Worship Service – April 25, 2021

The Building is Closed and the Church is Open

While we have restricted access to the building, Peace Church is very much open to ministry—working to respond to our own congregation, as well as the needs of our neighbors and community.  Please consider giving either to Peace Church general fund or the Gabriel Fund – which is used to meet the needs in the community.

We recognize that in this time, people’s financial situations may have changed. We ask you to prayerfully consider what you can give.  If you use electronic giving, we thank you for your constancy of support.  If you would like to give through our online form, we would be grateful. For all the contributions from our members and friends—whether financial, time, or prayer—we ask God’s blessings on those gifts that Peace Church may be healing balm in this time when we are living in our own Gilead.

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April 25, 2021 ⁂ 10:30am
Fourth Sunday of Easter

Liturgists
The People of Peace Church
Maggie Fink, ASL Interpreter
Penny Cragun, Lay Reader
Jim Pospisil, Music Director
Nathan Holst, Faith Formation Minister
Rev. Greg Briggs, Interim Minister

Prelude

Announcements and Ringing of the Peace Bells

God is Revealed as We Gather

*Responsive Call to Worship
Morning has broken!
We gather to greet the new day by praising God.
God created us for relationship with God, one another, and the earth.
Let us honour those relationships today and every day.
We seek to care for our brothers and sisters around the world and to care for God’s good Creation. 
Let us honour those relationships today and every day.
May we commit to new ways of honouring your Creation as a means of sharing Jesus’ transforming love,
And let us seek God’s grace, justice, and mercy for all. Amen. 

Opening Hymn   “God, Who Stretched the Spangled Heavens”   (#556)

Responsive Prayer   “A Litany of Beatitudes Regarding Water”

Blessed are those who carry water up the hill on their heads.
Blessed too are the hands that dig a well so the children can go to school instead of to the distant water hole.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those whose gifts of bottled water are piled up in churches in Michigan.
Blessed too are those who raise their voices about the poison in their pipes and in their children.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are those who offer cups of water to marathon runners.
Blessed even are those who toss the water in the runners’ faces!
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are the children who spring joyously into the pool.
Blessed are the children who push wearily through the waves to drag in their fishnets.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are those who faithfully water the petunias the children will give away on Mother’s Day.
Blessed too are the ones who faithfully water our children’s spirits with their teaching.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are those who dribble water on the heads of sleeping babies, crying babies, laughing babies, and declare them all to belong to Jesus Christ.
Blessed also are those who immersed their whole selves in water to begin their new life in Christ.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are those who jump in mud puddles with abandon.
Blessed also are those who go to court and to capitols to protest when those puddles are polluted.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Story for All Ages by Sharon Dawson

Special Music   “For the Beauty of the Earth” by John Rutter

God is Revealed in the Word

God’s Word in the Epistles:   1 John 3:16-24

God’s Word in the Gospel:   John 10:11-18

Easter Halleluja!    (#236)

Sermon by Greg Briggs

Hymn   “Touch the Earth Lightly”   (#569)

We Respond to God’s Presence

Sharing Our Prayer Concerns, Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer by Nathan Holst, Lord’s Prayer, and Choral Amen

Sharing our Offerings

Offertory   “Sweet, Sweet Earth” by Nathan Holst  (#30 in P&W Songbook)

*The Thanksgiving    (Doxology)

*Prayer of Dedication
Loving God, bless these gifts and all the ways in which we give. May each of our gifts be a part of co-creating and tending to the love, safety, belonging, and dignity You envision for the world. Amen.

Closing Song   “O How Glorious, Full of Wonder”   (#558)

Benediction

Postlude

Worship Resources 

• Call to Worship: United Church of Canada – https://united-church.ca/worship-special-days/earth-sunday
• A Litany of Beatitudes Regarding Water from A Child Laughs: Prayers of Justice and Hope by Maria Mankin & Maren C. Tirabassi (#40: “Just” Water)