WELCOME TO WORSHIP
THE LORD’S PRAYER 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. BAPTISM BAPTISMAL RESPONSE Do you as Christ’s body, the church, reaffirm both your rejection of sin and your commitment to Christ? We do. THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER • APRIL 14, 2024 • 11:00AM
Will you nurture one another in the Christian faith and life and include Rob, now before you, in your care?
THE COMMUNITY GATHERS
With God’s help we will proclaim the good news and live according to the example of Christ. We will surround Rob with a community of love and forgiveness, that he may grow in his service to others. We will pray for him, that he may be a true disciple who walks in the way that leads to life.
The prelude signifies the beginning of worship. You are invited to be in a spirit of prayer and meditation. Please silence all mobile communication devices. †
Please stand as you are able
HYMN
GREETING Now the Green Blade Riseth — arr. Kevin McChesney
OPENING PRAYER O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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HYMN OF PROCESSION #61 Come, Thou Almighty King — ITALIAN HYMN AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is the one true church, apostolic and universal, whose holy faith let us now declare: We believe in God the Father, infinite in wisdom, power, and love, whose mercy is over all his works, and whose will is ever directed to his children’s good. We believe in Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of man, the gift of the Father’s unfailing grace, the ground of our hope, and the promise of our deliverance from sin and death. We believe in the Holy Spirit as the divine presence in our lives, whereby we are kept in perpetual remembrance of the truth of Christ, and find strength and help in time of need. We believe that this faith should manifest itself in the service of love as set forth in the example of our blessed Lord, to the end that the kingdom of God may come upon the earth. Amen. AFFIRMATION RESPONSE Festival Alleluia — James Chepponis
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HYMN
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#152 I Sing the Almighty Power of God — FOREST GREEN
RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBER We give thanks for all that God has already given you and we welcome you in Christian love. As members together with you in the body of Christ and in this congregation of the United Methodist Church, we renew our covenant faithfully to participate in the ministries of the church by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness, that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. BENEDICTION
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BENEDICTION RESPONSE Go Now in Peace — Robert Lau Go now in peace, and may God’s peace go with you. Believe and trust His holy word. Amen.
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POSTLUDE
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Thank you for joining us in worship today. SERMON NOTES
WE HEAR THE WORD PROCLAIMED CANTICLE God Be in My Head — K. Lee Scott God be in my head, and in my understanding; God be in mine eyes, and in my looking; God be in my mouth, and in my speaking; God be in my heart, and in my thinking; God be at my end, and my departing. SCRIPTURE — 1 John 3:1-7
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#191 Jesus Loves Me — JESUS LOVES ME
(Children, kindergartners through third grade, are invited to exit the Sanctuary for Children’s Worship. Children will return to reserved pews in the Sanctuary at the close of worship.)
PRELUDE
INTROIT
WE GO AS GOD’S PEOPLE INTO THE WORLD
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
This is the word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God. SERMON
WE RENEW OUR COMMITMENT OFFERTORY Joydance — John Behnke DOXOLOGY #95 Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow — OLD 100th 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. Amen.
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PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING Almighty and most merciful God, from you comes every good and perfect gift. We give you praise and thanks for all your mercies. Your goodness has created us, your bounty has sustained us, your discipline has chastened us, your patience has borne with us, your love has redeemed us. Give us a heart to love and serve you, and enable us to show our thankfulness for all your goodness and mercy by giving up ourselves to your service, and cheerfully submitting in all things to your blessed will; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
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___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ PARTICIPANTS IN WORSHIP PREACHING The Reverend Dr. P. Glenn Kinken III Senior Minister LITURGIST The Reverend Meg Peters, Assoc. Minister MUSIC June Stegall, Assistant Director Joshua Sobel, Organ Scholar The Chancel Choir Carillonneurs, Camille Jones, Director
CRUCIFER Mills Douglas TORCHBEARERS Borden Douglas Beverly Douglas FLOWERS The Chancel Flowers are given in loving memory of Jean & Tom Stockton by their family, and in loving memory of Mr. & Mrs. H. M. Ratcliff, Sr. and Mary Ann & Jim Ratcliff by the Ratcliff, Thomas, and Figan families.
The anthem texts are printed with permission. One License A-707342 By entering the Sanctuary, you grant to Centenary United Methodist Church unrestricted right to use and publish, transmit or telecast photographs or likenesses that might be taken of you this day for use in communications related to the church.