Mifflin Avenue United Methodist Church

11:00 AM Worship                          Third Sunday of Easter                                             22 April 2012

 

GATHERING                                      

     “O God, Thou Faithful God”                                                                                      J.G. Walther

  

GREETING AND WELCOME

  

*THE PEACE

 

INTROIT                                            

   “The Lord’s Peace”                                                                                                              A. Zinter

 

*CALL TO WORSHIP

  Leader: Every part of this earth is sacred.

  People: Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the dark woods,

                Every clearing and humming insect is holy.

  Leader: The rocky crest, the meadow, the beasts and all the people, all belong to the same

                 family.  Teach your children that the earth is our mother. 

  People: Whatever befalls the earth befalls the children of the earth.  We are part of the

                earth, and the earth is part of us.

  Leader: The wind that gave our grandparents breath also receives their last sigh.

  People: The wind gave our children the spirit of life.

  Leader: This we know, the earth does not belong to us.

  People: We belong to the earth.

  Leader: This we know, all things are connected.

  People: Like the blood which unites one family, all things are connected.

  Leader: Our God is the same God, whose compassion is equal for all.

  People: For we did not weave the web of life.  We are merely a strand in it.

  Leader: Whatever we do to that web we do to ourselves.

  All: Let us give thanks for the life God gives us, the circle of life that connects us all.

         Thanks be to God, the God of all.

 

*HYMN UMH 145 (TTT)

    Morning Has Broken                                                                                                          Bunessan                                                               

 

*PRAYER  in unison

   We come to you, God our creator, in thanks for the creation of the universe, with all its

beauty and wonder.  We are grateful for the opportunity of life on this earth, and we give

you thanks for the many gifts you have given us.  Although we are different in many ways,

we are united in our wish to work together to serve you.  Help us to make this world a

better place for all your people, regardless of our differences, so that our children’s children

will know the wonder of your love and enjoy the world you created for us.  We are sorry

when we fall short of your expectations for us, but we keep trying.  Lift us when we fall

and remind us of your love for us.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

 ANTHEM                         

     “Worthy Is Christ”                                                                                                            R. Hillert

   

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

FIRST READING

   Luke 24: 36-48

 

SECOND READING

   Acts 3: 1-19

  

The Word of the Lord.

   Thanks be to God.

 

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

        Following the message, children from K-3 are invited to attend the Junior Church program.

 

SERMON                            “Repentance isn’t so painful!”                    Claudia K. Viehland

 

HYMN UMH 405 (TTT)

   Seek Ye First                                                                                                                             Seek Ye                                                         

 

SHARING OUR JOYS AND CONCERNS

 

PASTORAL PRAYER

 

 

THE LORD’S PRAYER  in 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass 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.

 

OFFERING              

   “In The Holy Presence”                                                                                                       L. Smith

  

*DOXOLOGY  UMH 95

 

*HYMN TFWS 2074

     “Shout to the Lord”                                                                                                                  

 

*BENEDICTION

 

*GOING FORTH    

         “Postlude In G Minor “                                                                                                  G. Blake

 

*Those who are able are invited to stand.