The First Baptist Church at Worship 5 TH Sunday of Easter / Education Sunday May 19, 2019 10:00 AM The Gathering The Congregation is invited to meditate and contemplate during the Prelude. THE PRELUDE Gregory Land, Organist Triptyque ..................................................... Leon Boellmann Offertorie ~ Verset ~ Sortie In Praise to the Lord ACOLYTES BRING THE LIGHT OF CHRIST INTO THE SANCTUARY TO LIGHT THE CANDLES THE RINGING OF THE CHIMES A three-fold ringing of three signifies the presence of the triune God: Creator, Christ, and Holy Spirit. CHORAL INTROIT Rise and Greet the Sun Eugene Butler Rise and greet the sun, God’s day has begun. *RESPONSIVE CALL TO WORSHIP (Ps. 148) Rev. David Coggins, Leader Leader: Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights! People: Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host! Leader: Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars! People: Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Leader: Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created. People: He established them forever and ever; he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed. Leader: Praise the LORD from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his command! People: Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Leader: Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds! People: Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Leader: Young men and women alike, old and young together! Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his glory is above earth and heaven. People: He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his faithful, for the people of Israel who are close to him. Praise the LORD! *PROCESSIONAL HYMN #307 All Creatures of Our God and King LASST UNS ERFREUEN Sometimes called “The Canticle of the Sun,” this cosmic roll call allows human beings to give voice to all creation. One of the earliest religious poems in the Italian language, it is made even more expansive by this broad, repetitive melody with interspersed “Alleluias.” The text is attributed to Francis of Assisi, 1215. *OPENING PRAYER Rev. Coggins *CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE #704 Glory Be to the Father MEINEKE Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen. *WELCOME & PASSING THE PEACE Rev. Dr. Kent Berghuis (Please register your attendance by filling out a yellow card from the pew rack and placing it in the offering bag later in the service.) We are invited to greet our nearest neighbors, extend our hand, and greet one another in the name of Christ. (Please be seated.) A MOMENT FOR MISSION Jerome Stueart THANKSGIVING FOR OUR TEACHERS Ray Landis Board of Christian Education Chair Ephesians 4:11-12 - The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ. Today we celebrate the ministry of those who have served as our Sunday School teachers, VBS teachers and helpers, Children’s Messengers, Children’s Music teachers, and nursery caregivers in the past year. We ask that they would come forward as their names are read so that we may recognize them and offer a prayer of thanksgiving. PRAYER (IN UNISON) Loving God, we thank you for our teachers. They have brought the stories of Scripture to life, shared the good news with us, cared for us, questioned with us, and sown seeds of faith, and we give you thanks through Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God now and forever. Amen. CELEBRATING OUR GRADUATES Rev. Jason Alspaugh Reading & Proclaiming God’s Word NEW TESTAMENT LESSON Allison Jordan Revelation 21:1-6: Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away." And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true." Then he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. Leader: Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church. People: Thanks be to God! *GOSPEL LESSON Allison Jordan Leader: The Gospel of the Lord according to John. People: Praise be to you, O Christ. John 13:31-35: When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.' I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." Leader: For the Word of God in scripture, for the Word of God among us, for the Word of God within us. People: Thanks be to God. *FELLOWSHIP HYMN #272 They’ll Know We Are Christians ST. BRENDAN’S A parish priest at St. Brendan’s wrote this song in a single day on the South Side of Chicago in the 1960s. Peter Scholtes was very much immersed in the local Civil Rights movement and needed something for his youth choir to sing at ecumenical, interracial events. The song tells us that we should love one another which is the new commandment. CHILDREN’S MESSAGE Rev. Alspaugh (Following the message, children in preK-5 grades will be led downstairs for Sunday School. PreK-1 graders will be in Rm. #4. Grades 2-5 will be in Rm. #3B. Parents are asked to pick up their children after worship.) CALL TO PRAYER #385 Hear Our Prayer, O Lord WHELPTON