News & Announcements
Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 12, 2023
May 14, 2023 | Sixth Sunday of Easter
Participate In worship
Events and Announcements
Explore the calendar of events and recent announcements to take another step into our life together this week.
Prelude
Berceuse, Louis Vierne
Berceuse comes from the French word, bercer, to rock, or lull to sleep; and berceau which means cradle. Thus, a berceuse is a French lullaby. Louis Vierne (1870-1930) was a contemporary of French impressionistic painters, such as Claude Monet, and his Berceuse is a wonderful example of the rich harmonic language and color of the impressionist period.
Call to Worship
(The congregation responds aloud with the bold text)
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
maker of heaven and earth.
Those who wait for the Lord,
shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings as eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.
Come, let us worship God!
Hymn #3, “Womb of Life and Source of Being”
1. Womb of life and source of being,
home of every restless heart,
in your arms the worlds awakened;
you have loved us from the start.
We, your children, gather ’round you,
at the table you prepare.
Sharing stories, tears, and laughter,
we are nurtured by your care.
2. Word in flesh, our brother Jesus,
born to bring us second birth,
you have come to stand beside us,
knowing weakness, knowing earth.
Priest who shares our human struggles,
Life of Life and Death of Death,
risen Christ, come stand among us,
send the Spirit by your breath.
3. Brooding Spirit, move among us;
be our partner, be our friend.
When our memory fails, remind us
whose we are, what we intend.
Labor with us; aid the birthing
of the new world yet to be,
free of servant, lord, and master,
free for love and unity.
4. Mother, Brother, holy Partner;
Father, Spirit, Only Son:
we would praise your name forever,
one-in-three and three-in-one.
We would share your life, your passion,
share your word of world made new,
ever singing, ever praising,
one with all, and one with you.
Prayer of Adoration
Call to Confession
Prayer of Confession
Holy and merciful God,
in your presence, we confess our sinfulness, our shortcomings, and our offenses against you, one another, and ourselves.
You alone know how often we have sinned in wandering from your ways, in wasting your gifts, in forgetting your love.
Have mercy on us, O Lord.
Forgive our sins, and help us to live in your light,
and walk in your ways, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Savior.
Silent Prayer
Assurance of Pardon
Hear the good news!
Christ transforms, redeems, and renews. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, we are a new creation, ready to sing God’s glory and testify to God’s grace. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
Thanks be to God!
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.
Passing of the Peace
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.
Honoring Jeff Scharf
Recognition of Graduates
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: Ezekiel 34:11-16
For thus says the Lord God: I myself will search for my sheep and will sort them out. As shepherds sort out their flocks when they are among scattered sheep, so I will sort out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries and bring them into their own land, and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land. I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strays, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice.
Hymn #803: “My Shepherd will supply my need”
1. My shepherd will supply my need;
Jehovah is his name.
In pastures fresh he makes me feed,
beside the living stream.
He brings my wandering spirit back
when I forsake his ways,
and leads me, for his mercy’s sake,
in paths of truth and grace.
2. When I walk through the shades of death
your presence is my stay;
one word of your supporting breath
drives all my fears away.
Your hand, in sight of all my foes,
does still my table spread;
my cup with blessings overflows;
your oil anoints my head.
3. The sure provisions of my God
attend me all my days;
O may your house be my abode,
and all my work be praise.
There would I find a settled rest,
while others go and come;
no more a stranger, or a guest,
but like a child at home.
Scripture: John 14:1-14
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him because he abides with you, and he will be in you.
“I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me, and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”
Sermon: “Well-Cared-For”
Call to Offering
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Offertory: “You Raise me Up,” (Rolf Løvland and
Brendan Graham)
When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary
When troubles come and my heart burdened be
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence
Until You come and sit awhile with me.
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up to more than I can be
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
Holy God, these offerings are only a portion of all that you have given us.
We gratefully present these gifts and entrust them to your work in this world. May our gifts share the Good News of the gospel to those who are in need. May these gifts help unburden those with the heaviest of loads. Amen.
Hymn #661: “Why Should I Feel Discouraged?”
1. Why should I feel discouraged?
Why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart be lonely
and long for heaven and home,
when Jesus is my portion?
My constant friend is he:
his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me;
his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.
Refrain:
I sing because I’m happy, (I’m happy)
I sing because I’m free, (I’m free)
for his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.
2. “Let not your heart be troubled,”
his tender word I hear,
and resting on his goodness,
I lose my doubts and fears;
though by the path he leadeth
but one step I may see:
his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me;
his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me. (Refrain)
3. Whenever I am tempted,
whenever clouds arise,
when song gives place to sighing,
when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to him,
from care he sets me free:
his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me;
his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me. (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 D,” BWV 538, J. S. Bach
Bach’s Dorian Toccata is perhaps not as well-known as the famous “Toccata in D,” BWV 538, but well worth becoming acquainted with. This piece is unusual in that Bach notated manual (or keyboard) changes to highlight motivic contrast and registration. The motoric theme creates an exciting and driving intensity from start to finish.
Participants
- Dorothy Boulton, Associate Pastor
- Michael Cuppett, Communications and Operations manager
- Wendy Johnston, Organist and Assistant Director of Music
- Greg Knauf, Director of Music
- Kenneth E. Kovacs, Pastor
- Norman Lazarus, Ruling elder, liturgist
- Vickie Lord, Social media support
- Dottie Marshall, Sanctuary set up
Sources
- Book of Common Worship (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2018).
- 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