This Week in Worship

Facebook Live Worship - Sunday at 10:00

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April 16, 2017                                                                                                                    Worship Notes

Easter Sunday - 10 a.m. service

Sermon by Reverend Kathryn Pyke

"I Have Seen the Lord"

Prayer of Preparation

Holy God, as once long ago you turned a gray dawn into a springtime alleluia,

so come to us this morning and turn our sadness into joy.

Call us by our own names and lead us back to the land of the living.

Come, risen Christ, surprise us with your grace.   Amen.

Call to Worship

One: We are not eyewitnesses to an event, as were Mary and the disciples;

we have not journeyed through a dangerous city to seek answers or consolation;

we have not seen angels gathering at the rim of this day,

or wept in the garden this morning because we could not find Him.

But we are here to attest to a story that has not lost its power during twenty centuries of change and conflict.  We are here because those before us carried this story as if it were precious gold; cherished it as if it were the key to a hidden wisdom.

Sisters and brothers in Christ, take your places here today in celebration and in awe.  What you are about to hear again, has the capacity to change the world. Your very presence attests

to the rising up of life from the tomb of despair, and to the uncontrollable power of God.  It is Easter morning again, and we will celebrate.

All: Christ is Risen Indeed!   Alleluia! Amen.

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.

April 16, 2017                                                                                                                    Worship Notes

Easter Sunday Sunrise Service

Meditation by Reverend Kathryn Pyke

Call to Worship

One: At the break of dawn, a bird sings.

All: The long night of darkness is over.

One: The stone is rolled away.

All: The tomb is empty.  

One: The sun begins to shine.

All: The Son has risen!

One: It’s a morning of glory,

All: Of love overcoming death,

One: Of women spreading Good News,

All: Of men turning from despair.

One: It’s a morning of joy.

All: For Easter has come again.

One: Love is stronger than death,

All: And we lift our voices in song.

Easter Prayer

Holy God, in the stillness of the dawn, with the sounds of nature awakening, open our ears and awaken our hearts that doubt might be rolled away and the bright light of Easter joy dawn within us and all around us. Today we celebrate the Risen Lord! Amen.

Easter Litany

One: Deep within ourselves we yearn to live fully each day.  

All: Deep within ourselves we hope death leads us into eternal life.  

One: Thank God for Jesus of Nazareth who faithfully followed his inner voice all the way through death into resurrection.

All: We appreciate God’s presence then and now.  

One: In life and in death, we are God’s people; body and soul, we care about the earth and our neighbors.  

All: We are carried through dark places into bright ones, and we learn to practice divine peace.  

One: Christ is alive in our minds and in our senses!

All: Alleluia!  Alleluia, Alleluia! Give thanks to the living Christ! Alleluia, Alleluia! Give praise to our God.

Prayer of Preparation

Holy God, we come this morning eagerly anticipating your presence.

We seek to know you, to see you, to touch you.

Open our hearts, that we might experience you anew.

Open our lives, that we may be faithful witnesses to your resurrection.

Amen.

Call to Worship

One: Christ is risen!

All: Now what?

One: The disciples clung to each other. They huddled in the upper room, waiting.

All: Would the authorities come to take them, too?

One: Instead, Jesus himself appeared, despite the locked door.

All: What next?

One: Next came doubts and questions, assurances and instructions, and a last word:

All: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

One: Christ is risen! Now what?

All: Now we come together to wait for him.

One: May the risen Christ bless us as we worship what we have not seen, yet believe.

Prayer of Invocation

Lord, sometimes we find ourselves behind locked doors, in lonely rooms of our own making. Just as the disciples, fearful, remained behind closed doors, we too are afraid, perhaps for many different reasons, and we need the breath of the Holy Spirit to lift away our fears. May the walls come down, and may we come out, into the Light.

     (Silence)

Lord, we are like Thomas with our questions and our doubts. We sometimes need to see in order to believe, we need you in order to have faith.

(Silence)

Lord, we too need the peace you bring because our world is fraught with violence, and unrest.

(Silence)

Lord, just as Thomas confessed you are his Lord and his God, we boldly claim you for our lives.

Response Hymn #240

Preparation for the Word Hymn #459

April 23, 2017                                                                                                                    Worship Notes

Sermon by Reverend Richard Pyke

"I Doubt It"

Prayer of Preparation

God, we recognize that, apart from you, our worship is meaningless.

We can sing with the most beautiful voices or speak with unmatchable eloquence, but if you are not our focus, all of this is worth nothing. We thank you for giving us voices to sing and speak.

Fill us with you as we worship today.  Keep our hearts set always and only on you.  We want to celebrate your greatness today, God – to bring glory to you and you alone. Lead us as we worship.

Call to Worship

One: We gather to celebrate and joyfully sing to our God! Together, let us share our praises and thankfulness. Come, let us enter into this sacred space with praise.

All: You O God, are the Holy God always and forever! You are the Eternal One from whom all things come. Come, let us enter into this sacred space with thanks.

One: O God, we are your children, created by and with your love. Come, let us enter into this sacred space with joy and delight.

Prayer of Invocation

Creator God, in praise and adoration our spirits dance before you today. You have created this wondrous universe and all the magnificent things within it. You have blessed us with so much throughout our lives, even to this day of praise and thanksgiving. Let our spirits soar! Let our hearts sing boldly of your wondrous love. We celebrate your love and presence with us, and it is in the name of your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, that we offer this prayer. Amen.

