Thank you to Brian Dalton for permission to use his drone photo of our church.
Order of Worship
May 18th, 2025
10:00 AM
(The Fifth Sunday of Easter)
*If you are able, please stand.”
Prelude: “Christ the Lord is Risen Alleluia” David Thorne “Caithness” Craig Philips
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:
MISSION STATEMENT: (Let us say our Mission Statement together)
“To welcome and inspire All through faith, love, and fellowship according to Christ’s example.”
Introit: “‘Thou Art Worthy” Pauline Michael Mills
*Call to Worship (Responsive)
Leader: We gather in the name of the living Christ to worship God.
People: Surely, God is in this place and calls us to worship in spirit and in truth.
Leader: God’s love is for each of us and for all people everywhere.
People: May we share God’s love and life, may we be renewed in the refreshing Spirit of the living Christ.
Leader: The living Christ is with us.
All: Come, let us worship God!
*GATHERING HYMN: Spirit #249
PRAYER OF INVOCATION: Loving God, we are often upset by people who are not like us—those who think differently, those who act differently, those who speak differently. We thirst for your love. Our hearts yearn for your Holy Spirit. Pour your love over us and transform us, that we may embrace all people as your own. Amen.
Let us pray as Christ taught us to pray. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen
STATEMENT OF FAITH: We believe in God known to us in three persons: Creator of all, resurrected Christ, and the Holy Spirit, who guides and brings about the creative and redemptive work of God’s love in the world.
We believe that each person is unique and valuable.
We believe that we are called to welcome each person who is on a
spiritual journey, no matter who they are or where they are on that
journey.
We believe that the persistent search for God produces an authentic
relationship with God, one that engenders love, strengthens faith,
dissolves guilt, and gives life purpose and direction.
We believe we are a people of possibility.
We believe we have the breathing room to explore and to hear our call. We believe that God is still speaking…
*SERMON HYMN: “In Christ There is No East or West” #687
WORD OF GOD: Acts 11: 1-18 (Pew Bible p. 958)
11 Now the apostles and the brothers and sisters who were in Judea heard that the gentiles had also accepted the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, 3 saying, “Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?” 4 Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners, and it came close to me. 6 As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. 7 I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’ 8 But I replied, ‘By no means, Lord, for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 But a second time the voice answered from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, you must not call profane.’ 10 This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. 11 At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. 12 The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; 14 he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.’ 15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?” 18 When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, “Then God has given even to the gentiles the repentance that leads to life.”
Sermon Title: Rev. Norman Michaud
JOYS AND CONCERNS OF THE PEOPLE: (Please share by phone, text, or email at [email protected] or 603-812-1161 before the service.)
CALL TO PRAYER:
Pastor: May God be with you.
People: And also with you.
Silent Prayer
Pastoral Prayer:
Prejudice abounds in our land, as we proclaim our faith in you. We are called to love one another through Christ, but often we place conditions on love. These conditions may regard race, economic status, gender, age, nationality. It is easy to love people with whom we feel comfortable. It is more difficult to love those who are different from us.
Teach us how to love and accept diversity. Help us to treasure each other for the wondrous gifts and talents each person has. Sharpen our ears to hear words of love when whispered and shouted. Tune our hearts to your healing message of acceptance and compassion for all. Help us to be the people of the Resurrection – who have been freed from the bonds of death. We place our lives in your care, merciful and loving God. AMEN.
Choral Response: “Bind Us Together” Bob Gillman
CALL TO GIVING: As we prepare for this time of offering, may God open our hearts with love and touch our lives with generosity.
Offertory Music for Inspiration: “Look, Ye Saints” The Sight Is Glorious” Mark Hayes
Doxology: (Tune: Old Hundredth) #46
Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
*Prayer of Dedication: Generous God, we dedicate these gifts and offerings into your service. May our generosity flow abundantly into a world in need of your transforming love and grace. In your loving name, we pray. Amen
*HYMN OF DEPARTURE: “Blest Be the Tie That Binds” #433
Benediction: Blessed by God, may we bless the world in the week ahead. Loved by Christ, may we love others, in all we say and do. Empowered by the Spirit, may we follow faithfully where God leads.
Postlude: “Herzliebster Jesu” David Blackwell