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

May 2, 2021

Photo by Sue Learner

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

“Vinegrower, let your life grow in us”
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

“Von Gott will ich nicht lassen” by Johann Sebastian Bach

Call to Worship

One: Beloved, let us love one another.
Many: Love is from God.
One: God is love.
Many: We love because God first loved us.
One: As we see and love our siblings in Christ, we love God.
Many: As love grows in us, so too does our connection to God.
One: For God is love.
Many: Those who know love, know God.

Hymn #2115: Christ Has Risen

Connecting in Prayer

Shared Prayer

Vinegrower,
Sometimes we get lost in what you are asking for from us.
We try to be the vine and the branches, the flowers and the fruit, and the vinegrower as well.
We forget that you are the life-source, the soil-tender, the waterer, and the sun that shines.
We forget that all you ask of us is to do our part: to be the branches, and let life move in us and through us.
Help us let go of the work that isn’t ours, so we can do what you ask of us.
Amen
-Park Avenue UMC, published in Shaping Sanctuary, Proclaiming God’s Grace in an Inclusive Church

Silent Prayer

Pastoral Prayer

Vinegrower, God who is Love,
Help us shake off our frustrations, like sand off our feet, and make space where frustration once lived for compassion to grow.
Help us speak our truths in love, with integrity and honesty, and make space for deep connections to grow, rooted in truth.
Help us tell our stories with clarity, so that past hurts can begin to be healed.
Help us to love our siblings (all our siblings) so we can be a part of your love.
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

Ubi Caritas et Amor by Maurice Durufle

Scripture: 1 John 4:7-21

Mission Moment – Jan Huston

Crop Walk

Today (May 2, 2020) is the CROP Hunger Walk!
We have 3 ways to participate:

1. ZOOM – Schenectady Community Ministries (SiCM) will have a virtual kick-off rally at 12:30 on Zoom. Zoom meeting ID is 891 7893 6666. Passcode is 536964.
2. WALK – Meet at Kiwanis Park on route 5S in Rotterdam to walk with FUMC friends on the bike trail at 2:00PM. The distance you walk will be up to you. Free medium and large T-shirts will be available. OR you can walk whenever and wherever you want.
3. GIVE – This is the most important part. You can give online through our website, or at the event web page OR you can send a check payable to FUMC with note: CWS/CROP.

75% of all donations will go to Church World Service to help people in all parts of the world with hunger, community development, recovery from disasters, and other needs. 25% of our donations will remain in our community to reduce hunger here.

Children’s Time: Pruning and Growing

Passing of 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.

Hymn #2246: Deep in the Shadows of the Past

Scripture Reading – John 15:1-8

Sermon: “On Being Pruned” by Sara E. Baron

Responding

Offering

Photo by Alice Nash
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?

Offertory: “For the Beauty of the Earth” by Philip Stopford

Prayer of Presentation

Vinegrower, God who is Love,
We thank you for the ways your life and love grow in us.
We thank you for the pruning you do, and the space it makes for life and love to grow even stronger.
With the gifts we give, we offer our lives to you in gratitude.
May all that we give be blessed to be a blessing, for the building of the kindom.
Amen

Hymn #571: Go Make of All Disciples

Benediction

Dear ones, go from this worship breathing deeply,
resting well,
trusting God,
letting fruit grow through you,
by the grace and power of God. Amen

Postlude

“Riguadon” by Andre Campra