PROVIDENCE CHURCH

   MAY 3, 2020

 

Welcome

Passing of the Peace: Though we are separated by distance our hearts are one in Christ. The peace of Christ be with you!

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.

 

Call to worship:   Psalm 23 – A responsive reading

Pastor:  The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

People: He makes me lie down in green pastures.

Pastor:  He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.

People: He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Pastor:  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

People:  I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Pastor:  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

People:  you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

ALL:  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

 

Song of Praise:  I Will Call Upon the Lord                      (Michael O’Shields)

 

I will call upon the Lord,

who is worthy to be praised;

So shall I be saved from my enemies;

I will call upon the Lord (2x)

 

The Lord liveth! And blessed be the Rock,

and may the God of my salvation be exalted!

The Lord liveth! And blessed be the Rock,

and may the God of my salvation be exalted!

 

(Repeat verse; Repeat chorus 2x)

 

 

Confession/Assurance:   If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:9

 

Respond in Praise:   When All Your Mercies, O My God (Joseph Addison, 1712)

 

When all your mercies, O my God, my rising soul surveys,

transported with the view, I’m lost in wonder, love and praise.

 

Unnumbered comforts to my soul your tender care bestowed,

before my infant heart conceived from whom those comforts flowed.

 

When worn with sickness, oft have you with health renewed my face;

and when in sins and sorrows sunk, revived my soul with grace.

 

Ten thousand, thousand precious gifts my daily thanks employ;

nor is the least a cheerful heart that tastes those gifts with joy.

 

Through every period of my life your goodness I’ll pursue;

And after death, in distant worlds, the glorious theme renew.

 

 

****Switching to Speaker View at this time recommended

 

Scripture Reading:      John 10:1-18

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber.  But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.  To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.  A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”  This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.  All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.  I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.  I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.  He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.  He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.  I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.  And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.  For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

This is the Word of the Lord.

 

REFLECTION:  A copy of the reflection is available upon request

 

 

***Switching back to gallery view recommended

 Prayers of the people: Pray for yourself, family and community, nation and the world.

 

Hymn of Thanksgiving:   Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us

(Dorothy Ann Thrupp, 1836; tune William Bradbury, 1859)

 

Savior, like a shepherd lead us, much we need thy tender care;

in thy pleasant pastures feed us, for our use thy folds prepare:

Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, thou hast bought us, thine we are;

Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, thou hast bought us, thine we are.

 

We are thine; do thou befriend us, be the guardian of our way;

keep thy flock, from sin defend us, seek us when we go astray:

Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, hear, O hear us when we pray;

Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, hear, O hear us when we pray.

 

Early let us seek thy favor; early let us do thy will;

blessed Lord and only Savior, with thy love our bosoms fill:

Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, thou hast loved us, love us still;

Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, thou hast loved us, love us still.

 

Thou hast promised to receive us, poor and sinful though we be;

Thou hast mercy to relieve us, grace to cleanse, and power to free;

Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, let us early turn to thee;

Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, let us early turn to thee.

 

Benediction