WELCOME AND CONCERNS OF THE CONGREGATION

PRELUDE        “In Christ There is No East or West”      Dale Wood                                                                     

*CALL TO WORSHIP – adapted from Psalm 98

Sing to the Lord a new song,
For our God alone is Lord of all.

Break into joyous songs of praise,

Let all the earth celebrate and rejoice.

For our God comes in victory,

With righteousness and justice for all.

*PRAYER OF THE DAY

*HYMN 645          Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above   

PRAYER OF CONFESSION                                         

Almighty Father, we enter your presence confessing the things we try to conceal from you and the things we try to conceal from others. We confess the heartbreak, worry, and sorrow we have caused, that make it difficult for others to forgive us, the times we have made it easy for others to do wrong, the harm we have done that makes it hard for us to forgive ourselves. Lord, have mercy and forgive us through Christ...

Silent Prayers of Confession

WORDS OF ASSURANCE 

The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. -- 1 Timothy 1:15 Hear then Christ’s word of grace to us: our sins are forgiven.

Thanks be to God!

 *GLORIA PATRI     “Glory Be to the Father”           #581

*SUMMARY OF THE LAW – Matthew 22:37-40

Our Lord Jesus said:

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,

with all your soul, and with all your mind. 

This is the greatest and first commandment. 

And the second is like it:

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. 

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION 

SCRIPTURE LESSONS: 1 John 5:1-6; Acts 10:44-48

SERMON  “Opening the Door Wider”        Rev. Barrett Ingram 

*HYMN 291          Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness  

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH        The Apostles’ Creed              pg. 35

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic* Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.  

PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORD’S PRAYER 

OFFERTORY ANTHEM     “Christ is Made the Sure Foundation”  

                                                                       arr. Rachel Aarons                           

RECEIVING OF GOD’S TITHES AND OFFERINGS

*EASTER DOXOLOGY 

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; 

Praise Him, all creatures here below: alleluia, alleluia! 

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;             

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost:

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

*HYMN 366               Love Divine, All Loves Excelling    

*BENEDICTION  

*POSTLUDE        “A Mighty Fortress”                    Stephen Aber