
God’s you are, from God you came.
Back to God we humbly give you;
live as one who bears Christ’s name.
Verse 4
Child of God your loving Parent,
learn to know whose child you are.
Grow to laugh and sing and worship,
trust and love God more than all.
Pastoral Prayer
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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: Baptized in Water
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 & Song (Do Lord)
Verse 1
I’ve got a home in glory land
that outshines the sun.
I’ve got a home in glory land
that outshines the sun.
I’ve got a home in glory land
that outshines the sun;
Way beyond the blue.
Do, Lord, Oh do, Lord,
Oh do you remember me?
Do, Lord, Oh do, Lord,
Oh do you remember me?
Do, Lord, Oh do, Lord,
Oh do you remember me
Way beyond the blue
Verse 2
I took Jesus as my Savior,
you take him too.
I took Jesus as my Savior,
you take him too.
I took Jesus as my Savior,
you take him too;
Way beyond the blue.
Do, Lord, Oh do, Lord,
Oh do you remember me?
Do, Lord, Oh do, Lord,
Oh do you remember me?
Do, Lord, Oh do, Lord,
Oh do you remember me
Way beyond the blue
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: Luke 24:36b-48
36b While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost.
38 He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.’ 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.
41 While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate in their presence.
44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you–that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.”
Leader: The Word of God, for the people of God!
People: Thanks be to God.
Scripture Reading & Sermon Text: 1 John 3:1-7
1 See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. 3 And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
4 Everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him.
7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.
Leader: This is the Word of God for the people of God
People: Thanks be to God.
Sermon:“What We Will Be”
Closing Hymn: Precious Lord, Take My Hand….474
Verse 1
Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand,
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
through the storm, through the night,
lead me on to the light:
Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.
Verse 3
When the darkness appears and the night draws near,
and the day is past and gone,
at the river I stand, guide my feet, hold my hand:
Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.
Filled Up and Poured Out
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