Kuhn Memorial Presbyterian Church Barboursville, West Virginia April 26, 2020 Third Sunday of Easter4/25/2020
 Call to Worship Psalm 116
The Lord is gracious and merciful, and hears me when I call. The Lord has been good to you. The Lord has delivered my life from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from stumbling. I come with thanksgiving, and call on the name of the Lord. Prayer of the Day O God, whose presence is veiled from our eyes, when we do not recognize you, may our hearts burn within us, and when feeling is lost, may we cling in faith to your Word and the power of bread broken in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen. Hymn Hymn of Promise (in honor of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day) Natalie Sleeth In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed an apple tree; in cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free! In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be, unrevealed within its season, something God alone can see. There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody; there’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me. From the past will come the future; what it holds a mystery, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see. In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity; in our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity. in our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see. Scripture Reading Luke 24:13-35 This is a favorite Scripture passage for many of us. My affection for it has been influenced by the beautiful painting of this scene by Robert Zund, Gang nach Emmaus. Public domain. Since we are familiar with it, let’s imagine ourselves in this story. How does the road feel beneath our weary feet? Do we see the footprints of small animals? What do we hear? Do we notice any fragrances in the air? Jesus’ friends are headed home to Emmaus after witnessing his death and resurrection. You have experienced both the deepest grief and highest joy in a few short days. I would be sad and exhausted, longing for the comforts of home and hearth, a bath, a cup of tea, a good night’s sleep. What would you be feeling? Suddenly a stranger appears who wants in on our conversation. In this time of social-distancing, such behavior would be avoided. But, this man was somehow different. He was curious. What were we discussing? After we relay the news of recent days, this man engages us in a lively and detailed discussion of the Hebrew Scriptures, stories we all know “by heart.” As darkness was falling, and the hour was late, we invite Jesus to our home for a meal and a night’s rest. Although he was not the owner of the house, Jesus assumed the role of host at the table. And the text says, “They recognized him in the breaking of the bread.” And then he was gone from their sight. A friend of mine says that when she was a young girl, she and her sister shared the task of setting the table for family meals. They always set an extra place, for Jesus, the unseen guest at every meal. Sometimes, when a person is near death, they report that they see Jesus waiting for them, to take their hand and lead them into the next life. It is great comfort for them and for us. Jesus is always with us, though we may not see him. How have you recognized him? In the breaking of the bread? In the breaking of an addiction? In the healing of old or fresh wounds? In the embrace of loved ones? I’d like to suggest a practice to take up this week: Let us be alert to the presence of Jesus. Maybe you could set an extra place at the table for him, like Peg and her sister were taught. Maybe you will initiate a conversation with someone you don’t know well. Maybe your faith could be your common ground. Maybe when you are putting those sandwiches together at lunchtime, you will pause a moment and recognize Jesus in the breaking of the bread. Prayer Holy God. we pray for all those born this day, and ask your richest blessing on their lives; we pray for all who face new ventures and challenges; for those troubled by loneliness, despair or grief; for all who feel cut off from your presence and love; for those who are exhausted by work or worry or everyday life; for those whose lives have been disrupted by the pandemic and its collateral damage; for all who will find their rest in you today. We give you thanks for all signs of hope, healing, opportunity, and joy. We pray for the earth entrusted to our care… its resources, treasures, beauty, and mystery. Draw near to those we lift now before you... And now, with the confidence of the children of God, we pray, Our Father…Amen. Blessing May the work of your hands bring Christ honor; may your speech and actions reflect the Word of Life; and may the service you offer be driven by the indwelling Spirit. Amen. Call to Worship 1 Peter 1:3
