For Sunday May 14, 2017
Year A, Fifth Sunday of Easter
Fifth Sunday of Easter :: White ::
Acts 7:55-60 ::Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16 :: 1 Peter 2:2-10 :: John 14:1-14
Editor’s Note: Today is Mothers’ Day. We have chosen not to write for it specifically in these resources knowing that most will honor the day in either the Pastoral Prayer, possibly the Sermon, or in some other part of the worship service. The lectionary does not mention Mothers’ Day, and so neither do we.
Call to Worship (Responsive)
Adapted from Psalm 31
L: In you, O LORD, I seek refuge
P: in your righteousness deliver us.
L: You are our rock and our fortress;
P: Lead us and guide us for your name’s sake.
L: Take us from the net that is hidden for us,
P: For you are our refuge.
L: Into your hand we commit our spirits;
P: For you have redeemed us, O LORD, faithful God.
Invocation:
Loving, Eternal, and Gracious God, we have come again to worship you. We know that each one present is hear at the call of your voice. We accept that none of us is here by accident. You have brought us together. Bless our time of worship, O God, and fill us with your Holy Spirit. Be with us in the breaking of the bread, the teachings, and the prayers. Guide and keep us, we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Stewardship Moment:
Jesus, speaking in the fourteenth Chapter of John, says: “Very truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.”
Together, our tithes and offerings do amazing works in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Together we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and visit the lonely. Together we provide clean water in Christ’s name. Together, we will now receive the gifts which make these great works possible.
Offertory Prayer:
Almighty and Everlasting God, we bring our gifts to glorify your name. We ask your blessing upon them, that they will produce great and lasting works. We offer them in the Name of Christ, By His grace, and for His sake.
Communion Meditation:
Peter reminds us who we are as we gather in the Name of Christ:
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Once you were not a people,
but now you are God’s people;
once you had not received mercy,
but now you have received mercy.
Come to the table and taste the fruits of the mercy of God.
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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