Worship Resources for
the Center for Faith and Giving
Easter 5C
Revelation 21:1-6
John 13:31-35
Call to Worship (inspired by Psalm 148)
One: We’re here to praise God!
Many: Yes! Praise the Lord!
One: God’s glory is above all creation,
Many: God’s faithful actions sustain us all.
One: From the pew and from the chancel, let us praise the Lord our God.
Many (sung): “Praise Ye the Lord, Hallelujah!”
(Consider using the scripture chorus “Praise Ye the Lord, Hallelujah!” as an opening hymn or as the completion of this call to worship. Can you sing it joyfully? Can you sing it with two groups, each singing one phrase: “Praise ye the Lord!” and “Hallelujah!”)
Opening Prayer
God of all times and all places,
we turn to you in this hour of worship, eager to offer you our praise.
We remember our ancestors in the faith, gathering in temples,
in the open fields, in underground catacombs.
We picture John’s vision of you, coming to dwell with mortals.
Thank you for your presence then and for your presence among us now.
Thank you for receiving our prayers, our hymns, our gratitude, our worship.
Open us to hear your Good News in this hour,
and to live it out each day
until the coming of your new heaven and new earth. AMEN
Moment for Stewardship (inspired by Acts 11:1-18)
Peter is one of my favorite Bible figures! Why?
Peter followed Jesus from early on, giving up his identity as a fisherman. Peter gave up his resistance when Jesus offered to wash his feet, blurting out, “Not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!” Following a dream which showed him “unclean” animals he could eat, it’s Peter who gives up his life-long discipline of eating only “clean” animals, as a way of opening faith life to those not called to follow Jewish food laws.
Peter responded to Jesus’ call to become a follower, and then grew to recognize Jesus’ call for him to build relationships with Gentiles as well as Jews.
Today, we’re invited to follow in Peter’s footsteps, not necessarily by leaving our work, nor changing our diets, but with our financial resources. Today it’s a marvelous time for each of us to reach deep into our wallets, tap our savings, share our set-aside resources, giving financial symbols of our whole lives as we receive our morning offering.
When we’re filled with the Holy Spirit, as Peter was, we’ll find ways to respond to this 21st century call, and come to see what God-inspired ministries can emerge from our shared resources.
Prayer of Thanksgiving (Inspired by Acts 11:1-18 & adapted from UMC Discipleship)
Generous and Ever-giving God,
we offer these gifts today in gratitude,
knowing you have given us so much more.
You gave your Son, Jesus, to us.
You offer the wonder of creation to meet our needs for food and shelter.
You provide your love to all.
You allow us to claim “the repentance that leads to life!”
Although our giving pales by comparison, we pray you will use these gifts and use each of us to build up your Realm on earth.
Amen.
Invitation to Communion
For many people here, this Table is a reminder of an old, old meal.
Old because it was Jesus who instituted what we now call “the Last Supper.”
Old because Christians have remembered Jesus in bread and wine for nearly 2000 years.
Old because some of us have shared communion from this Table for all the years (or decades!) of our lives.
Yet today, we come to hear the promise of a new thing.
In the book of Revelation, John declares,
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth…
and the one seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new” (Revelation 21:1, 5).
This meal anticipates the NEW thing God is doing!
So you are invited to participate today in a feast which comes like water pouring from a spring – the spring of the water of life.
Fresh! Clean! New!
For YOU.
Come, drink in the good draught!
It carries the promise of a new thing: “God with us.”