FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
ORDER OF WORSHIP
5th SUNDAY OF EASTER
MAY 3, 2026
PRELUDE He Leadeth Me - Gilbert M. Martin
WELCOME
ANNOUNCEMENTS
-TUESDAY MORNING COFFEE GROUP at 9:30ish AM at First Lutheran Mission Coffee House.
-FINANCE COMMITTEE will meet Tuesday, May 5 at 6:30 PM via Zoom.
-THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY at 9:30 AM, Center Meeting Room
-CE/FELLOWSHIP COMMITTEE will meet next Sunday, May 10 following worship service.
- NEW MEMBER OR CONFIRMATION CLASS: if you’re interested in participating, please contact Robby or Donna. Both classes are designed to help you learn more about the Presbyterian denomination and our church in particular. Confirmation Class is for youth entering or in Middle School or High School. Days and times will be determined once we know who is interested.
- BE A GREETER Sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board by the office.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Come, even when you are unsure of the way.
We come, asking, “How do we know?”
Come, longing to see God more clearly.
We come, saying, “Show us.”
Jesus says, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.”
We come with questions, and with hope.
We come to worship.
*OPENING HYMN #267 (blue)“All Things Bright and Beautiful”
Refrain:
All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful: the Lord God made them all.
Each little flower that opens, each little bird that sings:
God made their glowing colors, God made their tiny wings.
All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful:the Lord God made them all.
The purple-headed mountain, the river running by,
The sunset and the morning that brightens up the sky,
All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful: the Lord God made them all.
The cold wind in the winter, the pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden: God made them every one.
All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful: the Lord God made them all.
God gave us eyes to see them, and lips that we might tell
How great is God Almighty, who has made all things well.
All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful: the Lord God made them all.
*CALL TO CONFESSION and *PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Gracious God, we confess that we often want faith to be simple and certain. We want clear answers, visible proof, and an easy path. When things are unclear, when we cannot see where you are leading, we grow impatient. Forgive us for the times we have overlooked your presence, in Christ, in others, and in our everyday lives. Meet us in our uncertainty and lead us into a deeper trust. Open our eyes to recognize you, and shape our lives so that others may see you through us. Remind us, O God, that even in our questions, we are yours. We pray in Jesus’s name, Amen.
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON
*GLORIA PATRI (on screen)
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.
CHILDREN’S SERMON
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION and SCRIPTURE READING
1 Peter 2:4-5, 9
4Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and 5like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ
9You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
John 14:1-14
1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4And you know the way to the place where I am going.” 5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
8Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” 9Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works.
11Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. 12Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.”
SERMON Being Human
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (from the Confession of 1967)
God ’s sovereign love is a mystery beyond the reach of the human mind. Human thought ascribes to God superlatives of power, wisdom, and goodness. But God reveals divine love in Jesus Christ by showing power in the form of a servant, wisdom in the folly of the cross, and goodness in receiving sinful men and women. The power of God’s love in Christ to transform the world discloses that the Redeemer is the Lord and Creator who made all things to serve the purpose of God’s love .
*HYMN OF RESPONSE: #282 (blue) “If Thou but Trust in God to Guide Thee”
If thou but trust in God to guide thee, with hopeful heart through all thy ways,
God will give strength, whate’er betide thee, to bear thee through the evil days.
Who trusts in God's unchanging love builds on the rock that nought can move.
Only be still, and wait God’s leisure in cheerful hope, with heart content
To take whate’er thy Keeper’s pleasure and all discerning love hath sent.
No doubt our inmost wants are clear to One who holds us always dear.
Sing, pray, and swerve not from God’s ways, but do thine own part faithfully;
Trust the rich promises of grace, so shall they be fulfilled in thee.
God never yet forsook at need the soul secured by trust indeed.
SERVICE OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
INVITATION TO THE TABLE
HYMN #507 (blue) “I Come with Joy” (v. 1-3)
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.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you And also with you
Lift up your hearts We lift them to the Lord
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God It is right to give our thanks and praise.
…Therefore with all creation we sing your praise.
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord
Hosanna in the highest.
… According to his commandment,
We remember his death,
We proclaim his resurrection,
We await his coming in glory.
… 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.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION AND BREAKING OF THE BREAD
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Concerns: Don B, Jan J, Carrie VB
Our homebound or in care members: Richard & Dolores C, JoAnn G, Jan J, Darwin L (Jeanne caregiver), Bob O (Nancy caregiver), Rose P, Steve VB, Dee W (Please reach out)
This Week’s Prayer Families: David & Lucy B, Linda B
OFFERING OF OURSELVES AND OUR RESOURCES
*DOXOLOGY
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
*CLOSING HYMN #507 (blue) (v.4-5) “I Come with Joy”
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.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain - Sullivan/McDonald
ORDER OF WORSHIP
5th SUNDAY OF EASTER
MAY 3, 2026
PRELUDE He Leadeth Me - Gilbert M. Martin
WELCOME
ANNOUNCEMENTS
-TUESDAY MORNING COFFEE GROUP at 9:30ish AM at First Lutheran Mission Coffee House.
