ORDER OF WORSHIP FOR
THE FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH
215 MIDDLE ROAD, HAZLET, NJ 07730
(* indicates to stand if you are able)
Sunday, May 2; Fifth Sunday of Easter
VOTUM AND SALUTATION
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP (Adapted from John 15:1-8)
Leader: Jesus is the vine;
People: And God is the vinegrower.
Leader: He removes every branch that bears no fruit;
People: Every branch that bears fruit he prunes, to make them grow more fruit.
Leader: You have already been cleansed by the Word that Christ has spoken to you.
People: We abide in Jesus, as he abides in us.
Leader: Jesus is the vine and we are the branches;
People: Apart from Jesus we can do nothing.
Leader: If we abide in him, and his words abide in us, we can ask anything, and it will be given.
All: God is glorified by this - to God be the glory!
PRAYER OF PRESENCE
All: Holy Lord, we put all our faith in you. In brightest days and darkest nights we look to you. You love us at our best and at our worst. Be with us this morning as we gather together in your worship. Bless us in our prayers, in our songs, and in our sharing of your Holy Word. We ask this blessing in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
HYMN OF PRAISE “Sing Praise to the Lord” (verses 1, 3 & 4)
Sing praise to the Lord, come sing a new song.
Amid all his saints his praises prolong.
The praise of their Maker, his people shall sing,
And children of Zion rejoice in their King.
In glory exult, you saints of the Lord.
With songs in the night high praises record.
Go forth in his service, be strong in his might
To conquer all evil and stand for the right.
For this is God's word: his saints shall not fail,
But over the earth their power shall prevail.
All kingdoms and nations shall yield to their sword -
Thus God shows his glory; sing praise to the Lord!
PASSING OF THE PEACE
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
All: Holy God of grace and mercy, hear our prayer. Though we are branches of your vine, we do not see our connection to you. You extend your promise to all, but we seek to cut off and exclude. You created us out of love, and we respond with anger. Forgive us, Lord. Sanctify us by your love. Cast out our fears. And help us to love each other as you have loved us. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
(Responsive Hymn) - Hear our prayer O Lord. Hear our prayer O Lord. Incline thine ear to us, and grant us Thy peace. Amen.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE (Romans 14:17-18a)
All: “The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God.”
*Gloria Patri: Glory be to The Father
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
World without end, Amen, Amen.
SUMMARY OF THE LAW – Matthew 22:35-40
“One of [the Sadducees], an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?' Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments.'”
HYMN FOR ILLUMINATION (seated) “Spirit of the Living God” Verse 1
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me;
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SERMON HYMN “He Leadeth Me, O Blessed Thought” (verses 1 & 3)
He leadeth me, O blessed thought, O words with heavenly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, whate’er I be, still ‘tis God’s hand that leadeth me.
He leadeth me, he leadeth me, by his own hand he leadeth me!
His faithful follower I would be, for by his hand he leadeth me.
And when my task on earth is done, when by thy grace the victory’s won,
E’en deaths’ cold wave I will not flee, since God through Jordan leadeth me.
He leadeth me, he leadeth me, by his own hand he leadeth me!
His faithful follower I would be, for by his hand he leadeth me.
SCRIPTURE READINGS – Acts 8:26-40
THE MORNING MESSAGE - “The Grinders“
*OFFERTORY PRAYER AND DOXOLOGY
*APOSTLES CREED
I believe in God the Father, almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord;
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
Born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, dead, and buried.
The third day he rose from the dead
He ascended into heaven
And sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
From thence he shall come to judge the quick 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.
CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
Let us break bread together on our knees; Let us break bread together on our knees.
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun, O Lord have mercy on me.
Let us drink wine together on our knees; Let us drink wine together on our knees.
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun, O Lord have mercy on me.
Let us praise God together on our knees; Let us praise God together on our knees.
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun, O Lord have mercy on me.
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts!
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Holy and right it is, and our joyful duty
to give thanks to you at all times and in all places,
O Lord our Creator,
almighty and everlasting God!
You created heaven with all its hosts and the earth with all its plenty.
You have given us life and being,
and preserve us by your providence.
But you have shown us the fullness of your love
in sending into the world your Son, Jesus Christ,
the eternal Word, made flesh for us and for our salvation.
For the precious gift of this mighty Savior who has reconciled us to you
we praise and bless you, O God.
With your whole Church on earth and with all the company of heaven
we worship and adore your glorious name.
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest!
Most righteous God,
we remember in this Supper
the perfect sacrifice offered once on the cross by our Lord Jesus Christ
for the sin of the whole world.
In the joy of his resurrection and in expectation of his coming again,
we offer ourselves to you as holy and living sacrifices.
Together we proclaim the mystery of the faith:
Christ has died!
Christ is risen!
