This Week in Worship
Prayer of Preparation
God of rock and roll, the rock is rolled away! The tomb is empty! Christ is Risen! We've come to celebrate the rolling stone and to ask you to roll the stone away in our lives to allow the resurrection of ourselves as new creations in Jesus Christ to come forth. Rattle and shake us this Easter morning! Amen!
Call to Worship
One: This is the Day!
All: Glorious day, resurrection day!
One: Empty tombs and renewed lives
All: This is God's doing.
One: So, rejoice --
All: Alleluia!
One: And sing --
All: Alleluia!
One: Be glad --
All: Alleluia!
One: For Christ is risen from the dead.
All: He is risen indeed
One: Alleluia!
All: Alleluia!
Easter Prayer
God of the morning light, God of Easter miracles, open our hearts to hear once again the story of love overcoming death, of joy drowning out sorrow, of hope emerging from despair. Bring Easter to this moment. Touch us. Fill us. Amen.
Scripture
Hymns
#232 "Jesus Christ Is Risen Today"
#197 "Hosanna, Loud Hosanna"
#246 "Christ is Alive!"
#233 "The Day of Resurrection"
April 5, 2015
Easter Sunday
Sermon by Reverend Kathryn Pyke
"New Life"
Prayer of Preparation
Lord Jesus, you come into our midst in the most mundane of circumstances. So, how much more do you reveal your presence and call on our lives when we put aside our desires and make ourselves available to your direction during this hour? Bless us who have gathered here this morning. Let us again hear your words of comfort, acceptance and call. Let us be changed for your purpose this hour. Amen.
Call to Worship
One: When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week... Jesus came and stood among the disciples and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they say the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit."
All: Let our rejoicing be heard far and wide as we witness to our belief in the Risen Lord.
Prayer of Invocation
We are still basking in the glory and joy of the Resurrection of Jesus, O God. The stone was rolled away! The "stones" which have trapped us - our worries, fears, anxieties, troubles of various sorts - need not threaten us. We pray that your power, that raised Jesus from the dead, will also raise us out of darkness and sorrow. Amen.
Scripture
Hymns
#388 "Come All You People"
#257 "The Risen Christ"
#240 "Alleluia, Alleluia! Give Thanks"
April 12, 2015
Sermon by Reverend Kathryn Pyke
"I'll Believe It When I See It"
Prayer of Preparation
Meet us, Lord, on the road to Emmaus, guide us on the path toward our destination, and renew our strength as we continue to walk and commune with you. Open our eyes, so we see the signs of your presence around us; open our hearts, so we may receive your peace and love, and empower us to pass on to others the grace you have shared with us so freely. Amen.
Call to Worship
One: For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
All: We need your presence on the long road, Lord; the road between fear and hope, the road between the place where all is lost and the place of resurrection. Like the disciples walking the road to Emmaus, we are in need of your company! Jesus, stand among us, in your risen power, let this time of worship be a hallowed hour.
Prayer of Adoration
Your light, Lord Jesus, is the only light we need as we travel through life's mystery. Your word the only voice we hear; that still small voice that leads us to the place where we should be. Your presence is the only company we need as we walk this narrow road. Your fellowship the warmth we crave to help us on our way. May the truth of Easter, the joy of Easter, and the blessings of Easter be with us this day and all days. Amen.
Scripture
Hymns
#267 “Come, Christians, Join to Sing”
#510 “We Gather Here in Jesus’ Name”
#747 “The Lord Now Sends us Forth”
April 19, 2015
Sermon by Reverend Kathryn Pyke
"We had hoped..."
Prayer of Preparation
Holy God, wake us up if we are asleep, calm the storm if we are overwhelmed, or hold us fast if we are running -- whatever it takes, open our hearts and minds to hear your voice as you speak a new and life-changing word to us. Because of Christ we pray, Amen.
Call to Worship
The Suffering Servant becomes the healing source. The stone rejected becomes hope's cornerstone. The Crucified One is raised to new life. The God of healing, hope and life is in our midst: Let us celebrate and worship our good God!
Prayer of Invocation
O Good Shepherd, You desire to guide all into safety, refreshment and peace. Meet us here today and fill us with your love, that we may look into your world with your loving knowledge, welcome our sisters and brothers with your joy, and offer our lives with your generosity as members of your beloved community: in your name we pray, Amen.
