Sixth Sunday of Easter Worship Service Program | Coronavirus
(Welcome / Greeting by the Pastors)
OPENING RITE FOR EASTER 6:
L All around this world, some folk would rather have houses and land.
C Some folk choose silver and gold.
L These things they treasure and forget about their souls.
C But I have decided to make Jesus my choice.
L It seems like anything and everything is worshipped by somebody.
C And some people even worship an “unknown god”.
L Many seek and search all over, and they find no real peace, power, or promise.
C But I have decided to make Jesus my choice.
L My path is set – I will love and trust God like Jesus did.
C I will love and serve the world like Jesus commands.
L I will seek the advice and strength of the Holy Spirit.
C For I have decided to make Jesus my choice.
L Even if I struggle, even if I suffer, I will try to give witness to God’s love.
C Jesus is risen, Jesus is alive, and Jesus is Lord! Alleluia!
SONG SELECTION
CELEBRATION OF OUR NEW LIFE IN CHRIST:
L Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Obedience is the key to right relationship with God, and the most obedient we can ever be is to love the whole world as Jesus commands. Jesus assures his believers that we are not left to ourselves like “orphans” to do this alone, because we can’t. The presence and the power of the Holy Spirit provides us the will and the way to love. Let the full life of the Risen Christ be in you by loving Him faithfully and by loving one another freely. I invite you to turn to a neighbor or turn to yourself… make the sign of the cross on the forehead… and share the peace, the power, and the promise of Easter by saying –
C “Receive [+] the sign of the cross. Because HE died, YOU are alive!”
SONG OF PRAISE: “Lord, I lift your name on high. Lord, I love to sing your praises.
I’m so glad you’re in my life. I’m so glad you came to save us.
You came from heaven to earth to show the way;
from the earth to the cross, my debt to pay;
from the cross to the grave, from the grave to the sky;
Lord, I lift your name on high!”
FIRST READING: Acts 17:22-31 [Many are searching. But handmade and unknown gods have their limits.]
SONG SELECTION
SECOND READING: 1 Peter 3:13-22 [Those nail holes in our wrists help ventilate our souls.]
GOSPEL VERSE:
“Oh, how He loves you and me. Oh, how He loves you and me.
He gave His life, what more can He give?
OH, HOW HE LOVES YOU; OH, HOW HE LOVES ME;
OH, HOW HE LOVES YOU AND ME!
Jesus to Calv’ry did go, His love for this world to show.
What He did there brought hope from despair…”
GOSPEL READING: JOHN 14:15-21 [Do you hear your “Paraclete” chirping? The Holy Spirit is with you and in you.]
BRIEF MEDITATION: Pastor Gwen
SONG SELECTION
THE APOSTLES’ CREED:
L We confess our faith in Jesus Christ, crucified and risen…
C I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
MUSIC SELECTION Dennis Fortune
THE PRAYERS
THE LORD’S PRAYER
SONG SELECTION
THE BENEDICTION:
L Alleluia! Christ is risen!
C He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
L Leave with a message upon your heart: I have seen the Lord!
Leave with a message on your lips: I have seen the Lord!
Leave with a message revealed through your daily living: I have seen the Lord!
Go in the faith-filled power of the Risen Lord (+) to love God and to serve your neighbor in all that you do!
C AMEN!