O brother sun with golden beam, O sister moon with silver gleam, sing praises! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

2 O brother wind with clouds and rain, you nurture gifts of fruit and grain. Alleluia! Alleluia! 

O sister water, flowing clear, make music for your Lord to hear. Sing praises! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

3 O brother fire, so warm and bright, chase off the shadows of the night. Alleluia! Alleluia!

Dear mother earth, who day by day unfolds such blessings on our way, sing praises! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

4 All who for love of God forgive, all who in pain or sorrow grieve, Alleluia! Alleluia! Christ bears your burdens and your fears; so, even in the midst of tears, sing praises! Alleluia!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

5 And you, most gentle sister death, waiting to hush our final breath: Alleluia! Alleluia! Since Christ our light has pierced your gloom, fair is the night that leads us home.

Sing praises! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

6 O sisters, brothers, take your part, and worship God with humble heart. Alleluia! Alleluia! All creatures, bless the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Three in One!

Sing praises! Alleluia!

WORDS OF WELCOME

ANNOUNCEMENTS   

ADORATION

CALL TO WORSHIP Psalm 148

ONE: Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord from the heavens;

    praise him in the heights!

MANY: Praise him, all his angels;

    praise him, all his host!

ONE: Praise him, sun and moon;

    praise him, all you shining stars!

MANY: Praise him, you highest heavens

    and you waters above the heavens!

ONE: Let them praise the name of the Lord,

    for he commanded and they were created.

MANY: He established them forever and ever;

    He fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.

ONE: LET EVERYTHING that breathes praise the Lord.

MANY:Praise the Lord!

PRAYER OF THE DAY 

Amazing God, in the victory of the resurrection, you make all things new.  Long ago you called your church to selfless, sacrificial, forgiving love.  Give us a spirit of openness that we might discern the new ways you are calling your church today. Through Christ we pray.  Amen.

HYMN [Blue#122][GTG#238] Thine Is the Glory

1 Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son;

endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won.

Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,

kept the folded grave-clothes where thy body lay.

Refrain:

Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son;

endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won.

2 Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb; 

lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom.

Let the church with gladness hymns of triumph sing,

for the Lord now liveth; death hath lost its sting. [Refrain]

3 No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of life!

Life is naught without thee; aid us in our strife.

Make us more than conquerors through thy deathless love;

bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above. [Refrain]  

REPENTANCE

CALL TO CONFESSION                                                                  

SILENT CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Holy God, you call us to love each other as you loved us.  But we don’t.  We crab about little things that don’t really matter, and we just don’t listen to those with whom we disagree on things that do matter. We don’t forgive our sisters and brothers, yet we expect to be forgiven immediately.  Please forgive us.  Remind us that You are always near, remind us of your sacrificial love.  Teach us to live in that love.  Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON                     

GLORIA PATRI [Blue#579] [GTG581]     

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.

THE WORD READ AND PROCLAIMED

1st SCRIPTURE Revelation 21:1-6

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. 

2nd  SCRIPTURE     John 13:31-35

When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” 

ONE: The Word of the Lord

MANY: Thanks be to God

SERMON  “A New Law”  Rev. Jan Condren

 RESPONSE     

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Apostle’s Creed

I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,  and in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

RECEIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY 

DOXOLOGY [GTG#609]

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Praise God, all creatures here below;

Praise God above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen

PRAYER OF DEDICATION

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND 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 [Blue #376][GTG#366] Love Divine, All Loves Excelling 

1 Love divine, all loves excelling, Joy of heaven, to earth come down, fix in us thy humble dwelling;

all thy faithful mercies crown.

Jesus, thou art all compassion; 

pure, unbounded love thou art;

visit us with thy salvation; enter every trembling heart.

2 Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit into every troubled breast; let us all in thee inherit;

let us find the promised rest.

Take away the love of sinning; Alpha and Omega be;

end of faith, as its beginning, set our hearts at liberty.

3 Come, Almighty, to deliver; let us all thy life receive;

suddenly return, and never, nevermore thy temples leave.

Thee we would be always blessing, serve thee as thy hosts above, pray, and praise thee without ceasing,

glory in thy perfect love.

4 Finish then thy new creation; pure and spotless let us be;

let us see thy great salvation perfectly restored in thee:

changed from glory into glory, 

till in heaven we take our place,

till we cast our crowns before thee, 

lost in wonder, love, and praise.

PARTING PRAYER   

 God of love, as we leave this place, show us how to love each other, so that our lives bring glory to you.  Show us how to love each other that the world might see it and know that we are your disciples. Show us how to glorify you in all that we do, and give us strength and courage to do it. Through Christ we pray.  Amen.

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

RESPONSE [Blue#108][GTG#246] Christ is Alive

 5 Christ is alive, and comes to bring good news to this and every age, till earth and sky and ocean ring

with joy, with justice, love, and praise.

POSTLUDE                                   

*Note: the hymn lyrics in the bulletin and on the projection screen are from the Glory To God Hymnal (© 2013 Westminster John Knox Press), which we are transitioning to. Words in the “Blue” Presbyterian Hymnal (© 1990) in your pew may differ slightly. The Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by Permission. All Rights Reserved.

You sent Jesus, our good shepherd, to gather us together. May we not wander from his flock, but follow wherever he leads us, listening for his voice and staying near him, until we are safely in your fold, to live with you forever; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

HYMN [Blue#][GTG#511] Come, Behold! The Feast of Heaven

1 Come, behold! the feast of heaven Alleluia!
has to mortal flesh been given. Alleluia!
Hear the Word of God declared: Alleluia!
“Come! the banquet is prepared.” Alleluia!

2 All is ready, come attend Alleluia!
as the Lord’s invited friend; Alleluia!

Come from north, west, south, and east; Alleluia!
celebrate the joyful feast. Alleluia!

3 All who trust in God belong Alleluia!
at this banquet with this throng. Alleluia!

Share the mystic holy food; Alleluia!
taste and see: the Lord is good. Alleluia!

4 As the Lord our God has willed, Alleluia!
here the hungry soul is filled; Alleluia!

Here the weary are refreshed. Alleluia!
All who share God’s feast are blessed. Alleluia!

REPENTANCE

CALL TO CONFESSION                                                                  

SILENT CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Mighty Redeemer, 

in raising Jesus from the grave, you shattered the power of sin and death. We confess that we remain captive to doubt and fear, bound by the ways that lead to death. We overlook the poor and the hungry, and pass by those who mourn; we are deaf to the cries of the oppressed, and indifferent to calls for peace; we despise the weak, and abuse the earth you made. Forgive us, God of mercy. Help us to trust your power 

to change our lives and make us new, that we may know the joy of life abundant given in Jesus Christ, the risen Lord.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON                     

GLORIA PATRI [Blue#579] [GTG581]     

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.

THE WORD READ AND PROCLAIMED

1st SCRIPTURE Acts 9:36-43

Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.” So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. Meanwhile he stayed in Joppa for some time with a certain Simon, a tanner.

2nd  SCRIPTURE     John 10:22-30   

At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.” 

ONE: The Word of the Lord

MANY: Thanks be to God

SERMON  “The Unseen Hand”  Rev. Dr. Martha Robson

 RESPONSE     

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Apostle’s Creed

I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,  and in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

RECEIVING OF TITHES AND OFFERINGS

OFFERTORY  Spring Song by Linda Spevacek

Duet sung by  Elder Sandy Cranfill & Elder Bill Bottomley

DOXOLOGY [GTG#609]

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Praise God, all creatures here below;

Praise God above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen

PRAYER OF DEDICATION

THE SACRAMENT OF THE HOLY COMMUNION

THE GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

ONE: The Lord be with you.

MANY: And also with you.

ONE: Lift up your hearts.

MANY: We lift them to the Lord.

ONE: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

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

ONE: …Therefore with all creation we sing your praise:

MANY: 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: … Great is the mystery of faith:

MANY: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again…

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

ONE: … The gifts of God for the people of God.

MANY: Thanks be to God.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION  

HYMN [Blue #467][GTG#625] O Lord My God (How Great Thou Art)

1 O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder

consider all the worlds thy hands have made,

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,

thy power throughout the universe displayed:

Refrain:

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee:

How great thou art! How great thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee:

How great thou art! How great thou art!

2 When through the woods and forest glades I wander

and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees,

when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur

and hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze: [Refrain]

3 And when I think that God, his Son not sparing,

sent him to die, I scarce can take it in,

that on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,

he bled and died to take away my sin: [Refrain]

4 When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation

and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!

Then I shall bow in humble adoration,

and there proclaim, “My God, how great thou art!” [Refrain] 

PARTING PRAYER   

Almighty God, bless your people. 

Give us your peace, your help, and your love, for we are the sheep of your pasture. Let us be united in your peace, one in the Body, one in the Spirit, and one in the hope of our calling, all through the gift of your endless grace. Amen.

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

RESPONSE [Blue#][GTG#324] For All the Faithful Women

For all the faithful women who served in days of old,

to you shall thanks be given; to all, their story told.

They served with strength and gladness

in tasks your wisdom gave. 

To you their lives bore witness, proclaimed your power to save.

POSTLUDE    For All the Faithful Women (based on tune NYLAND)                               

*Note: the hymn lyrics in the bulletin and on the projection screen are from the Glory To God Hymnal (© 2013 Westminster John Knox Press), which we are transitioning to. Words in the “Blue” Presbyterian Hymnal (© 1990) in your pew may differ slightly. The Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by Permission. All Rights Reserved.