Christ will come again!
Send your Holy Spirit upon us, we pray,
that the bread which we break and the cup which we bless
may be to us the communion of the body and blood of Christ.
Grant that, being joined together in him,
we may attain to the unity of the faith
and grow up in all things into Christ our Lord.
And as this grain has been gathered from many fields into one loaf,
and these grapes from many hills into one cup,
grant, O Lord, that your whole Church
may soon be gathered from the ends of the earth into your kingdom.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Brothers and sisters,
since the Lord has now fed us at his Table,
let us praise God’s holy name with heartfelt thanksgiving!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and do not forget all his benefits--
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the Pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.
The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion for his children,
so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him,
who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all,
and will also give us all things with him.
Therefore shall my mouth and heart show forth the praise of the Lord,
from this time forth forevermore. Amen.
JOYS & CONCERNS – MORNING PRAYER – THE LORD’S PRAYER
(Lord’s Prayer – “sins / those who sin against us”)
CLOSING HYMN “Fear Not, Rejoice and Be Glad” (verses 1, 2, & 4)
Fear not, rejoice and be glad, the Lord has done a great thing:
Has poured out his Spirit on all who live, on those who confess his name.
The fig tree is budding, the vine bearing fruit,the wheatfields are golden with grain.
Thrust in the sickle, the harvest is ripe, the Lord has given us rain.
Fear not, rejoice and be glad, the Lord has done a great thing:
Has poured out his Spirit on all who live, on those who confess his name.
We shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, the mountains will drip with sweet wine.
“My children shall drink of the fountain of life, my children will know they are mine.”
Fear not, rejoice and be glad, the Lord has done a great thing:
Has poured out his Spirit on all who live, on those who confess his name.
His children shall dwell in a body of love, a light to the world they will be.
Life shall come forth from the Father above, his Word shall set each of us free.
Fear not, rejoice and be glad, the Lord has done a great thing:
Has poured out his Spirit on all who live, on those who confess his name.
*CLOSING PRAYER & BENEDICTION
*CHORAL POSTLUDE: "Lord, Dismiss Us with your Blessing"
Lord, dismiss us with your blessing; fill our hearts with joy and peace;
Let us each, your love possessing, triumph in redeeming grace;
O direct us and protect us, traveling through this wilderness.
THE FAITH COMMUNITY CHURCH
215 MIDDLE ROAD, HAZLET, NJ 07730
(* indicates to stand if you are able)
Sunday, May 2; Fifth Sunday of Easter
VOTUM AND SALUTATION
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP (Adapted from John 15:1-8)
Leader: Jesus is the vine;
People: And God is the vinegrower.
Leader: He removes every branch that bears no fruit;
People: Every branch that bears fruit he prunes, to make them grow more fruit.
Leader: You have already been cleansed by the Word that Christ has spoken to you.
People: We abide in Jesus, as he abides in us.
Leader: Jesus is the vine and we are the branches;
People: Apart from Jesus we can do nothing.
Leader: If we abide in him, and his words abide in us, we can ask anything, and it will be given.
All: God is glorified by this - to God be the glory!
PRAYER OF PRESENCE
All: Holy Lord, we put all our faith in you. In brightest days and darkest nights we look to you. You love us at our best and at our worst. Be with us this morning as we gather together in your worship. Bless us in our prayers, in our songs, and in our sharing of your Holy Word. We ask this blessing in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
HYMN OF PRAISE “Sing Praise to the Lord” (verses 1, 3 & 4)
Sing praise to the Lord, come sing a new song.
Amid all his saints his praises prolong.
The praise of their Maker, his people shall sing,
And children of Zion rejoice in their King.
In glory exult, you saints of the Lord.
With songs in the night high praises record.
Go forth in his service, be strong in his might
To conquer all evil and stand for the right.
For this is God's word: his saints shall not fail,
But over the earth their power shall prevail.
All kingdoms and nations shall yield to their sword -
Thus God shows his glory; sing praise to the Lord!
PASSING OF THE PEACE
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
All: Holy God of grace and mercy, hear our prayer. Though we are branches of your vine, we do not see our connection to you. You extend your promise to all, but we seek to cut off and exclude. You created us out of love, and we respond with anger. Forgive us, Lord. Sanctify us by your love. Cast out our fears. And help us to love each other as you have loved us. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
(Responsive Hymn) - Hear our prayer O Lord. Hear our prayer O Lord. Incline thine ear to us, and grant us Thy peace. Amen.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE (Romans 14:17-18a)
All: “The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God.”
*Gloria Patri: Glory be to The Father
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
World without end, Amen, Amen.
SUMMARY OF THE LAW – Matthew 22:35-40
“One of [the Sadducees], an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?' Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments.'”
