FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Worship
LECTIONARY WORSHIP AIDS
Series III
* CALL TO WORSHIP
Seek the Sovereign of all nations. Praise God and be in good
heart for ever.
* PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Divine Gardener, you have planted the true Vine in our world and
sustain living branches by the Spirit. We confess that we do not
always readily receive into our fellowship those you send to us.
We are suspicious of those who seem different or whose sincerity
we question. We may fear that we will be replaced, forgetting
that you want your church to grow like a healthy vineyard, well-
pruned of dead wood and producing the fruits of the Spirit.
Forgive us if we in pride seek to take over your role as
Gardener, discontent to be but branches of your true vine, Jesus
Christ. Amen.
* DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! God is love, and God's love was disclosed to
us in the sending of the divine Son into the world to bring us
life, the remedy of the defilement of our sins. Friends, believe
the Good News! In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
* EXHORTATION
Remain united with the Vine, Jesus Christ. No branch can bear
fruit by itself.
* PRAYER OF THE DAY
Divine Vine Tender, so prune and tie us as branches of the vine
that, being rid of all unfruitfulness and directed by the
commands of Christ, we may bear fruit to your glory and our joy.
Amen.
* PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
God of all nations, Universal Christ, Including Spirit, we praise
your name and names for the love that embraces us and the ties
that bind us together as a church across all lines of race and
class, across the centuries from the beginning until now, across
all stages of human growth from childhood to old age. Our
baptism, by whatever mode, has joined us to you in a living
relationship that spans all human differences and will survive
beyond the grave. We give you hearty thanks and unceasing praise
for your love is beyond all imagining. Amen.
* PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Giving God, receive what we give to you in response to the loving
gift of Jesus, your divine Child, so that we may be assured that
you know of our love for you however small in comparison with
your gifts to us. Amen.
* PSALM 22:25-31
From you comes my praise in the great congregation;
my vows I will pay before those who fear him.
The poor shall eat and be satisfied;
those who seek him shall praise the LORD.
May your hearts live forever!
All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD;
and all the families of the nations shall worship before him.
For dominion belongs to the LORD,
and he rules over the nations.
To him, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down;
before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, and
I shall live for him.
Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord,
and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn,
saying that he has done it.
Seek the Sovereign of all nations. Praise God and be in good
heart for ever.
* PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Divine Gardener, you have planted the true Vine in our world and
sustain living branches by the Spirit. We confess that we do not
always readily receive into our fellowship those you send to us.
We are suspicious of those who seem different or whose sincerity
we question. We may fear that we will be replaced, forgetting
that you want your church to grow like a healthy vineyard, well-
pruned of dead wood and producing the fruits of the Spirit.
Forgive us if we in pride seek to take over your role as
Gardener, discontent to be but branches of your true vine, Jesus
Christ. Amen.
* DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! God is love, and God's love was disclosed to
us in the sending of the divine Son into the world to bring us
life, the remedy of the defilement of our sins. Friends, believe
the Good News! In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
* EXHORTATION
Remain united with the Vine, Jesus Christ. No branch can bear
fruit by itself.
* PRAYER OF THE DAY
Divine Vine Tender, so prune and tie us as branches of the vine
that, being rid of all unfruitfulness and directed by the
commands of Christ, we may bear fruit to your glory and our joy.
Amen.
* PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
God of all nations, Universal Christ, Including Spirit, we praise
your name and names for the love that embraces us and the ties
that bind us together as a church across all lines of race and
class, across the centuries from the beginning until now, across
all stages of human growth from childhood to old age. Our
baptism, by whatever mode, has joined us to you in a living
relationship that spans all human differences and will survive
beyond the grave. We give you hearty thanks and unceasing praise
for your love is beyond all imagining. Amen.
* PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Giving God, receive what we give to you in response to the loving
gift of Jesus, your divine Child, so that we may be assured that
you know of our love for you however small in comparison with
your gifts to us. Amen.
* PSALM 22:25-31
From you comes my praise in the great congregation;
my vows I will pay before those who fear him.
The poor shall eat and be satisfied;
those who seek him shall praise the LORD.
May your hearts live forever!
All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD;
and all the families of the nations shall worship before him.
For dominion belongs to the LORD,
and he rules over the nations.
To him, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down;
before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, and
I shall live for him.
Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord,
and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn,
saying that he has done it.
