Watchword for the Week

See what love the Father has given us,

that we should be called children of God;

and that is what we are. (1 John 3:1)

(Moravian Daily Texts 2015)

ORGAN PRELUDE

OPENING RESPONSES

People of God, why are you here?

We are here to rejoice in the God of love,

to seek forgiveness,

to calm our fears and doubts,

to learn more about the rule of

righteousness,

to open our minds to God.

Surely this gladdens the heart of God!

You are very welcome here.

Together we are called to this place:

Called to be giants;

Called to be children;

Called to be true;

Called to be righteous;

Called to be God’s;

Called to be loved.

Hymn 185 * Come, children, join and sing

People’s Choice Hymns are marked with an asterisk (*)

PRAYER of APPROACH

This Easter you come to us:

In unexpected places,

In a crowded room,

In a journey on a dusty road,

In conversation,

In the stillness.

You come in the midst of our doubt,

our fear, our sorrow;

You come in the power of the resurrection;

No pain and suffering is unknown to you.

You bring us peace – and we pray

for the places where there is no peace:

Countries torn by war;

Refugees seeking homes;

Prisoners facing torture.

You bring peace –

Peace to the tensions and conflicts within us:

to the regrets, the failure,

the broken relationships,

the lost friendships.

You bring peace, for you are a friend to us:

when we are alone,

when we are lonely,

unseen you are there.

You bring us peace, and we pray

that we too may become peacemakers.

WORDS of ASSURANCE (St. John 1:12-13)

“To those who receive him and believe in him,

Christ gives the right to become God’s children;

not by natural means, that is by being born as

the children of a human father; God himself is

their Father.” Thanks be to God. Amen.

Hymn 83 * I rejoice when I heard (Shalom)

SHARING GOD’S PEACE

SCRIPTURE READINGS

1 John 3:1-7 NT p. 305 (302)

St. Luke 24:36-48 NT p. 115

People may stand for the Gospel reading.

The Word of God. Thanks be to God!

Hymn 423 * I know that my Redeemer lives

(Hymn of the Month, May 2014)

REFLECTION “Imaging God”

Rev. James Brown

Hymn 412 The strife is o’er, the battle done

(Offerings are gathered and brought forward)

(Hymn of the Month, April 2015)

DEDICATION PRAYER

Living God, to you no door is closed

and no heart locked. Free us from our

doubts. Let us see and know Christ alive

among us. Help us to live as your faithful

children. Amen.

NOTICES / PRESENTATION

PRAYERS for OTHERS Hymn 805 *

Response Your kingdom come:

your will be done on earth, O Lord.

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

trespasses, as we forgive those who

trespass against us. And lead us not into

temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine

is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

Hymn 204 * I am the Church!

BLESSING and Threefold Amen (No. 819)

ORGAN POSTLUDE