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

May 10, 2020

“Dauphin Island Sunrise” by Dana Carroll
Photo Show: See and Believe

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

“God our Refuge, we seek your steadfast love.”
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

“Vocalise” by Sergei Rachmaninoff
Performed by Renee Fleming – Soprano

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 out of the storm for a little while, beloveds of God.
Many: We prepare ourselves to worship, to be in the midst of beauty, expressing gratitude, seeking truth, savoring God.
One: Come and be where you are safe.
Many: We open our hearts to the God of love.

Hymn #2212: My Life Flows On

If you wish to sing along, the words are here: My Life Flows On

Connecting in Prayer

Shared Prayer

Our Rock and Our Refuge,
Steady us with your steadfast love, Holy One.
When we are rocked by the winds of change and confusion,
you provide a stronghold for us.
When our emotions are strong and changeable, like hurricanes within,
you let us cling to you, and provide a plumb-line to guide us.
May we let go enough, to rest in you, and regain our strength.
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

“See and Bee-lieve” by Barbara Armstrong
Photo Show Theme: See and Believe

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.

Our Rock and Our Refuge,
As we consider how you shelter us,
we are also grateful for our physical shelter,
for homes (including new ones)
for our church building,
and for all those invested in caring for our homes and our church and our places of refuge.
Our gratitude helps us see more clearly the struggle of those without:
those without adequate physical shelter, including migrants and those
who are homeless,
and those whose physical shelters are not safe, including those living
with abusers.
We are so grateful for the mask-makers in our midst,
for their care and their labor,
and for our increased safety.
Our gratitude helps us see more clearly the struggle of those without:
the medical workers without adequate protective gear,
the many in the world without clean running water to wash their
hands,
those unable to wear or access masks.
We are delighted in the chance we had to decorate our space with rainbows,
to share your message of love and joy,
to create art together – but safely.
Our delight reminds us of the work we do to name in the world that your love knows no bounds, and we raise our prayers for those who have heard other messages.
We have celebrated birthdays for people of many ages, in this time of upheaval, and we are grateful for their lives and for the creative ways celebrations have occurred. The moving celebrations remind us to consider those who are disconnected and lonely, to them we send our prayers and love.
In this time of change, there have been unexpected connections that have
enriched life, and we offer our thanks for them. May we continue to be open to such connections, as a way of savoring you.
As a community that loves to learn, we have always had a special space in our hearts for teachers, but now we name our gratitude even more strongly: for those who are adapting learning environments and trying to reach the hardest to reach students, we give you thanks. For the retired teachers who can grasp the difficulties and support their active colleagues (as well as for their years of work), we give you thanks. For the parents who have become teachers, we give you thanks. For all the learners who are experiencing new forms of teaching, we give you thanks. Strengthen them all, dear God, they need your support.
For those who have been sick or injured and are healing, we praise your name.
For those who have been isolated in hospitals and are now with their loved ones, we give you thanks!
For those offering life-giving care of all forms, we are grateful.
And, as we raise our voices in praise and gratitude, we acknowledge the deep needs in the world
for those who are ill or injured, that they may find healing
for those who are exhausted by their labors, that they may get rest
for those without work who are righteously afraid for their well being,
that society may step up with practical solutions
for those who are hungry, that they may be fed, and soon
for those who are grieving, that they may discover they are not alone
in their pain,
for those experiencing loss, confusion, and disorientation, that they
may find your steadiness.
We bring you so much, Holy One. Our hearts and minds are full of worries and gratitude. May you who knows the deepest parts of our beings, hear our
prayers, and may we be open to hearing your responses.
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

All Things Bright and Beautiful – John Rutter

Scripture – Psalm 31:1-5; 15-16

“Sea and Believe” by Barbara Armstrong
Photo Show Theme: See and Believe

Mission Moment: Franciscan Blessing – Jan Huston

This week’s mission moment is a Franciscan blessing. I first heard it when we were preparing to leave Nicaragua after 2 weeks there with a VIM team. The pastor who was our liaison there shared this blessing with us. Jean Gustafson posted it recently on facebook. I was glad to be reminded of it and want to share it with you.

A Franciscan Blessing
May God bless you with discomfort
At easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships
So that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger
At injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
So that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless you with tears
To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger and war,
So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and
To turn their pain into joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness
To believe that you can make a difference in the world,
So that you can do what others claim cannot be done,
To bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.

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. You may want to reach out to speak peace to another during this week.

“A Bird’s Nest in my Spring Wreath!!” by Jan Huston
Photo Show Theme: See and Believe

Hymn #318: Christ is Alive

If you wish to sing along, the sheet music is here: Christ is Alive

Scripture Reading: John 14:1-14

Sermon: “Rock and Refuge”

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?


“We must believe in both good (humanitarian aid — water in the desert)
and bad (the wall with wire on top).” by Jan Huston.
Photo Show Theme: See and Believe

Offertory Anthem

“How Firm a Foundation” – Mack Wilberg

Prayer of Presentation

Our Rock and Our Refuge,
For all the gifts you have given that steady us, we give thanks, and offer our responses of gratitude and commitment.
For all the ways you call us into relationships and service to your world,
we give you thanks, and respond with the gifts we have to offer to share your love in the world.
Amen

Hymn #2218: You Are Mine

If you wish to sing along, the sheet music is here: You Are Mine

Benediction

May you always remember to steady yourself on God, your rock and your refuge.
Amen

Postlude

“Tuba Tune” – Norman Crocker, Organist Christopher Herrick


“The Fog Will Lift” by Amanda Taylor
Photo Show Theme: See and Believe