May 5 2019 Welcome to OPC Cambridge Chimes

May 5, 2019 Welcome to OPC

Cambridge Chimes Welcome and Announcements Greeting Each Other Ringing of the Bell

Prelude “When Morning Gilds the Skies” ~BELL CHOIR Lighting of the candles

*CALL TO WORSHIP L: Sisters and Brothers, today is the first day of our week, a new start and a new hope. P: Lord, help us to be ready to hear your words of life this morning and each day.

L: Body of Christ, open your hearts and receive God’s breath of new life. P: Risen Lord, help us to receive your peace and feel our joy for this week.

L: Come everyone, let us worship the Lord with great joy and hope! P: Let us worship God!

*HYMN #104 “Christ is Risen! Shout Hosanna!” v. 1 Christ is risen! Shout Hosanna! Celebrate this day of days! Christ is risen! Hush in wonder: All creation is amazed.

*HYMN #104 “Christ is Risen! Shout Hosanna!” v. 1 In the desert allsurrounding, see, a spreading tree has grown. Healing leaves of grace abounding bring a taste of love unknown.

*HYMN #104 “Christ is Risen! Shout Hosanna!” v. 2 Christ is risen! Raise your spirits from the caverns of despair. Walk with gladness in the morning. See what love can do and dare.

*HYMN #104 “Christ is Risen! Shout Hosanna!” v. 2 Drink the wine of resurrection, not a servant, but a friend. Jesus is our strong companion. Joy and peace shall never end.

*HYMN #104 “Christ is Risen! Shout Hosanna!” v. 3 Christ is risen! Earth and heaven nevermore shall be the same. Break the bread of new creation where the world is still in pain.

*HYMN #104 “Christ is Risen! Shout Hosanna!” v. 3 Tell its grim, demonic chorus: “Christ is risen! Get you gone!” God the First and Last is with us. Sing Hosanna, everyone!

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison) God of empty tombs and empty people: when we hesitate to speak of your hope to a hopeless world, forgive us and give us a voice. When we find it difficult to love one another,

forgive us and give us fresh compassion and concern. When we want to stand with the high and mighty, forgive us and seat us care-fully next to the poor and oppressed. When we act without peace,

change our hearts to carry your Shalom. When we stay locked behind our fears and doubts, forgive us, and send us out to share your grace. When we cannot believe your Word of new life, forgive us, and fill us with your joy.

*Passing of the Peace L: May the Peace of Christ be with you. P: And also with you.

*Assurance of Pardon L: Sisters and Brothers, Christ comes into every shadowed corner of our lives with the light of Easter. Christ comes into the locked rooms of our faults and gifts us with forgiveness and hope.

*Assurance of Pardon P: Christ comes to forgive us and fill us with peace, so we may proclaim the good news of mercy and forgiveness for all. Thanks be to God. Amen.

BELL CHOIR

PROCLAIMING THE WORD SCRIPTURE READING: Isaiah 9: 2 -7

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness – on them light has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder.

For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For all the boots of the tramping warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as fuel for the fire. For a child has been born for us, a son given to us;

authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with

righteousness from this time onwards and for evermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

SCRIPTURE READING: John 20: 19 -31

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you. ’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side.

Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you. ’ When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them;

if you retain the sins of any, they are retained. ’ But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord. ’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of

the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe. ’ A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you. ’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands.

Reach out your hand put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe. ’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe. ’ Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence

of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

L: This is the Word of the Lord. P: Thanks be to God!

“Hope Mobilizes” Rev. Tedd Pullano

*HYMN #316 “Breathe on Me, Breath of God” v. 1 Breathe on me, breath of God, Fill me with life anew, That I may love what Thou dost love, and do what Thou wouldst do.

*HYMN #316 “Breathe on Me, Breath of God” v. 2 Breathe on me, breath of God, Until my heart is pure, Until with Thee I will one will, to do and to endure.

*HYMN #316 “Breathe on Me, Breath of God” v. 3 Breathe on me, breath of God, Till I am wholly Thine, Until this earthly part of me glows with Thy fire divine.

*HYMN #316 “Breathe on Me, Breath of God” v. 4 Breathe on me, breath of God, So shall I never die, But live with Thee the perfect life of Thine eternity.

OFFERING OUR GIFTS TO GOD Offertory Invitation Offertory “Now Thank We All Our God” ~BELL CHOIR

*DOXOLOGY #542, v. 4 Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God all creatures here below; Praise God above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION (unison) Gracious and loving God, you raised Jesus from the dead, showing your love for the world. Such a generous act not only showers us with grace, it calls for a response.

We respond with these gifts, and our lives – and we pray your blessing on them. As you sent Jesus, so send us in peace and in the power of your Spirit to reveal your love in all we do and say.

In the name of our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

RESPONDING TO THE WORD JOYS AND CONCERNS PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER All who trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are invited to participate in the Sacrament of the Lord’s Table. With parental permission, baptized children are welcome to partake in the Sacrament as well.

*INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE L: Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I invite you to come to the joyful feast of the Lord. When we eat at this table, we share in a meal now. As well, we also take part in a meal both old and new. When we gather here and eat, we eat the meal that Jesus and his disciples ate.

And in doing so, we become those disciples. We sit around the same table. In this holy Meal, we believe that Jesus comes to meet us. And also, while we are in the past with Jesus and the Israelites, while we are in the present with each other, we are also partaking of the future meal –

the resurrection banquet. We sit around this table eating with Jesus as the resurrection people. And it is a peaceful, glorious meal. And each of you are invited.

*HYMN #516 “Lord, We Have Come” v. 1 Lord, we have come at Your own invitation, Chosen by You, to be counted Your friends;

*HYMN #516 “Lord, We Have Come” v. 1 Yours is the strength that sustains dedication, Ours a commitment we know never ends.

*THE GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING L: As much as we are loved by God, P: We love each other! L: Beloved of God, come to this Table with your hearts wide open, P: For God has promised to dwell in us. L: Here at the Table of Grace we are fed by one who loves us.

P: We come hungry, thirsty, and ready. L: We thank you, God, for calling Abram to be your servant and to bring your blessings and hope to all the world. We thank you for then making a covenant, a deal, with Israel, promising to be Israel’s light and salvation. You made Israel your people, and promised that

through them all the peoples of the world would be blessed. We thank you that we are now your people, and that the covenant is now with us. We are grateful for prophets, apostles, martyrs, and everyone who has shared your life-giving Word; for leaders who ruled with justice, for all who lifted up the needy, and defended the

people from their enemies. With all those through the ages who have loved the Lord Jesus Christ, and with all who try so hard to serve him here and now, we join our voices in offering praise to you, the God who guides us in love: P: Holy, holy Lord, God of love and hope, heaven and earth are

full of your glory and love. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. L: In sending Jesus the Christ, the perfect one, you revealed to the nations how your love works. He preached and taught and followed your call.

He put total trust in you, trust even unto death. For that we are deeply thankful. P: Praise to you, Lord Jesus: by dying, you destroyed sin and death; by rising, you offer us resurrection life. Lord Jesus, come again.

L: God of peace and hope, let your Holy Spirit move in power and love over us and over these earthly gifts of bread and wine. By our sharing of them, may we experience the mystery of true communion of the body and blood of Christ, and may we become one in him.

The Lord’s Prayer (unison) 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 debts as we forgive our debtors; 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 L: On the night he was arrested, while they were eating, Jesus reached over, took some bread, gave thanks to God. Then he broke it, and gave it to his disciples and told them, “Take this and eat it. This is my body, given for you. Do this remembering me and my example. ”

*WORDS OF INSTITUTION In the same way he took the cup from the table, and said, “This cup I have here is the new covenant, new hope, which will be sealed in my blood, which I will shed for you for the forgiveness of your sins. Whenever you drink it, remember me. ”

*WORDS OF INSTITUTION Jesus tells us boldly: “I am the bread of life. If any of you come to me, you won’t be hungry; if any of you believe in me, you will never be thirsty. ” Friends, every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the saving death of the risen Lord until he comes –

*WORDS OF INSTITUTION and you experience the peace and hope of God.

BELL CHOIR (as Communion elements are passed)

SHARING OF THE BREAD AND CUP Distribution of the Bread (bread is gluten free) (to symbolize our common experience of God’s grace, please retain the bread until all have been served).

SHARING OF THE BREAD AND CUP Distribution of the Cup (to symbolize our individual experience of God’s grace, please drink the cup as it is served).

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION (Unison) Gracious God, we give you thanks for your mercy and forgiveness. We are grateful that you strengthen us with this holy meal shared in the Spirit with your Son, our Lord, Jesus.

Strengthened against sin, and filled with hope, we go from here to be his disciples in the world. Continue to fill and mobilize us. This we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

BEARING AND FOLLOWING THE WORD INTO THE WORLD

*HYMN #432 “Song of Hope” May the God of hope go with us every day, Filling all our lives with love and joy and peace. May the God of justice speed us on our way,

Bringing light and hope to every land race. Praying, let us work for peace, Singing, share our joy with all. Working for a world that’s new, faithful when we hear Christ’s call.

*HYMN #432 “Song of Hope” May the Christ of hope go with us every day, Bringing us to those who need his love and care. May the Christ of peace empower us to pray,

Sharing all our gifts with all who need a hand. Praying, let us work for peace, Singing, share our joy with all. Working for a world that’s new, faithful when we hear Christ’s call.

*HYMN #432 “Song of Hope” May the Spirit of hope go with us every day, Blowing precious strength to those who long for hope. May the Spirit of joy whoosh us on our way,

Bringing God to each and every one we meet. Praying, let us work for peace, Singing, share our joy with all. Working for a world that’s new, faithful when we hear Christ’s call.

*BENEDICTION

Postlude “Allegro” ~Purcell