Third Sunday of Easter Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper
May 1, 2022 | 10:00am
The Rev. Alexander Arthurs, Pastor Larry J. Carey, Director of Music
Thought for Worship: Life as we encounter it is chaotic. The raw material served up by the day is disordered and turbulent. Nature is clamorous and many-headed. We ourselves are many-hearted and conflicted. How can we master such a mob? Is there any hope for harmony in the chaos? Worship does not divide the spiritual from the natural, it coordinates them. Nature and supernature, creation and covenant, elders and animals are all gathered. The rabble of creation “red in tooth and claw” comes to order before the throne and finds itself more itself: each creature is alert and soaring. In George Herbert’s words, “All creatures of my God and king, lift up your voice and sing!” | Eugene Peterson
GATHERING
Prelude: Fabian Schulz, oboe
Welcome
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.
Jesus Christ is risen from the dead!
Alleluia!
Blessing and honor and glory and might be to our God forever and ever!
Alleluia!
Salutation
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
Amen.
*Hymn of Praise": Lift High the Cross
Call to Confession
Prayer of Confession
Generous God, in Jesus you have shown us love, love that seeks, love that suffers, love that survives all things. You call us, even command us, to show that love in our lives. Yet we turn away from the love you embody and expect. We confess your “way of love” is often not the way we live. We deny. We ignore. We hurt. We hate. We despise. We reject. Have mercy on us. Help us to receive your love so that we can love others. Help us to receive your love so that we can love ourselves.
Silent Confession
Assurance of Pardon
The resurrection of Jesus
shows us the grace of God
is stronger than death
and the love of God is boundless.
This is good news! In Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
Thanks be to God!
The Law of God: Proverbs 3:5-6
*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: Here’s One | arr. Hayes
Talk about a child who do love Jesus. here's one.
Ever since I heard the gospel story, I've been walkin' up the road to glory.
Talk about a child who do love Jesus, here's one.
Talk about a child who's been forgiven, here's one.
Ever since I heard the gospel story, I've been walkin' up the road to glory.
Talk about a child who's been forgiven, here's one.
Talk about a child who's been converted, here's one.
Ever since I heard the gospel story, I've been walkin' up the road to glory.
Talk about a child who's been converted, here's one.
Prayer for Illumination
Risen Jesus, send your Holy Spirit to calm our hearts, quiet our minds, and soften our spirits, so that we may hear your still small voice. Amen.
First Reading: John 21:1-19
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Hymn: Be Thou My Vision
Second Reading: Revelation 5:11-14
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Sermon: Worthy is the Lamb! | Pastor Alex
Silent Reflection
THE RESPONSE TO GOD
*Affirmation of Faith (Apostles’ Creed)
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: Clap Your Hands | Murakami/Weins
Clap your hands! Clap your hands!
Sing a new song in celebration!
Clap your hands! Clap Your hands!
God is great we praise our God with song!
CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
Communion Hymn: Here I Am, Lord
Prayer of Great Thanksgiving
One: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
One: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them up to the Lord.
One: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
One: Holy and right it is and our joyful duty to give thanks to you at all times and in all places, O Lord our Creator, almighty and everlasting God!...
With your whole Church on earth and with all the company of heaven we worship and adore your glorious name.
Sanctus
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!
Remembering the Work of Christ
One: Most righteous God, we remember in this Supper the perfect sacrifice offered once on the cross by our Lord Jesus Christ for the sin of the whole world. ... Together we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Memorial Acclamation
All: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
Invocation of the Spirit
One: So send your Holy Spirit upon us we pray... Even so, come Lord Jesus we pray.
All: Amen
Holy Communion
Words of Institution
One: The bread which we break is our communion with the body of Christ. The body of Christ is broken for you.
All: And also for you.
One: The cup of blessing which we bless is the communion of the blood of Christ. The blood of Christ is shed for you.
All: And also for you.
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession (ending with Lord’s Prayer)
Rejoicing in God’s promise of new creation,
let us pray to the Maker of heaven and earth,
saying: God of new life, hear our prayer.
We pray for the church . . .
Give us glad hearts and full voices
to sing glory and honor and blessing to you with all the saints around your throne. God of new life, hear our prayer.
We pray for the world . . . Protect those who are the victims of violence, threats, and persecution. Convert oppressors to your way of peace. God of new life, hear our prayer
We pray for this community . . . Help us to feed, tend, and care for those you have entrusted to us. Let our love show your love. God of new life, hear our prayer.
We pray for loved ones . . .
Remember all who suffer or grieve.
Turn their mourning into dancing
and their sorrow into joy. (names read)
God of new life, hear our prayer.
Gracious God, keep us working and praying
for the coming of your holy realm of peace,
when we will share abundant life with you;
through Jesus Christ, our risen 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 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 for- ever. Amen.
SENDING
Hymn: This is the Feast of Victory
Benediction
Postlude: Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee | arr. Phillips
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 1 - eggs
Sunday, May 8 - Gallon(s) whole milk
Sunday, May 15 - 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