Bulletin for April 25, 2010. Click below to read more.

WORSHIP APRIL 25, 2010
FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

Our preparation for worship is as follows: Before the prelude begins, the liturgist for the morning will
greet the congregation from the lectern, saying "The Lord be with you." The people will respond, "And
also with you." At this point, the prelude will begin. After the prelude, the chimes will be sounded, and
the call to worship will take place, followed by the processional hymn. Our goal is to make the sanctuary
as worshipful as possible as the congregation gathers to honor God's holy name.

THE GATHERING Mary Miller Brueggemann
Leader: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.

THE PRELUDE Walter Huff, organist

* THE CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: O come let us worship and bow down.
People: And kneel before the Lord our maker.
Leader: For we are the people of God's pasture.
People: As God's own, we come with praise and humility.
All: Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving
and honor and power and might be to our God forever and
ever!

* THE PROCESSIONAL HYMN 220 All People That on Earth Do Dwell

THE CALL TO CONFESSION

THE PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Merciful God, we come ready to ask your forgiveness. Too often we have enjoyed
the benefits of your grace and mercy in our lives while being judgmental towards
others. Whenever we harbor resentments and our words become piercing like a
prickly pear, forgive us. Whenever we allow worship to dry up and our prayers to
become like an empty water hole, forgive us, and have mercy upon us we pray. Reorder
our lives and refresh us with your Holy Spirit, we pray. Amen.

A MOMENT OF SILENCE (for examination of conscience and personal prayers of confession)

THE ASSURANCE OF PARDON

* THE CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE (Hymn 473)
For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child, friends on earth, and
friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild, Lord of all to thee we raise this our
hymn of grateful praise.

* THE PEACE OF CHRIST
(Children ages 2-11 are invited to leave after the Peace of Christ for special classes. Three-year-olds are in
Room 208; Pre-K in 011; K - 1st grade in 001; 2nd - 3rd grade in 003; 4th - 6th grade in 005.)

THE CONCERNS OF THE CHURCH
(Visitors and members are invited to sign the blue friendship register pad and pass it down the pew.)

THE FIRST LESSON Psalm 23 (in unison) Nancy Frampton
(page 474 in the pew Bible)

THE ANTHEM The Lord's My Shepherd Carl Mueller
The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want; He makes me down to lie in pastures green; He leadeth me
the quiet waters by. My soul He doth restore again and me to walk doth make within the paths of righteousness,
e'en for His own name's sake. Yea, though I walk in death's dark vale, yet will I fear none ill;
for Thou art with me and Thy rod and staff me comfort still. My table Thou hast furnished in presence
of my foes; my head Thou dost with oil anoint, and my cup overflows. Goodness and mercy all my life
shall surely follow me, and in God's house forevermore my dwelling place shall be. Amen.

THE SECOND LESSON Revelation 7:9-17 (page 235 in the pew Bible)

THE SERMON "A Pastoral Kingdom" Christopher Henry
"For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd..." Revelation 7:17a

* THE HYMN 256 Let the Whole Creation Cry

* THE AFFIRMATION OF FAITH A Brief Statement of Faith, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
We trust in God,
whom Jesus called Abba, Father.
In sovereign love God created the world good
and makes everyone equally in God's image
male and female, of every race and people,
to live as one community.
But we rebel against God; we hide from our Creator.
Ignoring God's commandments,
we violate the image of God in others and ourselves,
accept lies as truth,
exploit neighbor and nature,
and threaten death to the planet entrusted to our care.
We deserve God's condemnation.
Yet God acts with justice and mercy to redeem creation.
With believers in every time and place,
we rejoice that nothing in life or in death
can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD'S PRAYER
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.

THE OFFERTORY The Little Lamb Mary Caldwell
Little lamb, who made thee? Dost thou know who made thee, gave thee life and bid thee feed by the
streams and o'er the mead: gave thee clothing of delight, softest clothing, woolly, bright, gave thee
such a tender voice making all the vales rejoice? Little lamb I'll tell thee, He is called by thy name, for
He calls Himself a Lamb. He is meek and He is mild; He became a little child. I a child and thou a lamb,
we are called by His name. Little lamb, God bless thee. -poem by William Blake

* THE DOXOLOGY AND PRAYER OF DEDICATION (Hymn 592)

* THE HYMN 172 My Shepherd Will Supply My Need

* THE CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

* THE CHORAL RESPONSE Sevenfold Amen Scott