Church Bulletin – May 8, 2011

GATHERING

GREETINGS

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

And also with you.

The risen Christ is with us.

Praise the Lord!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE

*PRAISE MUSIC:               “Christ Is Alive”                        UMH 318

LITANY

Leader: Walking with Christ is a journey of faith.

People: We may not know where God is leading.

Leader: We may not see a clear path in front of us.

People: We may not understand our circumstanced.

Leader: We likely won’t have answers to the “why” questions.

People: We sometimes won’t like what unfolds along the way.

Leader: Hardship, suffering, illness and loss challenge us and require great    trust.

People: We won’t always see God’s hand or recognize God’s voice.

Leader: Walking with Christ is a journey of faith.

People: Therefore, we choose to trust even in the midst of doubt or fear.

Leader: We look for evidences of God’s grace and mercy.

People: We hope in the One whose faithfulness and love are never ending.

All: Let us walk with Christ this day. Halleluiah! Amen.

INVOCATION:           “Prayer to the Holy Spirit”                UMH 329

PSALM 116:1-4, 12-19                                                      PB, pg, 541

TIME WITH THE YOUTH

HYMN:   “Leaning On The Everlasting Arms”                      UMH 133

PRAYERS AND OFFERING

.

PRAYER OFCONFESSION                                                      UMH 12

PARDON                                                                                   UMH 12

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE: Joys and Concerns

PASTORAL PRAYER

THE LORD’S PRAYER

OFFERTORY PRAYER: Holy God, we thank you for the gifts and blessings that you lavish on your creation. It is as your children, heirs of your grace and filled with your Spirit, that we bring our tithes and offerings to you. Multiply and use them, we pray, to spread the gospel, feed the hungry, heal the sick and bring grace, compassion and wholeness where there is fear, loneliness, violence and despair. Amen.

RECEIVING OUR OFFERING

* PRESENTATION OF OUR OFFERING

OFFERING RESPONSE    “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”     UMH 349

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.

PROCLAIMING GOD’S WORD

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION: Merciful Savior, too often our eyes are as dim as those of the two disciples who walked to Emmaus. You stand in our very midst, but we are unaware and disconnected. We sit with you at the dinner table but look right past you. You speak to us, but our hearing is dull. We read the Scriptures, but we fail to understand. Lord, we want to know you, to see you, to hear your Word to us and to apply it to our lives. Open our hearts and minds, we pray; speak to us through your Spirit so this Word, as it is read and proclaimed, penetrates us with the truth of your resurrection power. Amen.

NEW TESTAMENT LESSON:        1 Peter 1:17-23              PB, pg. 216

GOSPEL LESSON:       Luke 24:13-35                                   PB, pg.85

THE MESSAGE                                                            Pastor Vicki Lerdahl

HYMN RESPONSE:     “Open My Eyes,That I May See”       UMH 454

SENDING FORTH

*CIRCLE SONG:       “Bind Us Together”           Renew 292 refrain only

Bind us together, Lord, bind us together with cords that cannot be broken.  Bind us together, Lord, bind us together, bind us together in love.

*BLESSING

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