Bulletin – Sunday, May 16, 2021
Sunday, May 16, 2021
Seventh Sunday of Easter
Good morning. We welcome the congregation of Pinawa Christian Fellowship who are joining us in worship this morning.
Approach
Lighting the Candle
This is the season of Easter. It is the season when the light of resurrection shines brightly in our lives. As we light this candle we remember the story of Jesus. We remember all that he did in this world to bring hope, peace, love, mercy, and light to a world of darkness. As we gather in the glow of this candle, we commit to being resurrection people, living in the light of resurrection, loving as Christ loved, living as Christ lived, bringing light to a world of darkness.
Call to Worship
One: Happy are those who follow the ways of God.
All: God’s ways are just and merciful.
One: Those who follow God’s ways are continually nourished in faith.
All: In all that they do, they prosper.
One: Come, let us open our hearts to God’s compassionate love.
All: Let us celebrate God’s mercy and justice. AMEN!
One: Let us worship with joy.
All: Let us come together to worship in love and joy.
Hymn – “There is Joy in the Lord”
There is joy in the Lord,
There is love in His Spirit.
There is hope in the knowledge of Him.
There’s a fountain that flows like a river from heaven,
Abounding in love to my soul.
All blessing and honour are His,
All glory and power are His.
Let all wisdom and strength be the Lord’s in this place.
Let all glory be given to Him.
There is joy in the Lord,
There is love in His Spirit.
There is hope in the knowledge of Him.
There’s a fountain I know every time I am near it,
My heart overflows to the Lord.
All blessing and honour are His,
All glory and power are His.
Let all wisdom and strength be the Lord’s in this place.
Let all glory be given to Him.
Prayer of Approach
Mysterious God, you reveal yourself in Jesus, your Beloved Child who gives us a glimpse of your glory and invites us to share in the unity of all that is Holy: the holiness that is you, your creation, united in the Spirit that breaks through all boundaries of fear and injustice.
Meet us here today, O God of Unity, and teach us to be one: one in love for each other, one in understanding with all who find in Jesus the way to you; one in peace with all who find other paths to your truth. O, God we know that we must also ask that you forgive us. We ask for your forgiveness when we treat people as though they are just a nuisance, when we find it difficult to include those who think or act differently from the norm, and when we are cruel in our judgements or exclusion.
Forgive us when our actions foster injustice in the world. Forgive us, O God, when we do not hear or heed Jesus’ prayer for unity. Forgive us when we don’t remember your call for unity and love. Open our eyes to any ways in which we can encourage justice and inclusion in our lives and the world.
Words of Assurance
Hymn – “How Great Thou Art”
O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the works thy hand hath made,
I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee,
How great thou art! How great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee,
How great thou art! How great thou art!
When through the woods and forest glades I wander,
I hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze.
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee,
How great thou art! How great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee,
How great thou art! How great thou art!
But when I think that God, his Son not sparing,
Sent him to die, I scarce can take it in,
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee,
How great thou art! How great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee,
How great thou art! How great thou art!
When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, What joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim, “My God, how great thou art!”
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee,
How great thou art! How great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee,
How great thou art! How great thou art!
Time for All Ages
Song – “The River is Here”
Down the mountain the river flows
And it brings refreshing wherever it goes.
Through the valleys and over the fields
The river is rushing and the river is here.
The river of God sets our feet a-dancing,
The river of God fills our hearts with cheer.
The river of God fills our mouths with laughter,
And we rejoice for the river is here.
The river of God is teeming with life
And all who touch it can be revived;
And those who linger on this river’s shore
Will come back thirsting for more of the Lord.
The river of God sets our feet a-dancing,
The river of God fills our hearts with cheer.
The river of God fills our mouths with laughter,
And we rejoice for the river is here.
Up to the mountain we love to go
To find the presence of the Lord.
Along the banks of the river we run –
We dance with laughter giving praise to the Son.
The river of God sets our feet a-dancing,
The river of God fills our hearts with cheer.
The river of God fills our mouths with laughter,
And we rejoice for the river is here.
Down the mountain the river flows
And it brings refreshing wherever it goes.
Through the valleys and over the fields
The river is rushing and the river is here.
