Worship Guide
April 24, 2022
Second Sunday of Easter
Creating Disciples of Jesus who Transform the World
ENTRANCE WITH PRAISE
Greetings:
Minister: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!
People: And also with you!
Special Music: “Remember” Meagan
Centering Words:
Do not fear your doubts. Mother Teresa, John of the Cross, and other spiritual giants were tormented by doubt during their lives. Doubt is a pathway to a deeper, richer faith-a faith where we can say with Thomas, “My Lord and my God!”
*Call to Worship:
Leader: Praise the Lord.
People:Praise God in the sanctuary. Worship God in the mighty firmament.
Leader: Let everything that breathes praise the Lord.
People: Praise God with trumpet and horn. Worship God with lute and harp.
Leader: Let the people of God sing their praise.
People: Praise God with tambourine and dance. Worship God with strings and pipes.
Leader: Let the faithful join the strain.
People: Praise God with clashing cymbals. Praise God with beating drums.
Leader: Let us praise the Lord as we pray.
ALL: Eternal God, who was and is and is to come, you are the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and end of all things. Come to us now in visions and dreams, that our eyes may see more than they see, and our hearts may love more than they love. Make yourself known to us in this time of worship, for in you, we live and move and have our being. Bring your kingdom here on earth, that all may know your glory and find the courage to face each day. We ask this in the name of the one who conquered the grave to bring us eternal life. Amen.
Hymn: “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus”
'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
and to take him at his word;
just to rest upon his promise,
and to know, “Thus says the Lord!"
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him!
How I’ve proved him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust him more!
O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
just to trust his cleansing blood;
and in simple faith to plunge me
’neath the healing, cleansing flood!
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him!
How I’ve proved him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust him more!
Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
just from sin and self to cease;
just from Jesus simply taking
life and rest, and joy and peace.
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him!
How I’ve proved him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust him more!
I’m so glad I learned to trust thee,
precious Jesus, Savior, friend;
and I know that thou art with me,
wilt be with me to the end.
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him!
How I’ve proved him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust him more!
PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD
Words of Assurance
God has the power to heal us. Christ has the love to save us.
The Spirit has the strength to free us. These gifts are graciously given, even in the midst of our doubts.
God is here to lead us deeper, and show us the way home.
Praise be to God. Amen
*Gospel Reading: John 20:19-31
19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
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: “Show and Tell”
Hymn: “Trust and Obey”
When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey,
for there’s no other way
to be happy in Jesus,
but to trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear,
not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief or a loss,
not a frown or a cross,
but is blessed if we trust and obey.
Trust and obey,
for there’s no other way
to be happy in Jesus,
but to trust and obey.
But we never can prove
the delights of his love
until all on the altar we lay;
for the favor he shows,
for the joy he bestows,
are for them who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey,
for there’s no other way
to be happy in Jesus,
but to trust and obey.
Then in fellowship sweet
we will sit at his feet,
or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
what he says we will do,
where he sends we will go;
never fear, only trust and obey.
Trust and obey,
for there’s no other way
to be happy in Jesus,
but to trust and obey.
Sermon: “We Are Witnesses” Acts 5:27-32
27 When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. 30 The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
Hymn: “Love Divine, All Love Excelling”
Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heaven to earth come down;
fix in us thy humble dwelling;
all thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, thou art all compassion,
pure unbounded love Thou art;
visit us with thy salvation;
enter every trembling heart.
Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit,
into every troubled breast!
let us all in thee inherit;
let us find that second rest.
Take away our bent to sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
end of faith, as its beginning,
set our hearts at liberty.
Come, Almighty to deliver,
let us all thy life receive;
suddenly return and never,
never more thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray and praise thee without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.
Finish, then, thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see thy great salvation
perfectly restored in thee;
changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.
Psalter: Psalm 150
1 Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise God in his mighty firmament!
2 Praise God for his mighty deeds;
praise God for his exceeding greatness!
3 Praise God with trumpet sound;
praise God with lute and harp!
4 Praise God with tambourine and dance;
praise God with strings and pipe!
5 Praise God with sounding cymbals;
praise God with loud clashing cymbals!
6 Let everything that breathes praise the
Lord!
Praise the Lord!
“Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow”
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen
Prayers of the People Joys and concerns:
Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer
SENDING FORTH
Hymn: “Days of Elijah”
These are the days of Elijah,
declaring the Word of the Lord.
And these are the days
of your servant, Moses;
righteousness being restored.
And though these are days of great trials,
of famine and darkness and sword,
still we are the voice in the desert crying
"Prepare ye the way of the Lord."
Behold he comes riding on the clouds,
shining like the sun at the trumpet call.
So lift your voice, it's the year of Jubilee.
And out of Zion's hill salvation comes.
These are the days of Ezekiel,
the dry bones becoming as flesh.
And these are the days
of your servant, David,
rebuilding the temple of praise.
And these are the days of the harvest;
the fields are as white in the world.
And we are the laborers in your vineyard
declaring the Word of the Lord.
Behold he comes riding on the clouds,
shining like the sun at the trumpet call.
So lift your voice, it's the year of Jubilee.
And out of Zion's hill salvation comes.
Behold he comes riding on the clouds,
shining like the sun at the trumpet call.
So lift your voice, it's the year of Jubilee.
And out of Zion's hill salvation comes.
Behold he comes riding on the clouds,
shining like the sun at the trumpet call.
So lift your voice, it's the year of Jubilee.
And out of Zion's hill salvation comes.
So lift your voice,
it's the year of Jubilee.
And out of Zion's hill salvation comes.
Benediction
