Morning Blend, 4.11.21

OPEN DOORS -- McManus

(Refrain) Open hearts, open minds, open doors,

we welcome all who seek to love the Lord.

Bring your joys, bring your burdens, all you rich and poor.

Open hearts, open minds, open hearts, open doors.

We gather here to praise and worship;

in our diversity we find a common ground.

We speak a language of one God, one love;

seek the Lord, sing God’s praise with joyful sound.

(Refrain)

SCRIPTURE LESSONS

ACTS 4:32-35

The Believers Share Their Possessions

32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

I JOHN 1:1-2:2

The Incarnation of the Word of Life

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our[a] joy complete.

Light and Darkness, Sin and Forgiveness

5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[b] sin.

8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

2 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

FAMILY REFLECTION

Click HERE to download the Children's Bulletin.

Let's Wonder Together...

• I wonder what pushes us away from each other.

• I wonder what pulls us closer to each other.

• I wonder how we can make God’s love tangible in our lives.

Visit the SACRED STORYTELLING PAGE for Godly Play and Worship Connections.

THE PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Sung response following Cantor: Traci Thornton, cantor

Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.

THE RECEIVING OF BREAD & CUP

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery

in which you have given yourself to us.

Grant that we may go into the world

in the strength of your Spirit,

to give ourselves for others,

in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.