The river of God sets our feet a-dancing,
The river of God fills our hearts with cheer.
The river of God fills our mouths with laughter,
And we rejoice for the river is here.
We rejoice for the river is here.
The Word
Scripture Reading:
1 John 5:9-13
9 If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son. 10 Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
John 17:6-19
6 “I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; 8 for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. 11 And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15 I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. 16 They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God!
Meditation – “To Live in God’s Joy”
Anthem – “Joy is Like the Rain”
The Response
Prayer
One: God of all things seen and unseen, if you had insulated yourself from the pain of the world, then your name could not be love and our condition would be without hope. Thank you for being so personally involved, for revealing your complete commitment in Jesus of Nazareth. Through him we pray with hope, in him we pray with love. Let your healing love be known this day by all who suffer ailment of body, or distress of mind, or agony of spirit, those we life up to you this day…Please reveal your compassion,
All: Loving God, bring wholeness to all.
One: Let your intimate love be known today by all who feel forgotten or lost, and all who are walking in the dark valley of despair. Please reveal your compassion,
All: Loving God, bring wholeness to all.
One: Let your fierce love this day redress the wrongs of all who suffer exploitation, injustice, abuse, neglect, violence, or unwarranted imprisonment. Please reveal your compassion,
All: Loving God, bring wholeness to all.
One: Let your nurturing love today encourage those who are gathering resolve to make tough decisions, take on new responsibilities, or break free from some bondage. Please reveal your compassion,
All: Loving God, bring wholeness to all.
One: Let your relentless love this day upset congregations that have become self-centred or even contemptuous of other churches. Please reveal your compassion.
All: Loving God, bring wholeness to all.
One: Let your reconciling love today gather together the separated Christians, and make them aware of the fellowship and mission of the one, universal body of Christ. Please reveal your compassion.
All: Loving God, bring wholeness to all.
One: Let your inspiring love this day rejuvenate ministers, pastors, priests, and prophets who have become weary to the very roots of their souls. Please reveal your compassion.
All: Loving God, bring wholeness to all.
One: Thank you for hearing us, most loving God. With the whole body of believers in time and eternity, we want to love, praise, and serve you, today and evermore. We continue to pray today in the words that Christ has given us, saying;
All: 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, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
(adapted from Bruce Prewer)
Hymn – “Give Me Oil”
Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning,
Give me oil in my lamp, I pray;
Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning,
Keep me burning till the break of day.
Sing hosanna! Sing hosanna!
Sing hosanna to the Servant King.
Sing hosanna! Sing hosanna!
Sing hosanna, let us sing!
Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising,
Give me joy in my heart, I pray;
Give me joy in my heart, keep my praising,
Keep me praising till the break of day.
Sing hosanna! Sing hosanna!
Sing hosanna to the Servant King.
Sing hosanna! Sing hosanna!
Sing hosanna, let us sing!
Give me peace in my heart, keep me loving,
Give me peace in my heart, I pray;
Give me peace in my heart, keep me loving,
Keep me loving till the break of day.
Sing hosanna! Sing hosanna!
Sing hosanna to the Servant King.
Sing hosanna! Sing hosanna!
Sing hosanna, let us sing!
Give me love in my heart, keep me serving,
Give me love in my heart, I pray;
Give me love in my heart, keep me serving,
Keep me serving till the break of day.
Sing hosanna! Sing hosanna!
Sing hosanna to the Servant King.
Sing hosanna! Sing hosanna!
Sing hosanna, let us sing!
Benediction
May God journey with you as you leave this time together today.
May the love of Christ, seen in what he did and heard in what he said, fill you with joy and hope today and every day.
May the Holy Spirit advocate for you, encourage you, lighting the way of faith and strengthening you to follow the way of Jesus.
And may you know that as we go from our time together we never go alone, we go in the joy and love, the strength and hope that is found in the triune God. Amen.
Response – “You Shall Go Out with Joy”
You shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace;
The mountains and the hills will break forth before you,
There’ll be shouts of joy, and all the trees of the field
Will clap, will clap their hands!
And all the trees of the field will clap their hands,
The trees of the field will clap their hands,
The trees of the field will clap their hands,
While you go out with joy.
