Happy Sunday to you all! May 3, 2020 – 4th Sunday of Easter Before beginning this service, gather a piece of bread or bread-like food and a cup of juice or other liquid that you have available. Call to Worship Awaken from your slumber, and bring your fears and anxieties into the presence of the Lord our God. Hear the call of our Shepherd, and allow His voice to lead from selfish ambition to the feast of grace. May the light of Christ shine into the hidden darkness of our lives and restore us for the service of the Lord. Come let us worship God. God Is Good, All the Time (Don Moen) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt-OouIx8Lk Opening Prayer Gentle...yet powerful. Lowly...yet almighty. Shepherd...yet King. In your gentleness, guide us. In your power, strengthen us. In your lowliness, strip from us our selfish pride which only destroys us. In your greatness, lift us up that we might aspire to greater things. As a shepherd, call us to be your servants. As a King, call us to be your royal priesthood. O God, who is our shepherd and our King; O Christ, who was crucified and is now risen from the dead; O Spirit, who comforts and empowers; O great One in Three, Holy Trinity, this hour, set us free to worship. Amen. Scripture Readings John 10:1-10 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) 10 “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7 So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. Psalm 23 King James Version (KJV) 23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Acts 2:42-47 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44 All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. 1 Peter 2:19-25 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) 19 For it is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. 20 If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God’s approval. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps. 22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 23 When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls. Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us (attr. to Dorothy Thrupp, William Bradbury) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d6XN-2NIRI 1. Savior, like a shepherd lead us, much we need thy tender care; in thy pleasant pastures feed us, for our use thy folds prepare. Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast bought us, thine we are. Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast bought us, thine we are. 2. We are thine, thou dost befriend us, be the guardian of our way; keep thy flock, from sin defend us, seek us when we go astray. Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Hear, O hear us when we pray. Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Hear, O hear us when we pray. 3. Thou hast promised to receive us, poor and sinful though we be; thou hast mercy to relieve us, grace to cleanse and power to free. Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! We will early turn to thee. Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! We will early turn to thee. 4. Early let us seek thy favor, early let us do thy will; blessed Lord and only Savior, with thy love our bosoms fill. Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast loved us, love us still. Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast loved us, love us still. Let us pray: O Lord, our Shepherding God, come close to us now. Come near us in our time of need. Shepherding God, we need you in our time of anxiety. We need you in our time of economic uncertainty. We need you in a time of a globe-trotting disease. We need you to bind our wounds, and pour your healing ointment on our heads. We need the briars, and brambles, and burrs pulled out of our fleece and skin. Precious God, you guide us with your voice. Help us to listen and follow no matter where your voice leads. Help us to trust you. Almighty God, protect us from the hired hands that do not really care for us and have neglected or abused us in the past. Compassionate God, we pray for vulnerable people all over this world, people without power who live in places of terror and violence, fear and oppression. Protect them, God; we feel so powerless ourselves to help them. Encourage and empower us to work for peace and freedom from fear in our own contexts. God of grace, we pray for those whose lives have been turned upside down by various disasters: floods, fire, disease and drought-driven famine. Bring them courage and hope; through their pain, may they remain connected to you in prayer. Shepherding God, thank you for your Son who laid down his life for those who follow him and for those who are not in the fold yet. We pray for those say there is no God; may we through the living of our own lives demonstrate the joy and peace of a Spirit-centered existence. Lord we pray for those who don’t know the Good Shepherd, whose life circumstances have kept them from knowing him. We pray that by our actions, our behavior, and our reaching out into the community, they may come to know you. Help us to discern needs and work to fulfill them. God of community, we pray for our own congregation; may we be a source of hope for our neighborhood. Strengthen and unify our congregation and show us how we can be the disciples you envision us to be. Return the sick to health and well-being and relieve the suffering of those who have lost loved ones, are unable to find meaningful employment and fear the challenges of old age. (Lift up those who are on your heart) Loving God, renew us, guide us with your love and renew us with your peace. Guide us, Great Shepherd, into your paths of right relationships. In Jesus’ name we pray, as he taught us to pray: 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. Prayer of Confession Master, Savior, Shepherd, Messiah – we know you by many names, Lord. Your presence fills our lives – all that we are and all that we have comes from you; all that you do declares your love for us. You guide us in right paths, you lead us in the ways of righteousness, but we have allowed our anger, our rage, our greed, and at times even hate, to direct our paths. We have overreacted, we have taken more than our share, we have despised others that seem to have it all. And when trouble comes, when adversity plagues us, we wonder where you are; we even wonder who you are. How quickly we forget that you are always with us. Forgive us, God, for not following your ways. Forgive us for not remembering that we are your sheep, and you are our shepherd. Forgive us when we have not listened for your voice and instead have acted in the ways of the world. Dispel our gloom and despair. Change our garments of darkness into robes of dazzling light. Spread your table before us, and feed us from your hand. Guide us back to your path, to loving you and loving our neighbors. Help us to unclench our fists and lend out our hands in hope and healing, forgiveness and love. In the name of Christ our Shepherd we pray. Amen. Words of Assurance Even in the darkest valley, though death’s shadow may threaten us, we need not fear, for the Lord is with us. The Good Shepherd knows the sheep, and lays down his life for the sheep so that the sheep may live. We are part of the flock; we are part of Christ’s body. In Christ we find wholeness and restoration. Go forth and share this Good News. Amen. Your Grace Is Enough (Matt Maher, sung by Chris Tomlin) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtnE_e1LylY Reflection Community – a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common; a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals (Oxford Dictionary, https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/community). We live, work and socialize in a community, or sometimes, more than one community. When we gather as a church body, we do so as a community. In our scripture readings this morning, we read about early communities of faith that grew up after the death and resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. In John 10, Jesus himself speaks of the community that follows him. This passage is probably one of the more familiar ones where Jesus compares his followers to sheep. In order to keep sheep safe at night, the shepherd would corral them in a pen, usually made of piles of rocks. He would then lay across the opening, making sure that no one or nothing enters that doesn’t belong there. Because of his tender and constant care, the sheep learn his voice; whenever he calls them, they come. They have a singular focus and don’t respond to strangers, to those who are seeking to harm them. Because Jesus is the gatekeeper – the one who lays in the opening – those inside learn his voice and don’t respond to others looking to snatch them away. This community of sheep – us – is safe from harm as long as we focus on Christ’s voice and aren’t deterred by other people or things that seek to do us harm. The beautiful words of Psalm 23 share with us and remind us what it’s like to live on the inside, to be sheep under the watchful eye of our shepherd Jesus Christ. In Acts 2, we read the story of Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the believers gathered in the Upper Room, and Peter’s speech to those who had gathered outside wondering what was going on upstairs. As a result of God working through Peter’s speech, thousands came to believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Redeemer, as Messiah. Here in the latter verses of the chapter, we read of those early converts coming together as a new community. They gathered to worship and praise God, to eat together, to pray together. They even sought to do good works amongst the people of Jerusalem by selling “their possessions and goods” and donating all the proceeds to any and all who were in need (v. 45). They witnessed to God’s love and mighty acts through their attitudes and behaviors, and, as a result, “the Lord added to their number those who were being saved” (v. 47). In the passage from 1 Peter 2, we read of another community, this one on the outskirts of Israel in present-day Turkey. The books that bear Peter’s name were most likely written to non-Jewish (or Gentile) Christians, those that had given up the official religions of the Roman Empire and chose to follow Christ. There are many “directives” in both books, things these new believers should and must do in order to show others that they’ve become true followers of Christ. For instance, in the opening verses of 1 Peter 2, the author admonishes the readers: “So get rid of your feelings of hatred. Don’t just pretend to be good! Be done with dishonesty and jealousy and talking about others behind their backs. Now that you realize how kind the Lord has been to you, put away all evil, deception, envy, and fraud,” (TLB, Living Bible) and again in verse 11-12, “I beg you to keep away from the evil pleasures of this world; they are not for you, for they fight against your very souls. Be careful how you behave among your unsaved neighbors” (TLB). He even directed them, “For the Lord’s sake accept the authority of every human institution” (v. 13, NRSV). Our passage this morning, verses 19-25, was written to those who were slaves, asking them to submit to the authority of their masters, no matter how they were treated. This passage has often been used to promote the idea of slavery, but this was not the author’s intent. As a Christian, as a follower and imitator of all that Jesus did and taught, Peter would have fought against the injustices of slavery and included them as equals in the church, the body of Christ. Similarly, Paul wrote of this same idea: “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28, NRSV). This passage from 1 Peter, though, speaks more to the attitudes of those who were slaves: even while you fight for physical freedom, don’t give those in authority over you anything to complain about; don’t give them reason to treat you harshly. Why? Because we imitate Christ’s attitude and teachings, and when Christ was beaten and abused, he didn’t seek revenge, he didn’t threaten his abusers. Rather, Christ found strength in God to endure the suffering, knowing that his relationship with God would see him through. Even though we may not be slaves today, we can learn from this community that Peter is writing to: no matter how we are suffering or what difficulties we are going through – physically, mentally, spiritually – we need to put aside our personal need for revenge, for retaliation. Sometimes we get in that mindset of wanting to make sure that everyone else around us suffers just because we’re suffering – misery likes company, right? Or we have that “You’re going to get yours” attitude when someone wrongs us. But that’s not how Christ reacted when he was abused and beaten by the soldiers. Instead, we accept what we are going through. We don’t have to like it – chances are pretty good that we won’t – and we might not understand why we are going through whatever we facing, but, as Peter reminds us, when we imitate Christ and rely on God, entrust ourselves “to the one who judges justly;” God will bring us through. There are many of us today who are facing all sorts of difficulties, whether it be physically, mentally or spiritually. Some of our concerns come as a result of our current societal situation of isolation and lockdown. Some of our worries and sufferings have been with us a while longer. We don’t always know why we have to go through some of the things that we come face to face with; most of the time we won’t ever truly know. However, we can look to our faithful God and what God has promised us in scripture. As Jesus-followers, Christians, we are the body of Christ; we are a community who follows and imitates what Jesus has done and taught us. We are like sheep and Jesus is our Shepherd; he will not let anything destroy us. Jesus tells us, “In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties” (John 16:33, The Message); we will come face to face with all sorts of trials, temptations, persecutions, hardships, diseases, and rough times. But he also says, “I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace… take heart! I’ve conquered the world.” We have that promise! Rely on that promise. No matter what we face, as the author of 1 Peter wrote, we trust in and rely on Almighty God; God is with us always and provides what we need when we need it. As the psalmist reminds us, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” We are God’s community of sheep and Jesus is our Great Shepherd, loving and caring for us beyond our comprehension; when worries, difficulties, and hardships come our way, Jesus is always with us no matter what, gathering us in his arms to help us through. Amen. Come, Share the Lord (Bryan Jeffrey Leach) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_-WKRh94Pw Sharing Jesus’ Last Meal We offer our entire being to the God of Creation, who made the sun and the moon to govern by day and by night and hung the stars in the sky. We offer our entire being to the great God who hollowed out the valleys and bulged up the mountains, who spat out the seven seas, and populated the world with glorious creatures. Blessed be the name of the Lord who created us and fashioned us from the dust and breathed into us the breath of life. Blessed be the name of the Lord Jesus Christ who came to us in spite of our destructive ways. He healed the sick, raised the dead and cast out demons. In the brief time that he was with us, Jesus sided with the oppressed, had compassion for those who suffer, and gave dignity to women and children. He taught us in word and deed about a God we had been unable to understand. In spite of his glory-revealing presence among us, we turned him into a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Jesus was persecuted by certain religious leaders and betrayed by one of his own. He was lied about, tortured, and hung on a cross to die. Yet, even on the day of his crucifixion, Jesus continued