Bulletin – Sunday, May 8, 2022 – Fourth Sunday of Easter / Mother’s Day

Sunday, May 8, 2022
Fourth Sunday of Easter / Mother’s Day

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:   God is the Alpha and Omega,
All:      the beginning and the end!

One:   God revives us with water from the spring of life.
All:      God makes all things new.

One:   God strengthens us, enlivens us, builds us up,
All:      in the resurrected Christ we find new life.

One:   God dwells with us.
All:      Death is no more. Praise be to God!

Hymn – “Come In, Come In and Sit Down”

Come in, come in and sit down,
You are a part of the family.
We are lost and we are found,
And we are a part of the family.

You know the reason why you came,
Yet no reason can explain;
So share in the laughter and cry in the pain,
For we are a part of the family.

Come in, come in and sit down,
You are a part of the family.
We are lost and we are found,
And we are a part of the family.

God is with us in this place,
Like a mother’s warm embrace.
We’re all forgiven by God’s grace,
For we are a part of the family.

Come in, come in and sit down,
You are a part of the family.
We are lost and we are found,
And we are a part of the family.

There’s rest for the weary and health for us all;
There’s a yoke that is easy, and a burden that’s small.
So come in and worship and answer the call,
For we are a part of the family.

Come in, come in and sit down,
You are a part of the family.
We are lost and we are found,
And we are a part of the family.

Prayer of Approach and Confession

We come together today knowing that you call us to be strong in your love. You call us to be strong in your spirit. You call us to be strong as integral parts of the body of Christ in our world today.

Gracious God, we come before you today knowing that we often fall short of your call to love one another well, we know that often times our strength of spirit fails us. We allow ourselves to be blinded by wealth and power. We ignore those around us who suffer injustice, poverty, and rejection. We tune out the cries of the poor and those on the edges of our communities.

Help us to see your great generosity, hear your word of mercy, and feel your great love for all who need your redemptive grace. Strengthen us to reach out in service to those who are in need. Make us aware of those outside our own communities, that we may see them as your precious children and serve them in humility and joy. May we continue to grow in grace as we learn how to serve you in the name of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Words of Assurance

Response:

Where two or three are gathered in my name,
I am there, I am there.

Time for All Ages

The Word

Scripture Reading:           Galatians 6:1-5

My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. ² Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. ³ For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. ⁴ All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbour’s work, will become a cause for pride. ⁵ For all must carry their own loads.

Scripture Reading:           Matthew 18:15-20

¹⁵ “If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. ¹⁶ But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. ¹⁷ If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. ¹⁸ Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. ¹⁹ Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. ²⁰ For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”

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

Meditation – “Where Two or Three are Gathered!”

Anthem – “Sanctify This Place”

The Response

Prayers of the People

One:   God, just as You rescued the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt, setting them free to worship and serve you, so You have rescued us, setting us free from slavery to sin and selfishness, and inviting us into relationship with You and one another. We praise You for the love and mercy You have shown toward us.

One:   You call us to love and serve You by loving and serving our brothers and sisters, near and far; to put their needs and interests ahead of our own, and so to fulfill Your law of love. And so we offer our prayers for the world You created, Lord, in Your mercy,
All:      hear our prayer.

One:   We pray for those who do not have what they need in order to survive, those without enough food and water, medical care, shelter, or security. Open our hearts to see the needs in our world, and to respond with Your love. Lord, in Your mercy,
All:      hear our prayer.

One:   We pray for those who are living with serious illness or injury, who face each day with uncertainty or pain, who find themselves wondering what the future holds. Open our hearts to see the needs of those around us, and to respond with Your love. Lord, in Your mercy,
All:      hear our prayer.

One:   On this day, we remember those who have no work, who are struggling to provide for their families, and who despair of ever finding employment again. Open our hearts to see the needs of the unemployed, and to respond with Your love. Lord, in Your mercy,
All:      hear our prayer.

One:   We also pray for Your church, the Body of Christ on earth. We pray that we would be a living example of Your love in our world, treating one another with compassion and respect, settling differences with love and integrity, bound together by our common allegiance to You. Open our hearts to see one another, and to respond with Your love. Lord, in Your mercy,
All:      hear our prayer.

One:   We praise You for the way of love modelled for us by Jesus Christ. Open our hearts and lives to your ongoing presence among us, so that we would grow in faithfulness and love, and bring honour to Your name. Amen.

Hymn – “Blest Be the Tie That Binds”

Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love;
The unity of heart and mind is like to that above.

We share each other’s woes, each other’s burdens bear,
And often for each other flows the sympathizing tear.

This glorious hope revives our courage on the way;
That we shall live in perfect love in God’s eternal day.

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 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.