Worship April 11, 2021; The Second Sunday of Easter

Download Mt. Tabor Bulletin 4-11-2021 E2 (Booklet) here

Download Trout Lake Bulletin 04-11-2021 E2 (Booklet) here

THE GATHERING

Welcome and Announcements

Gathering with Bowl and Flame

Gathering Song/Mt. Tabor Prelude: “Seek Ye First” ~ Steve LaFollette MTPC 9:00 AM; Pastor Scott TL 10:45 AM

Prelude: “Because He Lives” arr. Fred Bock ~ Trout Lake 10:45 AM

Call to Worship ~ From Psalm 133:1-3

How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head, running down upon the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down over the collar of his robes.
It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion.
For there the LORD ordained his blessing, life for evermore.

Let us pray together:

Prayer of the Day    

Breathe in this place, O Lord, by the power of your Holy Spirit, to open our minds, unlock our hearts, and enliven our faith so that we may welcome the risen one among us. Amen.

Song of Praise: “Bind Us Together, Lord” ~ Steve LaFollette MTPC 9:00 AM

Hymn of Praise #254 “That Easter Day with Joy Was Bright”  ~ Trout Lake 10:45 AM

Invitation to Healing

Whatever good we may have done is nothing compared to the righteousness of Christ. Whatever wrong we may have done is nothing compared to the grace of God.  With faith in Christ’s righteousness and confidence in God’s grace, let us confess our sin, let go, let God, and be healed again.

Prayer of Wholeness

Loving God, you have planted us like a vineyard on a fertile hill.  You cleared away the stones, planted us with choice vines, and kept watch over us by night and day. But we have not yielded the good fruit that you expected or desired. We are overgrown with sin, choked with violence and injustice.  Forgive us, we pray.  Uproot our evil, prune away our sin, and shower upon us the gift of your grace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

                                                    Please continue in silent prayer

Kyrie: Hymn #437 “You Are the Lord, Giver of Mercy” ~ Trout Lake, 10:45 AM

Assurance of Pardon and Passing of the Peace

Friends, believe this Good News: God is One and God is Three – Love constantly flowing in, out, and through; the gift of Jesus Christ for me and for you. For this we say: Thanks be to God!

Since God has loved us through Christ, let us love one another. Please share a sign of peace with those with whom you are worshiping.

Hymn of Response #591: “Halle, Halle, Halle” (Chorus only – 2x) ~ Pastor Scott Trout Lake, 10:45 AM

Celebrating Joys and where we have seen God at work

Hymn: #628 “Praise, I Will Praise You, Lord” ~ Pastor Scott Trout Lake, 10:45 AM

THE WORD

Prayer of Illumination:

God of all who doubt and all who believe, by the gift of your Spirit enable us to hear with our ears, to see with our eyes, and to touch with our hands your Word of life – Jesus Christ – our Lord and our God. Amen.

First Reading: Acts 4:32-35

“The Word of the Lord” “Thanks be to God”

Epistle Reading: 1 John 1:1-2:2 ~ Trout Lake, 10:45 AM

“The Word of the Lord” “Thanks be to God”

Gospel Reading: John 20:19-31

“The Gospel of the Lord” “Praise to you O Christ”

Message: “Through the Doors” ~ Pastor Scott Crane

                    Please spend several moments in silent reflection

RESPONSE TO THE WORD

Hymn: #255 “O Sons and Daughters, Let Us Sing”

Affirmation of Faith: ~ Adapted from the Confession of 1967

New life in Christ takes shape in a community in which people know that God loves and accepts them in spite of what they are.  They therefore accept themselves and love others, knowing that no one has any ground on which to stand, except God’s grace.

Intercessory Prayers of the People

Call and response: “Lord, in your mercy,” “Hear our prayers.”

The Lord’s Prayer “…debts…debtors…”

Invitation to Present Our Offerings with Thanksgiving

Members, friends, and guests: Thank you for your commitment and your generosity during this past year! Your continued tithing practice and stewardship of our life together is precious. You can send checks made out to First Presbyterian Church, PO Box 210, Trout Lake, WA  98650.

An Offering of Thanksgiving with Poetry or Song: “Easter Sunday” ~ George Herbert

Rise heart; thy Lord is risen. Sing his praise

Without delays,

Who takes thee by the hand, that thou likewise

With him mayst rise.

That, as his death calcined thee to dust,

His life may make thee gold, and much more just.

 

Awake, my lute, and struggle for thy part

With all thy art.

The cross taught all wood to resound his name,

Who bore the same.

His stretched sinews taught all strings, what key

Is best to celebrate this most high day.

 

Consort both heart and lute, and twist a song

Pleasant and long:

Or since all music is but three parts vied

And multiplied;

O let thy blessed Spirit bear a part,

And make up our defects with his sweet art.

 

I got me flowers to straw thy way:

I got me boughs off many a tree:

But thou wast up by break of day,

And brought’st thy sweets along with thee.

 

The Sun arising in the East,

Though he gave light, and th’East perfume;

If they should offer to contest

With thy arising, they presume.

 

Can there be any day but this,

Though many suns to shine endeavor?

We count three hundred, but we miss:

There is but one, and that one ever.[1]

Prayer of Dedication:

Holy God, we give you thanks and praise for light, life and love, and, above all, the presence of the living Lord among us. By your Spirit who breathes within us, strengthen our faith, use our gifts, and work in our lives to bear witness to the resurrection of Christ our Lord, in whose name we pray. Amen.

SENDING

Closing Hymn #545 “Lord, Bid Your Servant Go in Peace” ~ Trout Lake 10:45 AM

Charge:

Let your life be a sign of Christ’s life so that others may come to believe that the Lord is risen indeed.

Benediction:

May the steadfast love of God, the abundant grace of Jesus Christ, and the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit be with you and in your life forevermore. Friends, this worship has ended, let our service begin.

Congregational Song “The Servant Song” ~ Steve LaFollette MTPC 9:00 AM

Congregational Song “Let There Be Peace on Earth” ~ Trout Lake 10:45 AM

 

Questions for Reflection

It all happened on Sunday. It was on “the first day of the week” (John 20:19)—the same day Jesus rose from the dead (John 20:1)—when the risen Lord appeared to a group of disciples in a locked house and offered them the gift of the Holy Spirit. Then, one week later (John 20:26), Jesus came again to the disciples (still shut inside the house), this time allowing Thomas to see and touch his hands and side. Think about the place where you gather for worship on Sunday. Is it open to the surprising presence of Christ and the liberating gifts of the Spirit? (If not, does the Spirit still move? Does Jesus show up anyway?) Are there times when your questions and doubts grow deeper? Are there times when your faith is strengthened and renewed?

Household Prayer: Morning

God of light, I praise you for the gift of this new day.  By the power of your Spirit enable me to live in your light and seek the holy fellowship of Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

Household Prayer: Evening

Be with me, Lord Jesus, at the evening of this day.  Enter into my heart and fill it with your peace so that I may rejoice and rest in your presence. Amen.

[1] George Herbert, “Easter Sunday” in Malcolm Guite, The Word in the Wilderness: A Poem a Day for Lent and Easter (London, England: Canterbury Press Norwich, 2014), 170-171.