May 3 @ St. Paul's UMC: Worship

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Today’s Meditation Verse: “Though you were like straying sheep, you have now

returned to the shepherd and guardian of your lives.” --1 Peter 2:25

Welcome—Pastor Charles                    

Call to Worship—Pastor Charles (Leader) and Steve Batch (People)

Congregation is encouraged to read People’s response aloud on mute setting

Leader: The gate stands open, ready for us to travel onward. People: But we are stubborn and fear to enter the gateway. Leader: Listen for the voice of the true Shepherd. People: His voice will we hear and obey. Leader: Hallelujah! People: Hallelujah!

Prayer for Blessing, Mercy, and Courage (Book of Worship #500)— Steve Batch                           Congregation is encouraged to read aloud on mute setting

O God, that we may receive your blessing, touch our brows, touch our heads, and do not look upon us in anger. In a hard year, offer us mercy; in a year of affliction, offer us kindness; Dark spirits banish from us, bring spirits bring close to us; Gray spirits put away from us, good spirits draw near ot us. When we are afraid, offer us courage; When we are ashamed, be our true face; Be over us like a blanket, be under us like a bed of furs. Amen.      --Traditional prayer of Mongolia

Community prayer requests, concerns, and celebrations—Pastor Charles

Pastoral Prayer—Pastor Charles

Scripture Lesson: Psalm 23 —Steve Batch

Musical Offering: "Sekstur from Vendsyssel" (Danish String Quartet) & "Allegro ma poco"  (Jean-Marie LeClair) - Jessica Oddie & Peter Clark, violins (February 2, 2020)

Second Lesson: Acts 2:42-47 —Pastor Charles                                                   

Sermon: “Where have we seen this before?”—Pastor Charles

Great Thanksgiving

Please provide each person present with some form of bread/cracker (any type or style) and

something to drink (doesn’t have to be grape juice). 

Words for the Journey— Pastor Charles

Go forth in the love of God. We will take this love into unlovely parts of the world even while we stay isolated at home. Go forth in the grace of Jesus Christ. We will look for him in the faces of every person we meet, even at a distance, even through social media. Go forth in the peace of the Spirit. We will share this hope with the brokenness all around us, that we might offer healing to everyone.                     –The Rev. Thom Schuman  

   

Thanks to Steve Batch for being our liturgist this month and to Scott Glancy for handling the technical side of our Zoom gathering.

Reminder: Gifts and tithes can be sent directly to Martha Batch. Contributions to the PATH Fund can be marked “PATH Fund” in the memo line.