Bulletin – Sunday, May 15, 2022 – Fifth Sunday of Easter

Sunday, May 15, 2022
Fifth Sunday of Easter

Approach

Lighting the Christ Candle

God of strength and compassion, you call us to righteousness, you call us to reach out to others with justice and mercy. You offer us strength of spirit so that we might truly live in your grace, peace, compassion, and mercy. In the shadow of that grace, we are called to offer compassion and mercy to others. We light this candle today to remind us that you are with us this day and every day, and that we may serve you forevermore. Amen.

Call to Worship

One:   As we gather today, we call you
All:      Our Father, who are in Heaven,

One:   As we gather today, we lift up who you are and what you represent
All:      hallowed by your name

One:   As we gather today, we seek your ways, not our own
All:      Your Kingdom come, your will be done…

One:   As we gather today, we say sorry to you and one another
All:      Forgive us as we forgive…

One:   As we gather today, we need you.
All:      Give us this day our daily bread, lead us away from temptation, deliver us from Evil.

One:   As we gather today, we pray.
All:      Amen.

Hymn – “I Need Thee Every Hour”

I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Saviour,
I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their pow’r when Thou art nigh.
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Saviour,
I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide, or life is vain.
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Saviour,
I come to Thee.

I need Thee every hour, teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises in me fulfil.
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Saviour,
I come to Thee.

Prayer of Approach and Confession

Seeking One, you are the beginning and the end of our search. Finding One, you are the alpha and omega of all discovery. Asking One, you are the voice and the silence of our exploration. Giving One, you are the fullness and the emptiness of all yearning. Persistent One, you never abandon your search for us, nor tire of our repetitive to-ings and fro-ings. Receiving One, you endlessly welcome us home, and spread before us a feast in the face of our constant requests for mere morsels of bread.

Search us, O God, and find within us the secrets we hide. Ask us, O God, and receive from within us the pain we bear. Keep knocking at the door of our lives until we open our wills to your purpose, our lives to your life, and our yearning to your hope.

When we forget to seek you and discover that we have lost our place: you offer us mercy. When we ask once and leave it at that: you offer us mercy. When we draw back from knocking, least we disturb you: you offer us mercy. And yet we still don’t always follow.

Strengthen our courage; bolster our endurance; spur us onward in your way in our world through the power of the Holy Spirit and the name of Christ. Amen.

(adapted from Anita Momo)

Words of Assurance

Hymn – “Be the Centre”

Jesus, be the centre,
Be my source, be my light, Jesus

Jesus, be the centre,
Be my hope, be my song, Jesus.

Be the fire in my heart,
Be the wind in these sails,
Be the reason that I live, Jesus, Jesus.

Jesus, be my vision,
Be my path, be my guide, Jesus.

Be the fire in my heart,
Be the wind in these sails,
Be the reason that I live, Jesus, Jesus.

Be the fire in my heart,
Be the wind in these sails,
Be the reason that I live, Jesus, Jesus.

Jesus, be the centre,
Be my source, be my light, Jesus.
Be my source, be my light, Jesus
Jesus, Jesus.

Time for All ages

The Word

Scripture Reading:           Jeremiah 29:11-14

¹¹ For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. ¹² Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. ¹³ When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, ¹⁴ I will let you find me, says the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.

Scripture Reading:           Luke 11:1-10

He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” ² He said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. ³ Give us each day our daily bread. ⁴ And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.  And do not bring us to the time of trial.” ⁵ And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; ⁶ for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ ⁷ And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything’ ⁸ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

⁹ “So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”

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

Anthem – “Down to the River to Pray”

Meditation – “Prayer as Practice”

Anthem – “Pray for the People”

The Response

Prayers of the People

One:   Lord, teach us to pray. So we might awaken to the wonder of your presence. So we might feel gratitude for your gift of life today. So me might discover your kingdom as revealed in our sisters and brother. So we might find safety beneath the shelter of your wings. So we might declare your glory as we gather together.
All:      Lord, teach us to pray.

One:   So we might forgive those who have wronged us. So we might lead free from pretense and hypocrisy. So we might trust your prefect plans and not replace them with our own. So we might love you with our whole hearts, and love our neighbours as ourselves. So we might declare your glory as we gather together.
All:      Lord, teach us to pray.

One:   So diverse hearts might harmonize as many voices become one. So our bodies might praise you in bowed heads and raised hands. So a spirit of criticism is replaced with an offering of sacrifice. So we consider others more important than ourselves. So we might declare your glory as we gather together.
All:      Lord, teach us to pray.

One:   So the truth of your Word resonates in what we say and sing. So we might prepare a way through the wilderness of chaos and pain. So our eyes are alert, and our souls awake to your movement in our midst. So our good work is fruitful in the reign of your kingdom. So we might declare your glory as we gather together.
All:      Lord, teach us to pray.

One:   So our voices bring a pleasing sound to your ear. So the notes of our instruments rise sweetly to your throne. So our singing is a light in the darkness, drawing nations to your grace. So our songs vibrate with the voice of the Lamb who was slain. So we might declare your glory as we gather together.
All:      Lord, teach us to pray.

One:   So the lonely and hopeless find comfort in your abundant presence. So that those who we lift up to you today feel your presence with them today…So those in war and famine find the everlasting peace of your Spirit. So we are not indifferent to the suffering of the world around us. So our songs help to makes us look more like you. So we might declare your glory as we gather together.
All:      Lord, teach us to pray.

(adapted from Chuck Fromm and Jeremy Armstrong)

Response – “The Lord’s Prayer”

Our Father, who are 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 them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory,
Forever and ever. Amen.

Hymn – “Companions on the Journey”

We are companions on the journey,
Breaking bread and sharing life;
And in the love we bear is the hope we share
For we believe in the love of our God,
We believe in the love of our God.

No longer strangers to each other;
No longer strangers in God’s house;
We are fed, and we are nourished by the strength of those who care,
By the strength of those who care.

We have been gifted with each other,
And we are called by the Word of the Lord
To act with justice, to love tenderly,
And to walk humbly with our God,
To walk humbly with our God.

We are companions on the journey,
Breaking bread and sharing life;
And in the love we bear is the hope we share
For we believe in the love of our God,
We believe in the love of our God.

We will seek and we shall find;
We will knock and the door will be opened;
We will ask and it shall be given,
For we believe in the love of our God,
We believe in the love of our God.

We are made for the glory of our God,
For service in the name of Jesus;
To walk side by side with hope in our hearts,
For we believe in the love of our God,
We believe in the love of our God.

We are companions on the journey,
Breaking bread and sharing life;
And in the love we bear is the hope we share
For we believe in the love of our God,
We believe in the love of our God.

Benediction

As we go into this week let us remember that our strength lies in the strength of God. Let us remember that as we are called to be a part of the whole body of Christ our spiritual strength helps not only ourselves but the whole world.

As we go know that God goes with you, that Jesus walks along side you, and that the Spirit emboldens you, today and every day. Amen.

Response

O God, You are my God,
And I will ever praise You.
O God, You are my God,
And I will ever praise You.
I will seek You in the morning,
And I will learn to walk in Your ways;
And step by step You’ll lead me,
And I will follow You all of my days.