Order of Worship

Opening Voluntary – Nocturne (From Opus 9, No 2), F. Chopin

Choral Introit

Welcome and Greetings

*Call to Worship

L:  Sing to our God a new song,

P:  for God has done wondrous things.

L:  The Holy One’s might is not found in destruction,

P:  but in steadfast love and constant faithfulness.

L:  These gifts are not for us alone,

P:  they are for one and all.

L:  Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.

P:  Break forth into songs of praise.

L:  Let all creation praise the Lord.

*Opening Hymn #437 – “This Is My Song”                                            

*Opening Prayer

God of Love, let your Holy Spirit come upon us—into our hearts, into our minds, and into our souls.  Let your presence speak within us—in the languages we speak, in the ways we live and have our being.  For we long to hear you, Gracious One, and to understand.  We pray that you would abide in us, that we may abide in you, this day and all days.  Amen.

Prayer of Confession

Considered too rough for their smooth plans, the builders cast out the Stone they needed.  But God builds salvation on the One who is the foundation of all hope.  Let us confess our sins to God and one another, trusting we will not be put to shame.

 Assurance of Pardon

L:  You are no longer alone – you are God’s Beloved.  You are not of this world, but residents of God’s Kingdom.  You, who once had no hope, have been filled with forgiveness. 

P:  Each one of us, all of us, have received God’s mercy in Christ.  Forgiven, redeemed, made whole – we are a people made one in faith.  Thanks be to God.  Amen.

Passing of the Peace of Christ

As God has loved us, so shall we love each other.  As Christ has called us friends, so we have become friends to one another.  Let us abide in God’s love together now, sharing both friendship and peace.

Scriptures

New Testament – Acts 10:44-48

⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell on everyone who heard the word.  ⁴⁵ The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.  ⁴⁶ They heard them speaking in other languages and praising God. Peter asked, ⁴⁷ “These people have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.  Surely no one can stop them from being baptized with water, can they?”  ⁴⁸ He directed that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.  Then they invited Peter to stay for several days.

L:  The Word of God, For the People of God.  P:  Thanks be to God.

*Gospel – John 15:9-17 (Please stand if you are able)

⁹ “As the Father loved me, I too have loved you.  Remain in my love.  ¹⁰ If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.  ¹¹ I have said these things to you so that my joy will be in you and your joy will be complete.  ¹² This is my commandment:  love each other just as I have loved you.  ¹³ No one has greater love than to give up one’s life for one’s friends.  ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command you.  ¹⁵ I don’t call you servants any longer, because servants don’t know what their master is doing.  Instead, I call you friends, because everything I heard from my Father I have made known to you.  ¹⁶ You didn’t choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you could go and produce fruit and so that your fruit could last.  As a result, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.  ¹⁷ I give you these commandments so that you can love each other.

L:  The Word of God, For the People of God.  P:  Thanks be to God.

*Hymn before Message #526 – “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”   

Message – “A New Song!”        Penny Van Riper Gadzini, Pastor

Pastoral Prayer

Invitation

How often have we heard the good news of forgiveness and restoration?  Yet, we are still reluctant to believe.  God offers us new life, yet we are afraid to let go of the old.  Let us confess our doubts and fears to the One who waits to make us whole.

Invitation to Tithes and Offering

The Holy Spirit’s gifts have been poured into our hearts and our lives.  In response, let us share these blessings for the good of God’s people.

Choral Selection – As You Serve, Remember Me, J. Raney

*Presentation of the Offering and Doxology Hymn #95

*Prayer of Dedication

O God, our hearts sing with thanksgiving for the many gifts and graces you bring to our lives.  We give you thanks for your steadfast love and faithful Spirit.  Receive this offering and the gift of our whole selves, that we might give as we have received and love as we have been loved.  Amen.

Thanksgiving and Communion

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty (almighty God), creator of heaven and earth. You formed us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life.  When we turned away, and our love failed, your love remained steadfast.  You delivered us from captivity, made covenant to be our sovereign God, brought us to a land flowing with milk and honey, and set before us the way of life. 

And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.  Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.  Hosanna in the highest.

Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ.  By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to your Church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.  By your great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of your Son from the dead and to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.  Once we were no people, but now we are your people, declaring your wonderful deeds in Christ, who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light.  When the Lord Jesus ascended, he promised to be with us always, in the power of your Word and Holy Spirit.

On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to the disciples, and said:  “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.  Do this in remembrance of me.”

When the supper was over he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said:  “Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.  Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

On the day you raised him from the dead he was recognized by his disciples in the breaking of the bread, and in the power of your Holy Spirit your Church has continued in the breaking of the bread and the sharing of the cup.

And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine.  Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.

By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet.

Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty Father, now and forever.  Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER AND CHORAL RESPONSE

BREAKING THE BREAD

GIVING THE BREAD AND CUP

*PRAYER AFTER RECEIVING COMMUNION

O Lord, may we who eat this bread, become a people of living stones; may we who drink this wine become a people of salvation.  Enrich our faith and trust as we gather together again at your table for this sacred remembrance.  We confess our broken and sinful behavior and seek forgiveness for the harm we have done to others and to ourselves.  In these moments of communion together, may we experience the confidence of children who know they are loved and accepted completely.  Amen.

*Closing Hymn #98 – “To God Be the Glory”                    

Dismissal with Blessing

Closing Voluntary – Glory To God, G. Peterson

(Please remain seated for the Closing Voluntary)