Welcome
Call to Worship
L: Creating God, you gave a vision to Peter when he was not seeking one. You opened his eyes to see the glory of your grace where all people are included in your love and care.
All: Open our eyes Lord, so that we may see the glory and grace of your vision for us.
Song – Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain – UMH 315
Come, ye faithful, raise the strain of triumphant gladness;
God hath brought forth Israel into joy from sadness;
loosed from Pharoah’s bitter yoke Jacob’s sons and daughters,
led the with unmoistened foot through the Red Sea waters.
‘Tis the spring of souls today; Christ hath burst his prison,
and from three days’ sleep in death as a sun hath risen;
all the winter of our sins, long and dark, is flying,
from his light, to whom we give laud and praise undying.
Neither might the gates of death, nor the tomb’s dark portal,
nor the watchers, nor the seal hold thee as a mortal;
but today amidst the twelve thou didst stand,
bestowing that thy peace which evermore passes human knowing.
“Alleluia!” now we cry to our King immortal,
who, triumphant, burst the bars of the tomb’s dark portal;
“Alleluia!” with the Son, God the Father praising,
“Alleluia!” yet again to the Spirit raising.
Prayer
God of all nations, you made it clear that all people are invited to partake of the glory of your salvation. Help us to invite all people to your goodness, so that no one might be forgotten in your saving grace. We pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Our Offering to God
Anthem – Choir
Doxology – Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow
Offering Prayer
Scripture Reading – Acts 11:2-18
Now the apostles and the brothers and sisters who were in Judea heard that the gentiles had also accepted the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, saying, “Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?” Then Peter began to explain
it to them, step by step, saying, “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners, and it came close to me. As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’ But I replied, ‘By no means, Lord, for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ But a second time the voice answered from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, you must not call profane.’ This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.’ And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?” When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, “Then God has given even to the gentiles the repentance that leads to life.”
L: For the Word of God in scripture; for the Word of God within us and for the Word of God among us we say:
All: Thanks be to God.
Message
Prayer of Confession – UMH 8
Merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart. We have failed to be an obedient church. We have not done your will, we have broken your law, we have rebelled against your love, we have not loved our neighbors, and we have not heard the cry of the needy. Forgive us, we pray. Free us for joyful obedience, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Great Thanksgiving – UMH 9
P: The Lord be with you
All: And also with you
P: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them up to the Lord.
P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
P: And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
All: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
P: And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
All: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
The Lord’s Prayer – UMH 895
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 the glory. Amen
Sharing the Bread and Cup
Communion Hymn – Just a Closer Walk with Thee – TFWS 2158
Jack Schrader CCLI# 1828321
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
When my feeble life is o’er, time for me will be no more;
guide me gently, safely o’er to thy shore, dear Lord, to thy shore.
Refrain
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Sharing our joys and concerns
Pastoral Prayer
Announcements
Song – Be Thou My Vision – UMH 451
Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
naught be all else to me, save that thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.
Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word;
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord;
thou and thou only, first in my heart,
great God of heaven, my treasure thou art.
Great God of heaven, my victory won,
may I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be my vision, O Ruler of all.
Benediction
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Licensing
*CCLI copyright #21178338 and streaming #21178321.
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Please keep in prayer: Hogan family, Bockes family, Nema, Chris, Don and Peggy,Pearl, Ayinde, Nalo, Robert, Nina J., Edna P., Farrah, Melissa, Ruth, Bridget, Sandy, Johnnie K, Susan L., Lydia, Tina, Blanche and family, Charles C., Kyle and family, Kaye, Charlene, Marion G., Valerie H., Millie, Mary, Rosier , Drema, Mary Jane, John, Louise and Mark, Jane, Claire. Marian, Carlos, Al, Margaret Franklin, Hallman family, Debbie, Lilli, Ollie, Linda, Wenona. The ministry of Cokesbury. Streetlight, Featherstone School students, teachers, staff, parents. People struggling with mental illness.
Prayer Shawls: You may have noticed the throws on the chairs in the narthex. These were made by our own Prayer Shawl ministry. These “shawls” represent prayer and hugs for people in need. If this describes you or yours, please take one.
Discernment: 859 Prayer
Townhall meetings today and May 7 th following worship.
Meeting to vote on Discovering the Possibilities recommendations. May 14 following worship
The Way of Discipleship
Growing in Grace through study:
Sundays following worship. The Deeply Formed Life by Rich Villodas
Growing in Grace through fellowship and more:
Welcome Table every Second Sunday 11:30 am. Come and share a meal and conversation.
Friday with Friends every Third Friday 11am in Narthex. Bring bag lunch.
Growing in Grace through intercessory prayer:
Prayer group meets Mondays at 5:30pm on Zoom. All are welcome to join in prayer. Please send or share prayer concerns with Pastor Gayle.
Growing in Grace through service:
A.C.T.S Food Pantry: Canned vegetables 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, dog food.
Featherstone School: personal hygiene products: toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, soap, shampoo, conditioner, brushes and combs. Small and medium size sweatpants in blue, gray or black
Hilda Barg Shelter See sign-up.
Growing in Grace through worship.
Weekly service Sundays at 10am.
Choir practice on Saturdays. Children at 2:30 pm every other week Adults and youth at 3pm every week.
Sign ups for Liturgists, Ushers, Greeters, Altar Care, Communion Steward, Worship banners.
English Language Ministry May 6th at 11am
Community Garden