HYMN FOR ILLUMINATION (seated) “Spirit of the Living God” Verse 1
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me;
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SERMON HYMN “He Leadeth Me, O Blessed Thought” (verses 1 & 3)
He leadeth me, O blessed thought, O words with heavenly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, whate’er I be, still ‘tis God’s hand that leadeth me.
He leadeth me, he leadeth me, by his own hand he leadeth me!
His faithful follower I would be, for by his hand he leadeth me.
And when my task on earth is done, when by thy grace the victory’s won,
E’en deaths’ cold wave I will not flee, since God through Jordan leadeth me.
He leadeth me, he leadeth me, by his own hand he leadeth me!
His faithful follower I would be, for by his hand he leadeth me.
SCRIPTURE READINGS – Acts 8:26-40
THE MORNING MESSAGE - “The Grinders“
*OFFERTORY PRAYER AND DOXOLOGY
*APOSTLES CREED
I believe in God the Father, almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord;
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
Born of the Virgin Mary,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, dead, and buried.
The third day he rose from the dead
He ascended into heaven
And sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
From thence he shall come to judge the quick 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.
CELEBRATION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
- INVITATION
- COMMUNION HYMN – “Let Us Break Bread Together”
Let us break bread together on our knees; Let us break bread together on our knees.
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun, O Lord have mercy on me.
Let us drink wine together on our knees; Let us drink wine together on our knees.
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun, O Lord have mercy on me.
Let us praise God together on our knees; Let us praise God together on our knees.
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun, O Lord have mercy on me.
- COMMUNION PRAYER
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts!
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Holy and right it is, and our joyful duty
to give thanks to you at all times and in all places,
O Lord our Creator,
almighty and everlasting God!
You created heaven with all its hosts and the earth with all its plenty.
You have given us life and being,
and preserve us by your providence.
But you have shown us the fullness of your love
in sending into the world your Son, Jesus Christ,
the eternal Word, made flesh for us and for our salvation.
For the precious gift of this mighty Savior who has reconciled us to you
we praise and bless you, O God.
With your whole Church on earth and with all the company of heaven
we worship and adore your glorious name.
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest!
Most righteous God,
we remember in this Supper
the perfect sacrifice offered once on the cross by our Lord Jesus Christ
for the sin of the whole world.
In the joy of his resurrection and in expectation of his coming again,
we offer ourselves to you as holy and living sacrifices.
Together we proclaim the mystery of the faith:
Christ has died!
Christ is risen!
Christ will come again!
Send your Holy Spirit upon us, we pray,
that the bread which we break and the cup which we bless
may be to us the communion of the body and blood of Christ.
Grant that, being joined together in him,
we may attain to the unity of the faith
and grow up in all things into Christ our Lord.
And as this grain has been gathered from many fields into one loaf,
and these grapes from many hills into one cup,
grant, O Lord, that your whole Church
may soon be gathered from the ends of the earth into your kingdom.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
- WORDS OF INSTITUTION
- CELEBRATION OF COMMUNION
- PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Brothers and sisters,
since the Lord has now fed us at his Table,
let us praise God’s holy name with heartfelt thanksgiving!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and do not forget all his benefits--
who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the Pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.
The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion for his children,
so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him,
who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all,
and will also give us all things with him.
Therefore shall my mouth and heart show forth the praise of the Lord,
from this time forth forevermore. Amen.
JOYS & CONCERNS – MORNING PRAYER – THE LORD’S PRAYER
(Lord’s Prayer – “sins / those who sin against us”)
CLOSING HYMN “Fear Not, Rejoice and Be Glad” (verses 1, 2, & 4)
Fear not, rejoice and be glad, the Lord has done a great thing:
Has poured out his Spirit on all who live, on those who confess his name.
The fig tree is budding, the vine bearing fruit,the wheatfields are golden with grain.
Thrust in the sickle, the harvest is ripe, the Lord has given us rain.
Fear not, rejoice and be glad, the Lord has done a great thing:
Has poured out his Spirit on all who live, on those who confess his name.
We shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, the mountains will drip with sweet wine.
“My children shall drink of the fountain of life, my children will know they are mine.”
Fear not, rejoice and be glad, the Lord has done a great thing:
Has poured out his Spirit on all who live, on those who confess his name.
His children shall dwell in a body of love, a light to the world they will be.
Life shall come forth from the Father above, his Word shall set each of us free.
Fear not, rejoice and be glad, the Lord has done a great thing:
Has poured out his Spirit on all who live, on those who confess his name.
*CLOSING PRAYER & BENEDICTION
*CHORAL POSTLUDE: "Lord, Dismiss Us with your Blessing"
Lord, dismiss us with your blessing; fill our hearts with joy and peace;
Let us each, your love possessing, triumph in redeeming grace;
O direct us and protect us, traveling through this wilderness.