SERVICE for the LORD S DAY First Presbyterian Church South Lyon, Michigan 5th Sunday of Easter / April 29, 2018 Prelude God So Loved the World We gather in community... Emily Maxson Porter Call to Worship Come to worship God whose love was revealed in Jesus. Let all the ends of the earth turn to our God. We will worship the Almighty and sing praises. We will proclaim good news to others. Beloved, we are called to love as God loves us. We are to love one another as sisters and brothers. Everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. We seek to let God s love be perfected in us. Remember that you have been baptized. God claims you and has high expectations of you. Christ is the vine; we are the branches. We will bear fruit when we abide in the vine. Opening Hymn #401 Here in This Place Do you have a prayer request? Fill out a yellow prayer card from the pew rack and place it in the offering plate during the time of the offering and your request will be shared by the pastor during the Joys and Concerns of the Church. First Presbyterian welcomes children and encourages them to participate in our entire worship service. Children s large print bulletins are available to help them engage more fully during worship. Please join in reading or singing the parts of the service in bold. When this symbol precedes an element of the service, please stand if able.
To receive God s Grace We come before God in complete honesty, confessing our sins, and asking God by the grace of forgiveness, to restore what is broken. The Passing of the Peace is one of the most ancient responses in worship. Having received Christ s peace, we pass it on. We sing in thanks for the gift of forgiveness and new life. We invite our young children to come up front at this time. Call to Confession Prayer of Confession O God, we have ignored our origin in you and denied your rule over the nations. We have pursued illusions of selfinterest rather than abiding in your love. We have turned away from brothers and sisters as if they were enemies to be hated. We are afraid to love those who differ from us or who have the power to harm us. We hesitate to take the risks of caring for fear that we may be hurt. Discipleship seems too demanding. O God, release us from our fears and failures to trust your love and live with bold generosity. Amen. Assurance of Forgiveness Sharing the Peace of Christ May the peace of Christ be with you. And also with you. Song of Response #581 Gloria Patri 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 Message To hear God s Word... New Testament Reading Acts 8:26-40 pg. 127 The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Anthem When We Were Baptized into Christ Jesus Nancy Raabe
Gospel Reading John 15:1-8 pg. 109 The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God Message Hymn of Faith #828 More Love to Thee, O Christ Reception of New Members And to respond to God s love Affirmation of Faith I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at 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 Offering (and collection of prayer cards) Offertory Calvary s the Reason Why Doxology #609 Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow Praise God, from who all blessings flow; Praise God all creatures high and low. Alleluia, alleluia! Praise God, in Jesus fully known: Creator, Word and Spirit one. Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Prayer of Dedication Del Way Dean Beckstein, baritone During the offering, please take a moment to sign the friendship pads found in each pew. Doxology literally means words of glory. Doxologies have long been used by Jews and Christians to praise God. Here we honor and thank God from whom all blessings flow..
Prayers of the People 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. Worship resources used by permission of United Church Press from Led by Love by Lavon Bayler, and Westminster John Knox Press from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion. We are joyfully sent out by Jesus Christ to feed God s people spiritually, physically, and lovingly; planting seeds of hope, compassion and justice within and throughout South Lyon, and wherever else the Closing Hymn #475 Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing *Sunday School students will be dismissed at this time. Charge and Blessing Live for God every moment of every day. Take time to bow down in gratitude for God s love. We seek to live as people who know God. Because we are loved, we dare to love others. Do not be afraid to witness to your growing faith. Do not hesitate to show the fruits of abiding in Christ. We will turn to the perfect love that casts out fear. We will tell of that love to future generations. You have been equipped and empowered by love. God is filling your life with purpose and energy. We love because God first loved us. We go out to serve as apostles of Jesus Christ. Amen #574 First Presbyterian Church of South Lyon 205 E. Lake Street South Lyon, MI 48178 (248) 437-2875 www.fpcsouthlyon.org Visit us at our website, www.fpcsouthlyon.org, and Like us on facebook. Church Staff Rev. Michael Horlocker Pastor Rev. Jo Morgan.Parish Associate of Children and Family Ministries Sally Messner.Director of Music Laura Goode Administrative Assistant Bob Weinburger...Treasurer Peggy Hart..Custodian
