First United Methodist Church 1928 Ross Avenue Dallas, Texas firstchurchdallas.org

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1 Sunday April 7, :00 a.m. Worship Service First United Methodist Church 1928 Ross Avenue Dallas, Texas firstchurchdallas.org Dr. Andrew C. Stoker, Senior Minister

2 Austin Street Center by Heather Brestle When second grader Amelia Kerski isn t busy doing unicorn things, she and her older brother, Caleb, love to help serve a warm meal to homeless adults staying at Austin Street Center. When Charles and Johnny Szklarski aren t flossing (it s a Fortnite dance for those of you not cool enough) or playing basketball, they too can be found at the shelter serving dinner. All agree it s important help because it makes the world a better place and likely what Jesus might do if he were around today. A few weeks ago, while passing out cookies in the serving line, Amelia recognized a woman that she had given a manna bag to one Christmas. Her family has these bags handy to give to those they see around town to offer a few essentials- a bottle of water and something to eat. On the way home that night, Amelia told her dad she was so happy because her new friend wouldn t be hungry and had a safe place to sleep that night. Our ministry at Austin Street Center serving meals is just the beginning of the relationships made with our homeless neighbors in our city. Our church also gets to know some women at Austin Street Center through United Methodist Women s Room in the Inn program, and our interaction with Oak Lawn United Methodist Church in housing during the coldest nights of the year. FirstChurch provided five meals for the cold weather shelter this winter. Charles (4th grade) and Johnny (1st grade) Szklarski preparing to serve dinner with Heather Brestle. Your donations to the Rise Fund are multiplied. The feeding of 400 neighbors twice a month inspires us to build relationships and advocate for the homeless in our city in numerous ways. Thank you for your generosity, mission and advocacy! When you give to our RISE UP to the Challenge campaign, your dollars are also multiplied. Our Rise Fund Committee has issued a $10,000 matching grant challenge for our event TODAY at Crossroads Community Services from 5-7 p.m. Every dollar you give makes an impact and is doubled by our match. If you haven t signed up to come, sign up today at firstchurchdallas.org/rise-up-tothe-challenge, or stop by the Rise table across from the Information Desk to let us know that you are coming. Together we will RISE UP to the Challenge of seeking justice and mercy with our neighbors. The Rise Fund supports agencies that serve our neighbors in need both near and far. Collectively, our dollars and volunteer hours make a transformative impact. Thank you, FirstChurch, for your generous donations of time and funds in support of these agencies GOODRICH GALLERY ARTIST RECEPTION The Goodrich Gallery exhibit for April features paintings by Ryan Wannemacher. View the exhibit and meet the artist p.m. in Goodrich Gallery. 4.7 RISE UP TO THE CHALLENGE You are invited to RISE UP to tour Crossroads Community Services new facility, hear from directors of our Rise partners and enjoy hors d oeuvres and drinks. Let s invest in mission and advocacy together as we RISE UP To The Challenge! RSVP at firstchurchdallas. org/rise-up-to-the-challenge. 5-7 p.m. at 4500 S. Cockrell Hill Rd., Dallas, in the Easter Sunday worship bulletins. Pick up a form on Sundays or order online at firstchurchdallas.org/lilies. Deadline: April 14. LENT FAMILY FOOD DRIVE THROUGH APRIL 21 Bring items to stock the Wilkinson Center Food Bank. Individual items or whole kits may be dropped off at stations in the church through April 21. firstchurchdallas. org/food-drive. EASTER LILIES Remember a loved one with a lily on the altar Easter Sunday. Each plant is $15 and dedications will be printed We believe in providing a safe environment at FirstChurch. FirstProtect is our holistic protection policy for the most precious among us. In addition, our General Safety and Medical Procedures improve member and guest experiences. This policy affirms a gun-free facility. You are safe at FirstChurch Ross Avenue Dallas, Texas Dr. Andrew C. Stoker, Senior Minister

3 Fifth Sunday in Lent Holy Communion *Please stand as you are able. Please silence all electronic devices. Please ask an usher about using one of the receivers in our assisted hearing system.+ Prelude Chorale-Prelude on RHOSYMEDRE R. Vaughan Williams Invitation and Intention for Worship Dr. Andy Stoker A Word from Our Trustees Todd McCavit *Processional Hymn No. 168 At the Name of Jesus KING S WESTON *The World Methodist Social Affirmation The Reverend Evan Jones We believe in God, creator of the world and of all people; and in Jesus Christ, incarnate among us, who died and rose again; and in the Holy Spirit, present with us to guide, strengthen, and comfort. We believe; God help our unbelief. We rejoice in every sign of God s kingdom: in the upholding of human dignity and community; in every expression of love, justice, and reconciliation; in each act of self-giving on behalf of others; in the abundance of God s gifts entrusted to us that all may have enough; in all responsible use of the earth s resources. Glory be to God on high; and on earth, peace. We confess our sin, individual and collective, by silence or action: through the violation of human dignity based on race, class, age, sex, nation, or faith; through the exploitation of people because of greed or indifference; through the misuse of power in personal, communal, national, and international life; through the search for security by those military forces that threaten human existence; through the abuse of technology which endangers the earth and all life upon it. Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy. We commit ourselves individually and as a community to the way of Christ: to take up the cross; to seek abundant life for all humanity; to struggle for peace with justice and freedom; to risk ourselves in faith, hope, and love, praying that God s kingdom may come. Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. Amen. Scripture Lesson Acts 18:24 19:7 The Reverend Ann Willet The Word of God for the People of God. Thanks be to God.

