{"id":1504,"date":"2020-05-02T00:55:43","date_gmt":"2020-05-02T00:55:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/?p=1504"},"modified":"2020-05-02T00:55:46","modified_gmt":"2020-05-02T00:55:46","slug":"worship-for-the-fourth-sunday-of-easter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/2020\/05\/02\/worship-for-the-fourth-sunday-of-easter\/","title":{"rendered":"Worship for the Fourth Sunday of Easter"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1>First United Methodist Church of Schenectady<br \/>\nWorship for the Fourth Sunday of Easter<\/h1>\n<h2>May 3, 2020<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/image-000.jpg\"><br \/>\n\u201cAfter an early morning shower in the Arizona desert\u201d by Jan Huston<br \/>\nPhoto Show: Very Early in the Morning<\/p>\n<h2>Getting Centered<\/h2>\n<p>It may help to center yourself into worship by lighting a candle, as a symbol of God&#8217;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.<\/p>\n<h3>Breath Prayer<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cShepherd us God, from death into life.\u201d<br \/>\n<em>Breath prayers involve breathing in the first phrase, and breathing out the second.<br \/>\nYou may wish to simply pray for a moment before starting, or you may wish to pray while listening to the prelude.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3>Prelude<\/h3>\n<p><strong>\u201cHighland Cathedral\u201d Arranged by Charles Callahan<\/strong><br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Music for Organ: HIGHLAND CATHEDRAL (arranged by Charles Callahan *1951)\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5laWq2Nv7ZA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Call to Worship<\/h3>\n<p><em>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.<\/em><br \/>\nOne: Come away for a while, from all that exhausts you.<br \/>\n<strong>Many: We seek the Holy One, and God&#8217;s rest.<\/strong><br \/>\nOne: Come and be with God, who is love.<br \/>\n<strong>Many: We let go of our worries and fears, to connect with God.<\/strong><br \/>\nOne: In word and song, in image and reflection, we become.<br \/>\n<strong>Many: We seek to become more loving, more whole.<\/strong><br \/>\nOne: On this Sabbath day, may we all know rest.<br \/>\n<strong>Many: And may our spirits be filled. <\/strong><\/p>\n<h3>Hymn #2128: <em>Come and Find the Quiet Center<\/em><\/h3>\n<p><em>If you wish to sing along, the words are here: <a href=\"https:\/\/hymnary.org\/hymn\/FWS\/2128\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Come and Find the Quiet Center<\/a><\/em><br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Come and Find the Quiet Center\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hV_ytdItJ5U?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>Connecting in Prayer<\/h2>\n<h3>Shared Prayer<\/h3>\n<blockquote><p><strong>God who Shepherds Us,<br \/>\nA shepherd is charged with caring for the whole flock,<br \/>\nand for each sheep.<br \/>\nSo too, do you care for the whole,<br \/>\nand for each.<br \/>\nYou seek to give us what we need,<br \/>\nand to ensure the resources you give are distributed fairly.<br \/>\nMay we be a good part of your flock:<br \/>\nresponsive to your gifts,<br \/>\nand trusting you enough to make space for others to receive them too.<br \/>\nAmen<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><em>We will share joys and concerns during the Second Hour Zoom conversation.<br \/>\nIf you have joys or concerns to add, please send them to the office.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3>Silent Prayer<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/image-001.jpg\"><br \/>\n\u201cTree in the Fog\u201d by Dana Carroll<br \/>\nPhoto Show Theme: Very Early in the Morning<\/p>\n<h3>Pastoral Prayer<\/h3>\n<p><em>You are welcome to read this out-loud or silently.<br \/>\nNormally the pastoral prayer is in response to the prayers of the body,<br \/>\nthis one is written hoping to respond to the prayers of the body<br \/>\nwithout hearing them first.<\/em><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Good Shepherd,<br \/>\nIf you were anyone but you,<br \/>\nwe would worry that you were exhausted.<br \/>\nHow lucky we are to have a caregiver who never wearies, nor sleeps,<br \/>\nyet urges us to rest and recover!<br \/>\nHoly One, we don&#8217;t always know how to do what you urge,<br \/>\nfor some of us there is too much downtime and we&#8217;re underwhelmed;<br \/>\nfor others there are never ceasing demands and we&#8217;re running ragged.<br \/>\nGuide us, that we may be moved towards wholeness.<br \/>\nSo many in this beautiful and hurting world are grieving, Holy One.<br \/>\nSo many are ill.<br \/>\nSo many are scared.<br \/>\nSo many are lonely.<br \/>\nWe are grateful for your presence and healing with all who are struggling.<br \/>\nIn 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.<br \/>\nYou 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&#8217;s voices is a gift, as is seeing each other&#8217;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 \u201csmall wonders\u201d 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.<br \/>\nYou, 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.<br \/>\nAmen<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3>The Lord&#8217;s Prayer<\/h3>\n<blockquote><p><strong>Our Father who art in heaven,<br \/>\nHallowed be thy name.<br \/>\nThy kingdom come.<br \/>\nThy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.<br \/>\nGive us this day our daily bread.<br \/>\nAnd forgive us our trespasses,<br \/>\nas we forgive those who trespass against us.<br \/>\nAnd lead us not into temptation,<br \/>\nbut deliver us from evil:<br \/>\nFor thine is the kingdom, and the power,<br \/>\nand the glory, for ever. Amen.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h2>Word and Reflection<\/h2>\n<h3>Choir Anthem<\/h3>\n<p><em>The Lord Is My Shepherd<\/em> &#8211; John Rutter<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Lord Is My Shepherd, John Rutter\" width=\"1140\" height=\"855\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/iUZTVSnLDN8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Scripture &#8211; Psalm 23 (The Inclusive Bible)<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Psalm 23\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/tFQoNE45bWI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/image-002.jpg\"><br \/>\n\u201cTreasures Discovered On an Early Morning Walk at Sky Lake\u201d by Barbara Armstrong<br \/>\nPhoto Show Theme: Very Early in the Morning<\/p>\n<h3>Mission Moment: Crop Walk and Belinda Forbes &#8211; Jan Huston<\/h3>\n<p>First \u2013 Today is the Virtual CROP Walk. Please read the information in the<br \/>\nannouncements and respond as you are able. Donations relieve hunger locally<br \/>\nthrough the Schenectady Community Ministries (SiCM) and throughout the world through Church World Service.<br \/>\nSecond \u2013 Our missionary in Nicaragua, Dr. Belinda Forbes, recently made a<br \/>\nvideo 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.<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Global Mission during a Pandemic: Dr. Belinda Forbes, Nicaragua\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/409018379?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Children&#8217;s Time<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Children&#039;s Time May 3 2020\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S1LxpfYCpu4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Passing the Peace<\/h3>\n<p><em>If you are worshiping with others, please pass the Peace of Christ.<br \/>\nWhether you are alone or with others, please take a moment to find God&#8217;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<br \/>\nother beloveds, then of friends, then acquaintances, then those who frustrate you, then those you don&#8217;t really know, then those you don&#8217;t know at all. In this way, God&#8217;s peace (wholistic well-being) is spread to all.<br \/>\nPlease note you can also share the peace online through our Facebook page, or yours.<\/em><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/image-003.jpg\"><br \/>\n\u201cWatch Me!\u201d by Terry Phillips<br \/>\nPhoto Show Theme: See and Believe<\/p>\n<h3>Hymn #133: Leaning on the Everlasting Arms<\/h3>\n<p><em>If you wish to sing along, the sheet music is here: <a href=\"https:\/\/hymnary.org\/hymn\/UMH\/133\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Leaning on the Everlasting Arms<\/a><\/em><br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Leaning on the Everlasting Arms (SHOWALTER)\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/O5fcRW2m-GM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Scripture Reading: John 10:1-10 (The Inclusive Bible)<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"John 10:1-10\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/NWX7RjFZjKk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/image-004.jpg\"><br \/>\nThe Stillness of a New Day\u201d by Barbara Armstrong<br \/>\nPhoto Show Theme: Very Early in the Morning<\/p>\n<h3>Sermon: &#8220;What Voice to Listen To&#8221;<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"What Voice to Listen To\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Z8q_DgbZij0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>Responding<\/h2>\n<h3>Offering<\/h3>\n<p>If you wish, you are welcome to use this time to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eservicepayments.com\/cgi-bin\/Vanco_ver3.vps?appver3=3_CMn6vY3gbXWj2GvkW32xVh5LubqSJdgKX6KHFre1VuMdS3Q8kj_eIJXGJN8RG-0gmHZvX_Lw1ha8ZXgn-54Krv7ImQMfM68o70RRXIZtDlvXRu7Icp8meYpri-7vHbdSHJK5fST8PKv5rD7H0pV4u2FYADh6CtWzBcTpjLo9qDxBXK0S3J8MPHZwZCFVXkDJkCUTrur4Wm694FEfvylg==&amp;ver=3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">make a donation to the church online<\/a>, or to put a check in the mail.<br \/>\nThe 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?<br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/image-005.jpg\"><br \/>\n\u201cSilenced by Injustice\u201d by Barbara Armstrong<br \/>\nPhoto Show Theme: The Women Were Silent<\/p>\n<h3>Offertory Anthem<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cPaschal Lamb, Who Suffered For Us\u201d &#8211; Carl Schalk<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Paschal Lamb, Who Suffered for Us\" width=\"1140\" height=\"855\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/dK9jvB-enwI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Prayer of Presentation<\/h3>\n<blockquote><p>Good Shepherd,<br \/>\nWe are reminded, again, to offer our lives to you and the building of your kindom.<br \/>\nMay the gifts we have be given with hope and humility,<br \/>\nand received with wisdom.<br \/>\nWe seek to be a part of your work in the world,<br \/>\nand the gifts we give are a part of that work.<br \/>\nSometimes what we give doesn&#8217;t seem like enough,<br \/>\nsometimes it feels like too much,<br \/>\nin all cases we hope it is useful to you.<br \/>\nAmen<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3>Hymn #405: Seek Ye First<\/h3>\n<p><em>If you wish to sing along, the sheet music is here: <a href=\"https:\/\/hymnary.org\/hymn\/UMH\/405\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Seek Ye First<\/a><\/em><br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Seek Ye First\" width=\"1140\" height=\"855\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9LMQfOp9w8k?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3>Benediction<\/h3>\n<p>May you find your breath, your emotions, and your voice \u2013 all as a means to<br \/>\nfinding God&#8217;s voice within. Amen<\/p>\n<h3>Postlude<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cTuba Tune\u201d &#8211; C.S. Lang<br \/>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"C.S. Lang - &quot;Tuba Tune&quot; - Diane Bish - Program #8618\" width=\"1140\" height=\"855\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HxfhKfLYyjo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/image-006.jpg\"><br \/>\n\u201cRed\u201d by Dana Carroll<br \/>\nPhoto Show Theme: Very Early in the Morning<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>First United Methodist Church of Schenectady Worship for the Fourth Sunday of Easter May 3, 2020 \u201cAfter an early morning &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/2020\/05\/02\/worship-for-the-fourth-sunday-of-easter\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Worship for the Fourth Sunday of Easter<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1500,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1255],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1504","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-online-worship"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1504","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1504"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1504\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1506,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1504\/revisions\/1506"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1500"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1504"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1504"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fumcschenectady.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1504"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}