Sunday May 6, 2018
Year B, Sixth Sunday of Easter
Sixth Sunday after Easter :: White ::
Acts 10:44-48 :: Psalm 98 :: I John 5:1-6 :: John 15:9-17
Call to Worship (Responsive)
Adapted from Psalm 98
L: O sing to the LORD a new song, for the LORD has done marvelous things.
P: Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;
L: Break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
P: Sing praises to the LORD with the Lyre, the trumpets, and the horn.
L: For the LORD is coming to judge the earth.
P: And the LORD will judge with righteousness.
Invocation:
O God of many names: Sustainer, Redeemer, Friend; Creator, Mother and Father to us all; we come before you to worship. Meet us in this place. Guide our hearts and minds. Teach us of your love for each one, and help us to love one another. Make the light of Christ shine brightly in our hearts and lives, for we come in the name of Christ our Lord.
Stewardship Moment:
The Gospel reading today tells of Jesus Commandment to “love one another as I have loved you.” I find that a daunting task. Jesus loved us by laying down his life, forever atoning for sin. I cannot do that. I think what he means is to love sacrificially: truly giving of ourselves to others. One of the ways we can do so is through our gifts to God. When we bring our tithes and offerings, and do so out of love for all that God will do with them, we begin to fulfill Christ’s command. We will now receive the tithes and offerings: sacrificial signs of our love for God and One another.
Offertory Prayer:
O God whose giving knows no ending. We come before you today offering you signs of our love for you, and our love for one another. Take these gifts and use them for the furthering of your reign on earth. We ask your blessing upon all of these gifts and those who have brought them in the name of Christ our Lord. Amen.
Communion Meditation:
John 15:15 says: “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.” This table, like a dinner table in a home or restaurant, is a place for friends to gather. To support each other, encourage each other, remember, and to dream. Come to the table as a friend of Christ and friends to each other.
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Scripture Quotations from the New Revised Standard Version. Online Scripture links a service of the Jean and Alexander Heard Divinity Library, of Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN. Check out all of the awesome resources there at http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu