Sunday May 11, 2025 Worship Service
Livestream at 11:10 a.m.

Gathering in God’s Name

Prelude — Duo — G.G. Gastoldi
As the prelude begins, you are invited to begin your personal preparation for worship.

Silent Meditation
“I learned more about Christianity from my mother than from all the theologians of England.” — John Wesley
“Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of little children.”  — William Makepeace Thackeray

Call to Worship — based on Psalm 1
Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked.
       We delight in God’s Word, we meditate on God day and night.
Our worship grounds us in God, like trees planted by streams of water.
       God helps us yield good fruit. We do not wither when we spend time in God’s presence.

Praise and Adoration

*Hymn #14 — For the Beauty of the Earth — DIX
(*Please stand, if you are able)

Confession and Pardon

Call to Confession

Prayer of Confession
Merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.  We have not loved you with our whole heart and mind and strength.  We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.  In your mercy forgive what we have been, help us amend what we are, and direct what we shall be, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name.  Amen. 

Silent Prayers of Confession

Kyrie Eleison (#551) — “Lord, Have Mercy” — LAND OF REST
Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy upon us.

\Assurance of Pardon                                                                                                                                             

*Congregational Response (#485) — We Know That Christ Is Raised — ENGELBERG

Welcome                                  
During the welcome, children are invited to come forward.

Time for Young Disciples

*Hymn #250 — In the Bulb There Is a Flower — PROMISE           

Announcements

Fellowship of Prayer

Joys and Concerns

Prayers of the People

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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Proclamation of God’s Word

Scripture Lesson — Acts 9: 36-43 — page 894 of the pew Bible
The Word of the Lord.  Thanks be to God!

Sermon — “Who Do You Want to Be Like?”                                                                                

Prayer

Our Response to God’s Word

Presentation of Tithes and Offerings

Offertory — The Lord Is My Shepherd — Allen Pote

The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

Invitation to the Lord’s Table

*Memorial Acclamations — Memorial Acclamations are essentially short creeds, summaries of the work of Christ that we remember and proclaim at the Lord’s Supper.
Therefore, we proclaim our faith as signed and sealed in this sacrament:
       Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus:
       Dying, you destroyed our death; rising, you restored our life.  Lord Jesus, come in glory.
According to Jesus’ commandments:
       We remember his death, we proclaim his resurrection, we await his coming in glory.
Christ is the bread of life:
       When we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim your death, Lord Jesus, until you come in glory!

 *Sanctus (#572) — “Holy, Holy, Holy” — SANCTUS (Pavlechko)

The Words of Institution

The Serving of the Elements
Please come forward as directed by an usher.  All baptized Christians are encouraged to partake – by taking a piece of bread and dipping it into the cup.  Gluten-free bread is at the station closer to the pulpit. If you are unable to come forward, an elder will serve you in the pew.

\Communion Anthem —  In Holy Reverence, Lord, We Come — Lloyd Larson

*Prayer of Thanksgiving                                                                                                                                           
We thank you, O God, that through Word and Sacrament you have given us your Son, who is the true bread from heaven and food of eternal life. So strengthen us in your service that our daily living may show our thanks, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

*Hymn #324 — For All the Faithful Women — NYLAND

*Charge and Benediction

Postlude — Allegro — Anonymous