12.04.22 Easter 3B English

Prelude:  Les enfants de Dieu (Olivier Messiaen)
Hymn:  Easter Gloria (Marty Haugen/O FILII ET FILIAE, traditional French) GC **
Call to Worship

One: We are witnesses,
All: to the love God has poured into us.
One: We are witnesses of God's love,
All: sharing it with each person we meet.
One: We are witnesses to everyone we encounter,
All: little children like us, sisters and brothers in God's family.

Song: I want to walk as a child of the light (HOUSTON, Kathleen Thomerson) 1982
Prayer of Confession

One:  We know how easy it is to trick ourselves into believing that every thought is pure, every act is just, every choice is correct. But if we want to be God's children, to grow in hope, to walk in the Light, we must admit our mistakes, so we may open ourselves to the healing mercy of God's love. Join me, please, as we pray together, saying,

All  Emptier of tombs, we find ourselves running down the street after lies, rather than walking with you. We find it easy to love other people, as long as they don't annoy or bother us. We hunger for love and search for affirmation, yet find it difficult to let others love us for who we are. Forgive us, Compassionate Heart. You listen to the whispers of our hearts, and then sing of the promises of hope. You grace us with peace, so our hearts can rest in you. You continue to transform us into Easter people, brothers and sisters of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

—Silent reflection—

One: Not everything has been revealed to us, but this we do know: as God's children, we are blessed, we are loved, we are forgiven.

All: Our lives have been transformed by the abundant mercy given to us in Christ Jesus our Lord. Thanks be to God! Amen.

Song of Praise:  Psalm 34, verse 1 (adapted John Bell/TALLA CRIOSDH, traditional Scots Gaelic) * **
Prayer of the Day

Holy and righteous God,
you raised Christ from the dead
and glorified him at your right hand.
Let the words of scripture,
fulfilled in Jesus your Son,
burn within our hearts
and open our minds to recognize him
in the breaking of bread. Amen.

Sh'ma Israel (Max Helfman)
Reading from Hebrew Scripture:  Hosea 11:1-14 (non-lectionary)

Reading from the Early Church:  1 John 3:1-12
Sermon:  The aseity of God
Song:  Children of God (Bruce Harding) source

Affirmation of Faith Rev. Dr. Chuck Robertson

Consider the “aseity” of God the Father,

Completely free to love as a Mother!

For heavens above,

we know God is love,

And commands us to love one another!

Prayer Song:  Psalm 34, verse 3 (adapted John Bell/TALLA CRIOSDH, traditional Scots Gaelic) * **
Prayers of the People
Announcements
Offerings (regular and food)
Song:  Blue green hills of earth (Kim Oler) JS
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Hymn:  Creating God (Jeffery Rowthorne/EM)


*A cappella, the congregation singing the two supporting parts and the soprano cantor singing the melody.
** seasonal songs (Easter)


Forces:
Soprano
Tenor/Guitar
Tenor/Bass Guitar
Organ/Piano