ZION UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
22 Gettysburg Street Box 538
Arendtsville, Pennsylvania
Fourth Sunday of Easter
May 8, 2022
Worship 9:00 a.m.
Livestream link: Zion UCC Sunday Service Livestream – May 8 2022
Zion UCC – Be Disciples, Make Disciples, Love All
W E L C O M E
Dear visitors, welcome and thank you for joining us at Zion UCC! Our hope is that you will feel encouraged by today’s service and that you will experience the love and peace of Jesus Christ. If you have any questions or need spiritual guidance, please find me at the end of the service.
Rev. Heather
PRELUDE: “I Am a Child of God”, Mildred Tanner Petit, arr. Darian Santana
ANNOUNCEMENTS
INTERLUDE: Our Children Sing
*CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Thanks be to you, O God, that we have risen this day,
ALL: To the rising of this life itself:
Leader: Be the purpose of God between us and each purpose,
ALL: The hand of God between us and each hand.
Leader: The pain of Christ between us and each pain,
ALL: The love of Christ between us and each love.
Leader: O God, who brought us to the bright light of this new day,
ALL: Bring us to the guiding light of eternity.
*OPENING PRAYER
*HYMN #187 “Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us”, William Batchelder Bradbury, 1859, public domain
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
ASSURANCE OF GOD’S LOVE
A TIME FOR YOUNG DISCIPLES
PRAISE VERSICLE –
Leader: Leader: Christ is Risen!
ALL: Christ is Risen indeed! Alleluia!
*PRAISE RESPONSE “Halle, Halle, Hallelujah”, Caribbean melody
SCRIPTURE READING: Revelation 7: 9-17
MESSAGE
*HYMN #488 “I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry”, John C. Ylvisaker, ©1985
RITE OF CONFRIMATION – INVITATION
INTRODUCTION OF CONFIRMANDS BY THEIR MENTORS
SENTENCES
QUESTIONS OF THE CANDIDATES
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
Leader: Let us unite with the church in all times and places in confessing our faith in the triune God. Do you believe in God?
All: I believe in God.
Leader: Do you believe in Jesus Christ?
All: I believe in Jesus Christ.
Leader: Do you believe in the Holy Spirit?
All: I believe in the Holy Spirit
PRAYER OF THE CANDIDATES
PRAYERS OF THE CONGREGATION
All: Almighty God, who in baptism received these your servants into the church, forgave their sins, and promised them eternal life, increase in them the gifts of your Holy Spirit. Grant love for others, joy in serving you, peace in disagreement, patience in suffering, kindness toward all people, goodness in evil times, faithfulness in temptation, gentleness in the face of opposition, self-control in all things. Thereby strengthen them for their ministry in the world; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
ACT OF CONFIRMATION
Leader: O God, in the grace of Jesus Christ you have accepted these your servants, William and Anthony, through the water of baptism. Nourish in them the power of your Holy Spirit that they may serve you in the world.
Everyone: Amen.
ACT OF FAMILY LOVE (FAMILY MEMBERS AND CHURCH FAMILY COME FORWARD)
Leader: William and Anthony, know that you are unconditionally loved and deeply cared for by your support group gathered around you today. May your family continue to be the wisdom you seek on life’s journey.
All: We love you, William and Anthony. Amen!
PRAYER OF CONFIRMAND
ADDRESS
QUESTIONS ABOUT PARTICIPATION
WELCOME
Leader: Let us, the members of Zion, United Church of Christ express our welcome and affirm our mutual ministry in Christ.
People: We promise William and Anthony our continuing friendship and prayers as we share the hope and labors of the church of Jesus Christ. By the power of the Holy Spirit may we continue to grow together in God’s knowledge and love and be witnesses of our risen Savior.
GREETING OF CHRISTIAN LOVE
Leader: In the name of Jesus Christ, and on behalf of Zion UCC, we extend to you the hand of Christian love.
PRESENTATION OF GIFTS
PASTORAL PRAYER
LORD’S PRAYER USING SINNERS AND SIN
OFFERING
Leader: God is good!
People: All the time!
Leader: All the time!
People: God is good!
*SUNG DOXOLOGY, Old Hundredth, public domain
Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
Praise God, all creatures here below
Praise God, the source of all our gifts!
Praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts!
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
God of new life, out of the abundance of our lives we offer these gifts to you. Amen.
THE ORDER FOR HOLY COMMUNION
INVITATION
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
Leader: God be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them to God.
Leader: Let us give thanks to God Most High.
People: It is right to give God thanks and praise.
THE BLESSING
Leader: Therefore, bless now, by your Word and Spirit, both us and these gifts of bread and wine, that in receiving them at this time, and offering here our faith and praise, we may be united with Christ and one another, and remain faithful to the tasks he sets before us.
All: In the strength Christ gives us, we offer ourselves to you, eternal God and give thanks that you have called us to serve you, through Christ our Savior. Amen.
BREAKING BREAD AND POURING WINE
SHARING THE ELEMENTS
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Let us pray:
In gratitude, in deep gratitude for this moment, this meal, these people, we give ourselves to you. Take us out to live as changed people because we have shared the Living Bread and cannot remain the same. Ask much of us, expect much from us, enable much by us, encourage many through us. Amen.
