Growing in faith, serving with love
Order for Worship - 6th Sunday of Easter
May 17, 2020
GATHER & PRAISE
It is a great day to worship the Lord! Take some time to leave behind all that worries you and enter into a place of worship. Lyrics for the hymn are provided in the description on the YouTube page.
CONFESS
God’s love for us is as powerful as it is unending. With confidence in the forgiveness that follows, let us confess to God where we have fallen short.
 
Pray aloud in unison with others who are gathered, both in body and spirit.
Lord, you are the Good Shepherd. You lead us beside still waters and restore our souls. But we confess that we don’t always follow you. We don’t always trust in your ability and willingness to protect us and guide us. We reject your provision.
 
Forgive us when we go astray. Help us to trust in your strength and heart to be our shepherd. Give us the courage to follow you where you lead us, so that we may embrace your love and share it with others.
 
RECEIVE PEACE
Family, receive this Good News. Just as a shepherd never abandons his sheep, God never abandons us. Be at peace with God and one another, for in Christ, we are all forgiven. Praise be to God!

CHILDREN’S SERMON
PRAYER REQUESTS
If you would like to share a joy or prayer concern, please email Pastor Dan at dan@tequestapres.org and your request will be shared in next week’s worship packet. Prayer requests will remain for 3 weeks unless updated.
 
  • For all impacted by the COVID-19 virus. For our medical professionals, paramedics, firefighters, and police officers. For those suffering from illness or facing treatment.
  • Our leaders at every level, for wisdom and discernment as they make difficult decisions, for our Session and deacons.
  • For those burdened with stress and anxiety during this time, as well as those who facing financial uncertainty.
  • For all of our students, teachers, and parents who transitioned into virtual learning.
  • Tim Brown (Carol Taylor’s son-in-law), the Sparger Family, Sharon Gordon, Mia Villegas, Ginny Willoughby, Joan and Ken Stuart, Families who have lost loved ones; Adrian Salsman (cousin of Candace Morgan), Matt & Virginia Rippe and their son Amos, Brian Overfield.
 
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Jack Islin - May 17, Robin Sykes-Rowe - May 17, Vivian Carney - May 20, Helen Swearingen - May 20, Lynn Weidman - May 20, Tim Hering - May 21, Lara Spotts - May 21, Bill Wood - May 21, Graham Eyeington - May 23, Carol John - May 23, Karen Swanson - May 23
 
SERMON SERIES
Promise Keeper: God’s Promises Found in Psalm 23
Psalm 23 is one of the most well-known and read passages in the Bible. It’s been a source of comfort and guidance for the church for thousands of years. It is beautiful to read, but it also points us to many promises God gives us. As people who believe in the miracle of Easter, we know that Christ is the fruition of all God’s promises. For six weeks, we will walk through Psalm 23 to see how God’s promises known to us in Jesus Christ can help strengthen our faith, both in seasons of blessing and seasons of hardship.
 
SERMON
Old Testament Lesson: Psalm 23
Gospel Lesson: John 10:11-18
 
Sermon: “I Will Always Be Your Shepherd”
LORD'S PRAYER

GIVE BACK
Thank you to everyone who has responded to this crisis with generosity! Together, we will endure this temporary season of physical separation. In the meantime, please know that your giving makes our ministry possible. With gratitude, let us return a portion of what God has given us. You can give by clicking the “give online” button or by mailing a check to our church office at:

FPC Tequesta
482 Tequesta Drive
Tequesta, FL 33469
OFFERTORY MUSIC
CHARGE & BENEDICTION
We worship a God who is strong enough, loving enough, and caring enough to guide us through anything life throws at us. May God’s promise to be our shepherd buoy us in hope and point us to Jesus, who is our Good Shepherd.
 
As we continue to embrace and share God’s love in this time, may the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit guide and sustain us until the day Christ comes again. Amen!  
Announcements
Dear Family,
 
On behalf of the session, I want you to know that we are currently hard at work forming a plan to reopen the church, which will undoubtedly involve a multiple-phased strategy. More important than the question of “when” we gather again is ”how” we gather. One of the biggest challenges we face in reopening is that the very nature of our gatherings involves many people gathering in one room together. For that reason, our goal is to create a comprehensive plan for worship and other gatherings that ensures the safety of everyone who attends. To that end, there are hundreds of questions we are working through in order to address every point of concern that might arise from meeting in person. We strive to not only create a safe space for us to gather and worship, but also to proclaim Christ's message of care and concern for our community. When we have everything in place, we will communicate our plan to reopen, which will include the questions of “when” and “how” our new normal will take shape. I write all of this to humbly ask for your patience and prayers as we form this plan. None of us have lived through a pandemic, but all of us are committed to lead our congregation through this pandemic as we all follow Christ together.
 
No matter our circumstance, we are confident in our continued call to live out our mission, which is to be a family of Christ’s disciples, sharing his love in all we do. Above all, whatever physical arrangement that gives us the best opportunity to live into that mission will be our metric for measuring the timing of our reopening. In the meantime, you remain in my prayers! Please reach out to me personally if you have any questions, concerns, or prayer requests. God’s love known to us in Christ is stronger than COVID-19, and we will get through this together! I am grateful for our opportunity to proclaim that everyday.
 
In Christ,
 
Pastor Dan
Gather with us via ZOOM!
We have begun a Bible study on hope, and you are invited! Join us via ZOOM every Wednesday at 10am.
 
For all the links to our ZOOM gatherings, click  here.
First Presbyterian Church | 561-746-5161 | office@tequestapres.org | www.tequestapres.org