Fourth Sunday of Easter
CONTEMPORARY WORSHIP SERVICE
GATHERING IN GOD’S PRESENCE
MUSIC FOR GATHERING AND CENTERING
Allow the music being offered to help you find your center, to acknowledge God’s presence, and to allow yourself time and space to open your mind and heart to the Spirit of God moving among us this day.
OPENING MUSIC
Ren Geisick, Director
The Worship Team
“Trading My Sorrows”
~ Darrell Evans
WORSHIP IN SONG
The Worship Team
“Lead on Good Shepherd”
~ Frankie Orella, Patrick Mayberry, and Paul Duncan
INVITATION TO WORSHIP
*WORSHIP IN SONG
The Worship Team
“Lead on Good Shepherd” (Reprise)
~ Frankie Orella, Patrick Mayberry, and Paul Duncan
OPENING PRAYER
Pastor Daniel F. Diss
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Pastor Daniel
TIME FOR YOUNG CHRISTIANS
Before leaving for Kid’s Church & Sunday School, our students are invited to join Pastor Daniel at the front for a time of learning together. Parents are asked to escort children to their classroom and to pick-up their children following the service. Please sign your children in and out. Thank you.
LISTENING FOR THE WORD
SCRIPTURE READING
Gail Hybarger
1 John 3:16-24 (CEB)
This is how we know love: Jesus laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. But if someone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but refuses to help—how can the love of God dwell in a person like that?
Little children, let’s not love with words or speech but with action and truth. This is how we will know that we belong to the truth and reassure our hearts in God’s presence. Even if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts and knows all things. Dear friends, if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have confidence in relationship to God. We receive whatever we ask from him because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. This is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love each other as he commanded us. Those who keep his commandments dwell in God and God dwells in them. This is how we know that he dwells in us, because of the Spirit he has given us.
Reader: This is the Word of God for you people of God.
ALL: Thanks be to God.
WORSHIP IN SONG
The Worship Team
“I am the Resurrection”
~ Ray Rep
SCRIPTURE READING
Gail Hybarger
John 10:11-18 (CEB)
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. When the hired hand sees the wolf coming, he leaves the sheep and runs away. That’s because he isn’t the shepherd; the sheep aren’t really his. So the wolf attacks the sheep and scatters them. He’s only a hired hand and the sheep don’t matter to him.
“I am the good shepherd. I know my own sheep and they know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. I give up my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that don’t belong to this sheep pen. I must lead them too. They will listen to my voice and there will be one flock, with one shepherd.
“This is why the Father loves me: I give up my life so that I can take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I give it up because I want to. I have the right to give it up, and I have the right to take it up again. I received this commandment from my Father.”
Reader: This is the Word of God for you the people of God.
ALL: Thanks be to God.
SERMON
Pastor Daniel
A Shepherd’s Life: What does it take to be a good shepherd?
*WORSHIP IN SONG
The Worship Team
“Up to the Mountain”
~ Patricia J. Griffin
RESPONDING TO THE WORD
CELEBRATION OF GIFTS
Leader: We gather today before God. Our worship is not for ourselves or even those beside us. Our worship is for God, the Maker and Ruler of All. It is God whom we address and to whom our hearts, thoughts, and actions are directed. As we pause to both offer and receive this gift of music to the praise and glory of God, let our hearts pause in gratitude and adoration of God’s amazing love for us.
OFFERTORY MUSIC
The Worship Team
“Above All”
~ Paul Baloche and Lenny LeBlanc
*WE ARE AN OFFERING
We lift our voices, we lift our hands, we lift our lives up to you: we are an offering. Lord, use our voices, Lord, use our hands, Lord, use our lives, they are yours: we are an offering. All that we have, all that we are, all that we hope to be, we give to you, we give to you. We lift our voices, we lift our hands, we lift our lives up to you: we are an offering. We are an offering.
*SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
Leader: The peace of Christ be with you all.
PEOPLE: And also with you.
Leader: Let us offer one another signs of God’s peace and love.
Please be mindful that not everyone is comfortable with all signs of Christian affection, exchange signs of peace with others near you. Moving throughout the worship space is discouraged. Signs of peace might include: hugs, handshakes, fist bumps, a head nod, or a wave are all possibilities. Please be respectful of each other’s comfort levels with physical contact and closeness as we carefully bring this practice back to our worship service.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
The ushers will collect the “Connections” cards and get them to the pastor. The pastor will offer the joy or concern on the card as well as any shared with him during the previous week. After each petition, the pastor will conclude, “Lord, in your mercy…” The congregation is invited to respond, “Hear our prayer.” The entire time will conclude with a short pastoral prayer and the Lord’s Prayer which can be found at #895 in “The United Methodist Hymnal.”
SENDING FOR SERVICE
WORSHIP IN SONG
The Worship Team
“Rising”
~ Paul Baloche and Matt Redman
BENEDICTION
Pastor Daniel
We United Methodists are guided by three simple principles:
Do no harm. Do good. Stay in love with God.
POSTLUDE / INSTRUMENTAL CLOSING
“Rising” (reprise)
~ Paul Baloche and Matt Redman