ORDER OF WORSHIP May 6, 2018 Sixth Sunday of Easter Please sign and pass the Friendship Book ( pew pad ) where you can also record any prayer requests. Our prayer is that you will experience the presence of the Living God as we worship together. We invite you to focus your heart and mind in worship. * indicates please stand as you are able. WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS Dick Raymond PRELUDE The Quiet Hour Organ L. Niedermeyer CALL TO WORSHIP Dick Raymond Sing to our God a new song. God has done marvelous things! Make a joyful noise to the Lord! Break forth into joyous song and sing praises. Let the sea roar and all that fills it. Let the world and its people sing together for joy! *SONGS OF WORSHIP: TO GOD BE THE GLORY (Hymn #72) (VERSE 1) To God be the glory, great things he hath done, so loved he the world that he gave us his Son, who yielded his life an atonement for sin, and opened the life gate that all may go in. (REFRAIN) Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear his voice! Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice! O come to the Father through Jesus the Son, and give him the glory, great things he hath done. (VERSE 2) O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood, to every believer the promise of God; the vilest offender who truly believes, that moment from Jesus a pardon receives.
(REFRAIN) Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear his voice! Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice! O come to the Father through Jesus the Son, and give him the glory, great things he hath done. (VERSE 3) Great things he hath taught us, great things he hath done, and great our rejoicing in Jesus the Son; but purer, and higher and greater will be our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see. (REPEAT REFRAIN) O FOR A THOUSAND TONGUES TO SING (Hymn #130) (VERSE 1) O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer s praise, the glories of my God and King, the triumphs of his grace. (VERSE 2) Jesus! The name that charms our fears, that bids our sorrows cease, tis music in the sinner s ears, tis life and health and peace. (VERSE 3) He breaks the power of canceled sin, he sets the prisoner free; his blood can make the foulest clean; his blood availed for me. (VERSE 4) He speaks, and listening to his voice, new life the dead receive; the mournful, broken hearts rejoice; the humble poor believe. (VERSE 5) My gracious Master and my God, assist me to proclaim,
TIME OF PRAYER to spread through all the earth abroad the honors of thy name. Misty Rowley Call to Confession We have been called to follow Christ by obeying his one commandment: that we love one another as he has loved us. Let us confess how we have fallen short of that love. Prayer of Confession Loving God, we have not loved you or each other with our whole hearts. Forgive us, we pray, and lead us toward wholeness, that we may be filled with your joy. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. [Silent Prayer] Declaration of Forgiveness Christ loves us so much that he laid down his life for us and calls us his friends. If we can forgive our friends, how much more does Christ forgive us! SPECIAL MUSIC OFFERING OF OURSELVES & OUR GIFTS Koreta Lilo, violin Misty Rowley Invitation to the Offering Let us show our friendship with Christ and our love for our neighbors by giving generously so that we may bear the lasting fruit of Christ s love. *Doxology Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below Praise him above ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen. Prayer of Thanksgiving/Dedication Holy God, in Christ you have chosen us to be your friends and to know your will in the world. Therefore we pray in Jesus name that these tithes and offerings spread your love near and far. Amen. Please be seated as the ushers pass the offering plates. The children are excused at this time to attend Junior Chapel. Offertory Breathe on Me Breath of God David Paxton Organ PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE READING OF THE SCRIPTURES Rev. Peter Blank John McCallum John 15:1 5 (NIV) 1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. Matthew 28:18 20 (NIV) 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
MESSAGE Doni Lilo Abide in Christ in the Great Commission *SONG OF WORSHIP: JESUS PAID IT ALL (VERSE 1) I hear the Savior say Thy strength indeed is small Child of weakness watch and pray Find in me thine all in all (CHORUS) Cause Jesus paid it all All to him I owe Sin had left a crimson stain He washed it white as snow (VERSE 2) Lord now indeed I find Thy power and Thine alone Can change the leper's spots And melt the heart of stone (REPEAT CHORUS) (VERSE 3) And when before the throne I stand in him complete Jesus died - my soul to save, My lips shall still repeat (REPEAT CHORUS) CCLI Song No. 4689508 2006 worshiptogether.com songs sixsteps Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) (Admin. by EMI Christian Music Publishing) Alex Nifong Elvina M. Hall John Thomas Grape For use solely with the SongSelect Terms of Use. All rights Reserved. www.ccli.com CCLI License No. 296507
SHARING AROUND CHRIST S TABLE COMMUNION Rev. Peter Blank Christ becomes a part of our flesh through Holy Communion. The Lord s Supper is not an end in itself. It always points beyond itself to celebrate God s grace and covenant faithfulness. This does not mean the physical aspects of the celebration are incidental or unimportant. The Lord s Supper should be a celebration fitting to the abundant grace of God offered in Christ. Invitation to the Lord s Supper Breaking of the Bread & Pouring of the Cup Sharing the Body and Blood of Christ *CLOSING SONG It is the custom at Knox, in celebration of Holy Communion, to hold hands and form a circle around the sanctuary to sing our closing song BLEST BE THE TIE THAT BINDS (Hymn #708) Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love; the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above. BENEDICTION Doni Lilo POSTLUDE Crown Him Lord of All Organ Gilbert M. Martin * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * In the pulpit today: Doni Lilo and his wife, Gail, serve with Alongside Ministries International in Albania. They have four children: Koreta (Kori), Arbër, Tereza, Elira. We are transitioning from being part of the leadership team in Erseka, into the pastor of the Evangelical Church in Bilisht (a church body of 120 participants). Today s Lectionary Readings Acts 10:44 48 John 5:1 6 Psalm 98:1 9 John 15:9 17
Question for Reflection In our Gospel lesson this week, Jesus speaks of his extreme love for us, calls us his friends, and says that he makes known to us everything that he hears from God. How does thinking of Christ as our friend and lover or Lord and Master affect our daily living? Household Prayer: Morning Holy One, I begin today breathing in your love for me, for others, and for the world. Keep me mindful of all the marvelous things you are doing around and within me today. Help me to feel my friendship with Jesus and his confidence in me. Maintain in my heart the image of myself as a tree, bearing the fruit of Christ s love everywhere I go today. Amen. Household Prayer: Evening God, you are both judge and friend. Even as I review my day, I give it over to you. I let go of the good, the bad, and the in-between, trusting in your care for me. I am content this night to abide in your love. I breathe in your joy and your peace. Whatever I need, I ask of you in Jesus name. Amen. The Morning & Evening Household Prayers and Questions for Reflection are reprinted by permission of Westminster John Knox Press