Bulletin for Sunday, May 7, 2023

St. John’s United Church of Christ

Sunday May 7, 2023

Fifth Sunday of Easter

223 West College Avenue, Bluffton, OH  45817

Rev. Jeremy Mann (419-420-5052) Church (419-358-5641)

Email:  blufftonstjohnsucc@gmail.com

Website:  www.blufftonstjohns.com

No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey,

you are welcome here!

PRELUDE  “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name”               Diane Bish

                                                                   Barbara Plaugher, Organist

WELCOME                                                      Penny Kindle, Liturgist

OPENING PRAISE AND WORSHIP        “I See Grace”

Lyric Video Micah Tyler

*GATHERING PRAYER AND ADORATION

One:   Let us offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God,

           Through Jesus Christ our risen Lord.

All:     Alleluia! Thanks be to God!

*CALL TO CONFESSION

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION*

All:      Almighty God, your word offers freedom from sin, but we confess that we have not obeyed your word.  We have harbored malice toward our enemies; we have been deceitful in our relationships; we have been insincere in our commitments; through gossip we have slandered our friends.  Forgive us our sins and lead us to genuine repentance.  Help your children long for your pure, spiritual milk that we may grow into the joy of salvation through Jesus Christ.  Amen.

           (Moment of Silent Personal Confession)

*DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS

*PASSING OF CHRISTIAN PEACE

PASTORAL PRAYER (Joys and Concerns)

One:   For the church throughout the world, that all who profess to honor the risen Lord may be faithful in their witness and courageous in their testimony to the way of Jesus;

All:     God of resurrection, hear our prayer.

One:   For pastors, teachers and ministers, that by the power of the Holy Spirit, they may seek to build the church upon Christ, the cornerstone, and humbly lead in faithful service;

All:     God of resurrection, hear our prayer.

One:   For the governments of the world and its leaders, that the nations may dwell in peace, that good will prevail over strife, and people of faith may freely worship as their hearts direct;

All:     God of resurrection, hear our prayer.

One:   For rain and sun in proper measure, and for abundant food and water for all who dwell upon the earth;

All:     God of resurrection, hear our prayer.

One:   For the sick and those in need, and for any who are oppressed by wounds of the soul;

All:     God of resurrection, hear our prayer.

One:   For our neighbors that we may live together in amity, and that strangers among us may find us to be

hospitable friends;

All:     God of resurrection, hear our prayer.

One:   For our enemies, that their sins may be forgiven them and that they may find your peace;

All:     God of resurrection, hear our prayer.

THE LORD’S PRAYER (“debts” and “debtors”)

*HYMN OF PREPARATION  

“The Church’s One Foundation”         P. 544

SCRIPTURE READINGS

John 14:1-14 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

Jesus the Way to the Father

14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. ² In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. ⁴ And you know the way to the place where I am going.” ⁵ Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” ⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

⁸ Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” ⁹ Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. ¹¹ Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, but if you do not, then believe because of the works themselves. ¹² Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. ¹³ I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

MESSAGE                “Where are you going?”           Pastor Jeremy

*STATEMENT OF FAITH  “Apostle’s Creed”

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.  I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.  On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.  I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.  Amen.

*HYMN OF RESPONSE  “Grace Greater than Our Sin”          P. 353

GIFTS OF GOD’S PEOPLE

• Call to Sharing
• Dedicating our Gifts (In Unison)

            Almighty God, receive the gifts we bring in gratitude for your astounding goodness.  Make our lives to be an acceptable offering in union with our risen Lord, who lives and reigns with you forever.  Amen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

*PASTORAL BENEDICTION

*CONGREGATIONAL BENEDICTION  “Sent Forth…”   P. 712                                                            (Vs. 1)

*POSTLUDE “Praise the Lord! Ye Heavens, Adore Him” 

                                                                                    John Peterson

Advertisement