By God’s great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Hymn Thine is the Glory Edmond Louis Budry, 1884 George Fredrick Handel, 1748 Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son; endless is the victory, thou over death has won. Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away, kept the folded graveclothes where thy body lay. Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son; endless is the victory, thou over death hast won. No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of life! Life is naught without thee. Aid us in our strife. Make us more than conquerors through thy deathless love; bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above. Thine is the glory, risen, conquering Son; endless is the victory, thou over death hast won. Prayer Living God, for whom no door is closed, no heart is locked, draw us beyond our doubts, til we see your Christ and touch his wounds where they appear in others. This we ask through Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Scripture Reading John 20:19-31 In this text, Jesus appears to his disciples who are gathered behind closed doors in fear. In years past, I have not identified much with this text. This year is different, as we, too, are living behind closed doors. The disciples were in fear for their lives because of the civic authorities. Our fear comes from the COVID 19 Virus, a different kind of threat, but also deadly. What does it feel like to be confined? Are you feeling fear and anxiety? Name some ways you are dealing with those things. When he appears, Jesus immediately pronounces peace upon his friends. He gives them a mission: to be sent. Then he empowers them with the Holy Spirit to fulfill their mission. And then there’s Thomas, who missed Jesus’ visit. When the disciples tell him of it, Thomas declares that he needs to see the evidence that it really was Jesus before he believes them. And then Jesus appears to Thomas and provides the evidence- wounds in his hands and side. And Thomas is awe-struck like the others. We are hearing a lot these days about the gathering of evidence-data related to the Coronavirus. Every day we hear about the number of cases diagnosed, and unfortunately, the number of deaths. Every day I look for West Virginia on the map of the US and breathe a sigh of relief when I see that we are still reporting fewer than a thousand confirmed cases. We hear of the tragedy and the triumph this pandemic has wrought. Physicians are observing symptoms. Laboratories are analyzing specimens. Sociologists and anthropologists are studying why certain populations are especially hard-hit. All of this is to answer the questions this disease has raised, address the problems, and hopefully avoid another pandemic and another global catastrophy. So, maybe Thomas was ahead of his time in asking to see the evidence. The death and resurrection of Jesus has a global impact, too. How are these two things alike? How are they different? In this time of social distancing, how can we, as Jesus’ disciples, still be sent? How can we witness to our Savior and our faith in him? Prayer God of mercy, we no longer look for Jesus among the dead, for he is alive and has become the Lord of life. From the waters of death you raise us with him and renew the gift of life within us. Increase in our minds and hearts the risen life we share with Christ, and help us live more fully into the everlasting life his resurrection makes possible. Loving Lord, hear now the concerns of our hearts today (insert names of particular people or circumstances of concern to you). Lord, we pray for the healing of this and every nation, all of us made in your image, who suffer the effects of the pandemic and other diseases and conditions. Assure the sick of your presence and love, comfort those who grieve, encourage those whose money can stretch no further, give the homeless a place to lay their heads, fill the hungry with good things, and keep all of us faithful. We give you thanks for the blessings of this life: the birth of Evan Daniel Sadler, great-grandson of Clara Rose, and for birthdays and anniversaries and small victories wherever they appear. With the confidence of the children of God we pray, Our Father…Amen. Blessing The risen Christ says: Peace be with you. We have seen the Lord! Alleluia! May you be filled with all joy and hope in believing. Amen. Worship resources: Glory to God, Westminster John Knox Press, 2013; The Book of Common Worship, Westminster, John Knox Press, 1993; Daily Prayer, Westminster Press, 1987 Kuhn Memorial Presbyterian Church Barboursville, West Virginia April 12, 2020 Easter Sunday4/25/2020
Call to Worship
Alleluia! Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia! Hymn Jesus Christ Is Risen Today Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia! Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia! Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia! Suffer to redeem our loss, Alleluia! Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia! Unto Christ our heavenly king, Alleluia! Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia! Sinners to redeem and save, Alleluia! The Scripture Reading John 20:1-18 Responsive Prayer for Easter O Christ, in your resurrection, The heavens and earth rejoice, Alleluia! By your resurrection you broke open the gates of hell and destroyed sin and death. Keep us victorious over sin. By your resurrection, you raised the dead, and brought us from death to life. Guide us in the way of eternal life. By your resurrection you confounded your guards and executioners, and filled your disciples with joy. Give us joy in your service. By your resurrection you proclaimed good news to the women and apostles, and brought salvation to the whole world. Direct our lives as your new creation. God of mercy, we no longer look for Jesus among the dead. for he is alive and has become the Lord of life. From the waters of death, you raise us with him and renew the gift of life within us. Increase in our minds and hearts the risen life we share with Christ, and help us grow as your people toward the fullness of eternal life with you, through Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen. Hymn Jesus Christ Is Risen Today But the pains which he endured, Alleluia! Our salvation have procured, Alleluia! Now above the sky he’s King, Alleluia! Where the angels ever sing, Alleluia! Sing we to our God above, Alleluia! Praise eternal as his love, Alleluia! Praise him, all you heavenly host, Alleluia! Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Alleluia! Prayer Living God, You have opened our eyes to see the glory of this new day; now open our lips to tell of the empty tomb; open our hearts to believe the Good News; and strengthen us in body and spirit to carry your message of hope into the world, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Blessing He is risen! He is risen indeed! He is risen! He is risen indeed! He is risen! He is risen indeed! Click Here for Printable PDF Download for April 9th Call to Worship
God is love. Those who abide in love, abide in God. And God abides in them. Dear ones, on this night, Jesus, the Lamb of God, gave himself into the hands of those who would slay him. On this night, Christ gathered with his disciples in the upper room. On this night, Christ took a towel and washed the disciples’ feet, giving us an example that we should do to others as he has done for us. On this night, Christ our God gave us this holy feast, that we who eat this bread and drink this cup may here proclaim his holy sacrifice and be partakers of his resurrection, and at the last day may live with him in heaven. Scripture Reading John 13:1-7, 12-16. 34-35 Prayer of Confession Holy God, Whose covenant with us is never broken, we confess that we fail to fulfill your will. Though you have bound yourself to us, we will not bind ourselves to you. In Jesus Christ you serve us freely, but we refuse your love and withhold ourselves from others. We do not love you fully or love one another as you command. In your mercy, forgive us and cleanse us. Lead us once again to your Table, and unite us with Christ, the bread of life, and the vine from which we grow in grace. Amen. Response Take, O take me as I am. Summon out what I shall be. Set your seal upon my heart and live in me. (repeat) Declaration of Forgiveness The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. I declare to you, in the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. May the God of mercy, who forgives all your sins, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen. The Sacrament of Holy Communion According to Scripture, our Lord Jesus, on the night of his arrest, took bread, and after he had blessed it, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat. This is my body broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant sealed in my blood, poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Drink, all you, of it. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you remember my death until I come again.” Prayer of Thanksgiving and the Lord’s Prayer Holy God, we praise you for creating the whole world, for your promises to your people Israel, and for Jesus Christ, in whom your fullness dwells. Born of Mary, he shares our life. Eating with sinners, he welcomes us. Guiding his children, he leads us. Visiting the sick, he heals us. Dying on the cross, he saves us. Risen from the dead, he gives us new life. With thanksgiving, we take this bread and this cup and proclaim the death and resurrection of our Lord. Gracious God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us, that this meal may be for us a communion of the body and blood of our Lord. Make us one with Christ, and with all who share this feast. Unite us in faith, encourage us with hope, inspire us to love, that we may be your faithful disciples until we feast at your table in glory. Hear now, O loving God, the concerns of our hearts…(insert the names and circumstances which are of concern to you) We offer our prayers for the sick, for the dying, for all caregivers, for families who are separated due to the nature of the Coronavirus, for all who find themselves suddenly unemployed, for those who face financial hardship, for all who continue to labor at their own peril, for all support services, for all those moved to give of themselves, their time and their resources, for ourselves, as we are scattered about this community, yet drawn together as one Church, by your grace. We pray now, with the confidence of the children of God, saying, Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be your 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 debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. The bread of heaven, given for you. Amen. The cup of salvation, shed for you. Amen. These are the gifts of God for the people of God. Distribution of the elements. Prayer After Communion God of grace, your Son, Jesus Christ, left us this holy meal of bread and wine, in which we share his body and blood. Kuhn Memorial Presbyterian Church Barboursville, West Virginia Palm/Passion Sunday April 5, 20204/25/2020
Click Here to Download a Printable PDF for April 5th This time of worship calls for a spirit of excitement and celebration. Jesus is coming! The people shout, “Hosanna!” which means God save us!
