The Order of Worship – May 11, 2025

This is the 131st Day of 2025.
There are 234 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.

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Prelude:

Welcome & Announcements:
This month’s mission focus is Marghum
Bible Study is at afaithtalk.com
No Five Loaves tonight.

Call to Worship: Hungry

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: Marching to Zion…#733 (F)
Verse 1

Come, we that love the Lord,
and let our joys be known;
join in a song with sweet accord,
join in a song with sweet accord
and thus surround the throne,
and thus surround the throne.
We’re marching to Zion, beautiful, beautiful Zion;
we’re marching upward to Zion,
the beautiful city of God.

Verse 2 

Let those refuse to sing who never knew our God;
but children of the heavenly King,
but children of the heavenly King
may speak their joys abroad,
may speak their joys abroad.
We’re marching to Zion, beautiful, beautiful Zion;
we’re marching upward to Zion,
the beautiful city of God.

Verse 3

The hill of Zion yields a thousand sacred sweets
before we reach the heavenly fields,
before we reach the heavenly fields,
or walk the golden streets,
or walk the golden streets.
We’re marching on to Zion, beautiful, beautiful Zion;
we’re marching upward to Zion, Zion
the beautiful city of God.

Verse 4

Then let our songs abound, and every tear be dry;
we’re marching through Emmanuel’s ground,
we’re marching through Emmanuel’s ground,
to fairer worlds on high,
to fairer worlds on high.
We’re marching on to Zion, beautiful, beautiful Zion;
we’re marching upward to Zion, Zion
the beautiful city of God.

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: Here I Am to Worship (D)

Light of the world You stepped down into darkness,
Opened my eyes, let me see
Beauty that made this heart adore You
Hope of a life spent with You

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that
You’re my God
You’re altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

King of all days Oh so highly exalted
Glorious in Heaven above
Humbly You came to the earth You created
All for love’s sake became poor

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that
You’re my God
You’re altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

I’ll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross
I’ll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross
Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that
You’re my God
You’re altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that
You’re my God
You’re altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me
Here I am to worship

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: A Mother’s Prayer (Eb)

A mother’s prayer
Is a song of blessing
A lullaby caressing
That won’t let you go
I know somewhere
There’s a mother praying
Her heart is saying
“I love you so”

A mother’s prayer
Is a candle burning
Ever yearning
To guide us through
I know somewhere
There’s a mother praying
Her heart is saying
“I’ll never give up on you”

For every lost child
and every wandering soldier
When the world gets colder
When you’re far from home
Though the wind blows wild
There’s a light in the window
A candle that still glows
For you alone

A mother’s prayer
Is a flower blooming
Her spirit opening
To Grace from above
I know somewhere
There’s a mother praying
Her heart is saying
“I send you my love”

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 (Jesus Loves Me Alleluia)
Verse 1:

Jesus loves me this I know.
For the Bible tells me so. 
Little ones to him belong.
They are weak but he is strong.

Chorus:

Boys: Alleluia. Girls: Alleluia, allelu.
Boys: Alleluia. Girls: Alleluia, alleluia
Boys: Alleluia. Girls: Alleluia, allelu.
Boys: Alleluia. Girls: Alleluia, allelu.
All: Alleluia.

Verse 2:

Amazing grace how sweet the sound,
that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now I’m found,
was blind but now I see.

Chorus:

Boys: Alleluia. Girls: Alleluia, allelu.
Boys: Alleluia. Girls: Alleluia, alleluia
Boys: Alleluia. Girls: Alleluia, allelu.
Boys: Alleluia. Girls: Alleluia, allelu.
All: Alleluia.

Verse 3:

Jesus loves me, he who died,
heaven’s gates to open wide.
He will wash away my sin.
let his little child come in.

Chorus:

Boys: Alleluia. Girls: Alleluia, allelu.
Boys: Alleluia. Girls: Alleluia, alleluia
Boys: Alleluia. Girls: Alleluia, allelu.
Boys: Alleluia. Girls: Alleluia, allelu.
All: Alleluia.

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 10:22-30
Jesus promises life to his sheep

²² At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, ²³ and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. ²⁴ So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”

²⁵ Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; ²⁶ but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. ²⁷ My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. ²⁹ What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. ³⁰ The Father and I are one.”

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

Acts of the Apostles: Acts 9:36-43
Peter raises Tabitha from the dead

³⁶ Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. ³⁷ At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs.

³⁸ Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.” ³⁹ So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them.

⁴⁰ Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. ⁴¹ He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. ⁴² This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

⁴³ Meanwhile he stayed in Joppa for some time with a certain Simon, a tanner.

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

Sermon Text: John 21:1-19
Jesus appears to the disciples

¹ After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way.

² Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. ³ Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

⁴ Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. ⁵ Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.”

⁶ He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. ⁷ That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea.

⁸ But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.

⁹ When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. ¹⁰ Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.”

¹¹ So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn.

¹² Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord.

¹³ Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.

¹⁴ This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

¹⁵ When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

¹⁶ A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

¹⁷ He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. ¹⁸ Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” ¹⁹ (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”

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

Sermon:  “Déjá Vu”

Closing Hymn: Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us…#381 (D)
Verse 1

Savior, like a shepherd lead us,
much we need thy tender care;
in thy pleasant pastures feed us,
for our use thy folds prepare.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Thou has bought us, thine we are.
Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus!
Thou has bought us, thine we are.

Verse 4

Early, let us seek thy favor,
Early let us to thy will;
Blessed Lord and only Savior,
with thy love our bosoms fill.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Thou hast loved us, love us still.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Thou hast loved us, love us still.

Filled Up and Poured Out

If you liked this, want more, or would like to request something additional, you’re welcome to comment here.