St. John’s United Church of Christ
Sunday, April 21, 2024
Fourth Sunday of Easter/Graduation Sunday
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 “The King of Love My Shepherd Is” arr. Dale Wood
- Sue Hardwick, Organist
- WELCOME Penny Kindle, Liturgist
OPENING PRAISE AND WORSHIP “This is Amazing Grace”
Lyric Video
*GATHERING PRAYER AND ADORATION
One: The Lord Jesus Christ is our shepherd.
All: He lays down his life for his sheep.
One: The Lord Jesus Christ is our shepherd.
All: He knows us, and we belong to him.
One: The Lord Jesus Christ is our shepherd.
All: He speaks, and we listen for his voice.
*CALL TO CONFESSION
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION
All: Lord, have mercy on us. We talk about love, but our actions betray us. We talk about love, but we neglect the poor. We talk about love, but we fail to love one another. Lord, have mercy on us. Forgive us and abide in us by the power of your Spirit so that our lives may show our love for Jesus Christ, in whose body we live and in whose name we pray. Amen.
(Moment of Silent Personal Confession)
*DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
*PASSING OF CHRISTIAN PEACE
HONORING OUR GRADUATES (see pages 5, 6)
PASTORAL PRAYER (Prayers of Intercession)
One: We pray for the church in every place. Gather us together and make us one, one in ministry and mission to the world, so that there will be one flock, one shepherd.
All: God of goodness and mercy, hear our prayer.
One: We pray for the nations of the world. Anoint all leaders with your wisdom so that they will use their power to help the poor and defend the vulnerable.
All: God of goodness and mercy, hear our prayer.
One: We pray for this community. Strengthen those who work each day to heal the sick, welcome the outcasts, and help sisters and brothers in need.
All: God of goodness and mercy, hear our prayer.
One: We pray for friends and loved ones. Comfort all who are suffering; walk with them through dark valleys and restore them, body, mind, and soul.
All: God of goodness and mercy, hear our prayer.
PASTORAL PRAYER (Prayers of Intercession)
THE LORD’S PRAYER (“debts” and “debtors”)
*HYMN OF PREPARATION “In the Garden” P. 300
SCRIPTURE READING
Acts 4:5-12 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Peter and John before the Council
5 The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7 When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are being asked how this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. 11 This Jesus is ‘the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.’
12 “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.”
MESSAGE “Defying Authority” Pastor Jeremy
*HYMN OF RESPONSE “Now the Green Blade Rises” P. 311
GIFTS OF GOD’S PEOPLE
- Call to Sharing
- *Doxology
- *Dedicating our Gifts (In Unison)
Gracious God, we give you thanks that you have shown us the meaning of love through Jesus Christ, who gave his life for us. Show us how to share Christ’s love by giving our lives for one another; to the glory of your holy name. Amen.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
*PASTORAL BENEDICTION
*CONGREGATIONAL BENEDICTION “Emmanuel . . .” P. 178
*POSTLUDE “This Joyful Eastertide” Oudaen’s David’s Psalmen
*Please stand if you are able.
ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 2024
April 14—attendance: 41 persons; offering: $1469.00;
The flowers are presented to the glory of God in recognition of graduates. May God’s blessings rest upon them as they begin a new journey.
TODAY we celebrate graduates who are related to the grandparents of our church members. The list is on pages 5 and 6.
Vacation Bible School at Bluffton Family YMCA, July 21-25. Paper towels needed; basket in back of sanctuary for donations.
Time Change for Worship Begins May 5 and continues through August 25. Worship – 10:30 a.m., Sunday School – 9:30 a.m.
May Events:
May 5:–Time change: 10:30 a.m. worship; 9:30 a.m. Sunday School
May 12–Mother’s Day—Worship 10:30 a.m., Alex Rose, special music; Holy Communion; coffee hour; bring plantings for outdoors
May 19—Pentecost—Worship 10:30 a.m.; Work Day; Strengthen the Church offering; pizza party
May 26—Joint service at Emmanuel, 10:30 a.m.; carry-in lunch
Activities at St. John’s this Week:
Wednes., April 24—Men at Arby’s, 8:30 a.m.
Women at Arby’s, 9:30 a.m.
TOPS, 3:30 p.m.
Prayer List:
Joe Davies Jodi Diller Pebbles Wireman
St. John’s 2024 Graduates
Kayden Basil graduates from Rhodes State College on May 4.
Megan and Jeremiah Weyer are Kayden’s parents, and Annette Phillips is Kayden’s grandmother. Mary Coletta is the great-grandmother.
Kyle Basil will graduate from Bluffton High School on May 25. Kyle’s parents are Megan and Jeremiah Weyer. Annette Phillips is Kyle’s grandmother, and Mary Coletta is the great-grandmother.
Garret Bogart will graduate from Bluffton High School and plans to attend Defiance College to pursue a major in Business Finance and also to play football. He is the son of Nathan and Brandi Bogart. Tom and Anita Bogart are his grandparents.
Gavin Bogart will graduate from Bluffton High School and plans to attend either Bowling Green State University or Ohio State University to major in Finance. His parents are Nathan and Brandi Bogart. Tom and Anita Bogart are his grandparents.
Brennan Davies will graduate from the University of Findlay with a degree in Strength and Conditioning. He is the son of Mac and Cara (Young) Davies. Ed and Nancy Yeager are his grandparents.
Branden Donges will graduate from Heidelberg University with a degree in Business. Ken and Jenny (Bogart) Donges are his parents, and Tom and Anita Bogart are Branden’s grandparents.
Ashley Eachus will graduate from Bluffton University with a degree in Middle Childhood Education. Her parents are Tom and Kim Eachus. Bob and Pam Everett are Ashley’s grandparents.
Lanie Faith Kempf graduates from Cory Rawson High School and plans to attend Ohio Northern University where she will pursue a degree in Nursing. She is the daughter of Jarod and Kari Kempf. Her grandparents are Larry and Connie Kempf and Joe and Denise Cheney.
Avery Sue Kotchounian will graduate from Westerville North High School on May 25. She will continue her education at either Otterbein University or Ohio State University where she will major in Zoology.
Luke Murray will graduate from Bluffton High School and plans to attend the University of Cincinnati where he will major in Cyber Security. Ben and Mariena Murray Nye are Luke’s parents, and John and Ann Nye are his step-grandparents.
Ben Shanaman will graduate from Belleville High School and plans to pursue a degree in Criminal Justice at Bowling Green State University, Firelands campus. Carol (Rock) and Stephen Shanaman are his parents, and Shirley Rock is his grandmother
For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Jeremiah 29:11 NRSV
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