Bulletin – Sunday, May 17, 2020

May 17, 2020
Sixth Sunday of Easter

Approach

Candle Lighting

Call to Worship

Live in God’s love!
Let that love be poured out for all God’s people!

Bring hope and peace to all whom you meet.
We are called to be God’s witnesses.

Celebrate and rejoice.
Praise be to God who has called, healed, and given us a ministry of love and peace. Amen.

Hymn – “God, We Praise You for the Morning”

God we praise you for the morning;
Hope springs forth with each new day,
New beginning, prayer, and promise,
Joy in work and in play.

God, we praise you for creation,
Mountains, seas, and prairie land.
Waking souls find joy and healing
In your bountiful hand.

God, we praise you for compassion,
All the loving that you show;
Human touching, tears, and laughter,
Help your children to grow.

God, we praise you for your Spirit,
Comforter and daily friend,
Restless searcher, gentle teacher,
Strength and courage you send.

God, we praise you for the Saviour,
Come that we may know your ways.
In his loving, dying, rising,
Christ is Lord of our days.

Hallelujah, hallelujah,
Hallelujah, hallelujah,
Hallelujah, hallelujah,
Christ is Lord of our days!

Prayer

Source of all creation, maker of the world and everything in it, you are never far from each one of us. We come into your house seeking you, O giver of life and breath.

We hope because of you. Maker and giver of all, forgive us when we are too preoccupied to notice your presence in our lives: when we walk through this world and fail to see the wonder of you upholding our lives and all creation; when we walk through our lives and fail to see you abiding with, within, and around us; when we walk through holy moments and fail to savour your presence, instead feeling abandoned in the vast sweep of life as each day rushes at us with its demands.

Open our eyes to your presence, God of love, that we may lean on you—for you uphold all creation in tenderness and power. Amen.

Words of Assurance

Time for All Ages

Hymn – “Small Things Count”

Small things count, so Jesus said:
Cups of water, crumbs of bread,
Small things done because we’re kind
Count as big things in God’s mind.

Small things make the big things grow:
Grains of yeast inside the dough,
Puffs that fill a big balloon,
Notes that make a happy tune.

Every hair that’s on our head,
Every sparrow, Jesus said,
God takes care of, counts and knows,
God loves us from top to toes!

The Word

Scripture Reading:

1 Peter 3:13-22
John 14:15-21

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God!

Anthem – “I Find My Peace in You”

Meditation – “No Good Deed Goes Unpunished”

The Response

Pastoral Prayer

Center us now, O God, on your presence in this place among your people, as we lift up our hearts’ desires, our souls’ deep needs, our hungers, fears, and failures. As we have often failed to be obedient to your will in our lives as individual disciples and as church, we pray that you will forgive us and enliven us to be and to do the Gospel of Christ.
We lift up our prayer to you, O God.

Open us to your Spirit’s urgings, and awaken us to live faithfully as your people in a changing, often hurting world.
We lift up our prayer to you, O God.

We pray for those around us who need your care, and ask that you would make of us your instruments of healing, peace, and redemption. We pray especially for those we name this day…

and others we lift to you in the silence of our hearts.
We lift up our prayer to you, O God.

Reveal your presence with them and with us, God of life, that as people of renewed faith and vitality, we may be empowered to serve your world, and so give glory to you.
We lift up our prayer to you, O God.

We pray for all those who struggle at this time, those who struggle with loneliness, with isolation, with separation. May they feel your ongoing presence in their lives today and every day.
We lift up our prayer to you, O God.

We prayer for those who face violence and persecution in their lives, may they come to know peace.
We lift up our prayer to you, O God.

We pray for our world. A world where it seems as if injustice and hatred run rampant. May we become instruments of your justice and love in a world that needs your presence.
We lift up our prayer to you, O God.

We offer our prayers and our lives in the name of Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray;

Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Hymn – “Great is Thy Faithfulness”

Great is thy faithfulness, God our Creator;
There is no shadow of turning with thee;
Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
As thou hast been thou forever wilt be.
Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is the faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed thy hand hath provided.
Great is thy faithfulness, ever to me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.
Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is the faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed thy hand hath provided.
Great is thy faithfulness, ever to me!

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow –
Wondrous the portion thy blessings provide.
Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is the faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed thy hand hath provided.
Great is thy faithfulness, ever to me!

Benediction

Wherever we are, we are in God. Wherever we are, we are in Christ, and Christ is in us.

Wherever we are, the Spirit abide with us and in us.

We go forth in peace and hope, upheld by God in every way.

Let us go forth in faithfulness and trust.

May all see the Divine in and through us. Amen.

Response – “May the Blessing of God Be Upon You”

May the blessing of God be upon you.
May God’s love light all your way.
May the grace of Christ enfold you
And peace around you stay.
May the Spirit of God dwell within you.
May you live in joy each day.