Bulletin – Sunday, April 21, 2024 – Fourth Sunday of Easter / Earth Day

Sunday, April 21, 2024
Fourth Sunday of Easter / Earth Day

We Gather as People of Faith

Welcome

Announcements

Lighting the Christ Candle

Call to Worship

One:   When we are seeking,
All:      God points out the path.

One:   When others are searching,
All:      God points out the path.

One:   Our lives are often signposts:
All:      people together on the Way.

One:   Our words are waypoints:
All:      people together on the Way.

One:   Where Christ’s story and our stories meet:
All:      people together on the Way.

One:   Let us walk, roll, run, dance, hop, and live!
All:      together on the Way!

(Richard Bott, Grace United Church, Burlington, ON, Gathering Lent / Easter 2024 page 42)

Hymn – “God of Freedom, God of Justice” (VU #700)

God of freedom, God of justice, you whose love is strong as death,
You who saw the dark of prison, you who knew the price of faith:
Touch our world of sad oppression with your Spirit’s healing breath.

Rid the earth of torture’s terror, you whose hands were nailed to wood;
Hear the cries of pain and protest, you who shed the tears and blood:
Move in us the power of pity restless for the common good.

Make in us a captive conscience quick to hear, to act, to plead;
Make us truly sisters, brothers of whatever race or creed:
Teach us to be fully human, open to each other’s need.

Prayer of Approach

God of resurrection, you have rolled the stone away and the tomb of our world has been opened wide. With the dawn has come a new creation. Let our celebration today empty our tombs, renew our lives, and release your power; through the risen Christ we pray. Amen.

Prayer of Confession

One:   Gracious God, as people called to be your presence in the world, we search our hearts, and ask your forgiveness: for opportunities not taken, for care not given,
All:      forgive us, we pray.

One:   For sorrow not shared, for joy not celebrated,
All:      forgive us, we pray.

One:   For love not offered, forgiveness not extended,
All:      forgive us, we pray.

One:   For those failings we cannot speak aloud,
All:      forgive us, we pray.

One:   Gracious God, we seek your healing grace, and ask forgiveness in the name of Jesus.
All:      Amen

Words of Assurance

The good news of Easter is that death is turned into new life. The promise we have from God is that when we acknowledge our brokenness, God will acknowledge us with grace and forgiveness. We are a forgiven people, thanks be to God.

(Peter Chynoweth, Cochrane, AB, Gathering Lent / Easter 2024 page 47)

Sung Response – “Alleluia” (MV #50)

Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia!

We Hear God’s Word

Hymn – “What Does the Lord Require of You? (VU #701)

What does the Lord require of you?
What does the Lord require of you?

Justice, kindness,
Walk humbly with your God.

To seek justice, and love kindness,
And walk humbly with your God.

Scripture Reading:        Psalm 23

One:   God is my shepherd,
All:      there is nothing I shall lack.

One:   You, God, make me lie down in green pastures,
All:      you lead me beside peaceful waters;

One:   You revive spirit,
All:      you guide me in right pathways by your name’s sake.

Sung Response:    The God of love my shepherd is; what can I want or need.

One:   Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you are with me,
All:      your rod and your staff are my comfort.

One:   You spread a table for me in the sight of my enemies;
All:      you anoint my head with oil; my cup is overflowing.

One:   Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
All:      and I will dwell in God’s house my whole life long.

Sung Response:    The God of love my shepherd is; what can I want or need.

Scripture Reading:         John 10:11-18

¹¹ “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹² The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. ¹³ The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. ¹⁴ I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶ I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. ¹⁷ For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God!

Hymn – In the Blub There is a Flower” (VU #703)

In the blub there is a flower; in the seed an apple tree;
In cocoons, a hidden promise; butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody;
There’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity;
In our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity.
In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

Sermon – “The Gospel According to Whiffenpoof”

Anthem – “As We Chart Our Course”

As we chart our course for tomorrow, and we set our sights on our goal,
When we join to forge a new vision, making all relationships whole,
When we walk together as pilgrims, we will rise to crisis and test.
And when we make room for the Spirit, we will find our journey is blessed.

We are called to follow our purpose, forming bridges, building up lives.
By rekindling zeal in our mission, our community comes alive.
As we strive to fashion disciples, serving neighbours, helping weak,
Then we’ll claim our role as a beacon for the brighter future we seek.

When we find ourselves at the crossroads, let our focus firmly be laid
On horizons bright with potential, not on burdens we would evade.
Witness to an undying message in the Good News we have to share.
When we foster hope and compassion, we will find God’s presence is there.

We Respond to God’s Word

Invitation to Share

Offering Response – “Grant Us, God, the Grace” (VU #540)

Grant us, God, the grace of giving, with a spirit large and free,
That ourselves and all our living we may offer faithfully.

Offering Prayer

Prayers of the People

We Go Into God’s World

Hymn – “Deep in Our Hearts” (MV #154)

Deep in our hearts there is a common vision;
Deep in our hearts there is a common song;
Deep in our hearts there is a common story,
Telling Creation that we are one.

Deep in our hearts there is a common purpose;
Deep in our hearts there is a common goal;
Deep in our hearts there is a sacred message,
Justice and peace in harmony.

Deep in our hearts there is a common longing;
Deep in our hearts there is a common theme;
Deep in our hearts there is a common current,
Flowing to freedom like a stream.

Deep in our hearts there is a common vision;
Deep in our hearts there is a common song;
Deep in our hearts there is a common story,
Telling Creation that we are one.

Benediction

Response – “Amen! Amen! Hallelujah, Amen!” (VU #974)

Amen! Amen! Hallelujah, amen!
Amen! Amen! Hallelujah, amen!