April 24, 2016
Fifth Sunday of Easter
Colors: White and Gold
Lectionary Readings
Acts 11:1–18 Peter has a vision about unclean food; God’s gift of life is for all.
Psalm 148 Praise the Lord, all creation! God is exalted in heaven and earth.
Revelation 21:1–6 A new heaven and earth; a holy city; God’s home is among mortals.
John 13:31–35 Jesus gives a new commandment: love one another as I love you.
— Gathering —
Call to Worship
God is making all things new.
The thirsty receive the water of life.
The Holy Spirit fell upon Peter.
God gives all the repentance that leads to life.
Jesus has given us a new commandment.
We will love one another as Christ loved us.
Let us worship God.
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Prayer of the Day
Lord Jesus Christ, show us your glory
so that we may know the glory of God.
Good Shepherd, teach us your way
so that we may follow you all our lives.
Beloved of God, give us your love
so that we may truly love one another.
All this we pray in your holy name.
Amen.
Call to Confession
At the baptismal font:
The Lord says: Come.
Let anyone who wishes
take the water of life as a gift.
Revelation 22:17
Trusting in God’s grace,
let us confess our sin.
Prayer of Confession
God of everlasting life, we confess
that we continue in the ways of death.
You show your love for us in Jesus,
but we fail to love one another.
You give us freedom in the Spirit,
but we deny the freedom of others.
Forgive us, God of grace.
Help us to learn and keep
your new commandment of love
so that all will know we are yours;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Declaration of Forgiveness
Lifting water from the baptismal font:
The grace of the Lord Jesus
be with all the saints.
Revelation 22:21
In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
Thanks be to God.
— Word —
Prayer for Illumination
At the lectern or pulpit:
God of abundant life,
you have made this day,
and so we rejoice
and are glad in it.
By the gift of your Spirit,
tune our hearts and minds
to hear your living Word afresh
in this day and for this time.
May our lives answer your eternal Word
with resurrection hope. Amen.
Scripture
Before the readings:
Testimony for the church
from Jesus, the Alpha and Omega.
Revelation 22:13–14
After the readings:
These words are trustworthy and true.
Thanks be to God.
Revelation 21:5
Sermon
Ascription of Praise
After the sermon:
Blessing and glory and wisdom
and thanksgiving and honor
and power and might be to our God
forever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 7:12
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Affirmation of Faith
Season of Easter
We believe that God’s
life-giving Word and Spirit
has conquered the powers
of sin and death,
and therefore also
of irreconciliation and hatred,
bitterness and enmity,
that God’s life-giving Word and Spirit
will enable the church to live
in a new obedience
which can open new possibilities of life
for society and the world.
Adapted from the Confession of Belhar
Prayers of the People
Rejoicing in God’s promise of new creation,
let us pray to the Maker of heaven and earth,
saying: God of new life, hear our prayer.
We pray for the church . . .
Make your home among us, O God.
Let us be a true and trustworthy sign
of the new thing you are doing.
God of new life, hear our prayer.
We pray for the world . . .
Heal the suffering of your creation.
Let all creatures join together in praise
for your renewal of the earth.
God of new life, hear our prayer.
We pray for this community . . .
Give us a new dream, a new vision
of your amazing love for all people,
without prejudice or partiality.
God of new life, hear our prayer.
We pray for loved ones . . .
Be with them in their suffering.
Wipe away the tears from their eyes.
Let mourning, crying, and pain be no more.
God of new life, hear our prayer.
Gracious God, keep us working and praying
for the coming of your holy realm of peace,
when we will share abundant life with you;
through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord. Amen.
— Eucharist —
Invitation to Offering
At the communion table:
Looking forward to that day
when people will hunger and thirst no more,
and God will wipe away every tear,
and we will worship with all the saints
around the throne of the Lamb,
let us offer our lives to the Lord.
Revelation 7:15–17
Prayer of Dedication
At the communion table:
With glad rejoicing we bring you our gifts,
God of great abundance.
May these gifts and all the gifts of our lives
be part of what you are doing in the world
to turn mourning into dancing
and to bring joy throughout your creation,
so that all your creatures might praise you,
singing: Blessing, honor, and glory to you! Amen.
Eucharistic Prayer
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God:
The sun and moon and shining stars praise your name;
the creatures of the earth and sky and sea all glorify you.
Women and men, young and old give thanks for your saving love.
Therefore we praise you, joining the song
of the universal church and the heavenly choir:
A Sanctus (“Holy, holy, holy”) is sung.
Blessed is Jesus Christ, our Savior:
Though Christ has ascended to reign with you in glory,
he left us this commandment: to love one another, as he loves us.
By this love, the world will know that we are his disciples.
The words of institution are included here.
Remembering your goodness and grace,
we offer ourselves to you with gratitude
as we share this joyful feast.
A Memorial Acclamation (e.g., “Christ has died”) is sung.
Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us
and upon this bread and cup;
make us one in the body and blood
of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Make a home among us; let us be your people, as you are our God.
Show us a glimpse of your new creation, your new heaven and earth,
and let us drink from the wellspring of everlasting life.
Through the Lord Jesus Christ,
in the unity of the Spirit,
we bless you, God of glory,
now and forever.
An Amen is sung.
Lord’s Prayer
Breaking the Bread
Communion of the People
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Prayer after Communion
At the communion table:
Here at this table we celebrate resurrection
as you feed us with bread and wine.
And as much as we might prefer
to stay here in this protected place,
you send us back to our work—
only it is no longer the same work
because we know you are with us and in us,
shaping and transforming us
to be your witnesses in the world.
Nourished in body, mind, and spirit,
may all that we say and do
give you glory. Amen.
— Sending —
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Blessing and Charge
At the doors of the church:
The blessing of the eternal, triune God—
Alpha and Omega,
first and last,
beginning and end—
be with you all. Alleluia!
Revelation 22:13
Come, Lord Jesus! Amen.
Revelation 22:20