May 5 @ St. Paul's UMC: Worship

Greetings from Sammy

Flowers from Joey Vander Vorste

Heyji offers the postlude

Fellowship time conversation

Sharing time together

Sixth Sunday of Easter

(Link to today's video)

Today’s Meditation Verse: “While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell on everyone who heard the word.” —Acts 10:44

Welcome...Pastor Charles

Prelude...Hyeji Miranda

*Call to Worship (Psalm 30:4, 5b, 11, 12)...Rebecca Glancy 

Sing praises to God, you faithful, give thanks to God’s holy name! Weeping may linger for a night, but joy comes in the morning. We believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, our Lord and Savior. He had the last laugh on the devil when He rose from the dead. You turn our weeping to dancing, God; You remove the garments of mourning and clothe us in gladness. May we praise You and not be silent! We will give thanks to You, O God, forever.                                             —Touch Holiness, Ruth Duck & Miren Tirabassi, eds

*Hymn...“I Come With Joy” (UMH #617)

Litany of Praise (inspired by Psalm 98)...Rebecca Glancy 

You raise Your hand and gently begin the concerto of creation: birds carry the melody while stars keep the beat; mountains dance in merriment and little children clap their hands with joy. Love’s Composer, our new songs are lifted to You. The old, old song is made new in our hearts: Christ is Risen! Sing Alleluia! You invite us to sing to a world deafened by despair and haunted by the tunes of fear. Lord of the Dance, our new songs are lifted to You. Believing we cannot carry a tune, we hesitate to join in the chorus of praise sung by all creation. So, You softly and gently hum the melody in our hearts until they burst with You, raising a rousing chorus of Amazing Grace. Music-making Spirit, our new songs are lifted to You. Every song, old and new, is offered to You, God in Community, Holy in One.         — Rev. Thom Shuman, posted on Lectionary Liturgies

Epistle Lesson: 1 John 5:1-6...Rebecca Glancy

Choral Anthem...“Celtic Communion,” arranged by Mark Hayes

Community prayer concerns and celebrations

Pastoral Prayer...Pastor Charles

Gospel Lesson: John 15:9-17...Pastor Charles

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

Sermon...Pastor Charles / “To live in Love’s embrace”

Communion / The Lord’s Prayer (UMH p.13)

*Hymn...“Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” (UMH #89)

*Words for the Journey...Pastor Charles

Postlude...Hyeji Miranda