Informal Worship Service May 8, 2016 7th Sunday of Easter 8:30 a.m. Gathering Song Be Not Afraid Welcome to our service of worship. You are welcome to take a rhythm instrument to use during worship. Coloring supplies are available for those who would like to worship with their coloring. If you would like to learn more about our family of faith, we invite you to sign up to receive more information about our congregation. If you are interested in reading scripture, leading prayer, providing food, or being a welcoming presence, please sign up on the sheets provided. 225 East Broad Street, Falls Church, VA 22046 703-532-6518 www.fallschurchpresby.org
Welcome * Song for all: That Easter Day with Joy Was Bright * Please stand in body or spirit.
Opening Prayer Scripture Acts 16:16-34 These verses continue the story of Paul in Philippi. Just prior, Paul had gone outside the city along the river, seeking a place of prayer. There they met Lydia who was baptized along with all her household. Then she welcomed Paul and his companions into her home. Today s reading begins with Paul headed to the same place of prayer. One day, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling. 17 While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation. 18 She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And it came out that very hour. 19 But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities. 20 When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews 21 and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or observe. 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods. 23 After they had given them a severe flogging, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. 2 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone s chains were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted in a loud voice, Do not harm yourself, for we are all here. 29 The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them outside and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 They answered, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household. 32 They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay. 34 He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God. Reflection James Sledge
Receiving of Gifts and Song for All: O Savior, in This Quiet Place
Prayers of supplication and intercession In the silence following each petition, worshippers are invited to offer specific names or circumstances. At the end of each petition we will sing: O Lord, Hear My Prayer by Jacques Berthier 1982, Les Presses de Taizé. We pray for this congregation, and for the Church in every land and place; may we be instruments of deliverance and liberation We pray for people in Aleppo, Yemen, Ethiopia, and every place where war or violence rage We pray for those affected by fire in Canada or drought in India, for all who face flood, storm, earthquake, or disaster of any kind We pray for an end to systems that divide, injure, or oppress because of race, gender, orientation, culture or faith; help us see where we are part of such systems and work for their end We pray for those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit, and for those who weep and mourn We offer our own petitions, trusting God s wisdom and compassion
Communion of the People Invitation to the Table Prayer of Thanksgiving and the Lord s Prayer ALL: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen. Communion is by intinction. Come forward, receive a piece of bread, and dip it into the cup. The bread is gluten free. If you cannot come forward, communion will be brought to you. Song for Communion
* Song for all: I Come with Joy The Peace ONE: Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. To this peace we were called as members of a single body. The peace of Christ be with you. ALL: And also with you. All songs used by permission under OneLicense.net #A-721003
Supporting Us in Worship Today Setup Will Packard Worship Leader Jodi Lingan Sunday Sexton Bill Cole Please keep in your prayers Nancy Butt Packard s brother-in-law, John Connors, and family, following open heart surgery on May 3 Alison Raffaldt s sister, Julie, recently diagnosed with cancer Anne Njuguna and family, mourning the loss of her brother, Victor Kirri, and her Aunt Eunice Lisa Bloy and family on the death of Lisa s mother-in-law, Barbara Bloy, on April 18 Pete Kelly, dealing with muscle spasms in his back Larry Bloemendaal, father of Paula Bloemendaal, in the hospital with bacterial pneumonia Cameron Brown, recovering from hip surgery Continued prayers for Electa Anum, Kris Barth, Susan Beeman, Donald Bisbee, Marie Blain, Lexi Bognar, Rabbi Marcus Burstein, Mary Kay Cheek, Evelyn Clark, Jeff Jordan, the Massey family, Nancy Lundien, Virginia Pregano, Don Searle, the Strople family, Tessa Fijn Van Draat, Sandra Wine, Christa Young The Reverend James Sledge, Pastor The Reverend Diane Walton Hendricks, Pastor for Spiritual Growth Rachel M. Clark, Director of Children s Ministry Helen Wilkins, Director of Youth Ministry Dr. Lisa Billingham, Director of Music Dr. Lisa Bloy, Organist Felix Polendey, Director of Children s Choirs Amanda Harrigan, Pianist Falls Church Presbyterian Church belongs to the Covenant Network of Presbyterians, seeking to fully include all of God s children in the life of the church regardless of sexual orientation.