April 21, 2024 Bulletin - Fourth Sunday of Easter
April 21, 2024
Fourth Sunday of Easter
CHIMING THE HOUR
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRAYER OF APPROACH
PRELUDE
CALL TO WORSHIP (From Psalm 23)
One: The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;
All: he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.
One: Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff — they comfort me.
All: You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
One: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
All: and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD my whole life long. Let us worship the Lord!
*HYMN # 379 “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less”
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)
Gracious God, you sent us your Son to be our Shepherd - and he laid his life down for us. Forgive us when we prefer the voice of the hired hand, who runs away whenever a wolf comes into our midst. Forgive us when we do not give of ourselves to help one another as Jesus commanded us to do. Forgive us when we speak of love, but don’t love our Shepherd enough to follow him. Forgive us when we hesitate to tell others of the true love that can only be found through him. Tune our ears to the voice of our Good Shepherd so that we no longer seek to follow all of the loud voices of the world, but rather would be directed towards Christ’s loving arms - arms who embrace all who heed his call. In the name of your Son, and our Shepherd we pray. 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
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.
FIRST NEW TESTAMENT LESSON Acts 4:5-12
MUSICAL OFFERING
EPISTLE READING 1 John 3:16-24
GOSPEL LESSON John 10:11-18
SERMON “Knowing His Voice” Rev. Kirsty H. Dickson-Maret
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 # 2102 “You, Lord, Are Both Lamb and Shepherd”
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
PRAYER OF DEDICATION (UNISON)
Gracious God, your disciple John asks us “How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?” May these words burn brightly in our hearts as we offer up these gifts to you today. May your love abide through these tithes and offerings. Let us not refuse help to any brother or sister in need so long as we possess the world’s goods that we might share. We ask in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, Amen.
HYMN # 536 “Lord, Make Us More Holy”
CHARGE
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE