Home-Based Worship for May 3, 2020

A reminder that our current church announcements are available here.

You are invited to join us for sharing and prayer on Zoom each Sunday morning at 11.  Simply click this link. This morning the Worship Committee plans to have some structured sharing and prayer time for the first thirty minutes, and then leave the zoom call open for more informal conversation afterwards.

You are encouraged to enter into worship in an intentional way this morning. That might mean creating a special worship space in your home, lighting a candle, or simply closing your eyes and taking a few deep breaths.

Welcome from Pastor Melissa

Greetings to you all! Like Paul writing to the churches far away, I long for a day when we can be together. We are blessed to be able to share in worship in this way for now.

My spiritual director likes to remind me to hold onto Jesus, especially in challenging times. I invite you to hold onto Jesus with me as we explore a month of Easter stories. What I notice about the end of all four gospels is that Jesus showed up unexpectedly but in ways that were powerfully reminiscent of the last three years. It was an in-between time, a liminal space between the resurrection and the ascension. In-between times are ripe for God to show up! In this in-between time, this month of Joanna’s sabbatical, let’s watch for God to show up in surprising ways.

Scripture: Philippians 1:3-11 (Read by Katie Hobson)

Hymn of Praise: The Strife is O’er the Battle Won
The Episcopal Virtual Choir and Orchestra with Andrea Zuercher participating! You can see her (in a blue shawl) at 1:05 and 2:20 (and maybe other times as well). You’re invited to sing along from the blue Hymnal: A Worship Book #263; note that there is a different fourth verse from the one in the hymnal.)

https://episcopalchurch.org/virtual-choir

verse 4: 
He closed the yawning gates of hell,
The bars from heaven's high portals fell;
Let hymns of praise his triumph tell! Alleluia!

Call to Worship

Congregational Prayer

How can we hold you in prayer  this week? Please consider sharing with the community by joining our 11:00 Zoom call, commenting below, or emailing Pastor Melissa.

As you pray, silently or aloud:

• Give God thanks for what is good and beautiful in your life and in the world right now.
• Pray for those who are struggling and suffering–include any prayer requests you know of from others in our church community and prayers for those impacted by COVID-19.
• Pray for God’s wisdom and guidance in your life.
• Conclude with the Lord’s Prayer, led here in American Sign Language

Hymn: Lift Your Glad Voices

You are invited to sing along with these Mennonites from Hatfield, PA. (#275 in the blue Hymnal: A Worship Book)

(text by Henry Ware, 1817)

Lift you glad voices in triumph on high,
for Jesus hath risen, and we shall not die.
Vain were the terrors that gathered around him,
and short the dominion of death and the grave.

He burst from the fetters of darkness that bound him,
resplendent in glory, to live and to save.
Loud was the chorus of angels on high,
the Savior hath risen, and we shall not die.

Glory to God, in full anthems of joy;
the being he gave us, death cannot destroy.
Sad were the life we may part with tomorrow,
if tears were our birthright, and death were our end.

But Jesus hath cheered the dark valley of sorrow,
and bade us, immortal, to heaven ascend.
Lift then your voices in triumph on high,
for Jesus hath risen, and we shall not die.

Scripture Reading: John 21:1-14 (Read by Katie Hobson)

Children’s Time: Anne Bailey

Sermon

Music for Prayer and Reflection: Lord, you have come to the Lakeshore

You’re invited to sing along from the blue Hymnal: A Worship Book #229, in English or Spanish. Note that this performance reverses the order of verses 2 and 3.

Offering

You are invited to mail your financial contributions to the church (615 Lincoln St., Lawrence, KS, 66044) or to the home of our treasurer, Roberta Renz (address in the church directory).

See the “How and Where to Give” section of our announcements page for information on giving to other organizations who need funding at this time.

Another way to contribute is by taking a photo of a place you enjoy walking (or finding one of somewhere you wish you could go walking) and email it to the church office or Pastor Melissa. We can enjoy a slideshow in next week’s worship!

Sending Hymn: You Shall Go Out With Joy (#427 in Hymnal: A Worship Book)

Benediction