CHURCH NOTES Welcome to our visitors, guests, and members this morning. Don t forget to sign our friendship pad so that we may greet you by name. Please join us for a time of fellowship, coffee, and treats following worship in the Parlor. Flowers? May Active Faith food is: Cereal. Boxed- Ready to Eat. Be sure to stop by our Fair-Trade table this morning and stock up on your favorite coffee flavors, chocolates and other treats. We have new flavors to choose from, including whole bean coffees, as well as tea. Bring your appetite and some change to our annual Everyone Eats fundraiser luncheon on Sunday, May 6. You will get in line, receive a ticket, find a seat and be served the way our guests at Spirit of Hope are served. Come, experience, and support this awesome ministry. Join us on Friday, May 11 as the Traveling Mug Club visits the River s Edge Brewing Company in downtown Milford at 6:00 p.m. Can t be there by 6? Come when you can. Enjoy a meal and beverages as we gather together for fun and fellowship. Please sign-up at the Friendship Table or online. forms just outside the sanctuary or register online. VBS is for children in grades K 5, older children and youth can sign up to be a volunteer. Do you have a flag that needs to be retired, but not sure what to do with it? The Boy Scouts are collecting flags and will dispose of them properly at their May outing. There is a box at entrance #4 for the collection of old flags. Beautiful flower arrangements for the chancel have long been a tradition here at FPC. Every Sunday, we enjoy the gorgeous floral display put together by our talented floral designer, Heather Mueller. Whether you want to honor a loved one, commemorate a special occasion, celebrate a birthday or an anniversary all you need to do is contact the church office at 248-437-2875 to pick one of the six dates still available this year. The cost is $25. The following dates are available: July 1st, 8th. August 19, 26. September 9th. October 28th. November 4th. You may pick your flower arrangement up after worship or ask a Deacon that they be taken to a shut-in who cannot attend service. Thank you in advance. VBS is back at FPC! Join Whiskers the Otter on an exciting adventure down the River Rampage the week of June 25, 9:00 a.m. noon. There are registration
This Week s Events More information at www.fpcsouthlyon.com Today, Sunday, April 29 9:15 a.m. Choir Rehearsal 10:30 a.m. Worship 11:30 a.m. Sunday School Saturday, June 9 1:00 p.m. WWKIP - World Wide Knit In Public Day June 25 June 29 VBS is back. 9 a.m. noon. Online registration is now open. Visit our website to sign-up! Monday, April 30 7:00 p.m. BSA Troop #38 Tuesday, May 1 7:00 p.m. Committees Night Wednesday, May 2 11:00 a.m. A. A. Thursday, May 3 5:30 p.m. Bingo Next Sunday, May 6 9:15 a.m. Choir Rehearsal 10:30 a.m. Worship 11:30 a.m. Sunday School E1E Fundraiser Luncheon Save the Date Monday, May 7 7:00 p.m. Circle Eve (date change) Wednesday, May 16 9:00 a.m. Everyone Eats (E1E) Wednesday, May 23 6:30 p.m. May Cruise-In Please keep the following in your prayers this week... Bill Lintner who is feeling better and returned to Care-Tel; Linda Wojeck recovering from surgery; Eichinger s friend Tom Cremsky; Kim MacNish s co-worker s husband Jim with heart complications; the family of Kody Kramer, a friend of Sue Roth, who lost his battle with cancer; Anne Lyke s friend Thomas and his family; family, friends, town, that lost many in the junior hockey team bus crash; thank you to all who volunteered and gave blood during the April 4th Blood Drive. We donated 27 pints of blood; Lou Prentis; the Sookner family on the passing of Bill s mom Shirley, and thank you to Karen Lynch; Tina Van Ochten s mom recovering from surgery; Debbie Allen; Barbara Donley; Mary Bond; Mary Lou Verran; Phyllis Goodman; Harry Prentis; for all mentees and mentors participating in the Kid s Hope program; for all who participated in the March for Our Lives, and for the courage to continue their advocacy; in thanks for the students who shared their music with us in worship today; for all who speak and act against injustice and who work for peace; South Lyon Band and Choir students (and parents) who are traveling to Boston...have a safe trip.