4 Homily Carrying Water The Reverend Willet *Confession and Pardon The Reverend Holly Bandel God of mercy, whose Son, Jesus Christ, Longs to gather us in the wide embrace of his love, We confess that we have been wayward children. We have disobeyed your commands; Our ears have been deaf to your call; Our hearts have been cold to your love. In thought, in word, and in deed We have hurt others and dishonored your name In your great mercy receive us yet again As your beloved children, Not because we are worthy, But for the sake of him who loved us And gave himself for us. Amen. If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation. Everything old has passed away; See, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, And has given us the ministry of reconciliation. Receive the good news of the gospel: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven! Thanks be to God! Amen. *The Peace (Members of the congregation are invited to offer one another words and signs of God s peace and love. It is appropriate to say Peace be with you. ) Call to Unity Welcome Mark Miller (congregation please join in singing the refrain) Let s walk together for a while and ask where we begin to build a world where love can grow, and hope can enter in, to be the hands of healing and to plant the seed of peace, singing welcome, welcome to this place. You re invited to come and know God s grace. All are welcome the love of God to share, cause all of us are welcome here; all are welcome in this place. Offering of Our Gifts The Reverend JoNell Lindh Offertory Sweet Hour of Prayer arr. Sandra Eithun Celebration Ringers

5 *The Doxology and Presentation of the Elements OLD 100TH Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise God, all creatures here below; Praise God above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen. THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION Your communion rail offering will serve our neighbors in need through the Rise Fund; supporting programs that alleviate hunger and empower children, youth and vulnerable adults through holistic education. *The Great Thanksgiving The Reverend Jones The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise. It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, almighty God, creator of heaven and earth. In love you made us for yourself; and when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, your love remained steadfast. You bid your faithful people cleanse their hearts and prepare with joy for the Easter feast, that, renewed by your Word and Sacraments and fervent in prayer and works of justice and mercy, we may come to the fullness of grace that you have prepared for those who love you. And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn: (Please be seated.)

6 Holy are you, and blessed is Jesus Christ, whom you sent in the fullness of time to redeem the world. He emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in our likeness. He humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. He took upon himself our sin and death and offered himself, a perfect sacrifice for the sin of the whole world. By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection you gave birth to your Church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit. On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. When the supper was over he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said: Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith. Dr. Stoker The Reverend Willet Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and cup. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood. By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet. Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in your holy Church all honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and for ever. And now, with the confidence of children of God, let us pray: The Reverend Lindh 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

7 Music during Communion Handbell Meditation Kum Ba Yah arr. Linda McClinchie Steeple Ringers Solo I Want Jesus to Walk with Me arr. Larson Susan McIntyre, soprano Anthem Lamb of God arr. John Rein Chancel Choir Organ Meditation If You Will Only Let God Guide You arr. Craig Phillips Tim Effler, organ Hymn No. 420 Breathe On Me Breath of God TRENTHAM (Congregation please join in singing.) Invitation to Christian Discipleship *Hymn of Invitation No. 605 Wash, O God, Our Sons and Daughters *Benediction Dr. Stoker BEACH SPRING The Reverend Willet Postlude Choral Song S. S. Wesley The acolytes are Audrey Blankenship and Faye Brister. Dana Effler directs the Chancel Choir. Tim Effler is the service organist. Linda McClinchie directs the Celebration Ringers and the Steeple Ringers. +FirstChurch s assisted hearing system has fifteen receivers for use during worship in the sanctuary. These may be checked out from the Communications Department prior to each service. In addition, members and visitors are invited to bring their own portable FM radios with headphones and tune to to hear the service. This service is being broadcast on live streaming video on our church website and re-broadcast at 5:30 a.m. Sundays on WFAA-TV Channel 8. Join us for worship next Sunday, April 14 Palm Sunday/Passion Sunday 8:45 and 11:00 a.m. Andy Stoker s Message: Feeling Pain John 18:38b-19:16 Watch our live stream each Sunday at 11 a.m. at firstchurchdallas.org or view our services on WFAA-TV Sundays at 5:30 a.m.

8 FirstNews weekly FIRST UNITED METHO DIST C HURC H DO WNTO WN DALLAS WEEK OF 4/7 More details at firstchurchdallas.org/holyweek