Order of Worship, May 16, 2021
We are glad you are joining us for worship. Our services are held in the parking lot at Peace and also stream on Facebook Live on Sunday mornings at 10 am. If it is helpful, the order of worship is listed below.
First time visitors and guests are invited to sign our guest book.
Gathering Rite
PRELUDE
WELCOME
CALL TO WORSHIP (inspired by Psalm 98)
From the small to the great,
and from the great to the small,
sing to God,
for God has done marvelous things.
Left: Let the electrons circle their nuclei,
Right: Let the earth spin on its axis,
Left: Let the moons orbit the planets,
Right: Let the planets orbit the Sun,
Left: Let the Sun spiral in its galaxy,
Right: Let the galaxies revolve around their Creator,
All: Together for joy!
From the small to the great,
and from the great to the small,
sing to God,
for God has done marvelous things.
OPENING HYMN Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee
Rise, O Sun of righteousness;
with your might creation bless.
Shine upon your church today,
showing all your gentle way.
Have mercy, Lord.
Rouse our hearts from slumber deep;
may your word within us leap.
Give us voices to proclaim
praises to your holy name.
Have mercy, Lord.
Gather in your scattered flock;
give us water from the rock.
Bless the unity we share
in our shepherd's loving care.
Have mercy, Lord.
Burst the bars of stubborn pride;
make the heav'nly pathway wide.
Raise us up from sin and death
with your Spirit's living breath.
Have mercy, Lord.
Honor, praise, and glory be
to the holy Trinity!
May your gracious will be done:
make us one, as you are one.
Have mercy, Lord.
Text: Christian David, et al.; tr. Frank W. Stoldt, b. 1958
Text © 2003 Augsburg Fortress.
EASTER GREETING
Christ is Risen!
Christ is Risen Indeed, Alleluia!
SONG OF PRAISE Now the Feast and Celebration
Refrain
Now the feast and celebration,
all of creation sings for joy
to the God of life and love and freedom;
praise and glory forevermore!
1 Now is the feast of the Lamb once slain,
whose blood has freed and united us
to be one great people of God. Refrain
2 Power and riches, wisdom and might,
all honor and glory to Christ forever. Refrain
3 For God has come to dwell with us,
to make us people of God;
to make all things new. Refrain
PRAYER OF THE DAY
SHARING THE WORD
PSALM
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Speak Oh Lord,
Your Servant is Listening.
You have the Words of Eternal Life
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
GOSPEL
MESSAGE
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
SHARING THE MEAL
SHARING OF THE PEACE
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
SPECIAL MUSIC/OFFERING
Everything we have is a gift of our generous God. Our offering is a way to respond to that generosity. You can safely and securely make a gift to the church online by clicking the button below. You can also leave your offering in the offering plate by the usher stand.
You can also mail a check to the church at 401 Smallwood Drive, Waldorf MD 20602.
https://flowto.it/PnlrAwDW?fc=0
OFFERING PRAYER
God of Marvelous things,
Let the fervent prayers, the lofty hopes, the quiet determination of these people and these gifts be our song, our hymn of praise to you, you who are doing such marvelous things! And may the power of your Holy Spirit turn this unfinished work, this earnest but not-quite-sufficient music, into a great symphony of praise until you come again. We pray this in Jesus' name.
Amen
The Great Thanksgiving
Holy, living, and loving God,
we praise you for creating the heavens and the earth.
We bless you for bringing Noah and his family through the waters of the flood,
for freeing your people Israel from the bonds of slavery,
and for sending your Son to be our Redeemer.
We give you thanks for Jesus
who, living among us,
healed the sick,
fed the hungry,
and with a love stronger than death,
gave his life for others.
In the night in which he was betrayed,
our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,
and gave it for all to drink, saying:
This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
Remembering, therefore,
his life-giving death and glorious resurrection,
we await your promised life for all this dying world.
Breathe your Spirit on us and on this bread and cup:
carry us in your arms from death to life,
that we may live as your chosen ones,
clothed in the righteousness of Christ.
Through him all glory and honor is yours,
Almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit,
in your holy Church,
both now and forever.
Amen
The Lord's Prayer
Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power
and the glory are yours,
now and forever. Amen.
Distribution of Holy Communion
If you are worshipping in your home, you are invited to take communion with us. You will need bread and wine/juice or water. If you are in a group, after the pastor has blessed the elements, you can take turns offering bread and then wine/juice to one another saying ‘this is the body of Christ’ and ‘this is the blood of Christ.’ If you are watching on your own, the pastor will lift the wafer saying ‘this is the body of Christ’ and then the cup saying ‘this is the blood of Christ’. These words are for you, take the bread and wine/juice that you have knowing that they are blessed and Christ is truly present in them.
Post Communion Prayer
Wellspring of joy,
through this meal you have put gladness in our hearts.
Satisfy the hunger still around us,
and send us as joyful witnesses,
that your love may bring joy to the hearts of all people,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Sending
The Blessing
The ocean roars.
The floods clap the shores.
The wind sings over the hills.
God is love and grace,
and God pours love and grace into the world.
And with God’s help, we are about to do the same.
Go now, good people,
to roar, clap, and sing,
and to give everything you’ve got,
together for joy,
in the name of the Creator,
the Sustainer, and the Redeemer,
Amen
Announcements
Postlude
Scripture reading is from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All music reprinted and streamed under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies License SAS005184 and ONE LICENSE A-728127. Great Thanksgiving and Offering Prayer from Sundays & Seasons (SAS005184) and other liturgical elements are from 'The Salt Project' and used by permission.