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A Service of Song, Word, & Table
FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER – APRIL 21, 2024
[* Please rise in body or spirit.]
WELCOME
PRELUDE Dr. Dan Cummings
* CALL TO WORSHIP
How shall we live when we have more than enough?
We have no greater praise to offer than caring for your creatures and Creation.
The earth is our teacher – nurturing and tender.
In this hour, O God, nourish us in the soil of your love.
Let us worship God, the Ground of all Being.
* HYMN For the Beauty of the Earth UMH 92 (vs 1-4)
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
* A READING FROM THE GOSPELS John 10:11-18
This is the Word of God for the People of God.
Thanks be to God.
ANTHEM Simple Song (from Mass) Leonard Bernstein
Amanda Porter, soprano
HOMILY “Don’t I Know My Own?”
MUSICAL RESPONSE This is My Father’s World UMH 144
PRAYER OF CONFESSION based on Psalm 23
Shepherd God, you are the Lord of the stone-crest mountain and shepherd of the living Hermon Stream. Your
flocks are rock thrush and rock hyrax, herds of swirled, mountain gazelle, schools of nibble fish, and us, your people. Creator, in your design, you gather us together with the mountain cherry and holy bramble, and we are brought close to you.
Forgive us for the destruction of your holy places, your flowing waters, your herds, and your flocks. We have
darkened the valley. We have polluted your earth. We brought war, discord, and greed into your communities. We turn to you!
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
Holy Parent, Father God! We rise from our sorrow. This is Easter! We will fear no dark place, not where the
Banyan waters churn over the cliff, not in the deep underground of crystal water, not in the crevices of limestone or any other darkness, for you are with us. We will restore the wild wheat and herald the crocus. Our cups plunged into the cool springs will overflow! We rest as one community in the meadow of your love. Amen. Amen.
PASSING OF THE PEACE
REGATHERING HYMN The King of Love My Shepherd Is UMH 138 (vs 1,6)
INVITATION TO OFFERING
OFFERTORY PRAYER
God of the ages, we share our tithes and offerings this day with, but we acknowledge that most of the time, we are clinging tightly to what we have, afraid we might lose something we need and afraid somehow there won’t be enough to live our lives. The scarcity mindset overtakes us, and it robs us of the joy of our days. Remind us that Jesus has called us to be ready to let go of this life so that we might claim eternal abundance of life. In our redeemer’s name, we pray. Amen.
OFFERTORY Mass ApPeal Handbells
* DOXOLOGY Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow UMH 94
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING TFWS 2257 b,c,d
LORD’S PRAYER
SHARING THE BREAD AND THE CUP
MUSIC AT COMMUNION Dan Cummings, piano
PRAYER AFTER RECEIVING
Creative God, we thank you for revealing your love to us in bread and juice. We recognize your presence in us and all around us, and we ask that you continue to reveal your love for all Creation to the ends of the Earth through our lives. Make us your people and use us to reveal the inbreaking of your kin-dom here and now: a world of justice and peace. Amen.
INVITATION TO CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP
* SENDING HYMN Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us UMH 381
* BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE Dr. Dan Cummings
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