Call to Worship:
L: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful.
All: And kindle in them the fire of your love.
L: Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created.
All: And you will renew the face of the earth.
Welcome
Song – Spirit Song – UMH 347
John Wimber
O let the Son of God enfold you with his Spirit and his love.
Let him fill your heart and satisfy your soul. O let him have the things that hold you,
and his Spirit like a dove will descend upon your life and make you whole.
Refrain:
Jesus, O Jesus, come and fill your lambs. Jesus, O Jesus, come and fill your lambs.
O come and sing this song with gladness as your hearts are filled with joy. Lift your hands in
sweet surrender to his name. O give him all your tears and sadness; give him all your years of
pain, and you’ll enter into life in Jesus’ name.
Refrain
Prayer:
(All) Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hidden. Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name, through Christ our Lord. Amen
Scripture Reading – Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.
Song – Softly and Tenderly – UMH 348
Will L. Thompson
Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, calling for you and for me;
see, on the portals he’s waiting and watching, watching for you and for me.
Refrain:
Come home, come home; you who are weary, come home;
earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling, O sinner, come home!
Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading, pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not his mercies, mercies for you and for me?
Refrain
O for the wonderful love he has promised, promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned, he has mercy and pardon, pardon for you and for me.
Refrain
Message – Bob Kucharuk
Affirmation of Faith :
(in unison) We believe in God: who has created and is creating, who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh, to reconcile and make new, who works in us and others by the Spirit. We trust in God. We are called to be the church: to celebrate God’s presence, to love and serve others, to seek justice and resist evil, to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope. In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us. We are not alone. We live in God’s world. Thanks be to God.
(Statement of Faith of the United Church of Canada)
Prayers of the People:
L: Together, let us pray for the people of this congregation, those who are here and those who are not. Lord in your mercy.
All: Hear our prayer.
L: Let us pray for those who suffer and those in trouble. Lord in your mercy.
All: Hear our prayer
L: Let us pray for those who are weary and exhausted. Lord in your mercy.
All: Hear our prayer
L: Let us pray for those who are sick and experiencing unwellness in mind, body and spirit. Lord, in your mercy.
All: Hear our prayer
L: Let us pray for the concerns of our local community, for those in poverty, the lonely, the lost and confused. Lord in your mercy.
All: Hear our prayer.
L: Let us pray for the world, its people and its leaders, for those living in places of violence and war. Lord in your mercy.
All: Hear our prayer.
L: Let us pray for the church universal- its leaders, its members and its mission; for Cokesbury and the path ahead. Lord in your mercy.
All: Hear our prayer.
The Lord’s Prayer
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. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and glory for ever. Amen.
Offering Prayer:
The offering we bring is an offering to the Lord. Because we have received, we gladly give with joy. Let us give thanks to God with our gifts and our generous hearts. Gracious Lord, bless these gifts, use them to further your kingdom in this community, in this nation and in the world. May they be used to bless others so that they may come to know you as Lord and Savior.
Song – Just a Closer Walk with Thee – TFWS 2158
Refrain:
Just a closer walk with thee, grant it Jesus, is my plea,
daily walking close to thee! Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
I am weak but thou art strong; Jesus, keep me from all wrong.
I’ll be satisfied as long as I walk, let me walk close to thee.
Refrain
Through this world of toil and snares, if I falter, Lord, who cares? Who with me my burden
shares? None but thee, dear Lord, none but thee.
Refrain
Benediction
Announcements
Please keep in prayer: Eunice Bonner, Donna and Rosier Bailey, Tom Fabricus, Mary Jane Fizer, Deirdre and John, Louise and Mark Young, Marian Benson, Ellen Kuvasko, Al Firth, Margaret Franklin, Willis family, Bagby family, Debbie, Lilli, Ollie, Linda, Chrissie, Toye, Wenona, people living with cancer, battling addictions, struggling with life changes, seeking the Lord. The ministry and vision of Cokesbury.
Learn
Bible Study Wednesday at 7pm on Zoom and in-person. “Holy Spirit: Here and Now” by Trevor Hudson. Contact Pastor Gayle for Zoom link.
Devotion
The Cokesbury UMC Prayer Group meets weekly Mondays at 6pm on Zoom – all are invited to join and participate! Please send or share all prayer concerns with Pastor Gayle so we may give each concern prayerful attention.
https://zoom.us/j/98610851248?pwd=MVZkSHlPeGdyLzhZT2o5WVh2NGpuUT09
Meeting ID: 986 1085 1248 Passcode: 940573
One tap mobile: +13017158592,,98610851248#,,,,*940573# US (Washington DC)
Serve
Welcome Table (Messy Church) May 15th at 11:30am. See sign-up for food.
A.C.T.S Food Pantry:
Canned Vegetables, especially peas, 15 oz size, Low sodium canned vegetables, Snack items, individually packed, Pop-top canned prepared meals suitable for our homeless clients, Single serve prepared food suitable for our homeless clients, Laundry Detergent, Dish Detergent, Cleaning Supplies in general, Toiletries and Personal Hygiene Items, Size 4T pull-ups, Size 6 diapers.
Griefshare is a biblical, Christ-centered grief support group ministry. Griefshare helps group members apply biblical principles to the healing process after the death of a loved one. Through videos and workbooks participants see how the gospel brings hope and restoration. Plans are being made to form a group here at Cokesbury. If you are interested in participating or facilitating a group, please contact Pastor Gayle at cokesburyumc@gmail.com.
Ushers for Sunday worship. Please call Gordon Freeman at 703-680-4629 for information and to volunteer.
The entrance doors at the office and narthex have been re-keyed. Any questions may be directed to Pastor Gayle.
Pastor Gayle will be on vacation May 3-8. Please contact Leo Bonner, Lay Leader, with any urgent pastoral care needs.
You shop, AmazonSmile donates. Shop at smile.amazon.com to generate donations for Cokesbury UMC at no extra cost.
We are cleaning out the classrooms. Many of the items stored there must find a new home. Contact Bel Henshaw for more information.