Fifth Sunday Of Easter
Worship
Lectionary Worship Workbook
Series IV, Cycle B
Call To Worship
Based on 1 John 4:7-21.
Leader:
Love -- what is love?
People:
Love is listening when you are weary.
Leader:
Okay. What else?
People:
Love is sharing your heart with her.
Leader:
I see. Is there more?
People:
Love is longing to be with him.
Leader:
Makes sense, but is that all?
People:
Love is wanting the best for another,
Leader:
Yes,
People:
And putting their needs before your own.
Leader:
As Jesus said, "There is no greater love than this,
People:
That a man give his life for another."
Leader:
We come here this morning to be touched by the love of God
People:
And to stir up love in each other.
Leader:
Let's continue celebrating
People:
And stirring up -- love.
Leader:
Amen.
People:
Amen.
This one focuses on 1 John 4:10.
Leader:
This is love;
People:
Not that we loved God,
Leader:
But that he loved us,
People:
And sent his Son
Leader:
As an atoning sacrifice
People:
For our sins.
Leader:
We love
People:
Because he first loved us.
Leader:
Let us rejoice
People:
In our God who is love.
Psalm 22:26 tells us that God satisfies the hungry. This Call To Worship reminds us of that.
Leader:
In this great gathering,
People:
O God, our praise comes from you.
Leader:
Amidst all who worship you,
People:
We honor the promises we've made to you.
Leader:
Whatever is lacking in our lives,
People:
God fills up.
Leader:
Our deepest hungers
People:
Are satisfied in him.
Leader:
Those who seek the Lord
People:
Will praise him.
Leader:
May our hearts live forever!
People:
We praise you, God!
Prayer Of Confession
When it comes to loving others, we all have our problems. This Prayer confesses these problems.
Leader:
I have a confession to make.
People:
What about?
Leader:
Well, I'm not very good at love.
People:
Really?
Leader:
I'm just too concerned about my own comfort and fulfillment. Sometimes I don't even consider the needs of the people around me.
People:
Inconsiderate, huh?
Leader:
Yes. I guess that's it. Inconsiderate. That's me. Selfish. Thoughtless. I don't mean to be. I just seem to slip into it. What's wrong with me?
People:
You're a human.
Leader:
You're like that, too?
People:
Sometimes.
Leader:
So, what do we do about it?
People:
Nothing.
Leader:
Nothing?
People:
There isn't a thing you can do, but ...
Leader:
But what?
People:
There is someone who can do something.
Leader:
Who?
People:
Jesus Christ who died to take away your sin, and lives again that you might live.
Leader:
Please, take me to him.
People:
He is here. Just open your heart to him and he will begin to make you new.
Leader:
This is the good news of the gospel.
People:
Amen.
More on our struggles to be loving people.
Leader:
At home, beside my bed, when I say my prayers, it's so easy.
People:
What is so easy?
Leader:
To tell God, and even believe, that I can be a man who is filled with love for others. But then ...
People:
Then what?
Leader:
Then reality. That person's habit that annoys me. And that neighbor who seems to have it in for me.
People:
Tough people to love.
Leader:
And this guy at church who is just so ornery. Then there is my own crankiness.
People:
Hard things to overcome.
Leader:
So that when my prayer, "Lord, teach me to love," meets the reality of life, it evaporates. Powerless. Ineffective.
People:
You're not alone.
Leader:
Father of love, forgive us our incredible weakness,
People:
And our stubborn selfishness,
Leader:
And begin working one of your miracles in us.
People:
The miracle of transforming us.
Leader:
The miracle of removing the old self-centered person that we once were,
People:
Before we knew you,
Leader:
And replacing it with a new and shining person whose best feature is a heart to love you and others.
People:
Lord, make us new!
Leader:
Yes, Lord, make us new. Amen.
1 John makes it clear that we love because God first loved us. This prayer is based on that passage in 1 John 4.
Leader:
Because he first loved us,
People:
We ought to love one another.
Leader:
O God who is love,
People:
Forgive us,
Leader:
For we have forgotten our brothers,
People:
And our sisters,
Leader:
From the members of our families,
People:
To the neighbor next door,
Leader:
To the poor suffering child
People:
Halfway around the world.
