April 14, 2024 Bulletin - Third Sunday of Easter
April 14th, 2024 - Third Sunday of Easter
WE GATHER TO WORSHIP GOD
CHIMING THE HOUR
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRAYER OF APPROACH
PRELUDE
CALL TO WORSHIP (From Psalm 4) Marty Pond, Liturgist
One: Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God.
All: Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
One: Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself; All: the Lord hears when I call to him.
One: In peace I will lie down and sleep,
All: for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
*HYMN #104 “Christ Is Risen! Shout Hosanna!”
CALL TO CONFESSION
Nothing can be hidden from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth, whose wisdom is endless, whose mercy is great. Trusting in God’s grace, let us confess our sin.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (UNISON)
What love you have given us, O God, that we should be called your children. What love you have given us, O Christ, that we should share a table with you. Forgive us when we take these things for granted.
Teach us to more fully understand what it means to be your children. Teach us to take on the responsibility of sharing our knowledge of you with others so that they too might find hope. Forgive us when we do not open our hearts to the Holy Spirit - the Spirit that fills our souls so that we feel compelled to share the Good News. Be patient with our doubt and teach us your ways so that we might follow your Son, Jesus Christ, to His Holy Cross and onwards to life eternal. Amen.
One: Now that we have confessed as a body, let us take the truths that have troubled our hearts to God silently. Let us not be worried about the awkwardness of silence, as we take some time to focus on speaking with our God.
SILENT REFLECTION
WORDS OF ASSURANCE Rev. Kirsty Dickson-Maret
*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE: Gloria Patri #579
*PASSING OF THE PEACE:
One: Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us forgive one another.
The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
All: And also with you.
One: Let us share signs of peace with one another.
WE HEAR AND REFLECT ON GOD’S WORD
NEW TESTAMENT LESSON Acts 3:12-19 Liturgist
red Bible p.1327, black Bible p.120
MUSICAL OFFERING
EPISTLE READING 1 John 3:1-7 Rev. Kirsty Dickson-Maret
red Bible p. 1484, black Bible p. 240
GOSPEL LESSON Luke 24:36b-48 Rev. Kirsty Dickson-Maret
red Bible p. 1288, black Bible p. 91
SERMON “Have Anything Here to Eat?” Rev. Kirsty Dickson-Maret
WE OFFER OUR LIVES TO GOD
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH The Apostles’ Creed
I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
*HYMN #2254 “In Remembrance of Me”
CELEBRATION OF EUCHARIST
INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE
This is the joyful feast of the people of God! People will come from north and south and from east and west to sit at table in the kingdom of God. According to Luke, when our risen Lord was at table with his disciples, he took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. This is the Lord’s Table. Our Savior invites those who trust him to share the feast that he has prepared.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
L: The Lord be with you.
A: And also with you.
L: Lift up your hearts.
A: We lift them to the Lord.
L: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
A: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
L: We glorify your name and lift our voices in joyful praise.
Praise to you, O God, for all your works. You created the world and called it good and made us in your image to live together in love. You made a covenant with us, and even when we turned from you, you remained ever faithful. Therefore, with all creation we sing your praise:
A: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
L: Thank you, O God, for sending us your Son. He lived among us and told your story. He healed the sick and welcomed sinners. He shared our pain and died our death, then rose to new life that we might live, and all creation be restored.
Gracious God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these your gifts of bread and wine that they may be for us the body and blood of Christ and that we may be his body for the world. By your Spirit unite us with Christ and one another until we feast with him and with all your saints in your eternal realm of justice and peace. Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor are yours, almighty God, now and forever. Amen.
THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION
COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
L: Loving God, we thank you that you have fed us in this sacrament,
A: united us with Christ, and given us a foretaste of the heavenly banquet in your eternal realm.
L: Send us out in the power of your Spirit
A: to live and work to your praise and glory, For the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
JOYS AND CONCERNS
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE and THE LORD’S PRAYER
CALL FOR THE OFFERING
The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it. Let us return to God the offerings of our life and the gifts of the earth. Let us offer them with joy in our hearts and a deep sense of gratitude.
OFFERTORY
*DOXOLOGY HYMN #592
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION (UNISON)
Gracious God, together we present you with our tithes and offerings. You have offered us a transformational love. May these offerings we bring today be a reflection of our love for you and our desire to be faithful stewards of your blessings. Bless our giving and guide us in using these gifts wisely. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
*HYMN #2196 “We Walk by Faith”
*CHARGE
*BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE