Bulletin – Sunday, May 14, 2023 – Sixth Sunday of Easter / Mother’s Day
Sunday, May 14, 2023
Sixth Sunday of Easter / Mother’s Day
Approach
Lighting the Christ Candle
The people of God sing. The role of music in worship is biblical. After escaping from the Egyptians and crossing the Red Sea, the people of Israel sang a song to the Lord (Exodus 15). Singing was part of Israel’s formal worship in both tabernacle and temple (I Corinthians 6:31-32, 16:42) The Psalms bear rich testimony that in joy and sorrow, in praise and lament, the faithful raise their voices in song to God. Hymn singing was practiced by Jesus and his disciples (Matthew 26:30). The Apostle Paul instructed the Colossians, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” Colossians 3:16-17). May the stories and songs of God’s people comfort and inspire us. As we light this candle today, we pray that we feel God’s presence through our time together.
Call to Worship
One: We gather for worship today, choosing to make time in our busy lives to worship as part of this community.
All: We come with a song in our heart.
One: We return to this community. Whether in joy or sadness, full of energy or feeling worn out, we gather to join together in praise to God.
All: We come with music in our souls.
One: We come before God, for we know that in God we find our peace.
All: We come with praise on our lips.
One: We gather for worship today, in gratitude and praise for God’s unending love.
All: We come with a song in our heart.
Hymn – “Mothering God, You Gave Me Birth”
Mothering God, you gave me birth
In the bright morning of this world.
Creator, source of every breath,
You are my rain, my wind, my sun.
Mothering Christ, you took my form,
Offering me your food of light,
Grain of my life, and grape of love,
Your very body for my peace.
Mothering Spirit, nurturing one,
In arms of patience hold me close,
So that in faith I root and grow
Until I flower, until I know.
Response – “Cares Chorus”
I cast all my cares upon you,
I lay all of my burdens down at your feet.
And anytime that I don’t know what to do
I cast all my cares upon you.
Prayer of Approach and Confession
God, we gather together as your people—in our strength, but also in our weakness. We acknowledge that in the journey of faith, there are moments we stumble, moments we do not live for You, but only for ourselves. Help us to return to You, seeking the strength to be Your faithful people once more. When we don’t know what to do, let us always bring our cares and concerns to you. Amen.
Words of Assurance
(adapted from Allison Abbott-Wiebe)
Response – “How Deep the Peace”
How deep the peace, the confidence
Of those whose hearts are forgiven.
How deep the peace, the confidence
Of those who hearts are healed.
The Word
Scripture Reading: Psalm 36:5-9
Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. 6 Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals. 7 How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. 8 They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. 9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.
Scripture Reading: Psalm 91:4
He will cover you with his wings; you will be safe in his care; his faithfulness will protect and defend you.
Hymn – “Under His Wings”
Under His wings I am safely abiding,
Though the night deepens and tempests are wild,
Still I can trust Him; I know He will keep me,
He has redeemed me, and I am His child.
Under His wings, under His wings,
Who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
Safely abide forever.
Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow!
How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!
Often when earth has no balm for my healing,
There I find comfort, and there I am blessed.
Under His wings, under His wings,
Who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
Safely abide forever.
Under His wings, oh, what precious enjoyment!
There will I hide till life’s trials are o’er;
Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me,
Resting in Jesus, I’m safe evermore.
Under His wings, under His wings,
Who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
Safely abide forever.
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 43:19
Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert.
Hymn – “God Will Make a Way”
God will make a way when there seems to be no way,
He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me.
He will be my guide, hold me closely to His side,
With love and strength for each new day,
He will make a way. He will make a way.
By a roadway in the wilderness He’ll lead me.
Rivers in the desert will I see.
Heaven and earth will fade,
But His word will still remain.
And He will do something new today.
God will make a way when there seems to be no way,
He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me.
He will be my guide, hold me closely to His side,
With love and strength for each new day,
He will make a way. He will make a way.
God will make a way when there seems to be no way,
He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me.
He will be my guide, hold me closely to His side,
With love and strength for each new day,
He will make a way. He will make a way.
With love and strength for each new day,
He will make a way. He will make a way.
Scripture Reading: John 14:15-21
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God!
Anthem – “Love Grows Here”
Take a look around you, tell me what you see;
People here to worship the Lord, just like you and me.
Some have come in gladness, some have come with fear;
But all have come because they know that love grows here!
Yes, love grows here, and all of us can share the wonder and joy that it can bring.
For God is near, teaching us to care, and showing our hearts how to sing.
Some of us are lonely, some have many friends;
Some lives just beginning, some are near the end.
Yet we come together knowing He is near,
Once again reminding us that love grows here!
Yes, love grows here, and all of us can share the wonder and joy that it can bring.
For God is near, teaching us to care, and showing our hearts how to sing.
Love grows here.
Yes, love grows here.
Meditation – “I Go to Sing”
Anthem – “He’s Always Been Faithful to Me”
Morning by morning, I wake up to find
The power and comfort of God’s hand in mine.
Season by season I watch Him, Amazed,
In awe of the myst’ry of His perfect ways.
All I have need of His will provide.
He’s always been faithful to me.
I can’t remember a trail or a pain. He did not recycle to bring me gain.
I can’t remember one single regret in service God only
And trusting His hand.
All I have need of His hand will provide.
He’s always been faithful to me.
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided.
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide.
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Wondrous the portion Thy blessings provide.
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided.
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!
This is my anthem,
This is my song;
The theme of the stories, I’ve heard for so long.
God has been faithful, He will be again.
His loving compassion, it know no end.
All I have need of His hand will provide.
He’s always been faithful to me.
Offering Dedication
(adapted from Cindy Randall)
Response – “Grant Us God, the Grace of Giving”
Grant us, God, the grace of giving,
With a spirit large and free,
That ourselves and all our living
We may offer faithfully.
The Response
Prayers of the People
One: God, we praise you for all the wonderful things in our lives: for good friends and good health, for good food and clean water, for safe places to live and to work, for the beauty of your creation that inspires artists to create beautiful and thought-provoking words, for all the gifts you have given us that make the world a wonderful, joyous, engaging place to live.
One: And especially today, on Mother’s Day, we give thanks for the important people in our lives who nurture us, protect us, and help us grow.
One: But God, amidst the joy in life there are still places of sorrow.
One: We pray for those suffering from mental or physical illnesses. May they know your healing. And we pray for their caregivers. May they feel supported by your presence. In our community, we pray for…
One: We pray today for your earth. May we find new sustainable ways to care for the earth and all creation.
One: We pray for people impacted by natural and man-made disasters. May they know your comfort.
One: We pray for those suffering from political violence and unrest, especially those in Ukraine and Sudan. May they know your peace.
One: God, we pray for your people wherever they are gathered and all who work in ministry there. We also pray for those in leadership here at Windsor Park United, that they may be guided by your wisdom as we move forward in our ministry. Help us to learn from each other so we may come to know you more deeply and be guided by your love. Amen.
Hymn – “Would You Bless Our Homes and Families”
Would you bless our homes and families, source of life who calls us here;
In our world of stress and tension teach us love that conquers fear.
Help us learn to love each other with a love that constant strays;
Teach us when we face our troubles, love’s expressed in many ways.
When our way is undemanding, let us use the time that’s ours
To delight in simple pleasures, sharing joys in gentle hours.
When our way is anxious walking and a heavy path we plod,
Teach us trust in one another and in you, our gracious God.
From the homes in which we’re nurtured, with the love that shapes us there.
Teach us, God, to claim as family everyone whose life we share.
And through all that life may offer, may we in your love remain;
May the love we share in families be alive to praise your name.
Let us reach beyond the boundaries of our daily thought and care
Till the family you have chosen spills its love out everywhere.
Help us learn to love each other with a love that constant stays;
Teach us when we face our troubles; love’s expressed in many ways.
Benediction
Help us learn to love each other with a love that constant stays; teach us when we face our troubles; love’s expressed in many ways. Let us go into the world a God’s people, bringing the many expressions of God’s love to the world. Amen.
Response :”Amen, Alleluia”
Amen, Amen, Hallelujah, Amen!
Amen, Amen, Hallelujah, Amen!
