Service of Worship
Prelude – Hani
Morning Reverie
Steven Scott
Welcome and Opening Prayer
Opening Prayer
The Spirit is coming to bless us all with a new song:
Let our joy be complete!
Gifts for the good of all, poured out on all to teach us a new song:
Love one another!
Strangers and neighbors, foreigners and family will join in the new song:
No longer servants but friends!
Come, let our worship make a joyful noise,
Rejoicing in the friendship of God.
Opening Hymn — #659 Jesus Our Friend and Brother
Jesus our friend and brother,
Jesus our friend and brother,
he invites us,
he invites us,
come together,
come together,
Jesus calls us together, come now.
Jesus Our Friend and Brother (Esenehane Jesus)
Ova’hehe; trans. David Garber
© 1982 Mennonite Leaders’ Council
Scripture Reading – John 15:9-17 (NRSV)
9 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. 16 You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. 17 I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.
Children’s Time with Ms Becky
Joys and Concerns — Pastoral Prayer
Pastoral Prayer
Risen Lord, you came as a sacrifice for our sin. Give us faith to accept this act of love, so that we turn from all human efforts and drink in the atoning righteousness of your death and resurrection.
Lord, in your mercy… hear our prayer.
Risen Lord, you are the true vine and we are the branches. By your Spirit, produce the fruit of love, joy, peace, and patience in us for others to taste and enjoy. Keep us from hanging on to love for ourselves. Prune all selfishness from us and fill us with your love.
Lord, in your mercy… hear our prayer.
Risen Lord, have mercy on your earth and supply its needs. Where people are hungry, give food. Where people are in distress, comfort them. Where people are in trouble, bring order and peace. And turn the whole world to you in faith, repentance and praise.
Lord, in your mercy… hear our prayer.
Lord Jesus Christ, focus our love on people we know with special needs. Heal those who are unwell) and others in need whom we now name silently in our hearts… (brief silence)
Lord, in your mercy… hear our prayer.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for hearing us and caring for us in all our needs. Constantly intercede for us before our heavenly Father, and open our eyes that we may see him through you. We ask all this in your holy name, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Offering Our Gifts to the Lord
For those who are called and able, gifts and tithes can still be made through online giving, by mailing them in, and by dropping them off to the office through the secure mail slot to the left of the double door entry to the church hallway.
Offertory – Antone
Steal Away
Spiritual
© Public Domain
Doxology
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow (Old 100th)
Louis Bourgeois | Thomas Ken
© Public Domain
Offertory Prayer
Loving God, we are gathered together to listen to your Word and to witness to its’ truths. We give joyously today and dedicate this offering to your work. We are inspired to share your glorious love with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Increase our talents and offerings so that your name is exalted with unending praise. Blessed is your name! Amen.
Sermon – Pastor Stacy Dickson
Jedi Jesus
Communion Hymn — #618 Let Us Break Bread Together
1. Let us break bread together on our knees
Let us break bread together on our knees
When I fall on my knees
With my face to the rising sun
O Lord have mercy on me
2. Let us drink wine together on our knees
Let us drink wine together on our knees
When I fall on my knees
With my face to the rising sun
O Lord have mercy on me
3. Let us praise God together on our knees
Let us praise God together on our knees
When I fall on my knees
With my face to the rising sun
O Lord have mercy on me
4. Let us praise God together on our knees
Let us praise God together on our knees
When I fall on my knees
With my face to the rising sun
O Lord have mercy if You please
Let Us Break Bread Together
William Farley Smith
© 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House
CCLI License # 656051
Communion Blessing
Credit: Wil Ranney (Adapted with permission)
PASTOR: As we gather here today in the sight of God to join in Holy Communion,
know we are only a screen width apart.
The God of all creation is not beholden to the bounds of time or place.
God transcends our physical distances
and parts the veil between us, so that we may be together in this mystical space.
Through God and the mystery of Holy Communion, we become one creation, one body, one church.
Join with me now in acknowledging our togetherness.
Virtual Passing of the Peace
PASTOR: God’s peace be with us all.
ALL: Amen.
ACCLAMATION
PASTOR: With joy, and with all of Creation, we proclaim:
Repeat after me…
Holy, Holy, Holy [people repeat]
God of Power and Grace [people repeat]
Heaven and Earth are full of your glory [people repeat]
Hosanna in the highest [people repeat]
Hosanna in the highest [people repeat]
INSTITUTION
PASTOR: You are Holy God, and blessed is your Child Jesus
Your Spirit descended upon him so that he could
proclaim good news to the poor
heal the sick
feed the hungry
cavort with sinners
and liberate the captive
His life gave birth to the church through a new covenant
one born out the Holy Spirit
whose power dwells within us today.
On the night in which he gave himself over, Jesus took bread [raise bread], gave thanks to you, God, and said, “take, eat, this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
After dinner, he took the cup [raise cup], gave thanks, and said, “This is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many. Drink from it in remembrance of me.”
ANAMNESIS
PASTOR: In remembering the mighty acts of Jesus, we offer ourselves as a living witness
proclaiming the mystery of faith:
Repeat after me…
Christ has died [people repeat]
Christ has risen [people repeat]
Christ will come again [people repeat]
EPICLESIS
PASTOR: Pour out your Spirit on all those gathered together in this Holy space,
and on the gift of these elements
Make them be for us the body and blood of Jesus Christ,
that we may be the body of Christ for the world
Your Spirit makes us one with Christ and one with each other
It binds, blends, and multiplies us, as we minister to the world, as one beloved community of faith
singing your praises on Earth and in Heaven
until Christ comes again,
and we feast at the divine table
in perfect harmony
ALL: Amen. Amen. Amen.
Benediction
O Beloved One,
All the ends of the earth marvel
at your deeds of power; we feel your presence
as growth returning to the countryside;
we rejoice as we remember your faithfulness and steadfast love
revealed in the risen Christ.
Surround us with that faithfulness and steadfast love
Fill us with generosity and courage
so that we may be called your friends
and go forth to befriend your world. In Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Postlude – Hani
Sing Praise to God
Lani Smith