Sunday May 18, 2025 Worship Service
Livestream at 11:10 a.m.

Gathering in God’s Name

Prelude — With High Delight — Charles Ore
As the prelude begins, you are invited to begin your personal preparation for worship.

Silent Meditation
“When I finally told my parents about the altar call, my mother patiently explained that for some of us conversion is not a onetime, emotionally laced event but a process and that maybe I had taken one small step in a larger journey.  That’s what it is for many of us. Conversion is both decision and process, and a “decision for Christ” is made every day for the rest of our lives. We decide in the context of the lives we live—lives of amazing complexity with economic, political, and relational challenges, with moments of deep disappointment but also moments of great beauty and ecstasy. We decide daily to be Christ’s man or woman and to stumble along behind him that day as best we can.” — John Buchanan in The Christian Century, from August 19, 2015

Call to Worship — Psalm 148: 1-6
Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights!
       Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host!
Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars!
       Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!
Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created.
       He established them forever and ever; he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.                           
       Let us worship God!

Praise and Adoration

*Hymn #23 –God, You Spin the Whirling Planets — PLEADING SAVIOR
(*Please stand, if you are able)

Confession and Pardon

Call to Confession 

Prayer of Confession
Savior God, we invite you into our lives for a season, only to forget and neglect you once again. You beckon us, calling for our attention, but we are distracted and busy taking care of other priorities. Remind us, Holy God, that you are the source of our flourishing. You are the living water by which we have been planted. Forgive our neglect. Forgive our unfaithfulness. Focus us on you, your Word, and all that your Spirit provides.

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 — Recognition of Christian Education Volunteers
Heather Berry, Director of Christian Education

Announcements

Moment for Mission — from Femi’s Heart Foundation — Sonia Tevoedejre, President, Kimberly Thomas, COO

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.

Anthem  — Angels Visit When We Sing (11:10)                                                                         
Tom Trenney    Angels visit when we sing, and the morning stars rejoice, we can hear them echoing in each faithful heart and voice:
Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia!
Angels visit when we sing, as they did at Jesus’ birth, and the music that they bring links the heavens with the earth!
Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia!
Angels visit when we sing and remind us with their praise sin and death have lost their sting! For the crucified is raised!
Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia!
Angels visit when we sing and our hearts are touched by fire, as our hymns and anthems ring with the sound of heaven’s choir.
Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia!             

Proclamation of God’s Word

Scripture Lesson — Acts 11: 1-18 — page 895 of the pew Bible                                                          

Sermon — “God Drew the Circle Wider – Will You?” — Dr. Zieman

Our Response to God’s Word

*Affirmation of Faith                                  from A Brief Statement of Faith, 1991
Yet God acts with justice and mercy to redeem creation. In everlasting love, the God of Abraham and Sarah chose a covenant people to bless all families of the earth. Hearing their cry, God delivered the children of Israel from the house of bondage. Loving us still, God makes us heirs with Christ of the covenant. Like a mother who will not forsake her nursing child, like a father who runs to welcome the prodigal home, God is faithful still.

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

Presentation of Tithes and Offerings

Offertory — If We Ever Needed the Lord Before — Thomas A. Dorsey; arr. Lloyd Larson

*Doxology (#609) — Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow — LASST UNS ERFREUEN
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow. Praise God, all creatures high and low. Alleluia, Alleluia!
Praise God, in Jesus fully known: Creator, Word, and Spirit one.
Alleluia, alleluia!  Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

*Prayer of Dedication                                                                                                                                           
Generous God, receive these gifts that we into your storehouse today. Do more with them than we can ask or imagine, furthering the holy work of your new kingdom in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who revealed to us the truth of your loving commands.  Amen.

*Hymn #679 — Let the Whole Creation Sing (Psalm 148) — SALZBURG

*Charge and Benediction

*Choral Response — The Lord Bless You and Keep You John Rutte

Postlude — Jesus Christ Is Risen Today — Jeffery Blersch