April 24 @ St. Paul's UMC: Worship

 

Today’s Meditation Verse: "We are witnesses of such things, as is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.” —Acts 5:32

Welcome... Pastor Charles

Prelude...  

Call to Worship (Safiyah Fosua, UMC Discipleship Ministries) ... Claudia Mills

It’s the Sunday after Easter; the lilies are gone. And we are alone with our faith. Thomas said, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe” (John 20:25b, NRSV). Easter is past, and we are alone with our faith. On this Sunday after Easter, help us grow into the faith that we confessed and celebrated last week. Reveal evidence of Your resurrection for the days when we feel that we are alone with our faith.

Music...  "How Great Thou Art" - Hannah Gu, July 4, 2021

Confession and Pardon (Rev. Thom Schuman) ... Claudia Mills

We can hold on to hurt until our hands begin to cramp and keep holding. Though they bow our back, we refuse to set our grudges down, because we don’t know what it would feel like to have that weight off us. And we think that is the way God operates as well. But God’s anger lasts for just a moment, while the grace, the forgiveness, and the hope God offers never goes away. Let us dare to bring our prayers to the One who hears us and heals us, as we pray together, saying...

Now that Easter is done and gone, Holy One, we no longer hear the special music, but listen to temptation’s familiar refrains. We no longer walk those straight paths of joy and wonder but wander the crooked streets to our old haunts. Rather than living in the newness you bring, we do things the way they have always been done. Fortunately, God of seaside breakfasts, you know the way out of our messy lives, and so take us by the hand to lead us. You wipe our busy schedules off our calendars so we may spend more time with those who need our love and attention. You challenge us to fish from the other side of our worries, so we may pull in all the grace, wonder,  and mercy offered to us by Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Silence is kept 

Why should we weep? Joy comes to us this morning, and every moment of our lives. The Lamb of God has come, to share mercy and hope with us, so we can praise our God with joyous hearts. We will lift glad songs of joy, for all the blessings God has given to us. We will offer our hearts and hands in love and serve to others. Thanks be to God, we are forgiven! Amen.

Community prayer requests, concerns, and celebrations

Pastoral Prayer / The Lord’s Prayer... Pastor Charles

First Lesson: Revelation 1:4-8... Claudia Mills

Music...  "Homage to Thomas Campion (for 4 hands)" - Suzanne Polacek and Carol Wickham, November 15, 2020

Second Lesson: John 20:19-31... Pastor Charles

Pastor: This is the Word of God for the people of God. People: Thanks be to God.

Sermon... Pastor Charles / “What would you have said?”

Music...  "As We Leave This Sacred Place" - Alpha & Omega, November 1, 2020

Words for the Journey... Pastor Charles