Leader:
These are the ones we ought to love,
People:
And instead, we have been selfish,
Leader:
Taken care of ourselves alone.
People:
God who transforms hearts,
Leader:
Turn our hearts toward the others
People:
That we might model your love.
Leader:
In the name of Jesus, the Christ
People:
We ask it.
Leader:
Amen.
He is the vine, we are the branches, but we often are not very good at remaining connected to the vine.
Leader:
Jesus says that just as a branch must stay connected to the vine in order to bear fruit, so we must stay connected to him for our lives to be fruitful. Let us pray together:
Unison:
Forgive us, Jesus, for trying to live Christian lives on our own, apart from you. As your Word says and our failures attest to, "apart from you we can do nothing." Without you, we are like lifeless branches and we wonder why we have nothing to show for all our efforts. It is your life that we need, flowing through us. You are the source of all that bears fruit for your kingdom. We just need to stay stuck in you. Forgive us for forgetting that you are the vine and we are the branches. Keep us in you. Amen.
Assurance Of Pardon
A repentant heart is all it takes to receive forgiveness!
Leader:
When the sinner cried out:
People:
O Lord, forgive me for I am a sinner,
Leader:
Jesus declared that he was forgiven.
People:
Just like that?
Leader:
Yes. Just like that. For a repentant heart is all it takes.
People:
Praise God.
Leader:
You are forgiven.
More good news.
Leader:
Hear ye, hear ye, I have good news!
People:
What is your news?
Leader:
The news is this: every sin you ever committed; every act of rebellion against God; every disobedience has been forgiven and completely forgotten by the one and only judge, Yahweh. This is the news! The good news!
People:
Let us rejoice and be glad. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer
This prayer calls on God to help us be like Philip as he ministered to the Ethiopian.
In a world of lost souls, who search frantically for something to bring peace, we have been blessed enough to have been found. Give us hearts for these lost ones, seekers who long to be found. Give us courage to point the way and compassion to do so without offense. Be with our friends and loved ones who may be lost in a difficult time.
A prayer based on 1 John passage.
If there is no love, can there be real faith, Lord? How can we say we love you, if we ignore the needs of brothers and sisters near and far? Teach us that the true Christian is the one who constantly grows in love; and that she who remains in her selfishness is not your daughter; and he who continues to love only himself is not your son. Teach us, Lord, to love! Hear now our prayers for those in need, and move us to reach out and touch with your love. For we ask it in the name of the one whose name means love, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Prayer Of Dedication
Lord, thank you for the servants among us, for their ministry to us and to others beyond these walls. Thank you for their witness; the way they inspire us. Remind us we are all to be servants doing the work of the one who came not to be served but to serve. Send us to serve, and use these gifts in your service. Amen.
Prayer For Illumination
A short but true prayer.
Leader:
Let us listen as if lives depended on it, Lord. For in truth, they do.
People:
In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Benediction
Love, love, love. The gospel in a word is love. Be a channel of God's love in your world. Amen.
Hymns
Freely, Freely
Heaven Came Down
I Love To Tell The Story
I Will Sing Of My Redeemer
I Will Sing The Wondrous Story
I'll Tell The World That I Am A Christian
In The Garden
Jesus Lives, And So Shall I
Just A Closer Walk With Thee
Fill My Cup, Lord
Go Tell It On The Mountain
Leaning On The Everlasting Arms
O Could I Speak The Matchless Worth
Reach Out And Touch
Sweet, Sweet Spirit
Tell Me The Story Of Jesus
Tell Out, My Soul
Where The Spirit Of The Lord Is
Contemporary Choruses
Better Is One Day, Matt Redman
Cry Of My Heart, Terry Butler
Glorify Thy Name, Donna Adkins
Hungry, Kathryn Scott
My Life Is In You, Daniel Gardner
Shine, Jesus, Shine, Graham Kendrick
Other Music
Carry Your Love, Caedmon's Call
This song is a cry for us to carry God's love to the world. This one is also listed for Easter 7, as it fits there as well.
Heart Like Yours, Sierra
Sharing God with others really begins with having a heart like God's. This song is a prayer that we would have such hearts.
