Worship Guide
May 11, 2025
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Mother's Day
Creating Disciples of Jesus who Transform the World
ENTRANCE WITH PRAISE
Greeting:
Minister: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!
People: And also with you!
Mother’s Day Celebration
Special Music: “A Mother’s Prayer” Stefanie
Centering Words:
Into this world of trials, tribulations, dangers and death, our loving God watches over us, as a mother bear watches over her cubs. Our Lord walks with us, as a loving companion cares for her beloved. Our savior makes us lie down in green pastures, as a good shepherd cares for his sheep.
*Call to Worship:
Leader: The God of love and grace invites us in.
People: Blessed be the God of love!
Leader: The God of power and might welcomes us here.
People: Glory to God on high!
Leader: The God of wisdom and truth speaks to us now.
People: Praise the One who speaks truth to our hearts!
Leader: Yes! Let us pray.
ALL: Shepherding God, guide us in this time of worship. Help us receive your wisdom and respond with lives of faithful discipleship. Walk closely with us and help us feel your constant presence, both now and forevermore. Amen.
Hymn: “He Leadeth Me”
He leadeth me, O blessed thought!
O words with heav’nly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be
still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.
He leadeth me, he leadeth me,
by his own hand he leadeth me;
his faithful foll’wer I would be,
for by his hand he leadeth me.
Sometimes ’mid scenes of deepest gloom,
sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom,
by waters still, o’er troubled sea,
still ’tis his hand that leadeth me.
He leadeth me, he leadeth me,
by his own hand he leadeth me;
his faithful foll’wer I would be,
for by his hand he leadeth me.
Lord, I would place my hand in thine,
nor ever murmur nor repine;
content, whatever lot I see,
since ’tis my God that leadeth me.
He leadeth me, he leadeth me,
by his own hand he leadeth me;
his faithful foll’wer I would be,
for by his hand he leadeth me.
And when my task on earth is done,
when by thy grace the vict’ry’s won,
e’en death’s cold wave I will not flee,
since God through Jordan leadeth me.
He leadeth me, he leadeth me,
by his own hand he leadeth me;
his faithful foll’wer I would be,
for by his hand he leadeth me.
PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD
Words of Assurance
In God’s love, we are held. In Christ’s grace, we are forgiven.
In the Spirit’s power, we are strengthened.
We give thanks for these marvelous gifts.
*Reading from the Gospel: John 10:22-30
22 At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; 26 but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.”
Leader: This is the Word of God for the people of God
People: Thanks be to God.
WORD AND RESPONSE
Time with Young Friends: “Jesus Loves Me”
Children’s Message: “Water”
Hymn: “Lamb of God”
Your only son, no sin to hide,
but you have sent him from your side,
to walk upon this guilty sod,
and to become the Lamb of God.
Your gift of love, they crucified,
they laughed and scored him as he died,
the humble king they named a fraud
and sacrificed the Lamb of God.
O Lamb of God, sweet Lamb of God,
I love the holy Lamb of God!
O wash me in his precious blood
my Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.
I was so lost, I should have died,
but you have brought me to your side,
to be led by your staff and rod,
and to be called a lamb of God.
O Lamb of God, sweet Lamb of God,
I love the holy Lamb of God!
O wash me in his precious blood
my Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.
Sermon: “Springs of Living Water” Revelation 7:9-17
9 After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. 10 They cried out in a loud voice, saying,
“Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
11 And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 singing,
“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom
and thanksgiving and honor
and power and might
be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you are the one that knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15 For this reason they are before the throne of God,
and worship him day and night within his temple,
and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.
16 They will hunger no more, and thirst no more;
the sun will not strike them,
nor any scorching heat;
17 for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
Hymn: “Take My Life and Let It Be ”
Take my life, and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move
at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be
swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my voice, and let me sing
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be
filled with messages from thee.
Take my silver and my gold:
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect, and use
every power as thou shalt choose.
Take my will, and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be,
ever, only, all for thee.
Psalter: The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son
is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic* and apostolic church.
We acknowledge one baptism
for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Gloria Patri
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.
Prayers of the People: Joys and concerns
Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer
SENDING FORTH
Hymn: “Since Jesus Came into My Heart”
What a wonderful change
in my life has been wrought
since Jesus came into my heart!
I have light in my soul
for which long I had sought,
since Jesus came into my heart!
Since Jesus came into my heart,
since Jesus came into my heart,
floods of joy o’er my soul
like the sea billows roll,
since Jesus came into my heart.
I have ceased from my wandering
and going astray,
since Jesus came into my heart!
And my sins, which were many,
are all washed away,
since Jesus came into my heart!
Since Jesus came into my heart,
since Jesus came into my heart,
floods of joy o’er my soul
like the sea billows roll,
since Jesus came into my heart.
I’m possessed of a hope
that is steadfast and sure,
since Jesus came into my heart!
And no dark clouds of doubt
now my pathway obscure,
since Jesus came into my heart!
Since Jesus came into my heart,
since Jesus came into my heart,
floods of joy o’er my soul
like the sea billows roll,
since Jesus came into my heart.
There’s a light in the valley
of death now for me,
since Jesus came into my heart!
And the gates of the City
beyond I can see,
since Jesus came into my heart!
Since Jesus came into my heart,
since Jesus came into my heart,
floods of joy o’er my soul
like the sea billows roll,
since Jesus came into my heart.
I shall go there to dwell in that City, I know,
since Jesus came into my heart!
And I’m happy, so happy, as onward I go,
since Jesus came into my heart!
Since Jesus came into my heart,
since Jesus came into my heart,
floods of joy o’er my soul
like the sea billows roll,
since Jesus came into my heart.
Benediction
Hymn: “Go Now In Peace”
Go now in peace, Never be afraid.
God will go with you each hour of ev-ry day.
Go now in faith, stead-fast, strong and true.
Know He will guide you in all you do.
Go now in love, and show you be-lieve.
Reach out to others so all the world can see.
God will be there watching from above.
Go now in peace, in faith, and in love.
Amen! Amen! Amen!