Hymns
#239 “Good Christians All, Rejoice and Sing”
#11 “Source and Sovereign, Rock and Cloud”
#327 “From All That Dwell Below the Skies”
April 26, 2015
Sermon by Reverend Kathryn Pyke
"Abundant Life"
May 3, 2015
Sermon by Reverend Kathryn Pyke
"Stand Up!"
Prayer of Preparation
Holy God, our gathering here may often seem normal or ordinary. We do this week after week. Yet, being in your presence should feel anything but ordinary. Orient our hearts to expect beautiful things from our meeting with you today. Allow us to lay aside distractions so that you alone may be our focus. Thank you for how you will change us by being in your presence together. Amen.
Call to Worship
People of God, look about and see the faces of those we know and love, a community of kindred hearts. People of God, look about and see the face of those we hardly know -- strangers, sojourners, forgotten friends, the ones who need an outstretched hand. People of God, look about and see all the images of God in me, in you, in each of us and in all the world God so loves. God's spirit shines for all to see. May our eyes, our hearts and our souls be open this day.
Prayer of Confession
God, we have come together here this day to hear your Word. May we listen carefully and with discerning ears. Help us to be open and truly receptive. Lord God, we hope that your Great Spirit will come into our lives and help us to respond as we move into greater paths of ministry and compassionate service. We pray, too, that this time of worship will renew our spirits and re-energize our lives as we follow our risen Lord. In the Lord of resurrection, we pray. Amen.
Hymns
#633 Praise Ye the Lord
#498 Loaves Were Broken, Words Were Spoken
#747 The Lord Now Sends us Forth
May 10, 2015
Sermon by Reverend Kathryn Pyke
"Opening to God"
Prayer of Preparation
Holy Spirit, guide our worship. Guide our words, our songs, our postures, our thoughts and our prayers. Let everything that is of God fill this place and anything that is of us diminish. Remove our pride, our agendas and our misguided intentions so that only you and your purposes remain. Amen.
Call to Worship
One: Sing praise to our Easter God:
All:Who changed sadness into joy;
One: who took the tears of the night
All: And dried them in the morning light;
One: Who rolled away the stone of despair
All: And placed hope forever in the air;
One: Who visits us beside our seashore
All: Teaching us always to love and adore.
Prayer of Confession
Gracious God, the excitement and joy of this day surround us. Help us remember that it is not our own doing that brings us here, but only your grace and love. Your love has surrounded us from our birth, even when we have not seen it. Your love has been present in your word and in the words and acts of others. For this we give you thanks. Teach us to walk gently in your path of love, seeking justice, making peace, cherishing the earth and one another. Enliven our imaginations that we can see through present ills to future newness. Embolden us with your love that we may live now as if the new had already come. In joy we offer you our praise. Amen.
Scripture
Hymns
#401 Here in This Place
#375 Shall We Gather at the River
#720 Jesus Call Us
May 17, 2015
Sermon by Reverend Kathryn Pyke
"Left Behind?"
Prayer of Preparation
O Christ, the Risen One, ascended into heaven, yet closer than our own breath, draw us into your presence. Be near to us — near to our praises, our prayers, our words, our songs; near to our wonderings, our tentative answers, our hidden doubts, our deepest affirmations. Be near to us, Risen Lord. Amen.
Call to Worship
We gather in this place,
some empty, some filled,
some whole, some broken:
yearning for the Holy Spirit to fill us.
We come, with these ordinary people,
who have shown us the way:
trusting that God will continue
to illumine our hearts.
We surround the Table of Grace
so we might be fed by the Bread of Life:
that graced, we may serve others;
that healed, we may bring hope to the world
Prayer of Confession
Resurrected Savior, Savior of new life and new hope, we come to you in humble prayer and joyous song, for Easter has changed our lives. We are no longer frightened people - because you live, we have courage to face life and to face death. We are no longer lonely people - because you live, we can accept ourselves and reach out to each other. We are no longer scattered people - because you live, we may come together to worship and to witness in our weakness and our strength, in the presence of your reign among us and the promise of your reign to come. Amen.
Hymns
#263 “All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name”
#276 “Sing a New Song unto the Lord”
#268 “Crown Him with Many Crowns”
Archive - Eastertide 2015