GRACE UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

School at Oakly Streets Kohler , Wisconsin

People of Grace Church, Ministers

Thomas M. Schroeder, Pastor

Janet Carter, Lay Reader

Mary Ann Bichler, Organist

Audrey Braatz, Choir Director

Sue Hildebrand, Accompanist

Curt Joa, Children’s Choir Director

https://graceucc53044.tripod.com/index.html

May 20, 2012 8:00 & 10:00 a.m.

OUR SERVICE OF WORSHIP

OUR SERVICE OF WORSHIP

 

PRELUDE & LIGHTING OF THE CANDLES Organist

THE RINGING OF THE BELL

(10) CHORAL INTROIT Senior Choir

WORDS OF WELCOME & RITUAL OF FRIENDSHIP

*CALL TO WORSHIP

L: Gather to experience the power of God to lift us up beyond the bonds of earth.

P: Clap your hands, all peoples! Sing to God with loud songs of joy!

L: Wait for the promises of God, and give thanks! Open yourselves to the baptism of God’s Spirit.

P: Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our Ruler, sing praises!

L: Receive power to become God’s witnesses in this place and to the ends of the earth.

P: Jesus Christ is alive and forgives our sin. Jesus Christ lives and appoints us to share good news.

(8) *HYMN # 562 “REJOICE, YE PURE IN HEART”

(10)*HYMN # 1 "JOYFUL, JOYFUL, WE ADORE THEE"

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison)

We call on you, Creator of the universe, for we have doubted your personal interest in this planet. The news of an empty tomb evokes our doubts rather than our faith. We are not ready for the miracle of new life, in ourselves or in others. We are afraid of the forces of evil that lead to destruction, and we recognize some of them in ourselves. O God, turn us around, that we may be partners in your good news. Amen.

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON & LORD'S PRAYER

(8) CHORAL RESPONSE # 202 “Amazing Grace” vs. 3

(10) * GLORIA PATRI # 623

(10) THE RITE OF CONFIRMATION

THE INVITATION

THE STATEMENT OF FAITH (INSIDE BACK COVER OF HYMNAL)

CONFIRMATION VOWS

SHARING THE COVENANT OF GRACE CHURCH

WE COVENANT ONE WITH ANOTHER TO SEEK AND RESPOND TO THE WORD AND THE WILL OF GOD. WE PURPOSE TO WALK TOGETHER IN THE WAYS OF THE LORD, MADE KNOWN AND TO BE MADE KNOWN TO US. WE HOLD IT TO BE THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH TO WITNESS TO THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRST IN ALL THE WORLD, WHILE WORSHIPING GOD, STRIVING FOR TRUTH, JUSTICE AND PEACE. AS DID OUR ANCESTORS, WE DEPEND ON THE HOLY SPIRIT TO LEAD AND EMPOWER US. WE PRAY FOR THE COMING OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AND WE LOOK WITH FAITH TOWARD THE TRIUMPH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND ETERNAL LIFE.

THE LAYING ON OF HANDS

PRAYER OF CONFIRMATION

WELCOME INTO THE FELLOWSHIP

BELOVED, WE GREET YOU WITH JOY. WE PLEDGE TO YOU OUR FRIENDSHIP IN THE LORD, AND WILL GIVE YOU OUR SUPPORT IN PRAYER AND SERVICE THAT YOU MAY CONTINUE TO GROW IN THE KNOWLEDGE AND LOVE OF GOD AND BE WITNESSES OF JESUS CHRIST OUR RISEN LORD.

(10) *HYMN OF WELCOME # 250 "COME, HOLY SPIRIT"

(CONGREGATION COMING FORWARD)

SCRIPTURE LESSONS: 1 JOHN 5:9-13 & JOHN 17:6-19

1 John 5:9 If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son. 1 John 5:10 Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. 1 John 5:11 And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 1 John 5:12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 1 John 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

John 17:6 "I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. John 17:7 Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; John 17:8 for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. John 17:9 I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. John 17:10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. John 17:11 And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. John 17:12 While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. John 17:13 But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. John 17:14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. John 17:15 I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. John 17:16 They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. John 17:18 As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. John 17:19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.

(10) PROCLAMATION IN MUSIC Senior Choir

“I AM HIS LAMB’ -- Williams/Larson

A STORY FOR THE YOUNG AT HEART

(Children wishing to go to child care may do so.)

THE SERMON “AS GOD SENT JESUS, SO CHRIST SENDS US”

THE OFFERING

Offertory Organist

* Doxology # 625

*Prayer of Dedication

THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION

THE INVITATION

PASTOR: WE INVITE. . . THEY RECOGNIZED HIM.

PEOPLE: In company with all believers in every time and beyond time, we come to this table to know him in the breaking of the bread.

PASTOR: BELOVED,. . . THE TABLE OF THE LORD.

PEOPLE: Behold how good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters dwell in unity with God and one another.

PASTOR: THE PEACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST BE WITH YOU ALL. LIFT UP YOUR HEARTS.

PEOPLE: We lift them up to the Lord.

PASTOR: LET US GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD OUR GOD.

PEOPLE: It is good that we do.

PASTOR: LET US PRAY… AND PLACE WE PRAISE WITH JOY YOUR HOLY NAME.

PEOPLE: Holy, Holy, Holy , Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of thee. Heaven and earth are praising thee, O Lord most high!

THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION

(10) RECEIVING FIRST COMMUNION Senior Choir

"ALWAYS REMEMBER" -- Gregg Sewell

THE SHARING OF THE BREAD AND CUP

DISTRIBUTION OF THE BREAD

DISTRIBUTION OF THE CUP

(8) *HYMN # 66 “TO GOD BE THE GLORY"

(10) *PARTING HYMN # 369 "O JESUS, I HAVE PROMISED"

*THE PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING (unison)

WE GIVE THANKS, ALMIGHTY GOD, THAT YOU HAVE REFRESHED US AT YOUR TABLE BY GRANTING US THE PRESENCE OF YOUR SON, JESUS CHRIST. STRENGTHEN OUR FAITH, INCREASE OUR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER, AND SEND US FORTH INTO THE WORLD IN COURAGE AND PEACE, REJOICING IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN.

*BENEDICTION

(10) * CHORAL RESPONSE

*POSTLUDE Organist

*All who are able are invited to stand