Bulletin for May 15, 2011. Click below to read more.

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WORSHIP MAY 15, 2011
4th SUNDAY OF EASTER SUNDAY

THE GATHERING Bill Smith
Leader: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
THE PRELUDE Walter Huff, organist

* THE CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast. I will sing and make
melody.
People: Awake, my soul! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn.
Leader: I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples, and I will sing praises to
you among the nations.
People: For your steadfast love is higher than the heavens, and your
faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
Leader: Let us worship God, our creator, redeemer and sustainer! - Psalm 108:1-4

* THE PROCESSIONAL HYMN 267 All Things Bright and Beautiful

THE ANTHEM Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee Beethoven, arr. Scholin/Huff
Cherub, Treble, and Chancel Choirs
Linda Johnson, guest conductor

THE CALL TO CONFESSION

THE PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Gracious God, it seems to us at times that things would just be so much easier if
they were clear. If it were clear what following the good shepherd looked like, we
could do it. If it were clear which strangers would lead us astray, we could avoid it.
If it were clear where the gate was, we would go through it. We forget, O God, that
you do not call us to be certain of our actions, you call us to trust in you and act
boldly. Forgive us when we fail to remember this truth and substitute instead our
quest for clarity. Remind us that our faith rests not in our ability to be certain that
we have been faithful to you, but in the certainty that you will always be faithful to
us. We pray these things in the name of Jesus, the good shepherd. Amen.

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

THE ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Leader: He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live
for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
People: For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the
shepherd and guardian of your souls.
Leader: Believe the promise of the Gospel:
People: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven! - 1 Peter 2:24-25

*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 3-11 are invited to leave after the Baptism for special classes. Three through five-year-olds in
Room 011; K - 1st grade in Room 001; 2nd - 3rd grade in Room 003; Double Digits are in Room 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 SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
People: With joy and thanksgiving we welcome this child into Christ's church. We
are the family of God for we are all one in Christ.

THE CHORAL RESPONSE Child of Blessing, Child of Promise Copes

THE FIRST LESSON Psalm 23 (page 474 in the pew Bible, OT)

THE SECOND LESSON John 10:1-10 (page 97 in the pew Bible, NT)

THE SERMON “Sheep? Strangers? Gates?” Baron Mullis

* THE HYMN 175 The Lord’s My Shepherd, All My Need

* THE APOSTLES’ CREED Robert Gray
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus
Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the
Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he
descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into
heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he
shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy
catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection
of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

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 Prelude (from Suite #5) Henry Purcell

* THE DOXOLOGY AND PRAYER OF DEDICATION (Hymn 592)

* THE HYMN 522 Lord, When I Came Into This Life

* THE CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

* THE CHORAL RESPONSE Great Lord God! Thy Kingdom Shall Endure Handel