to teach those who would listen. When evil people came with his betrayer, Jesus did not respond with violence, choosing instead to remind us that those who live by the sword will die by the sword. When he was falsely accused and condemned to death, Jesus refused to do harm. And while hanging on the cross, he prayed: "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." But we give you thanks that nothing ever was, or ever will be, able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Early on the morning of the third day Jesus laughed at death, shed his grave clothes, and walked among us alive! Forty days later, he ascended into heaven, where he is seated at the right hand of the God of our ancestors. Our eyes are turned toward the skies looking for the day when Jesus shall return to a kingdom without end, where the lion will lie down peaceably with the lamb, where sickness and disease are not known where the wicked will cease from troubling and we will study war no more! On the night that Jesus was betrayed, he shared a meal with his disciples. He took bread from the table, gave thanks to God, (lift and break your bread) and gave it to his disciples saying: "Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." When the meal was over he took the cup, gave thanks, (lift your “wine”) and gave it to his disciples saying: "Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." Today, Jesus, we remember the bread and the cup. Today, we remember your life and your death. We remember your resurrection; we remember eternal life. As we receive these gifts in praise and thanksgiving we proclaim the mystery of our faith: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again! Holy God, pour out your Spirit upon these gifts of bread and wine; make them be for us the body and blood of Christ. Wonder-working God, pour out your Spirit upon us; as we offer ourselves to be God's presence in the world until Jesus returns in glory. You may partake of your bread and “wine,” giving thanks to God: the body of Christ broken for you; the blood of Christ shed for you. Amen. God Be with You till We Meet Again (Jeremiah Rankin, William Tomer) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZHrtHdbdOE Benediction and Blessing Go now, and embrace the hope to which God has called us. Recognize Christ in friend and stranger, and as Christ has been gracious to you, so be gracious to those in need. Trust in the Good Shepherd, and let us love, not just in words, but in truth and action. Believe in the name of Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he has commanded us. And may God give you a place of rest on rich pasture; May Christ Jesus be the shepherd king who binds your wounds; And may the Holy Spirit give you wisdom and reveal to you the fullness of the one who fills all in all. In the name of Christ. Amen. Call to Worship: by Rev MaryAnn Rennie, http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/, as found on https://re-worship.blogspot.com/search/label/Easter%204%20Year%20A
Opening Prayer: posted on My Redeemer Lives website, http://www.myredeemerlives. com/prayers.html, as found on https://re-worship.blogspot.com/search/label/Easter%204%20Year%20A Scriptures from biblegateway.com Prayer: posted on the Presbyterian Church in Canada website, http://presbyterian.ca/ worship/ and by Rev. Abi, http://vicarofwadley.blogspot.ca/ , both as found on https://re-worship.blogspot.com/search/label/Easter%204%20Year%20A Prayer of Confession and Words of Assurance: from The Abingdon Worship Annual, edited by Mary J. Scifres and B.J. Beu, Copyright © Abingdon Press. Posted on the Worship Elements page of the Ministry Matters website, http://www.ministrymatters.com/ as found on https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2016/04/prayer-of-confession-for-easter-4c.html and by Rev. Mindi, http://rev-o-lution.org/ as found on https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2011/05/easter-4-confession-assurance.html Sharing Jesus’ Last Meal: found on https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/a-new-great-thanksgiving-for-eastertide Benediction and Blessing: ©2002 Nathan Nettleton, LaughingBird.net as found on https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2011/11/commission-benediction-proper-29a_07.html and Copyright © 2003 Nathan Nettleton LaughingBird.net as found on https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2012/04/benediction-for-easter-4.html Pictures found on pinterest.com Comments are closed.
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ZOOM WORSHIP SERVICE
SUNDAY @ 11 AM To join by phone, dial (929) 205-6099 and enter the meeting ID and password below: Meeting ID: 876 1875 9099 Password 333 PrayerGracious Loving Lord, please keep all of your children safe in these trying times. Guide us. Open our ears to hear, our eyes to see, our minds to understand and our hearts to know and be your love to others. We pray this in Jesus' name, Amen. Want to support RLUMC and our missions? Donate Today
Prayer Chain
For those wishing to activate our Church Prayer Chain, contact Barbara Hurley 518-307-8238 If you want the concern to remain confidential among prayer chain members only please feel free to make that request when calling. Archives
September 2023
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