First United Methodist Church of Schenectady
Worship for the Fourth Sunday of Easter

May 3, 2020

“After an early morning shower in the Arizona desert” by Jan Huston
Photo Show: Very Early in the Morning

Getting Centered

It may help to center yourself into worship by lighting a candle, as a symbol of God’s presence with you during the time of worship. You may also want to pay attention to lighting, the position of your body, and the availability of distractions.

Breath Prayer

“Shepherd us God, from death into life.”
Breath prayers involve breathing in the first phrase, and breathing out the second.
You may wish to simply pray for a moment before starting, or you may wish to pray while listening to the prelude.

Prelude

“Highland Cathedral” Arranged by Charles Callahan

Call to Worship

If you are with another person, you may wish to read this out-loud. Otherwise, you can read it as a reminder that this is communal worship done in a large geographical area.
One: Come away for a while, from all that exhausts you.
Many: We seek the Holy One, and God’s rest.
One: Come and be with God, who is love.
Many: We let go of our worries and fears, to connect with God.
One: In word and song, in image and reflection, we become.
Many: We seek to become more loving, more whole.
One: On this Sabbath day, may we all know rest.
Many: And may our spirits be filled.

Hymn #2128: Come and Find the Quiet Center

If you wish to sing along, the words are here: Come and Find the Quiet Center

Connecting in Prayer

Shared Prayer

God who Shepherds Us,
A shepherd is charged with caring for the whole flock,
and for each sheep.
So too, do you care for the whole,
and for each.
You seek to give us what we need,
and to ensure the resources you give are distributed fairly.
May we be a good part of your flock:
responsive to your gifts,
and trusting you enough to make space for others to receive them too.
Amen

We will share joys and concerns during the Second Hour Zoom conversation.
If you have joys or concerns to add, please send them to the office.

Silent Prayer

“Tree in the Fog” by Dana Carroll
Photo Show Theme: Very Early in the Morning

Pastoral Prayer

You are welcome to read this out-loud or silently.
Normally the pastoral prayer is in response to the prayers of the body,
this one is written hoping to respond to the prayers of the body
without hearing them first.

Good Shepherd,
If you were anyone but you,
we would worry that you were exhausted.
How lucky we are to have a caregiver who never wearies, nor sleeps,
yet urges us to rest and recover!
Holy One, we don’t always know how to do what you urge,
for some of us there is too much downtime and we’re underwhelmed;
for others there are never ceasing demands and we’re running ragged.
Guide us, that we may be moved towards wholeness.
So many in this beautiful and hurting world are grieving, Holy One.
So many are ill.
So many are scared.
So many are lonely.
We are grateful for your presence and healing with all who are struggling.
In many ways, life is on pause. Grief has come, but celebrations of life await. Love has come, but weddings await. We wait, in this liminal space, hoping that our waiting brings life, hoping that our actions and choices matter.
You are a Resurrection God and we are your Easter people. Even in the midst of life on pause, in this ever so long Holy Saturday, we see your hand at work. Beauty and wonder break through. Hearing each other’s voices is a gift, as is seeing each other’s faces. Connections bring us life. New jobs await some, and shared play await others. We are still able to feed your beloved people, we are able to share our love in the world, and with each other. The “small wonders” we can find in these days that lift up our spirits, might have been there for us all along, and we are grateful that we now take notice of them.
You, Good Shepherd, are a God of Life, and we know you to be working towards whole and abundant life for all people. We thank you for what we are able to do to work with you, from social distancing, to sharing our gifts. We ask for your guidance to move our own lives and the lives of your beloveds (all) more fully into wholeness. May your guidance be our way.
Amen

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, for ever. Amen.

Word and Reflection

Choir Anthem

The Lord Is My Shepherd – John Rutter

Scripture – Psalm 23 (The Inclusive Bible)

“Treasures Discovered On an Early Morning Walk at Sky Lake” by Barbara Armstrong
Photo Show Theme: Very Early in the Morning

Mission Moment: Crop Walk and Belinda Forbes – Jan Huston

First – Today is the Virtual CROP Walk. Please read the information in the
announcements and respond as you are able. Donations relieve hunger locally
through the Schenectady Community Ministries (SiCM) and throughout the world through Church World Service.
Second – Our missionary in Nicaragua, Dr. Belinda Forbes, recently made a
video which is part of a series on Global Mission during a Pandemic. She was interviewed by Thomas Kemper, General Secretary of Global Ministries for the United Methodist Church. She discusses some of the response to the corona virus in Nicaragua and also shares a message of faith and hope.

Children’s Time

Passing the Peace

If you are worshiping with others, please pass the Peace of Christ.
Whether you are alone or with others, please take a moment to find God’s peace within, and then to share it with the world. This may take several breaths or moments, it is OK to wait. Sharing might work well this way: think of a dearly beloved with whom to share the peace, then think of
other beloveds, then of friends, then acquaintances, then those who frustrate you, then those you don’t really know, then those you don’t know at all. In this way, God’s peace (wholistic well-being) is spread to all.
Please note you can also share the peace online through our Facebook page, or yours.

“Watch Me!” by Terry Phillips
Photo Show Theme: See and Believe

Hymn #133: Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

If you wish to sing along, the sheet music is here: Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

Scripture Reading: John 10:1-10 (The Inclusive Bible)

The Stillness of a New Day” by Barbara Armstrong
Photo Show Theme: Very Early in the Morning

Sermon: “What Voice to Listen To”

Responding

Offering

If you wish, you are welcome to use this time to make a donation to the church online, or to put a check in the mail.
The time of offering is not only about our financial gifts to the church, it is about offering our lives to God and the building of the kindom. This is a time for reflection: What is being asked of us? What is being given to us? What are we able to offer? What do we need?

“Silenced by Injustice” by Barbara Armstrong
Photo Show Theme: The Women Were Silent

Offertory Anthem

“Paschal Lamb, Who Suffered For Us” – Carl Schalk

Prayer of Presentation

Good Shepherd,
We are reminded, again, to offer our lives to you and the building of your kindom.
May the gifts we have be given with hope and humility,
and received with wisdom.
We seek to be a part of your work in the world,
and the gifts we give are a part of that work.
Sometimes what we give doesn’t seem like enough,
sometimes it feels like too much,
in all cases we hope it is useful to you.
Amen

Hymn #405: Seek Ye First

If you wish to sing along, the sheet music is here: Seek Ye First

Benediction

May you find your breath, your emotions, and your voice – all as a means to
finding God’s voice within. Amen

Postlude

“Tuba Tune” – C.S. Lang


“Red” by Dana Carroll
Photo Show Theme: Very Early in the Morning