Response Hymn #240

Preparation for the Word Hymn #459

April 30, 2017                                                                                                                   Worship Notes

Reflection by Elder Tamra Hollenbeck

"How Can I Keep From Singing?"

Prayer of Preparation

Thank you, loving God, for this time of worship. Refresh us and heal us again.  Remind us of the many ways by which you have blessed our lives with your abundant love and presence.  Guide our hearts and spirits that we may hear your words and that our souls may be stirred into loving service to your people. In the name of the Good Shepherd, who leads us to life, we pray.  Amen.

Call to Worship

One: We gather together to worship God, the Shepherd of our souls.

All: The one who has created us, who sustains us, who redeems us, who walks beside us in good times and bad, and who calls us to follow.

One: This is our God!

All: Let’s worship God together!

Prayer of Confession

Lord, we would follow you wherever you might lead. Lord, we would follow you.

     (silence)

Forgive us when we stumble and when we stray. Forgive us when, distracted, we lose our way.

     (silence)

Be the one to whom we turn, whose hand we hold, the Shepherd who leads us safely to the fold.

     (silence)

Lord, we would follow you wherever you might lead. Lord, we would follow you.

Assurance of Forgiveness

Hear the good news: Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation. The old life is gone; a new life has begun. Friends, believe the gospel: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven!  Thanks be to God!

Response Hymn #240

Preparation for the Word Hymn #459

May 7, 2017                                                                                                                     Worship Notes

Celebration of Holy Communion

Sermon by Reverend Cal Chinn

"What's In a Name?"

Prayer of Preparation

Be silent.

Be still, alone empty, before your God. Say nothing. Ask nothing. Be silent. Be still. Let your God look upon you. That is all. God knows. God understands.

God loves you with an enormous love. God wants only to look upon you with love.

Quiet.

Still.

Be.

Call to Worship

One: O God, you are the gathering one who calls us into community with one another; to love and work, to support and heal.

All: You are the gathering one who calls us into community with all people; to bring justice and hope, freedom and truth.

One: You are the gathering one who calls us into community with the whole creation; to live in harmony, to cherish and renew.

All: Let us worship the God who makes us one.

Morning Prayer

Holy God, we come to you seeking greater meaning in our lives, greater purpose in our work, greater hope in our world. Call us into relationship with our brothers and sisters who differ from us; seeking out those whose world experiences and viewpoints challenge our own. Help us see you, God, reflected by their faces. By your ways of love, call us to share our lives with others. Guide us, not just lending a helping hand, but reaching out, getting to know our brothers and sisters in Christ, loving our neighbors as ourselves. Amen.

Response Hymn #240

Preparation for the Word Hymn #459

May 14, 2017                                                                                                                 Worship Notes

Sermon by Reverend Kathryn Pyke

"Finding God in the Middle of Nowhere"

Prayer of Preparation

Miraculous God, come to us now,even as your Son came to those first disciples on the shores of Galilee. Speak your peace to our hearts. Touch us with your Holy Spirit. Reveal your word, that we may hear your message this day, and live as your disciples.  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, come among us, speak to us, and fill us with your presence.

Morning Prayer

Your light, Lord Jesus, is the only light we need as we travel through life's mystery.

     (silence)

Lord, your word is the only voice we hear, that still small voice that leads us to the place where we should be.  

     (silence)

Lord, 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.

     (silence)

May the truth of Easter, the joy of Easter, and the blessings of Easter be with us this day and all days.  Amen.

Response Hymn #240

Preparation for the Word Hymn #459

May 21, 2017                                                                                                                 Worship Notes

Sermon by Reverend Kathryn Pyke

"Called to Witness"

Prayer of Preparation

We gather for worship in this sacred space

away from the noise and busy demands of our every day.

Open your heart to receive the peace of the Lord and let your soul be still.

Call to Worship

One: This new day is fresh with possibility to encounter the Living Christ.

All: With bright eyes, let us search.

One: This new day is fresh with possibility to understand the Living Christ.

All: With engaged minds, let us ponder.

One: This new day is fresh with possibility to be moved by the Living Christ.

All: With compassionate hearts, let us feel.

One: This new day is fresh with possibility to respond to the Living Christ.

All: With solid devotion, let us follow.

One: This new day is fresh with possibility to serve the Living Christ.

All: With humble intention, let us act.

One: This new day is fresh with possibility to praise the Living Christ.

All: With strong voices, let us sing.

Morning Prayer

As we enter into conversation with you, loving God, we confess there are times when we choose not to receive you.

     (silence)

Lord, instead, we turn away, thinking we have control over events, mistakenly thinking we have control over the people in our lives.

     (silence)

Lord, we acknowledge that there are times we would like to receive you ... but truthfully, in distraction, we believe we have too much to do; that we cannot stop, or change direction, or seek comfort by following you.

     (silence)

Lord, wake us up! Alert us to the preciousness of each day and each moment, for these moments will not come again. Awakened now to your presence, we lift our voices in praise.

Response Hymn #240

Preparation for the Word Hymn #459

May 28, 2017                                                                                                                 Worship Notes

Sermon by Reverend Kathryn Pyke

"The Way of Life"

Archive - Easter 2017