
8 minute read
Sunday Bulletin - May 3, 2020

Pine Street Presbyterian Church
in the City of Harrisburg
May 3, 2020
Fourth Sunday of Easter
G A THERING IN THE P R E S E N CE O F T H E RISEN C H R I S T
VOLUNTARY
Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart
Anne Guenin, piano
MORECAMBE Arr. Mark Hayes
SALUTATIONDr. Sullivan
CALL TO WORSHIP One: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Many: I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. One: Let us worship God!
HYMN
Christ Is Alive TRURO
1. Christ is alive! Let Christians sing.
2. Christ is alive! No longer bound
The cross stands empty to the sky.
to distant years in Palestine,
Let streets and homes with praises ring.
but saving, healing, here and now,
Love, drowned in death, shall never die.
and touching every place and time.
3. In every insult, rift, and war
4. Women and men, in age and youth,
where color, scorn, or wealth divide,
can feel the Spirit, hear the call,
Christ suffers still, yet loves the more,
and find the way, the life, the truth,
and lives, where even hope has died.
revealed in Jesus, freed for all.
5. Christ is alive, and comes to bring good news to this and every age, till earth and sky and ocean ring with joy, with justice, love, and praise.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION Lord God, you are our Shepherd-King, not compelling us to obey your commands but seeking to guide and protect us and always concerned for our good. In your Son, you have shown us that the heart of reality is the heart of personal love. Forgive us for our unloving ways that exclude others, foment violence, and promote self over the common good. Help us to hear your voice and to follow you in living for others that our lives may be shaped in your image and we may dwell in your house our whole lives long. Amen.
Dr. Sullivan
SILENCE FOR PERSONAL CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
R E A D I N G A N D H E A R I N G THE WORD
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
FIRST LESSON Acts 2:42-47
One: Many:
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
PSALM
The King of Love My Shepherd Is ST. COLUMBA
1. The King of love my shepherd is,
2. Where streams of living water flow
whose goodness faileth never;
my ransomed soul he leadeth,
I nothing lack if I am his
and where the verdant pastures grow,
and he is mine forever.
with food celestial feedeth.
3. Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
6. And so through all the length of days
but yet in love he sought me,
thy goodness faileth never;
and on his shoulder gently laid,
Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise
and home, rejoicing, brought me.
within thy house forever.
LESSON FOR YOUNG CHRISTIANS
SECOND LESSONS 1 John 4:7-21 Luke 9:43b-55
SERMON
“John: the Apostle of Love”
Dr. Sullivan
Series: The Apostles: Servants for the 21 st 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
Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us
Joseph Garrison, baritone
Arr. by K. Lee Scott
S E A L I N G THE WORD
SACRAMENT OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
One: Many: One: Many: One: Many:
The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give God thanks and praise.
The prayer continues.
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.
… Great is the mystery of faith:
Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
INTERCESSION, SUPPLICATION,AND CONSECRATION
One: Many:
In your mercy, 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
What a Friend We Have in Jesus
Anne Guenin, piano
Joseph M. Scriven
Arr. Greg Howlett
DISTRIBUTION OF THE BREAD AND CUP Please share in your home bread and juice or wine.
B E A R I N G A N D FOLLOWING THE W O R D O F G ODI N TO THE WORLD
HYMN
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
FAITHFULNESS
1. Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father; there is no shadow of turning with thee. Thou changest not; thy compassions they fail not. As thou hast been thou forever wilt be.
Refrain: Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness! Morning by morning, new mercies I see. All I have needed thy hand hath provided. Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!
2. Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest, sun, moon, and stars in their courses above join with all nature in manifold witness to thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love. (Refrain)
3. Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide, strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow: blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! (Refrain)
BENEDICTIONDr. Sullivan
VOLUNTARY
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
Anne Guenin, piano
ODE TO JOY
Arr. Joel Raney
L E A DING IN WORSHIP T O DA Y
The Rev. Dr. Russell C. Sullivan, Jr., Pastor Joseph W. Garrison, Minister of Music and Worship Anne Guenin, Piano Chris Earhart, Baritone
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.
S CR I P TURE N O TE S
Acts 2:42–47 Over the past two weeks, our readings from Acts have dealt with Peter’s Pentecost sermon and the response to that sermon. Today we listen to a summary of the church’s communal life under the pastoral leadership of the apostles just after Pentecost.
Psalm 23 Using two metaphors, the psalmist describes God. First, the psalmist declares that the Lord is our shepherd, who cares, protects, and tends the flock. Then the psalmist describes God as a host who prepares a banquet of goodness and mercy.
1 John 4:7-21 In this passage, John calls the readers to love one another. He bases this call on the understanding of God as love.
Luke 9:43b-55 This passage contains three interesting vignettes in Jesus’ ministry with his disciples. The disciples in these encounters with Jesus manifest ambition to be great, intolerance towards others, and a tendency to advocate for violence. Eventually, it is God’s love in Christ that changes the disciples into people who reject these attitudes.
A N N O U N CEMENT S A N D N O TICE S
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.
BIBLE STUDY ON THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW Each Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. through May 20, we offer 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.
SERMON SERIES FOR EASTERTIDE This Sunday Dr. Sullivan will begin a series of sermons, The Apostles: Servants for the 21 st 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 21 st 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.
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!
T H I S WEEK IN P R A YERCapital Presbyterian Church | Harrisburg, PA