SUNDAY, MAY 11TH 2025 | FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
THE CALL TO WORSHIP
SONGS OF WORSHIP
THE CALL TO CONFESSION
Gathered with the whole church on this Third Sunday of Easter, hear this call to confession from Psalm 32
Psalm 32:1,3–5
“For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long… I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.”
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Almighty God, in raising Jesus from the grave, you shattered the power of sin and death. We confess that we remain captive to doubt and fear, bound by the ways that lead to death. We overlook the poor and the hungry, and pass by those who mourn; we are deaf to the cries of the oppressed, and indifferent to calls for peace; we despise the weak, and abuse the earth you made. Forgive us, God of mercy. Help us to trust your power to change our lives and make us new, that we may know the joy of life abundant given in Jesus Christ, the risen Lord. Amen
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
“Be assured of our forgiveness:
I Peter 1:18-22
18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors,
19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake
21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.
We celebrate our forgiveness found in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ!
Leader: He is Risen
People: He is Risen Indeed
PASSING OF THE PEACE
SONG OF WORSHIP
THE SERMON
When A Mother Sings Gospel
Pastor Keon L. Abner
Luke 1:46-55
New International Version
Mary’s Song
46 And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”
THE APOSTLES CREED
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
Apostles Creed
We Believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
We believe in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord:
who was conceived by the Holy Spirt,
born of the virgin Mary, He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended into the dead;
the third day He rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven, and is seated on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from there he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy Christian church;
the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.
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 trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
BENEDICTION