You can watch a recording of today’s service here.
If you are watching our live stream this morning, you are invited to find a candle, so that we can all light candles at the same time.
CALL TO WORSHIP (Thom Shuman, based on Psalm 98, 1 John 5:1-6, John 15:9-17)
We gather to worship the One who crafted creation out of chaos,
our cries of joy join the anthems of the universe.
We gather to lift our praise to the God who gives us voice,
we bring the songs that have echoed in our hearts all week long.
We gather as the children of God, our joy unbroken in God’s love.
young and old, tone deaf and perfect-pitched,
we lift the new, new songs of faith.
OPENING PRAYER (Thom Shuman, based on Psalm 98, 1 John 5:1-6, John 15:9-17)
You raise your hand and gently begin the concerto of creation: birds carry the melody while stars keep the beat; mountains dance in merriment and little children clap their hands with joy. Love’s Composer, our new songs are lifted to you.
The old, old song is made new in our hearts: Christ is Risen! Sing Alleluia! You invite us to sing to a world deafened by despair and haunted by the tunes of fear. Lord of the Dance, our new songs are lifted to you.
Believing we cannot carry a tune, we hesitate to join in the chorus of praise sung by all creation. So, you softly and gently hum the melody in our hearts until they burst with you, raising a rousing chorus of Amazing Grace. Music-making Spirit, our new songs are lifted to you. Amen.
CALL TO THANKSGIVING (PSALM 90)
With each new day, we sing a new song, a joyful noise for all the marvelous things God has done for us.
In the season of Easter, we use this moment in the service to offer up prayers of thanksgiving instead of prayers of confession. I invite you to join with me in our unison prayer of thanksgiving, followed by a time either for silent personal thanksgiving or to name your blessings out loud at home.
Let us pray. . .
Moment of silent prayer–people of God, what are you thankful for this week?
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING (Elsie Rempel)
Dear God, who sent your son Jesus to us,
We praise you for the power of your forgiving, life-giving love.
We thank you for raising Jesus from the dead.
We thank you for the wonderful gifts of forgiveness and salvation
that we can enjoy because of Jesus.
We thank you for the Bible, which has helped us see
how God’s love transformed the lives of Jesus’ first followers.
We thank you for the way your love transforms
our own lives and communities.
We love you and want to follow Jesus.
We see your love at work in…
Thank you for continuing to live in and around us.
Thank you that your love leads through suffering to joy.
Thank you that your love is stronger than death. Amen.
PRAYER FOR UNDERSTANDING (Jerry Andrews, Presbyterian Outlook)
Gracious God who has given us the rich and precious jewel of your holy Word, Assist us with your Spirit, that it may be written in our hearts to our everlasting comfort: to reform us, to renew us according to your own image, to build us up, and edify us into the perfect building of your Christ, sanctifying and increasing in us all heavenly virtues. Grant us this, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.
FIRST SCRIPTURE READING
JOHN 15:9-17 (NRSV)
Jesus said, ‘As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.
‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.
Consider:
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When do we love one another, as Jesus commanded? How do we show that love?
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Who do we struggle to love?
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Who needs your love?
HYMN Sing a New Song unto the Lord (Psalm 98)
music and lyrics by Daniel L. Schutte, 1972
©1972, 2008 Daniel L. Schutte (Published by OCP)
Used with permission under ONE LICENSE # 738214-A
Sing a new song unto the Lord;
let your song be sung from mountains high.
Sing a new song unto the Lord,
singing hallelujah!
Shout with gladness! Dance for joy!
O come before the Lord.
And play for God on glad tambourines,
and let your trumpet sound.
Sing a new song unto the Lord;
let your song be sung from mountains high.
Sing a new song unto the Lord,
singing hallelujah!
Rise, o children, from your sleep;
your Savior now has come.
He has turned your sorrow to joy,
and filled your soul with song.
Sing a new song unto the Lord;
let your song be sung from mountains high.
Sing a new song unto the Lord,
singing hallelujah!
Glad my soul for I have seen
the glory of the Lord.
The trumpet sounds; the dead shall be raised.
I know my Savior lives!
Sing a new song unto the Lord;
let your song be sung from mountains high.
Sing a new song unto the Lord,
singing hallelujah!
SECOND SCRIPTURE READING
Psalm 98
Sing a new song to the Lord,
who has done marvelous things,
whose right hand and holy arm have won the victory.
O Lord, you have made known your victory,
you have revealed your righteousness
in the sight of the nations.
You remember your steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel;
all the ends of the earth
have seen the victory of our God.
Shout with joy to the Lord, all you lands;
lift up your voice, rejoice and sing.
Sing to the Lord with the harp,
with the harp and the voice of song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
shout with joy before the king, the Lord.
Let the sea roar, and all that fills it,
the world and those who dwell therein.
Let the rivers clap their hands,
and let the hills ring out with joy before the Lord,
who comes to judge the earth.
The Lord will judge
the world with righteousness
and the peoples with equity.
You can listen to Pastor Leia’s sermon, “Sing a New Song,” here.
HYMN To God Compose a Song of Joy (Psalm 98)
lyrics by Ruth C. Duck, 1986 © Ruth Duck. Used by permission.
music by Edwin R. Taylor, 1987 © 1987 Edwin R. Taylor. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Used with permission under ONE LICENSE # 738214-A
To God compose a song of joy;
To God make melody,
Whose arm of strength does wondrous things,
Whose hand brings victory!
Before the nations God reveals
A just and righteous will,
Remembering in faithful love
The house of Israel.
In every corner of the earth,
God comes to save and free;
Break forth with shouts of holy joy;
All lands, make melody.
With trumpet, with the sound of horns,
With strings, yes, with the lyre,
With voices praise the sovereign God,
A lusty, joyous choir.
Let seas in all their fullness roar,
And people of all lands,
Let mountains join and shout for joy,
Let rivers clap their hands.
The God of justice comes to save;
Let earth make melody!
For God will judge with righteousness
And rule with equity.
HYMN O Sing to the Lord (Cantai ao Senhor)
music and lyrics by Gerhard M. Cartford
© 1982, 1986 Gerhard M. Cartford (admin. Augsburg Fortress)
Used with permission under ONE LICENSE # 738214-A
O sing to the Lord;
o sing God a new song!
O sing to our God; o sing to our God!
For God is the Lord,
and God has done wonders!
O sing to our God; o sing to our God!
So dance for our God,
and blow all the trumpets!
O sing to our God; o sing to our God!
O shout to our God,
who gave us the Spirit!
O sing to our God; o sing to our God!
For Jesus is Lord!
Amen! Alleluia!
O sing to our God; o sing to our God!
HYMN Come All You People (Uyai Mose)
music and lyrics by Alexander Gondo
arranged by John L. Bell
Arr. © 1994 WGRG, Iona Community (admin. GIA Publications, Inc.)
Used with permission under ONE LICENSE # 738214-A
Come all you people, come and praise your maker;
Come all you people, come and praise your maker;
Come all you people, come and praise your maker;
Come now and worship the Lord!
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE (Jerry Andrews, Presbyterian Outlook)
Loving God, look with love on your world that have so loved and do not grow weary in your love for us.
The nations are in uproar. Tensions mount; militaries arm and rearm. Open conflict—within and between nations—kills. Refugees languish far from home with no sure route of return. Communities are destroyed; families are broken. And the hatred of generations is passed to still another.
Send your Spirit to the nations. Diminish the fear and fighting. Establish the order within and between nations that offers mutual peace and makes for shared prosperity. Return the refugee to her home and the child to his father. And let that child raise children without hatred or suspicion.
The peoples are ailing. One virus has spread over the globe. Millions die; death tolls are daily and without interruption. Vaccines multiply, as do viral variants. Mistrust has grown among us and united efforts have suffered because of it. Lives are lost, individuals isolated, employment interrupted, resources strained.
Send your Spirit to the peoples. Heal the nations. Strengthen the medical workers and the caregivers. Abide with the lonely, supply the poor. Enter the home of those who are alone, and those in care facilities. Fill the cupboard of the unemployed and the courage of those who would employ them. Make this a time of reconciling the alienated and learning again how to trust and be trustworthy.
And wherever you send your Spirit, send us. Send us that we too may not grow weary of your world but ever so love it. In Christ’s name we pray the prayer he taught us:
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
HYMN Happy Day
music and lyrics by Ben Cantelon and Tim Hughes
©2006 Thankyou Music (Admin. Capitol CMG Publishing)
Used by Permission. CCLI License #3456351
The greatest day in history:
Death is beaten, You have rescued me
Sing it out, Jesus is alive
The empty cross, the empty grave
Life eternal, You have won the day
Shout it all, Jesus is alive
He’s alive and…
Oh happy day, happy day
You washed my sin away
Oh happy day, happy day
I’ll never be the same
Forever I am changed!
When I stand, in that place
Free at last, meeting face to face
I am Yours, Jesus You are mine
Endless joy and perfect peace
Earthly pain finally will cease
Celebrate, Jesus is alive!
He’s alive and…
Oh happy day, happy day
You washed my sin away
Oh happy day, happy day
I’ll never be the same
Forever I am changed
And oh what a glorious day
What a glorious way
That You have saved me
And oh what a glorious day!
What a glorious name!
And oh happy day, happy day
You washed my sin away
Oh happy day, happy day
I’ll never be the same
And oh happy day, happy day
You washed my sin away
Oh happy day, happy day
I’ll never be the same
Forever I am changed
INVITATION TO OFFERING (Jerry Andrews, Presbyterian Outlook)
In response to the love of God in God’s great gift to us in Jesus Christ, we give now our tithes and our offerings.
MORNING OFFERING
If you are able to, please consider mailing your offerings to the church (210 Smith Street) or dropping them off in the mail slot. Alternatively, there is a link at the top of this page that will take you directly to a secure page where you can make a one-time donation. We appreciate your generosity as we seek to continue our mission and ministry throughout the community during this difficult time.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION (Jerry Andrews, Presbyterian Outlook)
Without your love, Lord, we are nothing. Without your giving, we have received nothing. Without your gifts, we have nothing. Receive back these gifts of our love, that you may be always all to us. May our love grow even now as we give. We pray in Christ’s name. Amen.
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (FROM the Confession of Belhar)
We believe in one holy, universal Christian church, the communion of saints called from the entire human family.
We believe … that this unity of the people of God must be manifested and be active in a variety of ways;
- in that we love one another;
- that we experience, practice and pursue community with one another;
- that we are obligated to give ourselves willingly and joyfully to be of benefit and blessing to one another.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May God’s face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
May God’s countenance be lifted upon you and give you peace.
Sing a new song to the Lord,
no matter how off-key
no matter how good it sounds
no matter how niche the genre of music
no matter who sings with you
no matter how confident you are.
Sing a new song anyway, because each day is a new day
and each new day is a day that the Lord has made,
so let us see the reasons to rejoice and be glad.
From wherever you are, serve the Lord: Creator, Son, and Holy Spirit.
VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUR
If you are using this page to follow along with today’s worship service while it is being live streamed, please join us for virtual coffee hour! Turn on your video camera and join us after the benediction with THIS LINK. You could also join over the telephone by dialing (312) 626-6799 and entering the meeting code 146 874 134, followed by the password 075003. You can find other events throughout the week on our CALENDAR.