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Eat. Pray. Love. May 3, 2020


 

Welcome to First Presbyterian Sterling Online!
 
Visit past services at firstonsecond.blogspot.com.


God’s People Gather

*Prelude - Down by the Riverside with Rex, Amy, and Emma

Prelude Pondering
The borders of the church—its identity and character—have substance. They can be seen and described in this text. And yet, as the text also makes clear, these borders move in time. They respond to the new face at the table. They learn new scripts and live into new roles. They make room for those that are different, even as they stand “together” (vs. 44) in worship, service, learning and fellowship. They are open to the surprise of the Spirit and to the awe-filled work of God’s salvation – even God’s salvation of the borders themselves. These are borders that perform, and through God’s help, perform faithfully.
- Jerusha Matsen Neal, Commentary on Acts 2:42-47, Workingpreacher.org

*Welcome


*Call to Worship 

Leader: We gather as God’s church, together to worship.
People: We gather to hear God’s word, together to learn
Leader: We gather as God’s family, together to share our lives.
People: God has blessed us with grace and love; we go to bless others.
Leader: We gather to worship, learn, share and serve.
People: We are God’s church.
ALL: Let us worship God!

*Opening Song - We are Called


 *Prayer of Confession & Assurance of Pardon

Gracious God, you lead us in the paths of your making; paths that lead to goodness and justice. But too often, we allow our fear or anger or suspicion to guide us. We overreact, we retreat, we run in the wrong direction. We take more than our share and envy those who have more. Forgive us, Gentle Shepherd, and lead us beside still waters. Restore us to love and hope. Help us to receive and share the peace that only you can give. We pray in the name of Christ our shepherd. AMEN

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon
Leader: The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. As part of the flock led by Christ, we can know and trust his voice. We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Give thanks, people of God!
People: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God! Amen.

*Response - Glory to God


*Sharing the Peace of Christ & Peace Song

Leader: The peace of Christ be with you.
People: And also with you.

God’s Word is Proclaimed

*Children’s Time with Nan


*Scripture Reading - Acts 2:42-47 & Sermon - Eat, Pray, Love


Responding to God’s Word

*Offering – Lead me Lord

Please remember to send in your offering and pledge.
If you are enrolled in electronic funds transfer, no need to do anything different. 
If you would like to give online using Paypal, click this link:
bit.ly/FPCsterling

*Prayer of Dedication

Loving God, you have given us each other to be a community, and you give us gifts to share with each other and the world. Thank you for your generous bounty. We bring these tithes and offerings in grateful praise, and ask that you bless them and bless the givers. In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.

*Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper 

Leader: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord.
Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Leader: It is indeed right to give our thanks and praise to you, Almighty God. You are our God and our creator. You made us in your image and shaped our hearts for relationship with you, calling us to love you and each other. ... Hear now our concerns and celebrations… and hear us as we pray the prayer Christ taught us, saying, Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.
Words of Institution

Sharing the Bread and the Cup

Prayer after the Supper
Loving God, in Jesus Christ you have gathered us, fed us, and made us one. Now send us out with the sure and certain knowledge that we belong to you, that we are strong enough to serve others, and that we are united with you and one another with a love that reaches beyond ourselves to care for this world that you so love. We pray in Jesus’ name, AMEN.

God’s People are Sent

*Closing Song – Servant Song & *Benediction

Leader:….and let all God’s people say…
People: Alleluia! Amen!


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