Sunday Morning Bulletin

WE GATHER

Musical Prelude

Greetings and Announcements

Introit “I Come To The Garden” 

I come to the garden alone
while the dew is still on the roses,
and the voice I hear falling on my ear
the Son of God discloses.

And he walks with me, and he talks with me,
and he tells me I am his own;
and the joy we share as we tarry there,
none other has ever known.

CCLI Song # 62858   Charles Austin Miles

© Words: Public Domain   Music: Public Domain

Call to Worship  (Responsive)

Leader: God sees when our hearts are celebrating in faith and love.

All: God knows when our heart is tired.

Leader: When the weight of life is heavy, we don't know how much more we can carry.

All: We know God sees us and hears our silent prayers, our unspoken pain and grief, our deepest struggles.

Leader: God holds us close, reminding us that we are not alone, inspiring us with beauty and compassion for us and others. 

All: God helps us take our spiritual journey one step at a time.

Leader: Even in the darkest moments, we choose to believe God is still good.

All: In Jesus' name, Amen. - unknown

Opening Prayer: (Together)

Living God,
like leaves that turn to the sun, so we turn to you, the source of all life, for your love to sustain us, your will to strengthen us and your wisdom to guide us. Amen.   - Chris Polhill as seen in Neil Paynter, Like Leaves to the Sun

Opening Hymn "Take Time To Be Holy"  

Take time to be holy, speak oft with your Lord;

abide in him always, and feed on his word.

Make friends of God's children, help those who are weak,

forgetting in nothing his blessing to seek.

Take time to be holy, let him be your guide,

and run not before him, whatever betide.

In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,

and, looking to Jesus, still trust in his word.

Take time to be holy, be calm in your soul,

each thought and each motive beneath his control.

Thus led by his spirit to fountains of love,

you soon shall be fitted for service above.

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE 743525-A . All rights reserved.

Theme Conversation

Echo Prayer

Sing and Sign “Halle, Halle, Halle”

WE HEAR THE WORD OF GOD

Ministry of Music

Scripture: Responsive Psalm 33

Leader:   Shout to God for joy, you righteous!  Praise is fitting from loyal hearts.

All: Give thanks to God with the harp; sing praise to God with the ten-stringed lute.

Leader:     Sing a new song to God; play skillfully and with shouts of joy.

All:     For the word of God is true; God's every deed is faithful.  

Leader:      You love what is right and just; the earth is full of your constant love.

All:     By your word the heavens were made, the countless stars by the breath of your mouth.

Leader:     You gathered the waters of the sea as in a goatskin; 

 Leader:      Let all the earth fear you, O God,

All:     let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe.

Leader:     For you spoke and it came to be; you commanded and it stood firm.

All:     You foil the plans of the nations, and frustrate the schemes of the peoples.

Leader:     Your counsel, O God, shall stand forever, the purposes of your heart through all generations.  

All:     Happy the nation who has you as God. Happy the people you choose as your own.

Leader:     Our heart rejoices in you, O God, because our hope is in your holy name.

All:     Let your steadfast love be upon us as we put our trust in you.   A new song to our God proclaim, from age to age rejoice.

Epistle: Hebrews 11: 1-3, 8-16

Reflection

Hymn “Jesus, You Have Come To The Lakeshore”

Jesus, you have come to the lakeshore

looking neither for wealthy nor wise ones;

you only asked me to follow humbly.

Refrain O Jesus, with your eyes you have searched me,

and while smiling, have spoken my name;

now my boat's left on the shoreline behind me;

by your side I will seek other seas.

You know so well my possessions;

my boat carries no gold and no weapons;

- you will find there my nets and labour.  R

You need my hands, full of caring

through my labours to give others rest,

and constant love that keeps on loving.  R

You, who have fished other oceans,

ever longed for by souls who are waiting,

my loving friend, as thus you call me.  R

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE 743525-A . All rights reserved.

Remembering Our Loved Ones

WE RESPOND TO THE WORD OF GOD

Invitation to the Offering

Offering Music  

Prayer of Dedication of Gifts and Self (Together)

God, enlarge our hearts,
so we become compassionate.

Deepen our souls,
so we may overflow with your grace.

Broaden our minds,
so we discover you in each person.

Fill us with your love,
so we may share it each and every day. Amen.   - Thom M Shuman, from The Soft Petals of Grace

Hymn “God Of The Living”

God of the living, in your name assembled,

we join to thank you for the life remembered.

Grant us your mercy, to your children giving

hope in believing.

Help us to treasure all that will remind us

of the enrichment in the days behind us.

Your love has set us in the generations,

God of creation.

May we, whenever tempted to dejection,

strongly recapture thoughts of resurrection.

You gave us Jesus to defeat our sadness

with Easter gladness.

God, you can lift us from the grave of sorrow

into the presence of your own tomorrow:

give to your people for the day's affliction

your benediction.

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE 743525-A . All rights reserved.

Prayers of the People and The Lord’s Prayer

WE GO OUT INTO THE WORLD

Hymn “Blessed Assurance”  

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!

O what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God,

born of the Spirit, washed in Christ's blood.

 Refrain    This is my story, this is my song,

       praising my Saviour all the day long;

                     this is my story, this is my song,

                     praising my Saviour all the day long.

           Perfect submission, perfect delight!

           Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;

           angels descending, bring from above

           echoes of mercy, whispers of love.  R

Perfect submission, all is at rest,

I in my Saviour am happy and blessed;

watching and waiting, looking above,

filled with God's goodness, lost in Christ's love.  R

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE 743525-A . All rights reserved.

Commissioning (Responsive)

Leader: God be the road on which you travel:
He the mountains
on which you are tested and challenged
He the wells
at which you find healing and peace.

All: Christ be the light by which you travel:
He the vision
which informs and enlarges you
He the lodestar
shining in your darkest nights.

Leader: The Spirit inspire you as you travel:
She the restlessness
driving you onwards
She the stillness
leading you to the heart of God.

All: The Trinity, the Three,
go with you as you travel;
and may your journey
begin
continue
and end
in Them. Amen.  Pat Bennett, from Fire and Bread

Benediction (Sung)

Go now in Peace, never be afraid.

God will go with you each hour of ev’ry day.

Go now in faith, steadfast, strong and true.

Know He will guide you in all you do.

Go now in love, and show you believe.

Reach out to others so all the world can see.

God will be there watching from above.

Go now in peace, in faith and in love.

Words: Don Besig and Nancy Price (ASCAP), 

Music Don Besig Copyright Harold Flammer, Inc.

Musical Postlude

If you would like Rev. Steph to have a moment with you at the graveside of your loved one, please let her know and she will come to be with you.