*CLOSING HYMN #192 “Shine, Jesus, Shine”, Graham Kendrick, ©1987 Make Way Music (admin. Music Services)
BLESSING
POSTLUDE “God Be With You Til We Meet Again”, William G. Tomer, public domain
Please check in on Facebook that you are at church this morning!!
Confirmation Statement
Today, 2 young people will step into membership at Zion UCC. They will profess their faith and request to be included into the full life and fellowship of this congregation. By this act, they will confirm their faith. Likewise, we as a congregation shall receive them, and confirm their membership among us in the Church of Jesus Christ.
The rite of Confirmation, just as the Sacrament of Baptism, is a once in a lifetime event. Once a part of the Body of Christ, you are always part of Christ’s eternal body. This fact makes this day very special for these two young people. It is also a very special day for our congregation. To add new members to our fellowship is to add new life. We will accept the responsibility to help them as they continue to their journey in Christian living. We shall encourage them as best we can on their journey of faith.
Therefore, both parties, the Confirmation Class and the Congregation, take giant steps today. Both can very easily lose their balance and fall. If a confirmand falls, it means failing to be faithful to one’s vows. If the congregation falls, it does not fulfill its responsibility to these new brothers of faith. In either case, Christ is diminished and both the confirmand and the church suffer.
If both are sure-footed and walk together, then both confirmand and Christ’s church will be enriched and the glory of God will be caused to shine even brighter. Let us walk together – – new confirmand and congregation – – from this day forward. Let us give thanks this day for our Confirmation Class of 2022.
From the Consistory: As schools are no longer requiring masking, the choice to wear a mask is dependent on your comfort level.
Today’s altar flowers are given to the glory of God and in honor of the confirmation of William M. and Lee M. by their grandparents, Nancy and Erik H.
Don’t forget to sign up to sponsor altar flowers in honor or memory of loved ones and for special events! The flower chart is on the bulletin board as you enter church.
Coming Up This Week:
May 8 Worship with Communion Sanctuary 9:00 a.m.
And Confirmation
Sunday School Church 10:15 a.m.
May 9 Ladies Breakfast Apple Bin 9:00 a.m.
May 12 Book Club Fellowship Hall 6:30 p.m.
Looking Forward:
May 15 Worship Sanctuary 9:00 a.m.
Sunday School Church 10:15 a.m.
May 16 Consistory Mtg Fellowship Hall 6:30 p.m.
May 17 John’s Meals mtg Fellowship Hall 6:30 p.m.
Prayer Requests: Remember to send your prayer requests via email to the church office by Friday evening to have them included in the Sunday service.
Recycle Those Bags: Don’t forget to drop your plastic store bags in the container as you come into church.
Chicken BBQ Fundraiser: Remember to pick up your BBQ Chicken dinners when you leave church today.
Ladies Breakfast: Tomorrow, Zion’s ladies will again meet at the Apple Bin for breakfast at 9:00 a.m. and celebrate Mother’s Day. Bring a picture of your mother and/or a very important woman in your life. Not everyone has been a mother, but we are all daughters, sisters, etc. And mark your calendars for the June 13th breakfast at the Apple Bin as well.
Book Club: Zion’s readers will meet May 12th at 6:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall to discuss Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderah.
Sunday School Project: Zion’s kiddos are collecting for St. Jude as their service project this year. You can give donations to Miss Chris or any student. Thanks!
Totem Pole Playhouse Outing: If you have chosen to attend the Sunday, June 12th, 2PM matinee performance of “Always… Patsy Cline”, your money is due this week. The ticket price is just $38/per person. There is a sign-up sheet on the credenza in the back of the sanctuary and an envelope in which to put your checks made out to Deborah Scarborough.
Undie Sunday update: 145 pairs of socks and 128 pairs of underwear were delivered to Biglerville Elementary School; 83 pairs of socks and 43 pairs of underwear were delivered to Upper Adams Intermediate School. Thanks to all who donated, and a special thank you to Kim J. for delivering the items.
Mission Trip Request: We are in need of an 8 to12 foot enclosed box trailer! Usually we have two trailers, but this year only one is available. We transport supplies – tools, cots, suitcases, drinks, etc. – in the trailers and will gladly rent one from a church member if there is one available. There are 27 confirmed campers with 5 from the Upper Adams area. Nick P. will represent Zion.
Sponsoring Flowers: Sponsoring altar flowers is now easier! After signing the flower chart, go to the credenza in the back of church. there will be an envelope in which you can put your checks made out to Zion UCC Altar Guild. The cost is $35.00 unless you are requesting special flowers (normally, the florist chooses the arrangement) in which case you need to contact the florist directly and pay accordingly, and the phone number will be on the envelope. In the envelope there will be slips of paper on which you can write the language you want to appear in the bulletin (or you can call the church office and tell Cindy). Thanks for brightening Zion’s altar!
Mark your calendars! Worship at Oakside Park will be held June 19th at 10:00 a.m. at Pavilion 3. Lunch will follow so plan what scrumptious dish you would like to share with everyone.
Visitors – We’re glad you stopped in. Don’t forget to help yourselves to a welcome packet on the credenza in the back of church!