St. Paul s United Church of Christ We are a welcoming, Christ-centered community called to embody, nurture and share God s Loving Light both within St. Paul s and our wider community. www.stpaulsbirdsboro.org
Pentecost May 20 th, 2018 9:30 am Worship We re Glad You are Here! Welcome: Inspired by Christ and his ministry of God s invitation, we proclaim, No matter where you are on life s journey, you are welcome here! Get Connected: Signup online for the weekly E-news or monthly Cornerstone Newsletter, like us on Facebook, give us a call, or send an email. It is our joy to journey with you! Restrooms: These are located on the basement level of the church. Either go through the double doors in the front of the sanctuary and turn right to go downstairs, or use the stairwell in the back of the sanctuary and then walk through the fellowship hall. Children: Children of all ages are welcome within our worship services, so that they may learn how to worship God. (We readily expect to hear their presence and recognize their occasional need for a break from the worship space.) Children s activity bags, for use during the service, are available by both entrances to the sanctuary. A nursery, located beyond the double doors in the front of the sanctuary, is also available for children up to 5 years old. Please see a greeter for assistance. Pew pads: Found along the center aisle, these are a great way for us to get to know you, and to share our welcome and thanks for your presence. Please fill out the pew pad and pass it along to your neighbor, before returning it to the center aisle. Hearing amplification devices: These personal devices are available for your use. Directly connected into our sound system, they make it possible to hear those leading worship without amplifying background noises. Please see our sound person for assistance. Remember: As we enter into worship, turn off or silence your cell phone, pager, or watch chime. Your presence is a blessing to God and to us! Please feel free to share with us any ways in which we might be a blessing to you in this journey of faith and life. Today s Scripture Readings Ezekiel 37:1-14 + Romans 8:22-28 + Acts 2:1-21 300 West First Street, Birdsboro PA 19508 610-582-8461 + office@stpaulsbirdsboro.org + www.stpaulsbirdsboro.org Pastor s e-mail: pastormotz@stpaulsbirdsboro.org
Order of Worship Welcome & Announcements Prelude (Prayer: O that your Spirit would come down, filling us each with life. O that your Spirit would pour out, revealing the blessing of your reign. O that my heart would see and know the fulfillment of my prayer, for the Spirit is already here in our midst.) (Please rise in body or in spirit) Call to Worship Leader: I will sing to the Lord all my life; People: I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. Leader: When you hide your face, we are terrified; People: when you take away our breath, we die and return to dust. Leader: When you send your Spirit, we are created, People: and you renew the face of the earth. Leader: May the Glory of God endure forever; People: May our meditation be pleasing to the Lord who is God. -Psalm 104:29-34 Adapted Prayer of Invocation Leader: through the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. People: Amen. Hymn: Breath on Me, Breath of God #300 Call to Confession (Please be seated) All: Corporate Confession God of all life, in meekness and in shame we confess our sin before you and one another. Since the beginning of creation, you have shown the power of your life over this world s death.
You have prompted your people to trust in you, even in the darkest of valleys. And while standing on the mountain tops we boldly declare, God we trust in you! But when the journey becomes rough and the incline rises steep, when we find ourselves and that which we love at risk, we pull back from our trust in you trusting more in the powers of this world to destroy than in your promises to give of life. In this our sin, we need more than your forgiveness we need the transforming mercy of your presence. Overcome us, we pray, with your Spirit, renewing us in the truth of your resurrection Silent Confession (A time of personal prayer for God s healing and redeeming peace.) (The response is sung through two times: 1 st Pastor, 2 nd All) Taize: Songs for Prayer #22, All rights reserved. OneLicense.net License #A-71449
Assurance of Grace Leader: The Apostle Paul declares, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, even when we do not know what to pray for. Because the Spirit intercedes for us, according to God s will. Therefore, be assured that God works for the good of those who love God; those who call upon the name of the Lord seeking for the fullness of life through Christ our Lord. People: Amen. Amen. Amen! Passing of the Peace Leader: The peace of Christ be with you. People: And also with you. (As the next hymn begins, Children up to 9 th grade are dismissed to participate in age specific Christian Education classes for the rest of worship. Parents/guardians of first time students are invited to follow children to their classroom to complete registration information before returning to worship. Children, 3 rd grade and younger, must be picked up from their classes.) (Please be seated) Hymn: Great Is the Lord #53 (verses 1 & 2) Old Testament Lesson: Ezekiel 37:1-14 (p. #1345) Even in the times when we believe we are beyond hope, God is not. Revealing the life that is to be for the people of Israel, Ezekiel proclaims the audacious word of God s restorative power. Epistle Lesson: Romans 8:22-28 (p. #1757) (Read from The Message) Just as we do not give up hope in the time needed to birth, neither are we to give up as we wait the fulfillment of God s reign. Even in our waiting the Spirit comes to us guiding us according to the will of God. The Acts of the Apostles: Acts 2:1-21 (p. #1692) The Holy Spirit comes upon the disciples, giving them voice and words to proclaim the Good News of Christ. In this they witness to the last days and the coming fulfillment of God s reign. Leader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God! Sermon Can These Bones Live?
