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Order of Worship
Let us be as open vessels that God’s spirit may enter.
The Community Gathers: Experience God’s presence in the assembly. Please greet one another with joy and welcome new friends into our community of love.
You are welcome here…come and worship!
Focus: “If you wish to know the divine, feel the wind on your face and the warm sun on your hand.” The Buddha
Welcome:
Call To Worship:
Leader: At the beginning of the day, at the beginning of the week, the faithful yet fearful people gathered together. It was then that the Spirit of God came among them and whispered:
People: Peace be with you.
Leader: Their hearts skipped a beat as they double checked that the lock on the front door was still latched. So the Presence of God spoke a little louder:
People: Peace be with you.
Leader: They looked around at each other, puzzled, amazed, befuddled, and bewildered. Some smiled. Some doubted. Some wondered if it were just too magical sounding or too good to be true. So the Christ showed them that his own scars were not the end of the story and that is when the words of God began to feel joyous:
People: Peace be with you.
Leader: From that day on, the people of God repeated the words to one another when they gathered. From one generation to the next, they exchanged the words as a greeting to one another to remember that Holy interruption to fear:
People: Peace be with you!
Gathering Music: Peace (by Horace Silver) -Chris Humphrey
Opening Prayer:
Generous God, we thank you for your presence with us in all our lives. As we gather this morning, we are reminded of the many times we have doubted and feared. Today banish our fears with the memory of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Remind us again that through all our troubles, doubts, and fears, your power, mercy and love are with us. Amen.
Lord’s Prayer
Opening Hymn: Make Me A Channel of Your Peace #753
A Time for the Young and Young at Heart:
Readings and Scripture: Acts 4:32-35 • 1 John 1:1-5
–Ada Goff
Gospel: John 20:19-31 -Rev. Dick Bennett
Sermon: Practice, Practice, Practice -Rev. Dick Bennett
Music: Meditative Instrumental ~ A Quiet Place (by Ralph Carmichael) -Chris Humphrey
Musical call to Prayer: (two times) Hush now in quiet peace, be still your mind at ease. The Spirit brings release, so wait upon the Lord.
Prayers of the People
Silent Prayers Pastoral Prayer
Offertory: Simple Gifts (Joseph Brackett) -Chris Humphrey
Doxology: Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise God all creatures here below. Praise God above ye heavenly hosts, Cre-ator, Christ and Holy Ghost. Amen
Closing Music: Let There Be Peace On Earth (SY Miller/Jill Jackson) (See Lyric Insert)
Benediction:
At the beginning of the day, at the beginning of the week,
when the faithful yet fearful people gathered together,
Jesus came among them and whispered an invitation, “Peace be with you.” But that was only the beginning. He showed them the scars and marks of his own humanity
and soon he was pointing at theirs as well, telling them
“Just as God once sent me, so I send you.”
Beloved People of God, this hour is only the beginning.
Do not be afraid. You have been called and you are being
sent into this world to be a force of love, light, hope, and joy.
Go forth into this day and into the world in the name
of God, the one who creates you; go in the name of
Jesus who shows us the way; and go in the name of the
Holy Spirit, who is with us now and always.
Postlude: Go In Peace
Let There Be Peace On Earth (Lyrics)
Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me
Let there be peace on earth the peace that was mean’t to be
**With God our Creator we are family
Let us walk with each other in perfect harmony
Let peace begin with me let this be the moment now
With every step I take let this be my solemn vow
To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally
Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me
REPEAT **
Announcements:
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo Saturday May 6th 5:30 – appetizers / 6:15 – dinner Bring your Muchachos! Wear A Sombrero, por favor! Chefs: Peter & Eve McPheeters. Guacamole, chips & salsa, Chicken Enchiladas Choose: Regular Chicken or Vegetarian Pinto Beans/Green Rice and Chocolate Bread Pudding BYO Beverage $ 20.00 RSVP – Cynthia @ 286-7776 ASAP charchibald@me.com Please specify number attending AND regular or mild or vegetarian Fire Barn, Biddeford Pool Sponsored by Union Church.
Plant Sale: Volunteers needed to help with a plant sale at the home of Nancy Bancroft, 2 Courtlynn Circle, Saco on Saturday, May 20th, Rain date May 27th. She is also seeking empty plant containers.
Yard Sale: Saturday, May 27th at the home of the McPheeters. Quality donations and volunteers welcome! Please contact Eve, Bonnie Tallagnon or Cris Hudson FMI.
Seeds of Hope Walk: Saturday, June 3rd. A Team from Union Church will walk together.
Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner: Saturday, June 17th. Sign up at church. FMI, contact Pastor Paula.
(*Please see the Weekly Email Message for more info on all of the above!)
“Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby.”
Langston Hughes
“Tranquility, serenity, and beauty of nature taught me how to find happiness in life and in the silence of eternity.”
Debasish Mridha