Sunday April 28th Worship Service

(Image: “True Vine” Photograph, 2004 Fairfield, Moteueka, New Zealand)

©Order of Worship for Sunday April 28, 2024

Fifth Sunday of Easter

For the Avent Ferry UMC Worship Video Click Here (Link opens in a new window)

The worship video will be available live at 11:00 am

Prelude:……………..“I Am The Vine”……………….Greg D.
Music: J. Talbott © 1982, Birdwing Music and Universal Music
 
Coming of the Light:………………………………………
 
Greetings:………………………………………Pastor Steven
 
Opening Prayer: ………….………………….…Melanie B.
Easter people, we have been saved by the Risen Christ, the life-giving Vine.
We abide in Love, the life-giving Vine.
We are branches of the Vine -sustained, nurtured, and
pruned by Love.
We have no life apart from Love, the life-giving Vine.
When we make our home in the Vine, and the Vine makes a home in us, we bear the fruit of Love.
We produce the fruit of Love, the life-giving Vine.
Easter people, how shall we bear the fruit of Love,
the life-giving Vine?
We will love and learn to love as we rest, play, work,
and build community with God and one another.
Amen.
 
Opening Hymns: “Thine Be the Glory” #308 UMH
Words: Edmond L. Budry, 1904, Music: Harmonia Sacra, ca. 1753
 
1. Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son;
endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won.
Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
kept the folded grave-clothes where thy body lay.
Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son;
endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won.
 
2. Lo! Jesus meets thee, risen from the tomb;
lovingly he greets thee, scatters fear and gloom.
Let the church with gladness hymns of triumph sing,
for our Lord now liveth; death hath lost its sting.
Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son;
endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won.
 
3. No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of life!
Life is naught without thee; aid us in our strife.
Make us more than conquerors, through thy deathless love;
bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above.
Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son;
endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won.
 
“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” #384 UMH
Words by Charles Wesley, music by John Zundel
 
1. Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heaven, to earth come down;
fix in us thy humble dwelling;
all thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, thou art all compassion,
pure, unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation;
enter every trembling heart.
 
2. Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit
into every troubled breast!
Let us all in thee inherit;
let us find that second rest.
Take away our bent to sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
end of faith, as its beginning,
set our hearts at liberty.
 
3. Come, Almighty to deliver,
let us all thy life receive;
suddenly return and never,
nevermore thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray and praise thee without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.
 
4. Finish, then, thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see thy great salvation
perfectly restored in thee;
changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.
 
Passing of the Peace:……………………………Pastor Steven
Let us offer signs of reconciliation and peace to one another.
 
Gloria Patri:………“Glory Be to the Father” #71 UMH
Words: Lesser Doxology, 3rd-4th century
Music: Henry W. Greatorex, 1851
 
Glory be to the Father
and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen. Amen.

Announcements:…………………………………………Lorri B.
 
Giving of our tithes and offerings …………………
You can do this with no fee through your bank’s online bill pay option. It is easy to set up for automatic monthly giving. Or, you can use this link: Online Giving
 
Offertory..“I Sing Praises to Your Name” #2037 TFWS..Choir
Words and Music: Terry MacAlmon © 1989, Arr. 1992, Integrity’s
Hosanna! Music
The Choir will sing through once with Congregation joining second time through.
 
I sing praises to Your name, O Lord, Praises to Your name, O Lord,  For Your name is great and greatly to be praised;
I sing praises to Your name, O Lord, Praises to Your name,
O Lord,  For Your name is great and greatly to be praised.
 
I give glory to Your name, O Lord, Glory to Your name, O Lord,
For Your name is great and greatly to be praised; I give glory
to Your name, O Lord, Glory to Your name, O Lord.  For Your name is great and greatly to be praised.
 
Offertory Response:…..“Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” (The Doxology) #95 UMH
Words by Thomas Ken, 1674
Music attributed to Louis Bourgeois, 1551
 
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
 
Prayer After Receiving:………………………….Pastor Steven
 
Prayers of the People:………………….……….Pastor Steven
 
Anthem: ………..“Take My Life And Let It Sing”…………Choir
Words and Music: Joseph M. Martin © 2023, HAL LEONARD
 
Gospel Lesson:……………..John 15:1-8…….…………Melanie B.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.
He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit.
You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.
 
Hymn of Preparation:..“I Need Thee Every Hour” #397 UMH
Words: Annie S. Hawks, 1872, Music: Robert Lowry, 1873
 
1. I need thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
no tender voice like thine can peace afford.
I need thee, O I need thee; every hour I need thee;
O bless me now, my Savior, I come to thee.
 
2. I need thee every hour; stay thou nearby;
temptations lose their power when thou art nigh.
I need thee, O I need thee; every hour I need thee;
O bless me now, my Savior, I come to thee.
 
3. I need thee every hour, in joy or pain;
come quickly and abide, or life is vain.
I need thee, O I need thee; every hour I need thee;
O bless me now, my Savior, I come to thee.
 
4. I need thee every hour; teach me thy will;
and thy rich promises in me fulfill.
I need thee, O I need thee; every hour I need thee;
O bless me now, my Savior, I come to thee.
 
5. I need thee every hour, most Holy One;
O make me thin indeed, thou blessed Son.
I need thee, O I need thee; every hour I need thee;
O bless me now, my Savior, I come to thee.
 
Sermon:…………..“My Family Garden”…………..Pastor Steven
 
An Order of Farewell: Godwin Oduokpaha to Nigeria, and Ally
Limke, Kai  Newsome, Jack Evans, Riley Hill, Luke Gilsdorf leaving for the summer.
Prayer: Pastor Steven
 
Congregational Response:
We feel sorrow in your leaving,
yet we rejoice with you in anticipation of this new phase
of your life.
We will miss your love and support,
yet we know you will add much to the lives of those who
will be your new church family,
as you have added much to our lives.
 
Prayer with laying on of hands: Pastor Steven
 
Closing Hymn:..“Bind Us Together” #2226 TFWS
Words and Music by Bob Gillman (Col 3:14)
 
Bind us together, Lord, bind us together
with cords that cannot be broken.
Bind us together, Lord, bind us together, Lord,
bind us together in love.
 
There is only one God,
There is only one King;
There is only one body, that is why we sing.
 
Bind us together, Lord, bind us together
with cords that cannot be broken.
Bind us together, Lord, bind us together, Lord,
bind us together in love.
 
Dismissal with Blessing:………………………………Pastor Steven
 
Postlude:…………………………………………………………Greg D.
 
Service ends, witness and service begins.

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