Sunday, May 11, 2025
Worship Outline – The Rev. Dan West
Prelude God Bless The Mothers
(All rights reserved. Used with permission. Donald Lee Moore.)
Gathering Song Come Touch Our Hearts
(All rights reserved. Used with permission. Gordon Light)
Welcome and Announcements
Call to Worship
With all those in heaven and on earth, let us say together:
Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!
Let us praise God with joyful hearts:
We come before the throne of God to worship day and night.
Called together by the Holy Spirit, let us rejoice and sing:
We will hunger and thirst no more; Christ brings eternal life.
*Hymn # 434 For The Beauty Of The Earth
1. For the beauty of the earth,
for the beauty of the skies,
for the love which from our birth
over and around us lies,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our sacrifice of praise.
2. For the beauty of each hour
of the day and of the night,
hill and vale, and tree and flower,
sun and moon and stars of light,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our sacrifice of praise.
3. For the joy of ear and eye,
for the heart and mind’s delight,
for the mystic harmony
linking sense to sound and sight,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our sacrifice of praise.
4. For the joy of human love,
brother, sister, parent, child,
friends on earth and friends above,
for all gentle thoughts and mild,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our sacrifice of praise.
5. For each perfect gift of thine,
to the earth so freely given,
graces human and divine,
flowers of earth and buds of heaven,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
this our sacrifice of praise.
Prayer of Adoration and Confession
The Lord’s Prayer
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 forever. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
*Hymn #485 Saviour Like A Shepherd Lead Me
1. Saviour, like a shepherd lead us:
much we need your tender care;
in your pleasant pastures feed us;
for our use your folds prepare:
blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
you have bought us; yours we are.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
you have bought us; yours we are.
2. We are yours; in love befriend us;
be the guardian of our way;
keep your flock from sin, defend us;
seek us when we go astray:
blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
hear your children when we pray.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
hear your children when we pray.
3. Let us always seek your favour;
let us always do your will.
Jesus Christ our only Saviour,
with yourself our spirits fill:
blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
you have loved us; love us still.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
you have loved us; love us still.
Children’s Time
Anthem Blue-Green Hills of Earth
Soprano: Lynne Geddes
Tenor: Andy Fraser
Piano: John Low
(Congregation to join in on the last verse.)
For the earth for ever turning,
for the skies, for every sea,
to our Lord we sing returning
home to our blue-green hills of earth.
(repeat)
(All rights reserved. Used with permission. Kim Oler. Arr. Paul Halley.)
Scripture Readings
Epistle Reading
Acts 9:36-43
36 Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. 37 At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter got up and went with them, and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40 Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. 41 He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. 42 This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 Meanwhile, he stayed in Joppa for some time with a certain Simon, a tanner.
Responsive Psalm 23 (unison)
Refrain # 1
The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want.
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 The Lord makes me lie down in green pastures;
leads me beside still waters;
3 restores my soul,
and leads me in right paths
for the sake of the Lord’s name.
Refrain # 1
The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff – they comfort me.
Refrain # 1
The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for the length of my days.
Refrain # 1
The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want.
Gospel Reading
John 10:22-30
22 At that time the Festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me, 26 but you do not believe because you do not belong to my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, in regard to what he has given me, is greater than all, and no one can snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.”
Response to the Word of God
Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God for this word to us today.
*Hymn #517 See Israel’s Gentle Shepherd Stand
1. See Israel’s gentle Shepherd stand
with all engaging charms;
hark how he calls the tender lambs,
and folds them in his arms.
2. “Permit them to approach,”
he cries, “nor scorn their humble name,
for ‘twas to bless such souls as these
the Lord of angels came.”
3. We bring them, Lord, in thankful hands,
and yield them up to thee;
joyful that we ourselves are thine;
thine let our children be.
Sermon Show Us Plainly Who You Are
Offering
Offertory Salem
(All rights reserved. Used with permission. William Medlen Hutchings.)
Doxology All Things Are Yours
All things are yours,
We make that true
When we return our gifts to you.
And so we give, and so we share.
In Christ’s strong name expressing care.
(All rights reserved. Used with permission. Worship & Rejoice # 687.)
Offertory Prayer
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
*Hymn #635 Brother, Sister, Let Me Serve You
1. Brother, sister, let me serve you;
let me be as Christ to you;
pray that I may have the grace
to let you be my servant too.
2. We are pilgrims on a journey,
and companions on the road;
we are here to help each other
walk the mile and bear the load.
3. I will hold the Christ-light for you
in the night-time of your fear;
I will hold my hand out to you,
speak the peace you long to hear.
4. I will weep when you are weeping;
when you laugh I’ll laugh with you;
I will share your joy and sorrow,
till we’ve see this journey through.
5. When we sing to God in heaven,
we shall find such harmony,
born of all we’ve known together
of Christ’s love and agony.
6. Brother, sister, let me serve you;
let me be as Christ to you;
pray that I may have the grace to
let you be my servant too.
*Benediction
Go Make A Difference
Go make a diff’rence.
We can make a diff’rence.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.
Go make a diff’rence.
We can make a diff’rence.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.
1. We are the salt of the earth,
called to let the people see
the love of God for you and me.
We are the light of the world,
not to be hidden but be seen.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.
Go make a diff’rence.
We can make a diff’rence.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.
Go make a diff’rence.
We can make a diff’rence.
Go make a diff’rence in the world.
(All rights reserved. Used with permission. More Voices #209.)
Postlude Fugue
(All rights reserved. Used with permission. Abraham Vanden Kerckhoven.)
Next Week’s Scripture Readings
Acts 11:1-18
Psalm 148
John 13:31-35