For the week of May 14-20 – 6th Sunday of Easter
Morning Prayer Living God, long ago, faithful women proclaimed the good news of Jesus' resurrection, and the world was changed forever. Teach us to keep faith with them, that our witness may be as bold, our love as deep, and our faith as true. Amen. (Lectionary prayers)
Hymn: Family of God
I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God;
I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I’m part of the family, the family of God!
Psalm 146
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul!
I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long.
Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help.
When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish.
Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God,
who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever;
who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free;
the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the strangers; He upholds the orphan and the widow,
but the way of the wicked He brings to ruin.
The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord!
Children’s Time John 14:15-21
”If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, because He abides with you, and He will be in you.
”I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. They who have My commandments and keep them are those who love Me; and those who love Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love them and reveal Myself to them.”
Children’s Message
How many of you have a pet? What kind of pet do you have? When I was a child, I had a pet dog named Dodge. I spent hours playing with him. He would follow me everywhere on our farm. I made sure that he had plenty of food and water. One of the most important ways I showed my love was by spending time with him.
Now, if I came over to your house and watched you and your pet together, how could I tell that you love your pet? What kind of things do you do to show your love? It is important to remember that it isn't enough to say you love your pet. Loving isn’t something you say, it is something you show by the things you do. It is the way you act toward someone or something.
Now, let me ask you a question. Do you love Jesus? How does Jesus know that you love Him? What can you do to show Jesus that you love Him? That is a hard question to answer, isn't it?
In today’s Gospel lesson, Jesus gives His disciples the answer to that question. Jesus said, "Those who accept My commandments and obey them are the ones who love Me. And because they love Me, My Father will love them. And I will love them."
It isn't enough just to say we love Jesus. Instead, we have to show God our love by DOING the right things – just like you show your love to your pets and your parents and your friends.
So, what are some things we can do to show our love for Jesus? The Bible is a good place to find the answer. I have listed a few ways that I found, perhaps you can think of some more.
- Love one another (John 13:34-35)
- Worship Him (Luke 4:8)
- Tell others about Jesus (Acts 1:8)
- Talk to Him daily in prayer (Matthew 26:41)
- Read His Word (Psalm 119:11)
- Forgive others as God forgives us (Matthew 6:15)
(adapted from Sermons for kids)
Prayers of Intercession: Thank You, Lord, for hearing our prayers for those dear to our hearts. We now pray as You have taught us: 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. Lead us, not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Offering spotlight: Sunday there were 2 guest speakers from Dwell Orphan Care: Emily Shover and Lynn Warwick spoke about the mission of Dwell Orphan Care. As you present your financial offering to the Lord, pray about how you can use each of your blessings to build God’s kingdom, your time, your strengths and your money.
Offering prayer: Holy God and author of our existence; our story is part of a greater story, and Your hand is visible on every page and every scene. So too our stories cannot be disconnected from those in the past who have shaped the steps we take – saints and sinners, rebels and followers. They are part of our story as we are part of theirs. As we offer gifts this day, we pray they might be used to strengthen the story of faith that will be told by those who will come after we are gone. We pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen. (Discipleship Ministries)
Hymn #445 Happy the Home When God Is There
- Happy the home when God is there, and love fills every breast;
when one their wish, and one their prayer, and one their heavenly rest. - Happy the home where Jesus' name is sweet to every ear;
where children early speak His fame, and parents hold Him dear. - Happy the home where prayer is heard, and praise is wont to rise;
where parents love the sacred Word and all its wisdom prize. - Lord, let us in our homes agree this blessed peace to gain;
unite our hearts in love to Thee, and love to all will reign.
Today’s message: Dwell Orphan Care www.dwellorphancare.org Learn how this organization supports the foster families of Columbia County.
If you were not able to be here in person, you can still be part of the conversation and part of a solution to fulfilling the needs of foster families, foster children and foster care parents. As a follow-up conversation with folks who want to explore what our relationship to Dwell could look like, Emily Shover is hosting a ZOOM conversation on Wednesday, May 24, 7:00 pm. Pastor Becky will be here in the church for those who cannot ZOOM from home. (Please let Pastor Becky know if you want to meet her here so she can tell which room, which building.) For those who want to ZOOM from home, please ask Pastor Becky for the ZOOM link. (text or call 570-494-3267; rcuddeback@susumc.org)
Hymn: #707 Hymn of Promise
- In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree;
In cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
- There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody;
There’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
- In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity;
In our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity,
In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
Go into your week with the blessings of The Father, The Son, The Holy Spirit.
