Worship Resources for
the Center for Faith and Giving
Easter 3
Acts 9:1-6, (7-20)
Psalm 30:2-13
Call to Worship (adapted from Revelation 5)
One: Gathered to praise God, let’s lift our voices!
Many: Together with every creature, we join to make a joyful noise:
to the One on the throne and to the Lamb,
One: Angels, living creatures and elders, let us honor the Living God!
Many: With strong voices, we offer blessing and honor and glory and might!
One: So we turn to prayer.
Opening Prayer
In this Easter season, Holy God, we celebrate with joy the resurrection life to which you call us in Jesus, the Christ. As we worship you today, and even in the days away from this gathered community, open us to the call of Jesus: “Follow me.”
With the words of our mouths, the thoughts of our hearts and the actions of our bodies, help us find ways to show your love, especially as we see it in the life, death, and lifting-up- to-eternal-life of our Lord.
Moment for Stewardship
In the last chapter of John’s Gospel, the resurrected Jesus appears to Simon Peter and the other disciples. Poignantly, Jesus speaks directly to the one who denied even knowing Jesus. Three times, Jesus asks, “Do you love me?”
Three times, Peter responds, “Yes!”
Each time, Jesus replies with a command.
The last one echoes down through the years: “Feed my sheep.”
Today, we’re invited to act out our love of Jesus Christ with financial gifts that may be translated into a variety of ways to “feed my sheep.” Our support definitely keeps the doors open and the lights on, but it also provides __________ (name two or three parts of this congregation’s ministry which are supported by the offering of treasure, time and talent).
Let us receive our morning tithes and offerings, symbols of our identity as followers/disciples of Jesus the Christ.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Generous God,
Please accept these offerings as symbols of our very lives. In the coming days, let our actions and this financial support show forth your love in this world of hunger and need.
Inspire us to generosity, and fill us with gratitude, so we might truly feed Jesus’ sheep. AMEN
Invitation to Communion (John 21:9-14)
Often when we come to this table, we recall Jesus and his disciples in an upper room. We’ve told the story of that night, walked with the disciples in the Garden, shared in the pain of Jesus’ crucifixion and the joy of Resurrection morn!
Today, however, we hear the simple telling of Jesus appearing to the disciples for the third time after he was raised from the dead.
Jesus once again offers food to the disciples.
In this last chapter of John’s Gospel, the disciples come to the beach after a long night of fishing. Delighted with the surprising number of fish caught, we can imagine their joy seeing Jesus preparing a feast of fresh fish and bread. Communion! “Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.”
As we share these gifts this morning, imagine what Jesus might offer us if he were appearing at this table! With open hearts, anticipate the feast he would provide for we who seek to follow him.
(Consider changing your communion, providing Goldfish crackers and bread with, or without, a cup of juice.)