Order of Worship
Sunday, April 25, 2021
“Be Careful What You Wish For”
Opening
Prelude “We Are Standing on Holy Ground” – Malcolm Cartwright/Divine Voices
Welcome
Opening Song “Open Our Eyes, Lord” – Chet Valley Churches
Opening to the Spirit’s Instruction
Scripture Reading John 12: 20-33
Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some
Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and
said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew;
then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The
hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you,
unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single
grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it,
and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my
servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.
“Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from
this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father,
glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it,
and I will glorify it again.” The crowd standing there heard it and said
that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus
answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the
judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out.
And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to
myself.” He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.
May God’s Spirit speak to us today through these words of Scripture, the music we
sing and hear, and the message shared this day.
Song “In Christ Alone” – Adrienne Liesching, Geoff Moore & The Distance
Sermon “Be Careful What You Wish For” –
Rev. John Tucker, Crater Lake District Superintendent
Anthem “Song of Hope” – Junction City UMC Virtual Choir
Prayers for Our World and One Another
Let us enter now into a time of prayer for one another and for our world. We will do
what is called a Bidding Prayer. I will open, and then I will bid your prayers based
around various categories. During the silence after each category is bid, I invite you
to add your own prayers, either aloud or in silence. I will then close with a prayer,
then the Lord’s Prayer. Let us be in prayer.
***
Let us pray now for all who are ill, in hospital or at home, especially those affected
by cancer or COVID-19.
***
Let us pray now for all medical and emergency services personnel who are
responding to the best of their abilities with the resources that they have at hand.
***
Let us pray now for all those who are hungry or food insecure, and for all community
and religious efforts to provide food and shelter.
***
Let us pray for all who are still displaced from their homes, and those who have no
home.
***
Let us pray for the leaders of nations around the world, not only regarding their
response to this pandemic, but also that they may do everything possible to assure
the health and welfare of their citizens.
***
Let us pray for all school and college governing boards, administrations and staff, all
faculty, and students as they work to offer appropriate and equitable education in a
manner that protects the health and safety of all persons.
***
Let us pray for our friends, family, and neighbors for their health and well-being.
***
Let us also express our thanks to God for the expressions of love and caring that we
have witnessed in our families, communities, and world.
***
Let us express our gratitude for life and the myriad things that gladden our hearts.
***
These prayers, spoken aloud or in silence, we lift into the universal embrace of the
One who is Love, and we make them in the name of the One who showed us what
Love looks like in the flesh, Jesus Christ our Lord, and we now join our voices in the
prayer he taught us, saying:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy 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 trespasses as we forgive those who
trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from
evil; for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen
Prayer Response “Cares Chorus” – Kelly Willard
Sending Forth
Closing Song “Sent Out in Jesus’ Name” – Golden Ears United Church
Closing