Worship at Home

“God-Consciousness” Service Prayers

Worship at Home for 4th Sunday of Easter

May 3, 2020

Click on the Scripture references and the hymn titles to read the Scripture and hear the hymns.

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 23

CALL TO WORSHIP

Let us pray these familiar words, recognizing in the Risen Christ our Good Shepherd:

Jesus, You are our shepherd.

We shall never want.

You make us lie down in green pastures;

You lead us beside the still waters.

You restore our souls.

You guide us in the paths of righteousness for Your name’s sake.

Even though we may walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

we fear no evil, for You, Christ, comfort us.

Jesus has prepared a table for us in the presence of our foes;

Jesus has anointed us with the oil of salvation;

our cup runs over!

Surely, goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives,

And we will dwell in the house of our Holy Savior forever and ever. Amen.

INVOCATION

Incarnate God, You are the one who comes to us in Jesus Christ. Holy One, You are the one who comes to us in the Holy Spirit. Sovereign of Earth and Heaven, You are the one who calls us to recognize You today and every day as splendid Mystery. Gather our hearts and minds this day. Kindle our God-consciousness. Let us worship You in awe and wonder! Amen!

Hymn “Crown Him with Many Crowns”

SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 2:19-25

CONFESSION

Prayer of Confession

Merciful and Loving God, we ask forgiveness because our consciousness of You is dimmed by everyday desires and needs.

Raise our consciousness of You, O God.

We forget that we are a reflection of Your image. We act as though You are a Sunday-only event.

Increase our mindfulness of You, O God.

Help us to a greater common awareness of Your deep mystery and infinite presence.

Rouse our awareness of You, God.

Open our eyes from surface focus to depth perception. Turn our heads from shallow concerns to eternal truths.

Awaken us from faint-heartedness, O God.

Forgive us for our narrow and selfish ways. Save us from cheap grace with Your amazing grace.

Forgive us, O God.

We ask in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.

Pause to reflect and pray

Hymn “Create in Me a Clean Heart”

Words of Assurance

Holy, Forgiving God, we are Your sheep. You keep us awake and aware. You can increase our God-consciousness every day of our lives. We bless You and praise You for forgiving us when we are barely mindful enough to ask. Help us to enter by the door when we hear the voice of the Good Shepherd. We hear Your voice of pardon. Through Christ’s grace we are forgiven this morning, and we go in. Amen.

SPECIAL MUSIC: “The Anchor Holds” –Ray Boltz

Hymn “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us”

SCRIPTURE: Acts 2:42-47

John 10:1-10

Video Clip: John 10:1-18

MESSAGE “Is He from History or From Eternity?” from the series “The Jesus You May Not Know” by Dr. David Jeremiah

Hymn “Spirit Song”

PRAYER TIME

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. – Hebrews 4:16

What do you want to PRAISE GOD for?

What NEEDS do you want to bring to the throne of grace?

Hymn “He Knows My Name”

Personal & Intercessory Prayer

OFFERING

Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. – Proverbs 3:9–10

Invitation

Good Shepherd of the Sheep, You have opened the door to new life for us through Your dedication and Your sacrifice. May we reflect Your love for us by opening the doors of our hearts to You and Your church in the act of giving our tithes and offerings.

Please mail your tithes and offerings to the church at PO Box 535, Punxsutawney, PA 15767. Thank you for your faithfulness.

Hymn “His Name Is Wonderful”

Prayer of Dedication

Thank you, Risen Christ, for moving the hearts of the people to give of themselves. May our offerings of service and financial support give voice to Your work for justice and peace in this world. May we grow more mindful of You through our giving and our living. Amen.

BENEDICTION (from 1 Peter and John 10)

You are called for a purpose: for the sake of knowing and drawing close toward God a person bears up under sorrows.

We are not here by chance.

You are choice and precious in the sight of God, and as living stones, your lives are being built up into a spiritual sanctuary where the justice and mercy and peace of the Risen Christ may dwell.

We are not here by chance.

Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of my Hand.

Jesus, we are the sheep of Your pasture. You have chosen us. We have chosen You.

We are not here by chance. Amen.

Closing Hymn “Sanctuary”

“God-Consciousness: Service Prayers for Easter 4” was written and arranged by the Rev. Marilyn Kennedy Levine, a United Church of Christ pastor in the Northern Plains Conference. Adapted for Worship at Home (SPUCC website) by Michele Huey, lay pastor for St. Peter’s United Church of Christ, Punxsutawney, PA.

Copyright 2020 Justice and Local Church Ministries, Faith INFO Ministry Team, United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115-1100. Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education. All publishing rights reserved.

HYMNS AND SPECIAL MUSIC FROM PAST SERVICES TO BLESS YOU

“Rejoice, the Lord Is King!”

“Grace Greater than our Sin”

“Sometimes It Takes a Storm” (Jessica King)

“He’s Alive!” (Dolly Parton)

“My Faith Looks Up to Thee”

“Near to the Heart of God”

“Blessed Be the Lord, God Almighty”

“All Hail, King Jesus!”

“Shout to the Lord”

“Refiner’s Fire”

There Is a Redeemer”