Order of Worship

Fifth Sunday of Easter

BOLD indicates congregational SPEAKING participation

GATHERING AS THE BODY OF CHRIST

Prelude

"Come Thou Almighty King"

UMH #61

Welcome and Sharing of Announcements

A Time to Make Connections

Introit

         “Come Into His Presence”         

  arr. Douglas E. Schoen

Adult Choir (in-person service only) 

Call to Worship

Liturgist: Come to Christ, the true vine, and bear much fruit.

People: We have come to abide in the vine, and to bear the fruit of salvation.

Liturgist: Come to love one another, for love is of God.

People: We have come to the household of love, for God is love.

Liturgist: Come to set aside your fears, for perfect love drives out fear.

People: We have come to love one another, as God has loved us.

Liturgist: Come! All are welcome here.

Opening Prayer

Divine Vinegrower, the soil of your love nurtures the roots of our lives each and every day. As we consecrate ourselves into your loving care, plant us in the soil of your love, that we may abide in Christ, our true vine, and bear the fruit of your love and grace. Give us rain in seasons of doubt and nourish our growth, that our harvest of love may bless the world. In your bountiful name, we pray. Amen.

Opening Hymn

          “In the Garden”   

     UMH #314   

Message in Music

      “Laudate, Praise the Lord!”    

    by Mark Weston

Adult Choir (in-person service only)

Based on Psalm 150

Children's Time

Pastor Seok-Hwan

Pastoral Prayer and Lord's Prayer

Prayer Response

  “He Is Lord” 

 UMH #177

Based on Philippians 2:9-11

ATTENTION TO THE WORD OF GOD

Scripture Readings

Acts 8:26-40

26 Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go toward the south[g] to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a wilderness road.) 27 So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it.” 30 So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. 32 Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this:

“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,

    and like a lamb silent before its shearer,

        so he does not open his mouth.

33 In his humiliation justice was denied him.

    Who can describe his generation?

        For his life is taken away from the earth.”

34 The eunuch asked Philip, “About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they were going along the road, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?” 38 He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip[i] baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

Liturgist: The word of God for the people of God.

People: Thanks be to God.  

Message

 “What is to Prevent Us Being Children of God?”

  Pastor Seok-Hwan

We Respond

Offertory

       “Into My Heart”

   TFWS #2160

Doxology

 UMH #94

*Offertory Prayer

Bountiful God, you fill the poor with good things and cause the hungry to be satisfied. May these gifts be instruments of your grace and may our very lives be the means of spreading your blessings. Make these gifts be for the world a sign of your boundless love and your overflowing abundance. Amen.

Closing Hymn

        “Gift of Love”  

UMH#408

Based on 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

The Blessing and Sending Forth 

No one has ever seen God. But, if an angel appears and tells you to rise and go down a desert road, do not be afraid. Though barren, the desert is the place of revelation. As you pass through, someone will draw near. It may be the risen Christ, disguised as a weary stranger. Behold the face of your God, and offer the stranger your water.

Benediction Response 

    “A Choral Benediction” 

     by Don Besig

Adult Choir

Postlude

   "Postlude in D"

  Jacques-Nicolas Lemmens