Coffee Hosts:  Anne Spitzmiller and Irma Burton

ORDER OF WORSHIP

5th Sunday of Easter

May 6, 2007                                                                                                     10:00 a.m.

*Opportunities to stand

GREETINGS, CONCERNS OF THE CHURCH AND REGISTRY OF ATTENDANCE

PRELUDE                            “I Love to Tell the Story”                                      Fischer

BRINGING THE LIGHT OF CHRIST INTO THIS ROOM

*CALL TO WORSHIP

ALL:  (Hymn 104 Verse 1)  Christ is risen!  Shout Hosanna!  Celebrate this day of days!  Christ is Risen!  Hush in wonder:  All creation is amazed.  In the desert all surrounding, See, a spreading tree has grown.  Healing leaves of grace abounding Bring a taste of love unknown.

ONE:  Let everything that has being praise the Lord!

ALL:  Men and women alike, old and young together, praise the name of the Lord!

ONE:  We shall praise God’s name everywhere, for God’s glory is all around us!

ALL:  Let us set aside the daily concerns of life, and focus our attention on God!            (From Psalm 148)

*HYMN  118       “The Day of Resurrection!”

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE OF PARDON

Gracious God, guardian of our coming and going, of our moments of turmoil and seasons of reflection, our life is fragile.  We often abuse each other in our personal relationships, even as we abuse Your beautiful land.  Sharpen our sensitivies.  Stir in us a preference for listening rather than speaking, for tenderness rather than aggression, and for community rather than isolation.  Deepen for us the meaning of Christ’s resurrection, so we will embody His life in our own.

*SILENT PRAYER

*ASSURANCE OF GOD’S PARDON

*GLORIA PATRI (Hymn 579)

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be.

World without end! Amen, Amen.

RESPONSIVE READING                                                                         Psalm 146

READING FROM ACTS                                                                           Acts 11:1-18

READING FROM THE LETTERS                                                  Revelation 21:1-6

TIME WITH THE CHILDREN                                                          “Jesus Loves Me”

(Toddlers may go to the Nursery)

READING FROM THE GOSPEL                                                           Luke 5:17-26

SERMON           “Healing Stories:  The Paralyzed Man”              Rev. Ann LaMar

(Click this link to read the sermon)

*HYMN INSERT              “Healer of Our Every Ill”

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH

In life and in death we belong to God.  Through the grace of our Lord Jesus, Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, we trust in the one triune God, the Holy One of Israel, whom alone we worship and serve.  We trust in Jesus Christ, fully human, fully God.  Jesus proclaimed the reign of God:  preaching good news to the poor and release to the captives, teaching by word and deed and blessing the children, healing the sick and binding up the brokenhearted, eating with outcasts, forgiving sinners, and calling all to repent and believe the gospel.  Unjustly condemned for blasphemy and sedition, Jesus was crucified, suffering the depths of human pain, and giving his life for the sins of the world.  God raised this Jesus from the dead, vindicating his sinless life, breaking the power of sin and evil, delivering us from death to life eternal.   We believers in every time and place, we rejoice that nothing in life or in death can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord!   (10.1, 10.2, 10.6)

MINUTE FOR MISSION

PRESENTATION OF OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY                       “Trust in Jesus”                                          Kirkpatrick

*DOXOLOGY (Hymn 592) AND PRAYER OF DEDICATION

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER

INVITATION TO THE LORD'S TABLE

COMMUNION ANTHEM         “A Communion Invitation”                     Martin

GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

ONE:  The Lord be with you.

ALL:  And also with you.

ONE:  Lift up your hearts.

ALL:  We lift them to the Lord.

ONE:  It is right to give our thanks to the Lord our God.

ALL:  It is right to give our thanks and praise.

ONE:  It is truly right…sing to the glory of Your name.

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.

ONE:  You are holy…Great is the mystery of faith;

ALL:  Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.

ONE:  Gracious God…

THE LORD'S PRAYER

THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION

THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD (Hold the Bread until all are served)

THE COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE (Hold the Cup until all are served)

THE CLOSING PRAYER

*HYMN  514          “Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ”

*THE CHARGE AND THE BENEDICTION

*CARRYING THE LIGHT OF CHRIST INTO THE WORLD

*CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE

And the peace of God, that passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts, shall keep your minds on Jesus Christ.