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May 7, 2023 | Fifth Sunday of Easter

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Explore the calendar of events and recent announcements to take another step into our life together this week.

Prelude

“Bass and Soprano on the Trumpet in Dialogue,” Louis-Nicolas Clérembault

Louis-Nicolas Clérembault was born into a family of musicians who had served the kings of France for over a hundred years. He served as organist for the Royale de Saint-Cyr (a well-known school for royal girls) and at the famed Paris church of Saint-Sulpice during the reigns of Louis XIV and Louis XV. Today’s prelude features a lively dialogue between the Bass Trumpet and the Soprano Trumpet and is from his Second Suite (1710).

Call to Worship

(The congregation responds aloud with the bold text)

With nature in its power and beauty, with rain and wind and sunshine, with the ancient rocks and the budding flower,
we gather in praise of God.

With believers and seekers the whole world wide, with people in every land and speakers of every language,
we gather in praise of God.

With the angels and the saints in heaven, and with all who have worshipped in this place,
we gather in praise of God.

With Jesus who promised his presence and the Spirit who showers blessings,
we gather in praise of God.

Here let heaven and earth embrace;
here may God’s people find the way home. 

Come, let us worship God!

Hymn #394, “Christ is Made the Sure Foundation”

1. Christ is made the sure foundation,
Christ the head and cornerstone,
chosen of the Lord and precious,
binding all the church in one;
holy Zion’s help forever,
and our confidence alone.

2. To this temple, where we call you,
come, O Lord of hosts, and stay;
come, with all your loving-kindness;
hear your people as we pray,
and your fullest benediction
shed within these walls today.

3. Here bestow on all your servants
what they seek from you to gain;
what they gain from you, forever
with the blessed to retain;
and hereafter in your glory
evermore with you to reign.

4. Laud and honor to the Father,
laud and honor to the Son,
laud and honor to the Spirit,
ever three and ever one:
one in might and one in glory
while unending ages run!

Prayer of Adoration

Call to Confession

Prayer of Confession (together)

Eternal Maker of the endless heavens,
lowly Christ, befriender of all,
Holy Spirit, wind over the flowing waters,
in earth, seas, and sky you are ever present.

O hidden mystery, sun behind all suns, souls within all souls,
in everything we touch, in everyone we meet you are there,
and we give you thanks.

But where we have not touched but trampled you in creation, where we have not honored but avoided you in one another,
where we have not received but rejected your goodness,
forgive us, and hear our plea for pardon.

Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy.

Silent Prayer

Assurance of Pardon

Hear the good news!
Know that God is good.
God forgives what is past and enables us to begin again.
Once we were no people, now we are God’s people.
Once we were beyond God’s mercy;
now that mercy has been given to us.
So let us live as those who treasure God’s costly generosity,
by safeguarding God’s earth,
delighting in its people,
and loving our Maker to whom be glory forever.
Thanks be to God. Amen.

Response of Praise: Hymn 582, “Glory to God, Whose Goodness Shines on Me”

1 Glory to God, whose goodness shines on me,
and to the Son, whose grace has pardoned me,
and to the Spirit, whose love has set me free.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. Amen.

2 World without end, without end. Amen.
World without end, without end. Amen.
World without end, without end. Amen.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. Amen.

Life in Community

Thank you for joining us for worship! Explore the calendar of events and recent announcements to take another step into our life together this week. If you’re joining us for the first time or would like to learn more about Catonsville Presbyterian, you’re welcome to share your email with us. We’ll send some information that will help you get connected.

Children’s Message

Prayer for Illumination

Loving God, we pray that your Holy Spirit will strengthen us to be devoted to the hearing of your Word, that through it we may hear your voice and follow in the way that leads to life. Amen.

Scripture: Proverbs 4:10-18

Hear, my child, and accept my words,
that the years of your life may be many.
I have taught you the way of wisdom;
I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
When you walk, your step will not be hampered;
and if you run, you will not stumble.
Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;
guard her, for she is your life.
Do not enter the path of the wicked,
and do not walk in the way of evildoers.
Avoid it; do not go on it;
turn away from it and pass on.
For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong;
they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.
For they eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
which shines brighter and brighter until full day.

Hymn #739: “O For a Closer Walk with God”

1. O for a closer walk with God,
a calm and heavenly frame,
a light to shine upon the road
that leads me to the Lamb!

2. Return, O holy Dove, return,
sweet messenger of rest!
I hate the sins that made thee mourn
and drove thee from my breast.

3. The dearest idol I have known,
whate’er that idol be,
help me to tear it from thy throne,
and worship only thee.

4. So shall my walk be close with God,
calm and serene my frame;
so purer light shall mark the road
that leads me to the Lamb.

Scripture: John 14:1-14

‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.’ Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.’

Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

Message: “Finding Our Way”

Call to Offering

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Offertory: “In Remembrance of me,” Buryl Red

In remembrance of me, eat this bread. In remembrance of me, drink this wine.
In remembrance of me, pray for the time when God’s own will is done.

In remembrance of me, heal the sick. In remembrance of me, feed the poor.
In remembrance of me, open the door and let your brother in, let him in.

Take, eat, and be comforted. Drink and remember too
That this is my body and precious blood shed for you.

In remembrance of me, search for truth. In remembrance of me, always love.
In remembrance of me, don’t look above, but in your heart,
Look in your heart for God

Do this in remembrance of me.

Doxology #607, “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow”

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Christ, all people here below;
Praise Holy Spirit evermore;
Praise Triune God, whom we adore. Amen.

Prayer of Dedication

Almighty God, receive the gifts we bring in gratitude for your astounding goodness. Make our lives to be an acceptable offering in union with our risen Lord, who lives and reigns with you forever. Amen.

Communion Hymn #517: “Here, O Our Lord, We See you”

1. Here, O our Lord, we see you face to face.
Here would we touch and handle things unseen,
here grasp with firmer hand eternal grace,
and all our weariness upon you lean.

2. Here would we feed upon the bread of God,
here drink with you the royal cup of heaven;
here would we lay aside each earthly load,
and taste afresh the calm of sin forgiven.

3. This is the hour of banquet and of song;
this is the heavenly table for us spread.
Here let us feast and, feasting, still prolong
the fellowship of living wine and bread.

Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

Invitation to the Table

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Praise is yours, holy God, praise beyond all telling.
All that we are, all that we have, all that we know,
and all that is yet to be comes from your care.
Water and wisdom, light and longing, the stones in the earth
and the hope in our hearts are grounded in your graciousness.
The life of the world and all its people,
nature and human skill celebrate you as first mover and final destiny.
Therefore, to the unending song of earth, sea, and sky we join our praise.

Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

Because you, gracious God, have been faithful to us,
we will be faithful to Jesus.
He promised to be with those who meet in his name: this we believe.
He promised to hear the prayers of faithful people: this we believe.
He said that in the communion of bread and cup he would be present to us as we remembered him: this we celebrate.

So, send now your Spirit among us and upon this bread and cup,
that we may taste and see your goodness, be embraced by your love,
and be engaged in your service.

And hear us as we offer the ancient prayer that’s ever new:

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 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.

Communion of God’s People

Prayer After Communion

Generous and faithful God, you have fed us at your table. May the nourishment we have received enable us to enrich
the lives of others wherever we may go from here. Whether the future be dark or bright,
the road be smooth or rough,
whether our cares be light or heavy,
our song be strong or weak,
keep our hearts warm and our hands open,
our lives embracing and ever embraced by your love. Amen.

Passing of the peace

Hymn #300: “We Are One in the Spirit”

1. We are one in the Spirit; we are one in the Lord;
we are one in the Spirit; we are one in the Lord,
and we pray that all unity may one day be restored:

Refrain:
And they’ll know we are Christians by our love,
by our love;
yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

2. We will walk with each other; we will walk hand in hand;
we will walk with each other; we will walk hand in hand,
and together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land: (Refrain)

3. We will work with each other; we will work side by side;
we will work with each other; we will work side by side,
and we’ll guard human dignity and save human pride: (Refrain)

4. All praise to the Father, from whom all things come,
and all praise to Christ Jesus, God’s only Son,
and all praise to the Spirit, who makes us one: (Refrain)

Charge and Benediction

This is the day that God has made;
we will rejoice and be glad in it.

We will not offer to God
offerings that cost us nothing.

Go in peace to love and to serve;
we will seek peace and pursue it.

May the blessing of God be upon you,
the blessing of the Christ of love,
the blessing of the Spirit of peace;
the blessing of the Triune God
sustain you and lead you forward.
Amen.

Postlude

“Toccata in Seven,” John Rutter

The postlude for today is a lively toccata in septuple meter by English choral composer, John Rutter. The word toccata comes from the Italian toccare, which means to touch a musical instrument. Toccatas are virtuosic pieces for keyboard with rapid runs and fingerwork. The jubilant opening toccata theme makes way to a sostenuto middle section before returning with joyful exuberance for a final flourish.

Participants

• Dorothy Boulton, Associate Pastor
• Michael Cuppett, Communications and Operations manager
• Susan Jaeger, Ruling elder, liturgist
• Wendy Johnston, Organist and Assistant Director of Music
• Greg Knauf, Director of Music
• Kenneth E. Kovacs, Pastor
• Vickie Lord, Social media support
• Dottie Marshall, Sanctuary set up

Sources

• Teri McDowell Ott, The Presbyterian Outlook, 2023.
• Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2013).
• Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-734388; CCLI Copyright License B 20481088 + Streaming License B 481071