WELCOME TO WORSHIP
AFFIRMATION RESPONSE Festival Alleluia — James Chepponis
WE GO AS GOD’S PEOPLE INTO THE WORLD
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HYMN
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#427 Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life — GERMANY
RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERS 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. PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER • APRIL 23, 2023 • 11:00AM
THE COMMUNITY GATHERS 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. †
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.
Now the Green Blade Rises — arr. Karissa Dennis
GREETING INTROIT
Chatter With the Angels — Spiritual Chatter with the angels soon in the morning. Chatter with the angels all day long. I hope to join that band and chatter with the angels all day long.
OPENING PRAYER Almighty Father, who in your great mercy gladdened the disciples with the sight of the risen Lord, give us such knowledge of his presence with us, that we may be strengthened and sustained by his risen life and serve you continually in righteousness and truth. We ask this through Jesus, our Lord. Amen.
(Following the Canticle, 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.)
HYMN OF PROCESSION #304 Easter People, Raise Your Voices — REGENT’S SQUARE
SCRIPTURE — Galatians 2:9-10 This is the word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God. SERMON — “Grace Which Embraces”
WE RENEW OUR COMMITMENT OFFERTORY The Animals Got on the Ark — Bill Stephens This Is the Day (from A Technicolor Promise) — Allen Pote This is the day that God has made, the world shines fresh and bright. A day of new beginnings filled with peace and light. This is the day that God has made, that God will not destroy, a day of new rejoicing filled with hope and joy. See the promise in the sky shimmering there to testify. Give thanks and praise, always, God is Love.
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:
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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.
POSTLUDE
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Thank you for joining us in worship today.
CANTICLE Into My Heart — Harry D. Clarke Into my heart, into my heart, come into my heart, Lord Jesus. Come in today, come in to stay, come into my heart, dear Lord.
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BENEDICTION RESPONSE The Lord Bless You and Keep You — John Rutter The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. Amen. (Numbers 6: 24-26)
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WE HEAR THE WORD PROCLAIMED
Please stand as you are able
PRELUDE
BENEDICTION
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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 God, giver of every good and perfect gift, teach us to render to you all that we have and all that we are, that we may praise you, not with our lips only, but with our whole lives, turning the duties, the sorrows, and the joys of all our days into a living sacrifice to you; through our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
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SERMON NOTES
___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ PARTICIPANTS IN WORSHIP PREACHING The Reverend Dr. P. Glenn Kinken III Senior Minister LITURGIST The Reverend Susannah Pittman, Assoc. Minister The Reverend R. Craig Ford, Assoc. Minister FLOWERS The Chancel Flowers are given in loving memory of William M. “Buck” Butler, Jr., Joseph Glenn Butler and his son Robert Glenn Butler, James A. “Jimmy” Butler, and Albert L. Butler by their family.
MUSIC June Stegall, Assistant Director Joshua Sobel, Organ Scholar The Chancel Choir Joyful Noise Ringers, Camille Jones, Director Carol Choir, Suzanne Maggs, Director Cathedral Choir, Anne Saxon, Director Chapel Chimes, Mary Isom, Director Kindermusik, Carol Penney, Director
Copyright© 1999 Birnamwood Publications (ASCAP) A division of MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc., St. Louis, MO All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A. 1.800 .64 7 .2117 www.MorningStarMusic.com 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.