Third Sunday of Easter
May 4, 2025 | 10:00am
Rev. Michael Granzen, Guest Minister| Larry J. Carey, Director of Music
Thought for Worship: O Christ, the Master Carpenter, who at the last through wood and nails purchased our whole salvation; wield well your tools in the workshop of your world, so that we who come rough-hewn to your work bench may be fashioned to a truer beauty by your hand. Amen
GATHERING
Welcome
Prelude
Call to Worship
Votum
Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Amen
Opening Sentences
We glorify you, O Lord, for you have lifted us up.
O Lord, our God, we cried out to you,
and you healed us.
Sing praises to the Lord, O faithful ones, and praise God’s holy name.
For God’s anger is but for a moment,
but God’s favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
O God, you have turned our mourning
into dancing!
Let us worship God!
Salutation
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
Amen.
*Hymn of Praise Lift High the Cross
Call to Confession
Risen from the dead, Jesus Christ longs for us to know life in all of its fullness, offering us renewal and refreshment, hope and forgiveness.
Let us trust in the promise of Easter as we make our confession.
Prayer of Confession
Generous God, in Jesus you have shown us love—
love that seeks, love that suffers, love that survives all things.
You call us, even command us, to show that love in our lives.
Yet we turn away from what you would have us do.
We confess that the ways of love are not our ways.
We deny and ignore, hurt and hate, despise and reject. Have mercy on us.
Help us to receive your love so that we can love others.
Help us to receive your love so that we can love ourselves.
Assurance of Pardon
The resurrection of Jesus shows us the grace of God
is stronger than death and the love of God has no boundary.
This is good news!
In Jesus Christ we are forgiven!
The Law of God:
*Gloria Patri | #579
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!
Share a sign of peace with one another. After sharing the peace, let us all sing together:
Together, by grace, we witness and work, remembering Jesus, in whom we grow strong. Together we serve in Spirit and truth, remembering love is the strength of our song.
THE WORD OF GOD
Anthem To the Lamb on the Throne | Forrest
Prayer for Illumination
Gracious God, Living Word,
as you revealed yourself to Mary
that Easter morning,
so reveal yourself to us.
By the power of your Spirit,
give each of us faith,
that hearing your Word
we, too, may proclaim,
“I have seen the Lord!” Amen.
First Reading: Psalm 23
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
*Hymn: Be Thou My Vision
Second Reading: Luke 15:1-10
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Sermon: “The Good Shepherd” | Rev. Granzen
Silent Reflection
THE RESPONSE TO GOD
*Affirmation of Faith (Nicene Creed)
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father [and the Son],
who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Offering Loving Shepherd of Thy Sheep | Rutter
Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
*Communion Hymn This is the Feast of Victory
Invitation to The Table
Prayer of Great Thanksgiving
One: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
One: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them up to the Lord.
One: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
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, the Power, and the Glory forever. Amen.
Words of Institution
One: The body of Christ is broken for you.
One: The blood of Christ is shed for you.
Prayer After Communion
Loving God, we thank you that you have fed us in this sacrament, united us with Christ, and given us a foretaste of the heavenly banquet in your eternal kingdom. Be with all who are in grief and with all who need healing. Bring us through the trials ahead, and wrap us in the comfort of your love. Amen.
Pastoral Prayer
SENDING
*Hymn Go Ye, Go Ye into the World
Benediction
Congregational Response Christ is risen! Earth and heaven Nevermore shall be the same.
Break the bread of new creation Where the world is still in pain
Tell its grim, demonic chorus: “Christ is risen! Get you gone!”
God the First and Last is with us. Sing Hosanna, everyone!
Postlude
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.
FOOD PANTRY NEWS
Many thanks for all those who have shared their abundance with neighbors in need.
Our church refrigerators have plenty of space to hold even more!
Please consider making a weekly donation of eggs or milk to the P-G Food Pantry.
Peapack Reformed Church is a congregation called by God, empowered by the Holy Spirit and committed to being the very presence of Jesus Christ in the world.
CALLED • EMPOWERED • COMMITTED