SUNDAY ORDER OF WORSHIP
Fifth Sunday of Easter
5-02-2021
PRELUDE
WELCOME
CALL TO WORSHIP
We gather to praise and worship God,
the one who created us for love.
We gather to worship the true vine,
the one in w hose love we abide.
Easter people, Christ is risen!
Christ is risen indeed!
HYMN #467 “How Great Thou Art”
O Lord, my God! When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed;
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
When through the woods and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze;
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
And when I think that God, His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin;
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim, "My God, how great Thou art!"
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee:
How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
PRAYER OF THE DAY
O God, form the minds of your faithful people into a single will. Make us love what you command and desire what you promise, that, amid all the changes of this world, our hearts may be fixed where true joy is found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
CALL TO CONFESSION
The Spirit of God helps us in our weakness, interceding with sighs too deep for words.
Trusting in God’s grace, let us confess our sin.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
O Christ, you are the true vine, and you have made us your branches. In your grace, we find strength, and in your love, we are set free. Forgive us, O God, when we do not live as people who have been freed, when we act as if the Easter story did not turn the world upside down. Forgive us, O God, when we do not live as people who are your branches, when we forget that we are rooted in you and bound to one another by your spirit. Forgive us, O Christ, our one true vine, and teach us to abide in you. (Silent reflection)
ASSURANCE OF PARDON/DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
Hear the good news of God’s promise: I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
Thanks be to God.
GLORIA PATRI (please stand)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
World without end. Amen, Amen.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
God Most High, reigning in glory, send down your Spirit of wisdom to shine in your heavenly Word, so that we may worship you with joy continually blessing your name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.
Ezekiel 37:4
SCRIPTURE READINGS
1 John 4:7-21 (Message)
7-10 My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn’t know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can’t know him if you don’t love. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God.
11-12 My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us—perfect love!
13-16 This is how we know we’re living steadily and deeply in him, and he in us: He’s given us life from his life, from his very own Spirit. Also, we’ve seen for ourselves and continue to state openly that the Father sent his Son as Savior of the world. Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God’s Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God. We know it so well, we’ve embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God.
17-18 God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love.
19 We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.
20-21 If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both.
John 15:1-8 (Message)
1-3 “I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn’t bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken.
5-8 “I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.
This is the good news which we have received,
in which we stand, and by which we are saved.
Thanks be to God. 1 Corinthians 15:1–2
REFLECTION: “Abiding in Christ” Rev. Norlita Kaul
HYMN: “O Blessed Spring”
O, blessed spring, where Word and sign
embrace us into Christ the vine:
Here Christ enjoins each one to be
a branch of this life-giving Tree.
Through summer heat of youthful years,
uncertain faith, rebellious tears,
Sustained by Christ’s infusing rain,
the boughs will shout for joy again.
When autumn cools and youth is cold,
When limbs their heavy harvest hold,
Then through us, warm, the Christ will move
With gifts of beauty, wisdom, love.
As winter comes, as winters must,
We breathe our last, return to dust;
Still held in Christ, our souls take wing
And trust the promise of the spring.
Christ, holy Vine, Christ, living Tree,
Be praised for this blest mystery:
That Word and water thus revive
And join us to your Tree of Life.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
Life in Christ is life eternal. The resurrection of Jesus is the sign that God will consummate the work of creation and reconciliation beyond death and bring to fulfillment the new life begun in Christ.
Adapted from the Confession of 1967, 9.26
MINUTE FOR MISSIONS
INVITATION TO OFFERING
There is only one Lord and God from whom all things come and for whom we live. Let us offer our lives to the Lord.
SPECIAL MUSIC by Mary Ermel, organist
DOXOLOGY (please stand)
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Holy Lord, you have perfected love among us by sending your son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. We humbly acknowledge your gift is an overwhelming pronouncement of grace. We share these tithes and offerings today with the hope that your children everywhere will be anointed with the knowledge that your perfect love casts out all fears. Amen.
1 John 4:7-21- (David S. Bell)
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Refrain: Help us always to remember that You are the Vine--
We are the branches.
OUR TIME TO PRAY:
Continued Health Requests:
-Darwin L (Jeanne’s husband) and Jeanne as caregiver
-Carrie VB
-Gene G
-Bob & Jan J
-Sharon W
-Andrew L
-LaVonne B
-Jan B
-Judith (Judy & Mike’s sister-in-law)
-Brent (nephew of Roger & Marvis J)
-Bev (Teri B’s mother)
-Harry (Bonnie S.’s father)
-Jack (Lee’s father)
-Kara (Richard & Dolores’ daughter)
-Rocky (Judy & Mike’s nephew)
-Gwen M (friend of Elizabeth)
-Riley (son of Rev. Norlita’s friend)
This Week’s Prayer Families: Eugene & JoAnn G, Jon & Linda G & Grace
For our new confirmand’s journey: this Wednesday, Gayle F is starting her confirmation journey. Donna F will be her mentor.