Meditative Reflection (You are invited to write your answers to the sermon question on the included insert. Responses will be received as part of the offering.) Prayers of the People (Believing in God s truth, we open ourselves as God s servants through prayer.) (Please rise in body or in spirit) All: Statement of Faith Apostle s Creed I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ His only begotten Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen. (Please be seated) Receiving of Tithes and Offerings (We give as an act of worship, tangibly offering ourselves to God s service.) Offertory (Please rise in body or in spirit to sing glory to God)
Doxology Offertory Prayer Holy Communion Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord s death until he comes. ~1 Corinthians 11:26 Invitation Leader: Come sons and daughters, young and old, come all who hunger and thirst for the Lord. People: In the last days, God will pour out the Spirit upon all people that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Communion Prayer Pastor: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. Pastor: Lift up your hearts. People: We lift them up unto the Lord. Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord God Most High. People: It is right to give God thanks and praise. Pastor: We praise you for this gift of life and blessing that unites us with all people, in all places and times, as join in the ending praise of your holy name:
(The response is sung through twice: 1 st Pastor, 2 nd All) Words of Institution Prayer of Consecration Pastor: Blessed and Most Holy One, consecrate by your Spirit, these gifts of bread and fruit of the vine, that they may be for us the gift of Jesus body and blood, the uniting presence that makes us one with you and one another, and the blessed assurance that we are people forever found in your life. All: Unite us as your church, giving us all that we need to love and serve you as ministers within this world who proclaim and share the life of Christ. All: 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, for ever. Amen. (Please be seated)
Sharing of the Elements - Intinction (At the direction of the ushers, please come forward. After receiving the bread from the pastor, dip it into the chalice of red wine or white grape juice before consuming. Then return to your seat via the side aisles. If you need the elements brought to you please inform your usher so that we might bring the bread and cup to you.) Communion Hymn: As We Gather at Your Table (sung as individuals come forward to receive communion) Words Copyright 1989, Hope Publishing Co. Harmonization Copyright 1992 The Pilgrim Press. All rights reserved. Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-714498
(After all have communed, please stand to share in the Prayer of Thanksgivings) All: Prayer of Thanksgiving Almighty God, we give you thanks for the gift of our Savior s presence in the simplicity and splendor of this holy meal. Unite us with all who are fed by Christ s body and blood that we may faithfully proclaim the good news of your love and that your universal church may be a rainbow of hope in an uncertain world; through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen. Commissioning Benediction Sending Hymn: We are God s People #338 Postlude (As the acolyte carries the Light of Christ out into the world, so too are we to carry Christ s light from this sanctuary into the world, our communities, and our homes. May the presence of the Spirit go with you until we gather again in the shared joy of God s worship.) + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Minister All Members Pastor Rev. Joseph A Motz Organist Grace Griffith Worship Leaders Worship Steward Janeen Adil Acolyte Victoria Nuss Ushers Pat Babel & Carole Audette Announcements MTB Volunteer Info Today is the final day to register. Packets are available on the bulletin board by the side door entrance. Official Call Spring Congregational Meeting - Our mid-year congregational meeting will be held on Sunday, June 3 rd following the 9:30am worship service. This is the time to hear about our congregation s ministries, discuss the future directions God is calling us to, and lift one another up in our common call share in being the living Body of Christ.
Congregational Meeting Luncheon Special Events will be hosting a luncheon during the congregational meeting on June 3. They will be providing the food and drinks and they are requesting that participants bring a dessert to share. Ales & Nails Our Gospel based exploration of Jesus crucifixion and resurrection continues this Tuesday, May 22 nd, 6:30-7:45pm at Island Pizza. Attendance at the first week is not required. Just bring a Bible, reading in advance Matthew 21-28. While reading, consider these questions: What are the similarities and differences between Matthew s & Mark s stories? Why is Jesus crucified in Matthew? And according to Matthew, how does Jesus death give blessing into the world? Prayer Around the Cross - The next gathering will be on Wed. May 30, from 7-7:30 pm in St. Paul's sanctuary. This night our prayers will focus on the familiar and beloved imagery of Psalm 23, as we find ourselves within the Shepherd's care. Everyone is very welcome to join in a time of special readings coupled with peaceful silence! Game Night at St. Paul s On May 25 th from 5:30-8pm we will meet at the church to play games, eat pizza, and have some fun! This is a family/community event so please bring someone with you. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to Pat Babel by Sunday, May 20. If you have a fun game that you would like to share, bring it with you! Vacation Bible School 2018 - CAVE QUEST, Following Jesus The Light of the World- June 24-28 from 6:00 to 8:30 pm each evening - Join in the fun of creating an amazing VBS experience for the youth of our community! There are two more meetings scheduled in order to be ready for our VBS in late June. Dates are 5/29/18 and 6/19/18 at St. Mark s fellowship hall at 7pm. Any and all help will be appreciated. Any questions please contact Eloise Stevens. VBS Registration - St. Paul's UCC will co-host VBS with St Mark s Lutheran Church of Birdsboro and the event will be held at St. Mark s. A light supper will be served each evening, followed by music, bible story, crafts and games. Registration forms will be made available soon on our website as well as at our church entrances for children four to 12 years old. Chicken BBQ - Boy Scouts are selling tickets for their Chicken Bar B Que which will be held on June 3rd from 12 to 4 at our CE building. The cost is $9.00 per ticket. The BBQ consists of 1/2 chicken, baked potato, corn, applesauce and roll. Proceeds are going to the scouts for activities throughout the year. If interested in tickets please see Sandi Swavely.