Based on 1 John 4:7-21.
Leader:
Love -- what is love?
People:
Love is listening when you are weary.
Leader:
Okay. What else?
People:
Love is sharing your heart with her.
Leader:
I see. Is there more?
People:
Love is longing to be with him.
Leader:
Makes sense, but is that all?
People:
Love is wanting the best for another,
Leader:
Yes,
People:
And putting their needs before your own.
Leader:
As Jesus said, "There is no greater love than this,
People:
That a man give his life for another."
Leader:
We come here this morning to be touched by the love of God
People:
And to stir up love in each other.
Leader:
Let's continue celebrating
People:
And stirring up -- love.
Leader:
Amen.
People:
Amen.
This one focuses on 1 John 4:10.
Leader:
This is love;
People:
Not that we loved God,
Leader:
But that he loved us,
People:
And sent his Son
Leader:
As an atoning sacrifice
People:
For our sins.
Leader:
We love
People:
Because he first loved us.
Leader:
Let us rejoice
People:
In our God who is love.
Psalm 22:26 tells us that God satisfies the hungry. This Call To Worship reminds us of that.
Leader:
In this great gathering,
People:
O God, our praise comes from you.
Leader:
Amidst all who worship you,
People:
We honor the promises we've made to you.
Leader:
Whatever is lacking in our lives,
People:
God fills up.
Leader:
Our deepest hungers
People:
Are satisfied in him.
Leader:
Those who seek the Lord
People:
Will praise him.
Leader:
May our hearts live forever!
People:
We praise you, God!
Prayer Of Confession
When it comes to loving others, we all have our problems. This Prayer confesses these problems.
Leader:
I have a confession to make.
People:
What about?
Leader:
Well, I'm not very good at love.
People:
Really?
Leader:
I'm just too concerned about my own comfort and fulfillment. Sometimes I don't even consider the needs of the people around me.
People:
Inconsiderate, huh?
Leader:
Yes. I guess that's it. Inconsiderate. That's me. Selfish. Thoughtless. I don't mean to be. I just seem to slip into it. What's wrong with me?
People:
You're a human.
Leader:
You're like that, too?
People:
Sometimes.
Leader:
So, what do we do about it?
People:
Nothing.
Leader:
Nothing?
People:
There isn't a thing you can do, but ...
Leader:
But what?
People:
There is someone who can do something.
Leader:
Who?
People:
Jesus Christ who died to take away your sin, and lives again that you might live.
Leader:
Please, take me to him.
People:
He is here. Just open your heart to him and he will begin to make you new.
Leader:
This is the good news of the gospel.
People:
Amen.
More on our struggles to be loving people.
Leader:
At home, beside my bed, when I say my prayers, it's so easy.
People:
What is so easy?
Leader:
To tell God, and even believe, that I can be a man who is filled with love for others. But then ...
People:
Then what?
Leader:
Then reality. That person's habit that annoys me. And that neighbor who seems to have it in for me.
People:
Tough people to love.
Leader:
And this guy at church who is just so ornery. Then there is my own crankiness.
People:
Hard things to overcome.
Leader:
So that when my prayer, "Lord, teach me to love," meets the reality of life, it evaporates. Powerless. Ineffective.
People:
You're not alone.
Leader:
Father of love, forgive us our incredible weakness,
People:
And our stubborn selfishness,
Leader:
And begin working one of your miracles in us.
People:
The miracle of transforming us.
Leader:
The miracle of removing the old self-centered person that we once were,
People:
Before we knew you,
Leader:
And replacing it with a new and shining person whose best feature is a heart to love you and others.
People:
Lord, make us new!
Leader:
Yes, Lord, make us new. Amen.
1 John makes it clear that we love because God first loved us. This prayer is based on that passage in 1 John 4.
Leader:
Because he first loved us,
People:
We ought to love one another.
Leader:
O God who is love,
People:
Forgive us,
Leader:
For we have forgotten our brothers,
People:
And our sisters,
Leader:
From the members of our families,
People:
To the neighbor next door,
Leader:
To the poor suffering child
People:
Halfway around the world.
