Sunday, May 07,2023
LOVELY LANE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
5th SUNDAY AFTER EASTER
MAY 7, 2023
10:15 A.M.
Organ Prelude
Welcome and Announcements John Strawbridge
Choral Introit “O Raise Your Glad Voices” (trad. Welsh)
O raise your glad voices, all people, and sing
Bring sweet Easter praises to Jesus, the King.
Call to Worship
L: As dawn breaks through,
P: Gently erasing the darkness of the night,
L: Heralding the start of each new day,
P: Enable us to do the same, rising out of the darkness of our night into the light of your revealing love.
L: As the sunshine pushes shadows aside,
P: Revealing the beauty of this world through color, shape and song,
L: May your love perform a similar miracle in our hearts each day,
P: Revealing the beauty of your creation in our lives, through our words, thoughts, actions and our prayers.
Opening Hymn “O How I Love Jesus” UMH 170
1.There is a name I love to hear, I love to sing its worth;
It sounds as music in my ear, The sweetest name on earth. (Refrain)
2. It tells me of a Savior’s love, Who died to set me free;
It tells me of His precious blood, The sinner’s perfect plea. (Refrain)
3. It tells of One whose loving heart can feel my deepest woe;
Who in each sorrow bears a part, that none can bear below. (Refrain)
Refrain: Oh, how I love Jesus, Oh, how I love Jesus,
Oh, how I love Jesus, Because He first loved me!
Psalter Lesson Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16 NIV 1 In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness.
2 Turn your ear to me,
come quickly to my rescue;
be my rock of refuge,
a strong fortress to save me.
3 Since you are my rock and my fortress,
for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
4 Keep me free from the trap that is set for me,
for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hands I commit my spirit;
deliver me, Lord, my faithful God. 15 My times are in your hands;
deliver me from the hands of my enemies,
from those who pursue me.
16 Let your face shine on your servant;
save me in your unfailing love.
The Word of God…..THANKS BE TO GOD
Litany of Concerns
L: For the times when we fail to live simply so others can simply live,
P: Lord, have mercy.
L: For the times we waste your precious gift of energy,
P: Lord, have mercy.
L: For all the times we forget the effects Our actions have on the rest of creation,
P: Lord, have mercy.
L: For all the times we have been too busy to worship you,
P: Lord, have mercy.
L: For building bombs instead of loving communities,
P: Lord, have mercy.
L: For polluting the air, water, and land,
P: Lord, have mercy.
L: For not sharing the fruits of creation justly,
P:Lord, have mercy.
L: For not participating in the church’s mission to help, heal, and defend your creation,
P: Lord, have mercy.
Assurance of Pardon
L: God, through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, forgives us and will restore all of creation. We have been given another chance to live faithfully. We are able to become new creations. We can live a simpler, more faithful life. We can witness to and participate in God’s redemption of creation. P: Amen.
Sharing Joys and Concerns Pastoral Prayer Lord’s Prayer
Choral Response “Cares Chorus” TFWS 2215
I cast all my cares upon You
I lay all of my burdens down at Your feet
And any time I don’t know just what to do,
I will cast all my cares upon You.
Gospel Lesson John 14:1-12 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition 14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, but if you do not, then believe because of the works themselves. 12 Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.
The Word of God for the people of God….Thanks be to God
Sermon “ Preparing a Place” Rev. Debbie Scott
Invitation to Offering
Offertory “ I Will Sing the Wondrous Story” (Mary McDonald)
I was lost, but Jesus found me,
Found the sheep that went astray;
Threw His loving arms around me,
Drew me back into His way.
I was bruised, but Jesus healed me;
Faint was I from many a fall.
Sight was gone and my fears possessed me,
But He freed me from them all.
I will sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ Who died for me;
Sing it with the saints in glory,
Gathered by the crystal sea.
I will sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ Who died for me;
How He left his home in glory
For the Cross of Calvary.
He will keep me till the river
Rolls its waters at my feet,
Then He’ll bear me safely over
Where the loved ones I shall meet.
Yes, I’ll will sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ Who died for me;
Sing it with the saints in glory,
Gathered by the crystal sea.
Offering Prayer (All)
We offer our gifts so that others may not feel alone, eat alone, live alone, be alone, but that they may be surrounded by your grace and love through us and the lives we offer. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Closing Hymn “Blessed Assurance” UMH 369
1. Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine! Oh, What A Foretaste Of Glory Divine!
Heir Of Salvation, Purchase Of God, Born Of His Spirit, Washed In His Blood.
This Is My Story, This Is My Song, Praising My Savior All The Day Long.
REFRAIN: This Is My Story, This Is My Song, Praising My Savior All The Day Long;
2.Perfect Submission, Perfect Delight, Visions Of Rapture Now Burst On My Sight;
Angels, Descending, Bring From Above Echoes Of Mercy, Whispers Of Love. REFRAIN
3. Perfect Submission, All Is At Rest, I In My Savior Am Happy And Blest,
Watching And Waiting, Looking Above, Filled With His Goodness, Lost In His Love. REFRAIN
Benediction L: May the blessings of the One who is the Way be with you in the days to come.
P: May God guide our feet wherever we go.
L: May the blessings of Jesus who is our Life be with you in the days to come.
P: May he lead us by the hand to those who are our sisters and brothers in need.
L: May the blessings of the Spirit of Truth be with you in the days to come.
P: May we journey with the Spirit to that way which is everlasting.
Choral Benediction “Christ Is Arisen From the Dead!” (German round)
Christ is arisen from the dead!
Ringing the Bicentennial Bell
Organ Postlude
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