Worship
May 2, 2021
“’Thank you’ is the best prayer that anyone could say. I say that one a lot. Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility, understanding.”
~ Alice Walker
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life…It makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
~ Melodie Beattie
“Like other forms of practice, gratefulness makes us more resilient and flexible, and also offers a way to frame and learn from everything that unfolds in our lives.”
~ Kristi Nelson
“Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little,
and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick,
and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so let us be thankful.
~ The Buddha
Prelude
Joyce Rhodes, organ
“Chorales”
“Prelude and Fugue in C Major”
~ J. S. Bach
Call to Worship
O come let us worship and lift our hearts . . .
Not because the world is good and last week was awesome,
but because the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it,
the God of the whole Earth.
O come let us worship and raise our hands . . .
Not because our lives are all sweetness and light,
But because even those who walk in darkness
can see a great light,
O come let us worship and bow down . . .
Not because God gives us what we want,
But because God gives us what we need –
Christ Jesus, God’s precious Gift.
– Written by Leonard Sweet
Hymn
Sue Livingstone & John Palmer
“Take Time to Be Holy” ~ UMH #395 vs. 1, 2
Time for Kids
Scripture Lesson
Psalm 95:1-7
Message
Pastor Kate Conolly
“Habits of Gratitude”
Offering Prayer
We are called to live in hope and to share this hope with the world. Let us offer thanks to God for all God has given us by sharing generously of ourselves and of our resources. Through our gifts, may others experience the hope to be found in our life-giving God. Amen.
Offertory
Mimi Carlson, flute
Sharing of Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer
Celebration of Communion
Let us pray: God our Creator,
thank you for the gift of your son Jesus Christ,
whose love pursues us our whole life long.
Thank you, Jesus, for giving your life to us in word and deed,
even unto death, even death on a cross.
Come Holy Spirit, feed us with your love
that we may be filled with power
to love God with all our hearts and souls and minds. Amen.
Partaking of the communion elements
Prayer of Response
We have come to the Lord’s table,
we have eaten the bread of heaven.
God is the one who will transform us
so that we can see with Jesus’ eyes,
hear with Jesus’ ears, speak with Jesus’ mouth;
so that we can be the body of Christ in the world,
proclaiming the good news of God’s reign.
Come Lord Jesus! Amen.
– Written by Carol Penner
Hymn
Sue Livingstone & John Palmer
“Sweet Hour of Prayer” ~ UMH #496 vs. 1, 3
Sending Forth
May God shine the light of love into your hearts.
May Christ be with you and never leave you.
And may the Spirit renew the image of God within you.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord, Amen.
Postlude
Joyce Rhodes, organ
“Prelude in Classic Style” ~ Gordon Young
“Postludium II” ~ Ron Boud
“Toccata on “Boylston” ~ Gordon Young