-FINANCE COMMITTEE will meet Tuesday, May 5 at 6:30 PM via Zoom.
-THURSDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY at 9:30 AM, Center Meeting Room
-CE/FELLOWSHIP COMMITTEE will meet next Sunday, May 10 following worship service.
- NEW MEMBER OR CONFIRMATION CLASS: if you’re interested in participating, please contact Robby or Donna. Both classes are designed to help you learn more about the Presbyterian denomination and our church in particular. Confirmation Class is for youth entering or in Middle School or High School. Days and times will be determined once we know who is interested.
- BE A GREETER Sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board by the office.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Come, even when you are unsure of the way.
We come, asking, “How do we know?”
Come, longing to see God more clearly.
We come, saying, “Show us.”
Jesus says, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.”
We come with questions, and with hope.
We come to worship.
*OPENING HYMN #267 (blue)“All Things Bright and Beautiful”
Refrain:
All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful: the Lord God made them all.
Each little flower that opens, each little bird that sings:
God made their glowing colors, God made their tiny wings.
All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful:the Lord God made them all.
The purple-headed mountain, the river running by,
The sunset and the morning that brightens up the sky,
All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful: the Lord God made them all.
The cold wind in the winter, the pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden: God made them every one.
All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful: the Lord God made them all.
God gave us eyes to see them, and lips that we might tell
How great is God Almighty, who has made all things well.
All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful: the Lord God made them all.
*CALL TO CONFESSION and *PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Gracious God, we confess that we often want faith to be simple and certain. We want clear answers, visible proof, and an easy path. When things are unclear, when we cannot see where you are leading, we grow impatient. Forgive us for the times we have overlooked your presence, in Christ, in others, and in our everyday lives. Meet us in our uncertainty and lead us into a deeper trust. Open our eyes to recognize you, and shape our lives so that others may see you through us. Remind us, O God, that even in our questions, we are yours. We pray in Jesus’s name, Amen.
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON
*GLORIA PATRI (on screen)
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.
CHILDREN’S SERMON
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION and SCRIPTURE READING
1 Peter 2:4-5, 9
4Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and 5like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ
9You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
John 14:1-14
1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4And you know the way to the place where I am going.” 5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
8Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” 9Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works.
11Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. 12Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.”
SERMON Being Human
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (from the Confession of 1967)
God ’s sovereign love is a mystery beyond the reach of the human mind. Human thought ascribes to God superlatives of power, wisdom, and goodness. But God reveals divine love in Jesus Christ by showing power in the form of a servant, wisdom in the folly of the cross, and goodness in receiving sinful men and women. The power of God’s love in Christ to transform the world discloses that the Redeemer is the Lord and Creator who made all things to serve the purpose of God’s love .
*HYMN OF RESPONSE: #282 (blue) “If Thou but Trust in God to Guide Thee”
If thou but trust in God to guide thee, with hopeful heart through all thy ways,
God will give strength, whate’er betide thee, to bear thee through the evil days.
Who trusts in God's unchanging love builds on the rock that nought can move.
Only be still, and wait God’s leisure in cheerful hope, with heart content
To take whate’er thy Keeper’s pleasure and all discerning love hath sent.
No doubt our inmost wants are clear to One who holds us always dear.
Sing, pray, and swerve not from God’s ways, but do thine own part faithfully;
Trust the rich promises of grace, so shall they be fulfilled in thee.
God never yet forsook at need the soul secured by trust indeed.
SERVICE OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
INVITATION TO THE TABLE
HYMN #507 (blue) “I Come with Joy” (v. 1-3)
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.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you And also with you
Lift up your hearts We lift them to the Lord
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God It is right to give our thanks and praise.
…Therefore with all creation we sing your praise.
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord
Hosanna in the highest.
… According to his commandment,
We remember his death,
We proclaim his resurrection,
We await his coming in glory.
… 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.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION AND BREAKING OF THE BREAD
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Concerns: Don B, Jan J, Carrie VB
Our homebound or in care members: Richard & Dolores C, JoAnn G, Jan J, Darwin L (Jeanne caregiver), Bob O (Nancy caregiver), Rose P, Steve VB, Dee W (Please reach out)
This Week’s Prayer Families: David & Lucy B, Linda B
OFFERING OF OURSELVES AND OUR RESOURCES
*DOXOLOGY
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
*CLOSING HYMN #507 (blue) (v.4-5) “I Come with Joy”
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.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain - Sullivan/McDonald
