Sunday, May 12, 2019
Fourth Sunday of Easter
For Meditation and Reflection:
“If we only had eyes to see and ears to hear and wits to understand, we would know that the Kingdom of God in the sense of holiness, goodness, beauty is as close as breathing and is crying out to be born within ourselves and within the world; we would know that the Kingdom of God is what we all of us hunger for above all other things even when we don’t know its name or realize that it’s what we’re starving to death for. The Kingdom of God is where our best dreams come from and our truest prayers.”
– Frederick Buechner
Welcome and Announcements
Opening Prayer (Pastor)
Responsive Call to Worship (Traditional Monastic Liturgy)
Pastor: We wait for the word of the Lord as we wait for the rains.
People: and our God shall come down upon us like gentle dew.
Pastor: The hills and the mountains will be singing praise to God.
People: Every tree in the forest will be clapping its hands.
The Lord will come and rule for ever. Alleluia.
Opening Hymn Spirit of the Living God #283
(Sing Three Times)
Prayer for Illumination (Pastor)
Today’s Scripture Reading John 10:22-30
Sermon The Sound of His Voice (Mike Lyle)
The Offerings and Offertory Music
A Litany of Thanksgiving:
Pastor: All things come from you, O God, and with gratitude we return to you what is yours. All that we are, and all that we have, is your gift to us
People: And so, in gratitude for all your gifts, we offer ourselves, and all that we have. By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world.
All: Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymn Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us #252
Joys and Concerns
Prayers of the Pastor and the People
The Lord’s Prayer (Traditional, with “debts”)
Closing Hymn The Day of Resurrection #245
Prayer of Benediction: (Pastor)
Go forward in the comfort and strength of God’s blessing. Remember that you are loved, that God is ever near, and that divine mercy is your way in the world. Amen.
Sharing the Peace as we go… And we hope you can join us for post-worship coffee and conversation in Fellowship Hall.
Rev. Lyle is happy to stay following the service to talk about questions, concerns or thoughts you may have about today’s worship.
Thoughts for the Day/Week
“We have to let go in order to be; we have to stop forcing ourselves, or we will never enter our own belonging. There is something ancient at work in us creating novelty. In fact, you need very little in order to develop a real sense of your own spiritual individuality. One of the things that is absolutely essential is silence, the other is solitude.”
– John O’Donohue
ANNOUNCEMENTS
This Sunday, May 12th: Worship led by Rev. Mike Lyle
Next Sunday, May 19th: 9:30am – Council Meeting; 11am – Worship with Rev. Samantha Tuttle
Sunday, May 26th: Worship led by Rev. M. Michael Morse
Volunteers needed. St James will have outreach booths at two local festivals:
- Saturday, May 25th – Lovettsville Mayfest
- Saturday June 22nd – Frederick Pride Festival
Have fun! Let folks know we exist! Call/text Lauranne: 703-346-3071
Sunday, June 30th: Annual Congregational Meeting 12:30pm
July 22-July26: St. James Vacation Bible School. Mark your calendar if you want to volunteer or have your children participate! (Please excuse last week’s misprint of the dates.)
Childcare is available during services in the Fellowship Hall. Thank you to Greta and Katie for your gracious care!
Lovettsville Food Bank Donations: Please bring non-perishable food items to church. Thank you, Tena Brass for taking our donations.
Statement of Faith: We gather as an Open and Affirming community to worship God, however known. We welcome everyone, no exceptions. Together we seek spiritual comfort and challenge, learn from ancient and modern texts, and seek new dimensions of truth. We practice following the way of Jesus. We dare to demonstrate God’s love by working for justice and peace among all people.