The events of Palm Sunday may be demonstrated by placing palm or other lightweight branches, and your coat, jacket, or sweater on the floor where you worship. This is the first century equivalent of the “red carpet” rolled out for a dignitary. Call to Worship Humble and riding on a donkey, we greet you. Acclaimed by crowds and caroled by children, we cheer you. Moving from the peace of the countryside to the corridors of power, we salute you, Christ our Lord. You are giving the beasts of burden a new dignity; You are giving majesty a new face; You are giving those who long for redemption a new song to sing. With them, with heart and voice, we shout, “Hosanna!” Hymn Hosanna, Loud Hosanna Hosanna, loud hosanna, the little children sang. Through pillared courts and temple, the joyful anthem rang. To Jesus, who had blessed them, close folded to his breast, the children sang their praises, the simplest and the best. From Olivet they followed, mid an exultant crowd. The victor palm branch waving, and chanting clear and loud. The Lord of earth and heaven rode on in lowly state, nor scorned that little children should on his bidding wait. Prayer of the Day We praise you, O God, for your redemption of the world through Jesus Christ. Today he entered the holy city of Jerusalem in triumph and was proclaimed Messiah and King by those who spread garments and branches along his way. Let these branches be signs of victory, and grant that we, who carry them, may follow him in the way of the cross, that dying and rising with him, we may enter into your kingdom, through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns forever. Amen. Psalm Reading Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 The psalm pre-figures the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. Looking back in time, we can see how the life of Jesus reflects this text. The psalmist calls everyone, including us, to join the parade. What parades have you attended as a spectator? Have you ever been in a parade? What was being celebrated? What is being celebrated in the psalm? Gospel Reading Matthew 21:1-11 Jesus gave the disciples a task to do in preparation for his entry into Jerusalem: He told them to go into town and identify a donkey for him to ride upon. They were to tell the owner that Jesus needed it. Think about your own life, your gifts, abilities, and experiences- your mistakes and successes. Imagine someone coming to your door and saying that you have something Jesus needs for his kingdom. What could that be? How would you respond? Prayers of the Faithful and the Lord’s Prayer Eternal God, we rejoice this morning in the gift of life, which we have received by your grace, and the new life you give in Jesus Christ. Especially we thank you for the love of our families, the affection of our friends, for strength and ability to serve your purpose today, the community in which we live, for the opportunities to witness to your gospel in word and deed. God of grace, we offer our prayers for the needs of others, committing ourselves to serve them even as we have been served by Jesus Christ. Especially we are concerned for all those for whom we have been praying, those whose names are on our hearts, all those affected by the current health crisis, those whose work places them in close proximity to the sick. We pray for the newly bereaved. We pray for those who have lost their jobs in this unstable time, and those who fear the worst. Relieve our anxiety, Lord, fill us with your peace, and sustain us in our daily needs. We pray for those whose lives are never easy: the homeless, the hungry, the poor, the troubled in body, mind, or circumstance. Give us compassion to understand, to care, and to give. We pray for your Church, here and around the world, and the faithful who may be separated today by distance, but gathered in your Spirit. We pray as Jesus taught us, saying, Our Father…Amen. Hymn “Hosanna in the highest!” That ancient song we sing. For Christ is our Redeemer, the Lord of heaven our king. O may we ever praise him, with heart and life and voice. And in his blissful presence eternally rejoice. Blessing Beloved, God is our beginning and our end, our starting-point and our haven, accompanying us in every day’s journey, using our hands to do the work of creation, and our lives to bring others the new life Jesus, our Redeemer, gives to the world. Amen. |
