06-01-25

Communion Worship Service

June 1, 2025

Prelude: Prelude in C Major by J.S. Bach – Stephanie Ng, pianist

Greetings

Announcements

Hymn:Send Down Thy Truth, O God

Opening of the Word

Responsive Invocation: From Psalm 9

I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.

I will be glad and rejoice in you;

I will sing the praises of your name,

O Most High.

The Lord reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment.

He rules the world in righteousness

and judges the peoples with equity.

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

Those who know your name trust in you,

for you, Lord, have never forsaken

those who seek you.

Sing the praises of the Lord, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done.

For he who avenges blood remembers;

he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted.

The Lord is known by his acts of justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.

The wicked go down

to the realm of the dead,

all the nations that forget God.

But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.

Arise, Lord, do not let mortals triumph;

let the nations be judged in your presence.

Invitation to Prayer:

O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our maker.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. 

Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your holy spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.  Amen.

O Lord, our heavenly Creator, whose great love holds a forgiveness for all who desire and seek it: we thank thee for thy gracious assurance that thou art always near and ready to forgive.  Pardon and deliver us from all our sins; confirm and strengthen us in all goodness and truth, and bring us into everlasting life; for thy mercy’s sake.  Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

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.

O Lord, open thou our lips:

And our mouths shall show forth thy praise.

Praise ye the Lord!

The Lord’s name be  praised!

Sung Response: Sanctuary

Lord, prepare me to be sanctuary, pure and holy tried and true.

With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living sanctuary for you.

Scripture Readings: from Ecclesiastes 7; John 7: 10-24; True Christian Religion, no. 226 (Swedenborg)

Children’s Message

Anthem: “Seek Ye First” by Karen Lafferty, 1972, alt. text by H. Garland, 2025

Spiritual Message: Right Judgments?  – Rev. Dr. Devin Zuber

Sacrament of Communion

Concluding Communion Prayer

O Lord Jesus Christ, by whose mercy we have been fed with heavenly gifts: Abide with us, O Lord, and fill us with your peace. Direct us in our way; uphold our going in our paths. Give us grace so to keep your commandments henceforth, that we may abide in your love forever. Amen.

Silent Meditation

Prayer of the People/Pastoral Prayer

Invitation to the Offering

Offertory: Klavierstucke op. 118 no. 2 by Johannes Brahms

Doxology

Praise God the Source of life and birth

Praise God the Word who came to earth

Praise God the Spirit, holy flame

All glory, honor to God’s name.  Amen.

Prayer of Dedication

Hymn: We Limit Not the Truth of God

Benediction

Closing of the Word

Sung Response: A Holy Hush 

A holy hush is in the air as though the Spirit’s essence here has been distilled, and entered all who stand within these sacred walls. The song is sung, the word is read, the lesson heard, the prayer is said; go now on wings of peace unfurled, and share these blessings with the world. 

Postlude: Song Without Words Op. 30 no. 3 by Felix Mendelssohn