Our homebound or in care members: Barb B, Delores K, Nona M, Rose P, Cliff R, Stephen & Carrie V B, Dee W. (Please reach out and call)
Those who mourn:
We continue to pray for the Salonen, Jenner, Fishback, Kennedy N., Watson, Peterson, Larson, Kaul/Robinson families and for all who have lost loved ones.
Prayers for Second Presbyterian in Flandreau, Pastor Ann Spitzenberger; our Presbytery of South Dakota; the PCUSA (leaders and staff); and our own Session, Deacons, members and friends, and Brookings United Church of Christ staff, church council, and members. We continue to pray for Christ’s church universal and at work here in Brookings.
Victims and families affected by the Coronavirus. God grant them all comfort and healing. Prayers for all hospital workers, especially doctors and nurses, and first responders across the world and their families.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
HYMN #507 “I Come with Joy”
I come with joy to meet my Lord,
Forgiven, loved, and free,
In awe and wonder to recall
His life laid down for me,
His life laid down for me.
I come with Christians far and near
To find, as all are fed,
The new community of love
In Christ’s communion bread,
In Christ’s communion bread.
As Christ breaks bread and bids us share,
Each proud division ends.
The love that made us, makes us one,
And strangers now are friends,
And strangers now are friends.
And thus with joy we meet our Lord.
His presence, always near,
Is in such friendship better known:
We see and praise him here,
We see and praise Him here.
Together met, together bound,
We’ll go our different ways,
And as His people in the world,
We’ll live and speak His praise,
We’ll live and speak His praise.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
BROOKINGS NAT’L DAY OF PRAYER will be held Thursday, May 6th. The theme is ‘O Lord, pour out your love, life, and liberty.”
3 Options for the Day
1. On Thursday, May 6th our church is signed up to pray for our nation, state, community, leaders and the church for 30 minutes at 12 Noon and 6:30 PM. Please choose one of those times to personally participate. In so doing our church will join others for continuous prayer during the 24 hours period wherever you may be.
2. Pastor Stephen Palo of Ascension Lutheran Church will be leading a workshop on prayer life from 12 noon until 1 PM at Ascension. He will be teaching about praying the scriptures and more.
3. Prayer Walk begins at the City & Government Building at 5:30 PM. Please join Rev. Kaul as you are able to participate. Stops for prayer will be at the City & Government Building, at the Courthouse and Jail, and at the Children’s Museum. (Park in our lot and meet in front of the church office door outside at 5:20 PM)
ONLINE WORSHIP SERVICES: Worship services are now being held in the sanctuary and online via Zoom.
SUNDAY SCHOOL meets at 9:15 AM. May 23rd is the last day and Sunday School will resume in September.
TUESDAY MORNING COFFEE GROUP will be meeting at Perkins at 9:30ish.
THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY will be meeting at 9:30 a.m. in the church basement starting May 6th.
Birthdays and Anniversaries will be celebrated the first Sunday of the month.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY for May: Bonnie F, John P, Kay N, Bruce W, Trent B, Skylar H, Carolyn M, Jennifer H, Cliff R, Saige H, Adam Y, Carolyn C, Lori W
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY for May: Scott & Jennifer H, Dean & Sharon H,
Dave & Lucy B, Bruce & Lori W
Lord, for these joys, we give thee thanks.
BENEDICTION
My Master’s Face
No pictured likeness of my Lord I have;
He carved no record of His ministry on wood or stone,
He left no sculptured tomb nor parchment dim
But trusted for all memory of Him the heart alone.
Who sees the face but sees in part;
Who reads the spirit which it hides, sees all, and needs no more.
Thy life in my life, Lord,
Give Thou to me;
And then, in truth,
I may forever see my Master’s face! William Hurd Hillyer
May the Lord watch between me and thee while we are absent, one from the other. Amen. (Mizpah Benediction)
POSTLUDE
Thanks to everyone who helped out with our worship this morning. It takes a village to raise a child the saying says. It takes a village to do worship virtually, our new saying during these days of pandemic. Stay safe and well. Pray often. Love always! Blessings for your week!
Sources: Call to Worship Lectionary Aids for 2020-2021 Year A Vo.54.1 PCUSA; Copyright © 2019 David S. Bell. Reprinted with permission from www.DavidSBell.org. and from the Book of Common Worship, Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville KY, 1993; pg.329