Prelude Welcome -- Pastor Esteban Lopez *Call to Worship Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord forever! *Hymn: Love Divine, All Loves Excelling Prayer of Confession [unison] Merciful God, please don't let it ever seem that as far as we are concerned Christ has died and risen in vain. Please forgive and deliver us from the sins that hamper and harden us. We live pessimistically, as if Christ was dead and buried forever, leaving us to go it alone. We confess to you that we sometimes live guiltily, as if Christ's forgiveness is only attainable by those who are worthy. We confess that sometimes we see ourselves as losers in spite of Christ's victory. We live like paupers in the midst of the riches of his grace, we busy ourselves like church slaves in this era of Easter liberty. Please help us to 'get it together' both as individuals and as a community. Forgive us our sins and fill us with the breath of your Spirit. Deliver us from crippling negativity, from crippling thoughts, from misleading trendy ideas, from wounded memories that can infect us, and from a pre-Easter faith that can entomb us. Restore to us the joy of Easter and lead us in the way everlasting. Amen! Unison Assurance of Pardon and Promise [adapted from 1John1:5-10] This is the message which we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and don't tell the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we haven't sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. The Readings of Holy Scripture --Ms. Louisa Martinez, liturgist Acts 4:33-35 Psalm 133 John 20:19-31 Children's Time -- Pastor Lopez Choir Anthem "Verily, Verily I Say Unto You," Tallis *Hymn: Breathe on Me, Breath of God The Message "Peace Be With Us" Pastor Nelson The Pastoral Prayer The Lord's Prayer [debts/debtors] Receiving of Tithes and Offerings *The Gloria Patri *The Prayer of Thanksgiving The Observance of Holy Communion The Invitation and Charge The Prayer of Approach The Distribution of the Elements The Taking of the Bread and the Drinking of the Wine The Prayer of Thanksgiving *Hymn: They'll Know We are Christians by Our Love *The Benediction The Postlude * The Congregation is invited to stand. Rev. David Nelson, Senior Pastor Rev. Esteban Lopez, Associate Pastor Mr. John Johnson-Tyler, Choir Director Mr. Paul Krueger, Organist Ms. Louisa Martinez, Liturgist The Prayer of Confession is adapted from one at alphalink.com.au This congregation offers the observance of Holy Communion to all Christians who feel called to participate. We use non-alcoholic wine and offer gluten-free waters. Communion will next be observed on Pentecost Sunday. The Spring business meeting of our congregation will be held on Monday night, May 5 at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. |
| JEFFERSON HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH Saint Paul, Minnesota Order of Worship April 27, 2003 ** Second Sunday in Easter ** 10:00 a.m. |