3. Come, Almighty, to deliver; 4. Finish then thy new creation; let us all thy life receive; pure and spotless let us be; suddenly return, and never, let us see thy great salvation nevermore thy temples leave. perfectly restored in thee: Thee we would be always blessing, changed from glory into glory, serve thee as thy hosts above, till in heaven we take our place, pray, and praise thee without ceasing, till we cast our crowns before thee, glory in thy perfect love. lost in wonder, love, and praise.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God, you have made known to us the ways of life. Yet, too often, we put other things above you and turn away from the ways of life and toward the ways of death. Forgive us and guide us back into your presence, that we may know the fullness of joy. amen.
SILENCE FOR PERSONAL CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
READING AND HEARING THE WORD
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
FIRST LESSON
Acts 2:14a, 22-32 p. 119
One: The Word of the Lord. Many: Thanks be to God.
PSALM
LESSON FOR YOUNG CHRISTIANS
SECOND LESSONS
16
1 Peter 1:3-9 p. 232
John 20:19-31 p. 115
Dr. Sullivan
SERMON “Thomas: Blessed Be the Doubter” Dr. Sullivan Series: The Apostles: Servants for the 21st Century
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
The Apostles’ Creed I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ANTHEM
I Know that My Redeemer Liveth Amy Sprenkle G F Handel
SEALING THE WORD
SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
One: The Lord be with you.
Many: And also with you.
One: Lift up your hearts.
Many: We lift them to the Lord.
One: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
Many: It is right to give God thanks and praise.
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the one who comes in your name. Hosanna in the highest.
The prayer continues. … Great is the mystery of faith:
Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
INTERCESSION, SUPPLICATION, AND CONSECRATION
One: In your mercy, Many: Lord, hear our prayer.
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 debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
ANTHEM
Let Us Break Bread Together
Cindy Berry
DISTRIBUTION OF THE BREAD AND CUP
Please share in your home bread and juice or wine.
BEARING AND FOLLOWING THE WORD OF GOD INTO THE WORLD
BENEDICTION
VOLUNTARY
All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name
Lloyd Larson
Joseph Garrison
Dr. Sullivan
Joseph Garrison
LEADING
IN WORSHIP TODAY
The Rev. Dr. Russell C. Sullivan, Jr., Pastor Joseph W. Garrison, Minister of Music and Worship Amy Sprenkle, Soloist
If you are worshiping here for the first time, we invite you to take a loaf of homemade bread from our baskets in the Narthex following the worship service.
Acts 2:14a, 22–32
SCRIPTURE NOTES
Acts 2 is Luke’s story of Pentecost. Although we do not read the portion in which God sends the Holy Spirit to the church until the end of this season, we listen today to the portion of Peter’s Pentecost sermon in which he proclaims Christ’s resurrection.
Psalm 16
Psalm 16 is an individual’s prayer for protection in a time of distress. Appropriate to the season of Easter is the line that God does not give us up to Sheol, the place of the dead, but instead shows us the path of life.
1 Peter 1:3–9
This letter was written in the late first century to comfort Christians who were experiencing social ostracism because of their faith. Today’s passage comes from the opening to the letter, in which the author calls the readers to rejoice in their new birth in Christ’s resurrection in spite of their suffering.
John 20:19–31
Last Sunday we read Matthew’s version of the discovery of the empty tomb. Today we shift to John’s Gospel and from the story of Easter morning to the story of Easter evening, when the risen Jesus appeared to the disciples and breathed on them the Holy Spirit. Thomas, however, was missing on Easter evening, and wanted the same experience of the risen Jesus the others had. This is the Gospel reading for the Second Sunday of Easter every year.
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NOTICES
WORSHIP AND THE BUILDING
Public worship at Pine Street has been canceled until the Session determines when it is possible to return. The service will be recorded each week and posted to the website and Facebook.
YOUR FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS
Please maintain your giving to the church during this period. Pine Street still has financial obligations. Your faithful giving serves the mission to which God has called us. Many, many thanks for your continued support and stewardship!
SERMON SERIES FOR EASTERTIDE
This Sunday Dr. Sullivan will begin a series of sermons, The Apostles: Servants for the 21st Century. This series will explore some of the lives of the Apostles, those whom Jesus sent to share the Easter message with the world. What does scripture and tradition tell us about them? How do their lives model for us a 21st century Christianity?
DOWNTOWN DAILY BREAD
We continue to have staff in the building to deliver mail and hand out blankets, clothing, personal items, and snacks. We are serving a hot, bagged lunch every day from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. More than 100 homeless individuals are taking advantage of these services. All field outreach has ceased, and other shelters are not admitting new guests. The City and County have placed portable sinks and portable toilets in several downtown parks. The ALC and AA have suspended all classes and meetings until further notice.
BIBLE STUDY ON THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
Each Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. we offer an on-line, via Zoom, a Bible study on the Gospel of Matthew. Our teacher is New Testament scholar, Dr. Meg Ramey. If you wish to enroll in this study, please send an e-mail to Jeremy Tritle at jtritle@pinestreet.org. You will then receive an invitation by e-mail with the necessary link to the study.
THIS WEEK IN PRAYER
Greencastle Presbyterian Church | Greencastle, PA