WELCOME TO EMMANUEL UNITED CHURCH

ORDER FOR WORSHIP

 10:00 am Sunday May 6, 2012

We use two hymn books:  VU means Voices United (Red Hymnbook)   MV means More Voices (Coiled Hymnbook)

A clipboard for prayer concerns will be circulated, if you wish, add a line, printing clearly, then pass it on.  Also available in the narthex before each service.

WE GATHER IN GOD’S PRESENCE

Centering Prayer

God, as the branches are connected to the vine in every way that is possible, so are we connected to you. As the vine is connected to the earth from which it receives life, so are we, through you to all that you have created. May we always know this truth. Amen.

Gathering Music

Welcome

Kindling the Light of Christ

The Christ Candle symbolizes the presence of Christ’s Spirit, alive in our midst, this day and every day.

Hymn:        Come, Let Us Sing                                      VU# 222                                                          

The Life and Work of the Church

Introit:    Lead Me, God                                                  VU#662

               Lead me, God, lead me in your righteousness,

               make your way plain before my face.

               For it is you, and you, God only,

               who makes me to dwell in safety.

Call to Worship: (seated)

One:        God has given us this beautiful earth, all that grows, all that lives upon it.

All:         Thanks be to God.  

One:        God has given us breath to live and spirit to sing.

All:         Thanks be to God.

One:        God has gathered us into a community of care and worship.

All:         Let us worship with love and thanksgiving.

Prayer of Approach (seated) (printed on the back cover of the bulletin)

The Lord’s Prayer

All:         Our Father, who art in heaven,

               hallowed be thy name.

               Thy kingdom come,

               thy will be done

               on earth as it is in heaven.

               Give us this day our daily bread;

               and forgive us our trespasses,

               as we forgive those who trespass against us.

               And lead us not into temptation,

               but deliver us from evil:

               for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory,

               for ever and ever. Amen.

Emmanubells:   Joy in the Morning                        - Natalie Sleeth

arr. Martha Lynn Thompson

Commissioning of Pilgrims to Israel/Palestine

Blessing: (seated)   We Are Pilgrims (Vs. 1)                   VU # 595

               We are pilgrims on a journey,

               fellow travellers on the road;

               we are here to help each other

               walk the mile and bear the load.

WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD FOR US

The Young People’s Story and Prayer           

Hymn:     Tell Me the Stories of Jesus                          VU# 357

(Children leave for Sunday School)

The First Lesson:        John 15:1-8

(from NRSV – New Revised Standard Version)

The Responsive Lesson:     Psalm 22:23-31 (parts 3 & 4)

                                VU#746, Refrain before and after

Anthem:        Shine Jesus Shine                  - Kedrick/arr. Schrader

The New Testament Lesson:   A Retelling of Acts 8:26-40

                                                                  By the Ethiopian Court Official

Sermon         Holding the Door Open

Hymn:      Go Forth for God                                           VU# 418 

WE RESPOND TO GOD

The Prayers of the People

Reception of New Members

Hymn:  Come In, Come In and Sit Down

(Vs. 1 & Chorus)                                                    VU#395

                 You know the reason why you came,

                 yet no reason can explain;

                 so share in the laughter and cry in the pain,

                 for we are a part of the family.

Chorus:  Come in, come in and sit down,

                 you are a part of the family.

                 We are lost and we are found,

                 and we are a part of the family.

The Presentation of Tithes and Offerings 

Dedication: : He Came Singing Love (Vs. 1)         VU #  359

               He came singing love and he lived singing love;

               he died singing love.

               He arose in silence.

               For the love to go on we must make it our song;

               you and I be the singers.

Offertory Prayer   

Hymn: We Shall Go Out with Hope of Resurrection    VU# 586     

Commissioning, Benediction     

Choral Closing          Go Now In Peace - Price/Besig

Postlude     

(If you wish to leave during the postlude, please do so quietly).

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Prayer circle:  following the service, we invite anyone who would like someone to pray with them, to come forward to the area at the front right under the stained glass windows. 

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Ecumenical Prayer Partner:  Through every week of the year our prayers affirm our solidarity with neighbours all over the world. This week we pray for North Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda .

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Music reproduced with permission under license #C16811 LicenSing Online.