Fourth Sunday of Easter
Peapack Reformed Church
April 26, 2026
Scriptures: Psalm 23, John 10:1-10
“I Can Only Imaging”
April 26, 2026
Rev. Mark Poyner
Larry J Carey, Director of Music
Thought for the Day:
“Surrounded by your glory, what will my heart feel? Will I dance for you Jesus, or in awe of you be still?” From the movie, “I can only imagine.”
Gathering
*Please join in one voice when you see bold text.
Welcome Pastor Mark
Prelude My Shepherd Will Supply my Need Wagner
Call to Worship:
Votum
Our Help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ
Opening Statement
L: We gather this morning as people who have wandered and been found, who have been lost and been called home.
P: The LORD is our shepherd. We shall not want.
L: We come with our longings, our questions, our grief, and our hope — everything we cannot yet fully see or name.
P: He leads us beside still waters. He restores our soul.
L: We come because we have heard a voice that we recognize — a voice that calls us each by name, that goes before us into every unknown place.
P: Even though we walk through the darkest valley, we will fear no evil. You are with us.
L: We come to worship the Shepherd who does not abandon, the Gate through whom we find life, the God who transforms what we thought was beyond transforming.
P: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives.
L: We can only imagine the fullness of what God has prepared — but we dare to believe it is more than we have asked or thought.
All: And so, we worship. We bring ourselves — broken and whole, grieving and hoping, wandering and found. Lead us, Good Shepherd. We know your voice. Amen.
*Hymn The Churches One Foundation 442
Prayer of Confession: (Unison)
We confess that we have not always followed your voice. We listened to other voices instead. We confess the times we have been like those who climb in by another way — trying to find life on our own terms Forgive us, Lord. Restore our souls. Lead us again in right paths. And open our ears once more to the voice of the One who calls us not as strangers, but as his own. We pray this trusting in your mercy, which is new every morning, and which we can only begin to imagine. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Hear the word of the Lord: "I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." — John 10:9-10
Friends, this is the promise of the Good Shepherd — not condemnation, but life. Not abandonment, but restoration. The One who calls you by name is the same One who laid down his life so that you might pass through the gate freely, fully, and forever. Your sins are forgiven. Your soul is being restored. The Shepherd has not given up on you.
People: Thanks be to God. Amen.
Special Music “I Can Only Imagine”
The Law Of God
Our Lord Jesus Christ said: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself." There is no commandment greater than these. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.
Gloria Patri
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.
Commitment to Peace keeping and Peace Seeking
One: May the peace of Christ be with you!
All: And also with you!
After sharing the peace, let us all sing together:
Together by grace, we witness and work, remembering Jesus, in whomwe grow strong. Together we serve in Spirit and truth, remembering love is the strength of our song.
We Listen to God’s Word
Anthem Shepherd Me, O God
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Open our ears to hear what we might rather not hear. Open our eyes to see what we might prefer not to see. Open our hearts to be moved as you are moved. By your Holy Spirit, help us recognize your voice in these scriptures – the voice that does not turn away from distress, but enters into it. Speak to us now. Change us by what we hear. Through Christ, the Word made flesh, who fled as a refugee and calls us to follow. Amen.
Old Testament Reading: Psalm 23
Hymn: We are in One Spirit 2223
Gospel Reading John 10: 1-10
Sermon: “If I Can Only Imagine” Ordination Elder Karin Peterson
*Affirmation of Faith: Apostles Creed
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 Spirit, 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 Spirit, the holy catholic Church*, the communion of saints*, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
** holy catholic church stands for the universal church
** communion of saints stands for those that believe in Jesus Christ
We Respond to God’s Word
Offering Let the Alleluias Resound arr. Hayes
Doxology:
Praise God from whom all blessings flow, praise him all creatures here below. Praise him above ye heavenly hosts, praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Blessing on the Offering
...Your kingdom may come on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus 'name we pray, Amen.
Congregational Prayer: Elder Karin Petersen
We offer this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. Who taught us to pray:
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 glory forever. Amen
Hymn: Guide My Feet 354
Charge and Blessing:
As you go from this place today, remember this: You have seen the glory of God in the mountaintop moments, but you are also called to walk in faith through the valleys. Do not be afraid. When trials come, when your faith feels small, when the road ahead seems uncertain—lift your eyes. Christ is with you. His grace is sufficient. His power is made perfect in your weakness. So go now, trusting in the One who walks beside you. Bring your struggles to Him, walk in faith, and be a light to those around you. For the same Jesus who was transfigured in glory is the same Jesus who meets us in our need. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you now and always. Go in peace, to love and serve the Lord. Amen.
Postlude Blessed Assurance Arr. by Kathryn Carpenter
Announcements
DEAR FRIENDS
Welcome to worship here at Peapack Reformed Church! If you are visiting with us, welcome! If you are a member, welcome back! Our mission is to be a congregation called by God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and committed to being the very presence of Jesus Christ in the world. This mission is the catalyst for all that we do, and is our aim for who we want to be.
If you are visiting with us via Facebook Live and would like more information about our church, send us a message on Facebook or email office@peapackreformed.org and we will be in touch with you. Even under these odd and anxious circumstances, we would love to be your church home. Our virtual doors are always open wide, and our hearts are always ready to welcome new faces into our fellowship.
Starting the third Thursday in May, and the third Thursday afterwards, the Peapack Reformed Church will be hosting the Peapack & Gladstone Branch of the Somerset County Library System of New Jersey “Memory Café.” This is a safe welcoming place for adults living with memory loss and their caregivers to connect to people like themselves as they socialize, work on crafts, play games, and more. Events will be held on the third Thursday of each month. To register visit sclsnj.org or call 908-458-8425
Food Pantry News
The Peapack-Gladstone Food Pantry continues to serve those in need of Groceries on a weekly basis on Sundays from 4 PM to 5 PM. We thank all those that help the Food Pantry and we are always looking for volunteers. Email office@peapackreformed.org if you are interested.
PRAYER REQUESTS FOR CHURCH FAMILY
Please keep all those who have lost loved ones recently and those that are unable to attend service and are shut in from activities outside their home. If you know of anyone that needs a visit, please let Pastor Mark know. If you would like someone to be added to the prayer list, please let me know. We have prayers for our children and those that are graduating and moving onto further education or employment in the upcoming weeks.
Activities this week:
Tuesday 6:30 p.m. our brothers and sisters for AA meet in the family room, and at 7 p.m. we continue our lessons of Acts in Bible Study at our friends, Barbara and Jim David. Please let Pastor Mark if you are interested in attending. We have 7 faithful members and are looking for more!
Friday this week our brothers and sisters for AA and Al Anon meet in the Family Room and Fellowship Hall.
During the week we will have our sanctuary being rebuilt. Our carpenter and HVAC people are starting work on the projects to bring the sanctuary back to new condition and heat and air conditioning for the entire building. We look forward to enjoying the cool summer months in our sanctuary. We will keep you posted on a timeline and celebration when we are back in the sanctuary.