The Fourth Sunday of Easter
Centering Practice
We invite you to slow down, breathe, and connect with God, each other, and yourself. Begin by taking a couple of slow, deep breaths.
- Today, we will practice the “theology of thumbs”— make a thumbs-up with both hands, turn both hands to the right, and then open your hands up
- We invite you to join hands with the people next to you and pray a short silent prayer of blessing over them, remembering we are called both to hold up and be held up by others
Call to Worship
Great is the mystery of the faith:
Christ has died, Christ is risen,
Christ will come again.
Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?
Christ is risen!
He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!
Worship Songs
Beautiful One
Wonderful, so wonderful
Is Your unfailing love
Your cross has spoken mercy over me
No eye has seen, no ear has heard
No heart could fully know
How glorious, how beautiful you are
Beautiful One, I love You
Beautiful One, I adore
Beautiful One, my soul must sing
Powerful, so powerful
Your glory fills the skies
Your mighty works displayed for all to see
The beauty of Your majesty
Awakes my heart to sing
How marvelous, how wonderful You are
You opened my eyes to Your wonders anew
You captured my heart with this love
Because nothing on earth is as beautiful as You
My soul, my soul must sing
My soul, my soul must sing
My soul, my soul must sing
Beautiful One
Send the Rain
Lord, we come to You
Now with open hands
Broken lives and dreams
Washed up on the sand
We’ve been beaten down
But still we choose to stand
We choose to stand
Lord, we long for You
For Your hand to move
Heal this barren land
Come and make it new
Jesus, You’re the life
That is breaking through
You’re breaking through
The saints of old in ancient days
They worked the ground
that we reap from today
So use our hands to cultivate
The harvest that
our children’s children taste
We’re ready God, so send the rain
Lord, we’ll follow You
To unbroken earth
On the path not used
Where new hope is birthed
We will work as one
Holding to Your truth
To Your truth
Heal the ruined cities
We destroyed with our own hands
Bring us back together
Let us see the promised land
Pour out Your Spirit
On this dry and thirsty ground
O God of the harvest
Could it be right here and now
Could it be right here and now
Open up the heavens,
let Your rain fall down
We are thirsty, we are thirsty
Prayer of Confession
God of hope,
we come together in the faith & trust
that Your love is stronger than death.
For ourselves and our neighbors near & far,
renew us in faith, hope, and love.
Hear us, O God, we pray:
— Moment of silent prayer —
Good Shepherd,
restore our hearts and lead us
in the way of goodness & mercy.
Amen.
Assurance of God’s Love
Prayers of the People
Today, we will pray in triads for our neighbors near and far. Each person in your triad will pray for one of these topics. We invite you to pray simply, one at a time, with two or three sentences out loud (there will be time for conversation later):
- Our church
- Our local community (neighborhood, school, city, etc.)
- Our world (our country and world)
Offering Prayer
Announcements
- Thanks for worshiping with us today! We hope you experience meaningful connection with God and others in our community. If you’re visiting for the first time today, we’d love to get to know you better. Please take home a visitor’s card with QR code so that we can stay in touch & build a relationship!
- Meal Packing Event: Our meal packing event is next Sunday, May 3rd. If you haven’t had the chance, please sign up today!
Passing of the Peace
Let’s greet each other at this time!
Blessing of the Children
Go in peace and go in joy;
Filled with wonder for this day.
Go in faith and go in love;
God will guide you on your way!
Worship Song
You Hold It All Together
You come at the right time
When I least expect it
Never behind
So why would I be surprised
When You deliver every time
On mountaintops, You stay the same
In valleys low, You never change
And I believe that I will see
The goodness of the Lord
I’m confident as seasons change
Your faithfulness remains
You go, You go before me
To prepare a blessing
You madе a way
It’s more than I could imagine
More than I can fathom
Or comprehend
God of my present
God of my future
You write my story
You hold it all together
And I believe that I will see
The goodness of the Lord
I’m confident as seasons change
Your faithfulness remains
Scripture Reading
Matthew 22:34-40
34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
This is the Word of the Lord.
Together: Thanks be to God.
Sermon
Knowing & Loving Our Neighbors
Pastor Dan
Conversation questions:
- Our “neighbors” can include (but are not limited to): your literal next door neighbors (homes, dorms, apartments, etc.), coworkers, classmates, representatives, artists, creatives, shopkeepers, baristas, librarians, etc.
- What’s something you like about a neighbor? Something you’ve been inspired by, something fun or surprising?
Worship Song
Open Up
You heard the cry of our hearts
And You came down
Freely You gave us Your love
Showing us how
Make me an instrument
Of Your peace
Where there is hatred
Let me sow love
Where there is darkness
Let me shine light and . . .
May Your love
Cause us to open up
Cause us to open up our hearts
May Your light
Cause us to shine so bright
That we bring hope into the dark
All that we do without love
It means nothing
Grant us the courage to give
As You’re calling
Hope for the hopeless
Your love is
Strength in our weakness
Your love is
May we love, as You love
May we love, as You love
Anchor & Hope Church 