Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 14, 2023 | 10:00am
Rev. Jeremy Campbell, Temporary Pastor | Larry J. Carey, Director of Music
Thought for Worship: Thought alone cannot recognize spiritual truths no matter how highly developed thought is. It's impossible. | Eckart Tolle
GATHERING
Welcome
Prelude Worthy of Worship | Blankenship/Hayes
Call to Worship
Votum
Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Amen
Opening Sentences
The Lord be with you.
And also with you!
Our God gathers us here.
We have been tested, we have suffered,
but God has brought us through.
Come, let us tell of what God has done for us!
We cried aloud to God, and God listened and answered.
Therefore, we will praise God with shouts of joy!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Salutation
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
Amen.
*Hymn of Praise: The Church’s One Foundation
Call to Confession
Prayer of Confession
Holy One,
We love you imperfectly:
we do not always keep your commandments.
We love each other imperfectly:
we hurt those you call us to love
through our actions and our inaction.
We love ourselves imperfectly:
we struggle to believe that we are truly your children,
made in your image.
Forgive us.
By the power of your Spirit,
make us more faithful
that we might live as Christ has shown us,
reflecting your love and grace.
Silent Confession
Assurance of Pardon
Because Christ lives, we also live.
Not because of anything we have done,
not because of our belief or faithfulness:
we live because Christ lives.
This is the Christ who forgives us.
This is the God who is in us.
This is the Spirit who is with us.
Alleluia! Praise be to God!
The Law of God:
*Gloria Patri | #579
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.
*Commitment to Peace Keeping and Peace Seeking
One: May the peace of Christ be with you!
All: And also with you!
Share a sign of peace with one another. After sharing the peace, let us all sing together:
Together, by grace, we witness and work, remembering Jesus, in whom we grow strong. Together we serve in Spirit and truth, remembering love is the strength of our song.
THE WORD OF GOD
Anthem Dona Nobis Pacem| Miller
Children’s Message
Prayer for Illumination
Living God, with joy we celebrate the presence of your risen Word. Enliven our hearts by your Holy Spirit so that we may proclaim the good news of eternal and abundant life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
First Reading: John 14:15-21
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Hymn: Near to the Heart of God
Gospel Reading: Acts 17:22-31
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Sermon: "Witnesses: Truth" | Rev. Campbell
Silent Reflection
THE RESPONSE TO GOD
*Affirmation of Faith
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended to hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Offering Be Still and Know That I Am God | Wetherill
Prayer of Dedication
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession (ending with Lord’s Prayer)
In Jesus’ Name, we pray as you taught us…
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, the Power, and the Glory forever. Amen.
SENDING
Hymn: Love Divine, All Love’s Excelling
Benediction
Postlude Rondo da Chiesa | Hurd
DEAR FRIENDS
Welcome to worship here at Peapack Reformed Church! If you are visiting with us, welcome! If you are a member, welcome back! Our mission is to be a congregation called by God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and committed to being the very presence of Jesus Christ in the world. This mission is the catalyst for all that we do, and is our aim for who we want to be.
If you are visiting with us via Facebook Live and would like more information about our church, send us a message on Facebook or email office@peapackreformed.org and we will be in touch with you. Even under these odd and anxious circumstances, we would love to be your church home. Our virtual doors are always open wide and our hearts are always ready to welcome new faces into our fellowship.
FOOD PANTRY NEWS
Many thanks for all those who have shared their abundance with neighbors in need.
Our church refrigerators have plenty of space to hold even more!
Mark your calendars now to pick up these important items
and bring to church by the dates listed:
Sunday, May 14 - eggs
Sunday, May 21 - gallon(s) whole milk
Sunday, May 28 - eggs
Peapack Reformed Church is a congregation called by God, empowered by the Holy Spirit and committed to being the very presence of Jesus Christ in the world.
CALLED • EMPOWERED • COMMITTED