Leader:
These are the ones we ought to love,
People:
And instead, we have been selfish,
Leader:
Taken care of ourselves alone.
People:
God who transforms hearts,
Leader:
Turn our hearts toward the others
People:
That we might model your love.
Leader:
In the name of Jesus, the Christ
People:
We ask it.
Leader:
Amen.
He is the vine, we are the branches, but we often are not very good at remaining connected to the vine.
Leader:
Jesus says that just as a branch must stay connected to the vine in order to bear fruit, so we must stay connected to him for our lives to be fruitful. Let us pray together:
Unison:
Forgive us, Jesus, for trying to live Christian lives on our own, apart from you. As your Word says and our failures attest to, "apart from you we can do nothing." Without you, we are like lifeless branches and we wonder why we have nothing to show for all our efforts. It is your life that we need, flowing through us. You are the source of all that bears fruit for your kingdom. We just need to stay stuck in you. Forgive us for forgetting that you are the vine and we are the branches. Keep us in you. Amen.
Assurance Of Pardon
A repentant heart is all it takes to receive forgiveness!
Leader:
When the sinner cried out:
People:
O Lord, forgive me for I am a sinner,
Leader:
Jesus declared that he was forgiven.
People:
Just like that?
Leader:
Yes. Just like that. For a repentant heart is all it takes.
People:
Praise God.
Leader:
You are forgiven.
More good news.
Leader:
Hear ye, hear ye, I have good news!
People:
What is your news?
Leader:
The news is this: every sin you ever committed; every act of rebellion against God; every disobedience has been forgiven and completely forgotten by the one and only judge, Yahweh. This is the news! The good news!
People:
Let us rejoice and be glad. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer
This prayer calls on God to help us be like Philip as he ministered to the Ethiopian.
In a world of lost souls, who search frantically for something to bring peace, we have been blessed enough to have been found. Give us hearts for these lost ones, seekers who long to be found. Give us courage to point the way and compassion to do so without offense. Be with our friends and loved ones who may be lost in a difficult time.
A prayer based on 1 John passage.
If there is no love, can there be real faith, Lord? How can we say we love you, if we ignore the needs of brothers and sisters near and far? Teach us that the true Christian is the one who constantly grows in love; and that she who remains in her selfishness is not your daughter; and he who continues to love only himself is not your son. Teach us, Lord, to love! Hear now our prayers for those in need, and move us to reach out and touch with your love. For we ask it in the name of the one whose name means love, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Prayer Of Dedication
Lord, thank you for the servants among us, for their ministry to us and to others beyond these walls. Thank you for their witness; the way they inspire us. Remind us we are all to be servants doing the work of the one who came not to be served but to serve. Send us to serve, and use these gifts in your service. Amen.
Prayer For Illumination
A short but true prayer.
Leader:
Let us listen as if lives depended on it, Lord. For in truth, they do.
People:
In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Benediction
Love, love, love. The gospel in a word is love. Be a channel of God's love in your world. Amen.
Hymns
Freely, Freely
Heaven Came Down
I Love To Tell The Story
I Will Sing Of My Redeemer
I Will Sing The Wondrous Story
I'll Tell The World That I Am A Christian
In The Garden
Jesus Lives, And So Shall I
Just A Closer Walk With Thee
Fill My Cup, Lord
Go Tell It On The Mountain
Leaning On The Everlasting Arms
O Could I Speak The Matchless Worth
Reach Out And Touch
Sweet, Sweet Spirit
Tell Me The Story Of Jesus
Tell Out, My Soul
Where The Spirit Of The Lord Is
Contemporary Choruses
Better Is One Day, Matt Redman
Cry Of My Heart, Terry Butler
Glorify Thy Name, Donna Adkins
Hungry, Kathryn Scott
My Life Is In You, Daniel Gardner
Shine, Jesus, Shine, Graham Kendrick
Other Music
Carry Your Love, Caedmon's Call
This song is a cry for us to carry God's love to the world. This one is also listed for Easter 7, as it fits there as well.
Heart Like Yours, Sierra
Sharing God with others really begins with having a heart like God's. This song is a prayer that we would have such hearts.
