Worship Bulletin
April 28, 2024
Gathering Music
Randall Fleer
Welcome
Rev. Michael Ware
Hymn of Praise
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
Joyful, joyful, we adore thee, God of glory, Lord of love;
hearts unfold like flowers before thee, opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, drive the dark of doubt away;
giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!
All thy works with joy surround thee, earth and heaven reflect thy rays,
stars and angels sing around thee, center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea,
chanting bird and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in thee.
Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blest,
well-spring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother--all who live in love are thine;
teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.
Prayer of Approach
Rev. Michael Ware
Easter Song Response
Alleluia, Alleluia! Give Thanks
Alleluia, alleluia! Give thanks to the risen Lord,
Alleluia, alleluia! Give praise to his name!
Come, let us praise the living God,
joyfully sing to our Savior.
Alleluia, alleluia! Give thanks to the risen Lord,
Alleluia, alleluia! Give praise to his name!
Time with Children
Rev. Kathryn Ray
Scripture Lesson
Acts 8:26-40
26 Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a wilderness road.) 27 So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it.” 30 So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. 32 Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this:
“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,
and like a lamb silent before its shearer,
so he does not open his mouth.
33 In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”
34 The eunuch asked Philip, “About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?" 37 And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he replied, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." 38 He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
Anthem
Jesus, Thy Boundless Love to Me
Chancel Choir
Sermon
The Spirit Leads
Rev. Michael Ware
Hymn of Response
Near to the Heart of God
There is a place of quiet rest
near to the heart of God,
a place where sin cannot molest,
near to the heart of God.
[Refrain:]
O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
sent from the heart of God,
hold us, who wait before thee
near to the heart of God.
There is a place of comfort sweet
near to the heart of God,
a place where we our Savior meet,
near to the heart of God. (Refrain)
There is a place of full release
near to the heart of God,
a place where all is joy and peace,
near to the heart of God. (Refrain)
Time of Prayer
Rev. Kathryn Ray
Receiving of Tithes and Offerings
Click here to give
Special Music
God So Loved the World
Chancel Choir
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise God all creatures here below,
Praise God above, ye heavenly host,
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost!
Randall Fleer
Welcome
Rev. Michael Ware
Hymn of Praise
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
Joyful, joyful, we adore thee, God of glory, Lord of love;
hearts unfold like flowers before thee, opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, drive the dark of doubt away;
giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!
All thy works with joy surround thee, earth and heaven reflect thy rays,
stars and angels sing around thee, center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea,
chanting bird and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in thee.
Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blest,
well-spring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother--all who live in love are thine;
teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.
Prayer of Approach
Rev. Michael Ware
Easter Song Response
Alleluia, Alleluia! Give Thanks
Alleluia, alleluia! Give thanks to the risen Lord,
Alleluia, alleluia! Give praise to his name!
Come, let us praise the living God,
joyfully sing to our Savior.
Alleluia, alleluia! Give thanks to the risen Lord,
Alleluia, alleluia! Give praise to his name!
Time with Children
Rev. Kathryn Ray
Scripture Lesson
Acts 8:26-40
26 Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a wilderness road.) 27 So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it.” 30 So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. 32 Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this:
“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,
and like a lamb silent before its shearer,
so he does not open his mouth.
33 In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”
34 The eunuch asked Philip, “About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?" 37 And Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he replied, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." 38 He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
Anthem
Jesus, Thy Boundless Love to Me
Chancel Choir
Sermon
The Spirit Leads
Rev. Michael Ware
Hymn of Response
Near to the Heart of God
There is a place of quiet rest
near to the heart of God,
a place where sin cannot molest,
near to the heart of God.
[Refrain:]
O Jesus, blest Redeemer,
sent from the heart of God,
hold us, who wait before thee
near to the heart of God.
There is a place of comfort sweet
near to the heart of God,
a place where we our Savior meet,
near to the heart of God. (Refrain)
There is a place of full release
near to the heart of God,
a place where all is joy and peace,
near to the heart of God. (Refrain)
Time of Prayer
Rev. Kathryn Ray
Receiving of Tithes and Offerings
Click here to give
Special Music
God So Loved the World
Chancel Choir
Doxology
Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise God all creatures here below,
Praise God above, ye heavenly host,
Creator, Christ, and Holy Ghost!
Hymn of Invitation
May the Grace of Christ our Savior
May the grace of Christ our Saviorand the Father's boundless love,
with the Holy Spirit's favor,
rest upon us from above.
Thus may we abide in union
with each other and the Lord,
and possess in sweet communion
joys which earth cannot afford.
Benediction
Rev. Michael Ware
Benediction Response
Three Fold Amen
Postlude
Randall Fleer
May the Grace of Christ our Savior
May the grace of Christ our Saviorand the Father's boundless love,
with the Holy Spirit's favor,
rest upon us from above.
Thus may we abide in union
with each other and the Lord,
and possess in sweet communion
joys which earth cannot afford.
Benediction
Rev. Michael Ware
Benediction Response
Three Fold Amen
Postlude
Randall Fleer