Evangelical United Church of Christ
Fifth Sunday after Easter
May 3, 2015 8:00 a.m.
THE BELLS CALL US TO WORSHIP
PRELUDE: “Bring Them In” – Birchwood
WE WELCOME MEMBERS, FRIENDS, AND VISITORS
(Child care is available for children 3 and under in our nursery)
WE SHARE OUR LIFE TOGETHER
**WE GREET EACH OTHER (You are invited to stand and share the Peace of Christ with your fellow worshippers.)
GATHERING HYMN: “I Need Thee Every Hour” (v.1) No. 578
Show**CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Come to worship God whose love was revealed in
Jesus. Let all the ends of the earth turn to our God.
People: We will worship the almighty and sing praises.
We will proclaim good news to others.
Leader: Beloved, we are called to love as God loves us.
We are to love one another as sisters and brothers.
People: Everyone who loves is born of God and knows
God. We seek to let God’s love be perfected in us.
Leader: Remember that you have been baptized.
God claims you and has high expectations of you.
People: Christ is the vine; we are the branches.
We will bear fruit when we abide in the vine.
HYMN OF PRAISE: “I Need Thee Every Hour” No. 578
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison)
O God, we have ignored our origin in you and denied your rule over the nations. We have pursued illusions of self-interest rather than abiding in your love. We have turned away from brothers and sisters as if they were enemies to be hated. We are afraid to love those who differ from us or who have the power to harm us. We hesitate to take the risks of caring for fear that we may be hurt. Discipleship seems too demanding. O God, release us from our fears and failures to trust your love and live with bold generosity. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
There is good news for all who sincerely repent and seek a living, growing relationship with God. Those who are open to the gift of God’s love are blessed with the capacity to extend love to others and thus experience the depth and riches of life that God intends for us. When we love one another, God’s love is perfected in us.
** THE GLORIA PATRI No. 35
CHILDREN AT HEART MESSAGE
THE BLESSING OF THE CHILDREN
God of grace, we ask that your blessing rest upon the children of our congregation and all children. Guard and protect them with your love, Christ’s friendship, and the comfort and caring of the Holy Spirit. May your loving arms always surround them. Amen
special music: “Lord At Your Table Kneeling”
Chancel Choir
GOSPEL READING: John 15:1-12
MESSAGE Pastor Chris Hill
HYMN: “Abide With Me” No. 636
JOYS AND CONCERNS
PASTORAL PRAYER/OUR LORD’S PRAYER
THE GIVING OF OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS
CALL TO OFFERING
OFFERTORY: “Like the Murmur of the Dove’s Song” – Cutts
**RESPONSE
**PRAYER OF DEDICATION: (unison)
We give, gracious God, because we are grateful. Your love has sustained us through many trials and temptations. We are thankful for those who have guided our attempts to understand the scriptures. Your loving judgment has provided the pruning our lives require in order to bear fruit. We give in order to extend to others the blessings we have received and to continue the ministry we need as we seek to abide together in your love. Amen.
We Share Holy Communion
(All baptized persons are invited to receive communion. As a sign of service and sharing, allow the person next to you to hold the plate or tray and serve you. The center rings of the tray are wine and the single outer ring is grape juice.)
INVITATION
Pastor: Luke the evangelist wrote of our risen Lord, that when he was at the table with two of his disciples, he took bread and blessed and broke it, and gave it to them, and their eyes were opened, and they recognized him.
People: In company with all believers in every time and beyond time, we come to this table to know him in the breaking of the bread.
*THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
Pastor: God be with you.
People: And also with you.
Pastor: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Pastor: Let us give thanks to God Most High
People: It is right to give God thanks and praise.
Pastor: Holy God, our loving Creator, close to us as breathing and distant as the farthest star, we thank you for your constant love, for all you have made. We thank you for all that sustains life, for all people of faith in every generation who have given themselves to your will, and especially for Jesus Christ, whom you have sent from your own being as our Savior. We praise you for Christ’s birth, life, death, and resurrection, and for the calling forth of your church for its mission in the world. Gifted by the presence of your Holy Spirit, we offer ourselves to you as we unite our voices with the entire family of your faithful people everywhere:
People: Holy, Holy, Holy, God of love and majesty;
The whole universe speaks of your Glory, O God, Most High. Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
Pastor: Merciful God, as sisters and brothers in faith, we recall anew these words and acts of Jesus Christ: Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said: “Take, eat: This is my body.” Jesus took a cup, and after giving thanks, gave it to the disciples and said: “Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
We remember Christ’s promise not to drink of the fruit of the vine again until the heavenly banquet at the close of history, and we say boldly what we believe:
People: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
THE COMMUNION PRAYER
Pastor: Come, Holy Spirit, come. Bless this bread, and bless
this fruit of the vine. Bless all of us in our eating and
drinking at this table that our eyes may be opened, and we
may recognize the risen Christ in our midst, in each other,
and in all for whom Christ died.
People: Amen.
BREAKING THE BREAD AND POURING THE CUP
Through the broken bread, we participate in the body of Christ.
Through the cup of blessing we participate in the new life Christ gives.
The gifts of God for the people of God. Come, for all things are ready.
SHARING THE BREAD AND CUP
The body of Christ, given for you. Take and eat. Amen.
The cup of the new covenant, given for you. Drink of it and give
thanks. Amen.
PRAYER OF THANKS (unison)
We give thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us at your table by granting us the presence of Jesus Christ. Strengthen our faith, increase our love for one another, and send us forth into the world in courage and peace, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen
**PARTING HYMN: “How Firm a Foundation” No. 618
**BENEDICTION
**CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE: (unison)
POSTLUDE
Notes to Worshippers: Double asterisks (**) indicate times when you may stand if you are comfortably able.
John 15:1-12
”I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower.He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit.You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you.Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.
As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.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.I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
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