Sunday May 18 2025 - Bulletin
May 18, 2025
Fifth Sunday of Easter
CHIMING THE HOUR
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRAYER OF APPROACH
PRELUDE
CALL TO WORSHIP (from Psalm 148)
One: Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights!
All: Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host! Praise him, sun and moon; praise
him, all you shining stars!
One: Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created.
All: Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds!
One: Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth!
All: Young men and women alike, old and young together! Let them praise the name of the
Lord, for his name alone is exalted. Praise the Lord!
Hymn # 455 “All Creatures of Our God and King”
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
Merciful God, so often we impatiently want our problems solved in our time rather than in
your time. Remind us that when we trust in you, one day you will wipe every tear from our
eyes; that death will be no more; and that mourning and crying and pain will cease.
Forgive our lack of trust and our lack of patience.
Gracious God, your Son asked us to love one another as he loved us, and yet we often don’t
bother to really consider what that means. Forgive us when we love on our own terms,
rather than as Jesus teaches us to. Remind us that the love of Christ is both a love of
sacrifice and of action. Inspire us to seek the help of the Holy Spirit in living a life that is
pleasing in your sight; a life that models the life of your Son. 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 LESSON Acts 11:1-18
MUSICAL OFFERING
SECOND LESSON Revelation 21:1-6
GOSPEL LESSON John 13:31-35 Rev Kirsty H. Dickson-Maret
SERMON “The Water of Life” 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 # (Insert) “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say”
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 ANTHEM
DOXOLOGY
PRAYER OF DEDICATION (UNISON)
Gracious God, we know that through your Son all things are made new and that his words
are trustworthy and true. May the gifts given today help us to help others seek a new life in
Jesus Christ - so that their thirst might be quenched with the water of life that is freely
offered to all of us. Amen.
HYMN #2223 They'll Know We Are Christians by Our Love
CHARGE
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE