SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY
3rd Sunday of Easter
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA)
Minister: The Reverend Aaron Ochart
Liturgist: Dennis McCrea
Please silence all phones and beepers.
Bold face indicates congregational participation.
GATHERING
WORDS OF WELCOME
PRELUDE
ADORATION
CALL TO WORSHIP (responsive) Luke 24:31–32
When Jesus speaks, our hearts burn within us;
our eyes are opened when he breaks the bread.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Holy Giver and Receiver of life, Your martyr, Stephen, shined with the light of your Holy Spirit. When his opponents took his life, he offered up his spirit to you, and prayed mercy for theirs. Make Stephen an example of faith and courage for all your followers, for the sake of the one who brought light and life to this world, Jesus Christ. Amen.
HYMN 119 “The Strife is O’er” Victory
1 The strife is o’er, the battle done,
The victory of life is won;
The song of triumph has begun. Alleluia!
2 The powers of death have done their worst,
But Christ their legions hath dispersed;
Let shouts of holy joy outburst. Alleluia!
CALL TO CONFESSION
SILENT CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison)
Almighty God, 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. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
GLORIA PATRI 579
PROCLAMATION
FIRST LESSON Luke 6:32-38
‘If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return.* Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.’
MESSAGE FOR THE CHILDREN “A Quiet Power” Julie Hebert
ANTHEM
“Sweet Are The Prayers of a Friend” Pepper Choplin
How sweet are the prayers of a friend.
How sweet are the prayers that are offered up by a friend who calls, calling up to heav’n, calling,
“Lord, come down, come down and bless again.”
Friends pray for healing,
they pray revealing the heavy burdens of our souls.
They pray for courage, unfailing courage, asking God to make us whole.
How sweet are the prayers of a friend. How sweet are the prayers that are offered up by a friend who calls, calling up to heav’n, calling,
“Lord, come down, come down and bless again.”
Friends pray us through troubles,
through all our struggles when life seems to fall, fall apart.
They pray us through grieving,
always believing our God can heal the broken heart.
How sweet are the prayers of a friend. How sweet are the prayers that are offered up by a friend who calls, calling up to heav’n, calling,
“Lord, come down, come down and bless again.”
Second Lesson Acts 6:1-11, 7:54-60
Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.” What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. …
When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen. But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died.
“The Joy and Impact of Giving” Dr. Raju and Ginny Thomas
RESPONSE
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Scots Confession 3.01
God We confess and acknowledge one God alone, to whom alone we must cleave, whom alone we must serve, whom only we must worship, and in whom alone we put our trust. Who is eternal, infinite, immeasurable, incomprehensible, omnipotent, invisible; one in substance and yet distinct in three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. By whom we confess and believe all things in heaven and earth, visible and invisible, to have been created, to be retained in their being, and to be ruled and guided by his inscrutable providence for such end as his eternal wisdom, goodness, and justice have appointed, and to the manifestation of his own glory.
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 420 “God of Grace and God of Glory” CWM Rhondda
God of grace and God of glory,
on the people pour thy power;
crown thine ancient church’s story,
bring her bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
for the facing of this hour,
for the facing of this hour.
2 Lo! the hosts of evil round us
scorn thy Christ, assail his ways!
Fears and doubts too long have bound us;
free our hearts to work and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
for the living of these days,
for the living of these days.
PARTING PRAYER St. Giles Cathedral (1637)
O Lord our God, you are always more ready to bestow your good gifts than we are to seek them. You are more willing to give than we desire or deserve. Help us so to seek that we may truly find, so to ask that we may joyfully receive, so to knock that the door of your mercy may be opened for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE “Mighty Maker of All” Rachel Sawyer