CCLI license #1913561
Lakeview Presbyterian Church Service, April 18, 2021
The Third Sunday of Easter
Questions for Reflection: “If heaven is not “up” and hell is not “down”, to where does Jesus “ascend”?
Prelude “In the Bulb There is A Flower” Natalie Sleeth, 1986
In the bulb there is a flower,
in the seed, an apple tree,
in cocoons, a hidden promise:
butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter
there's a spring that waits to be,
unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see.
There's a song in every silence,
seeking word and melody;
there's a dawn in every darkness,
bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future;
what it holds, a mystery,
unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see.
In our end is our beginning,
in our time, infinity;
in our doubt there is believing,
in our life, eternity,
in our death, a resurrection,
at the last, a victory,
unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see.
Opening Words
When fear and doubts stroll through our doors:
God stands beside us, whispering of peace.
When we toss and turn late at night:
God sits by our beds, singing lullabies of love.
When we stumble through the shadows of sin:
God illuminates the paths of goodness and joy.
Opening Prayer
Most wonderful God, as we assemble here in this house of joy,
deliver us from negative thoughts and wearisome worries.
Liberate within us that true spirit that wants to soar with Christ
into the boundless possibilities of Easter faith,
and which worships with the enthusiasm of a true lover.
Through him, with him, and for him,
be all honor, glory and praise to you, most holy God,
throughout the world and in highest heaven.
Amen.
Hymn
Prayer for Illumination
Most loving God, as we ask you to use each of us for your purposes, we pray for a renewal of our own resources. Wherever some are sad- bring comfort, where there is illness- bring healing, if there are anxious souls- bring serenity, should there be hard decisions to made- bring guidance, where some may feel afraid- bring courage, and if any among us feel beset with doubts, strengthen the core of faith within them. Then may we, fortified by your love and guided by your wisdom, express something of your Spirit in all the interweaving activities of this new week. Through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen!
A Reading from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles 4: 31—35
When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness. Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
A Reading from the Epistle 1 John 3:1-7
1See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. 2 Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. 3 And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.
4 Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God. 5 And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. 6 Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.
7 Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous.
A Reading from the Gospels: Luke 24:36b-48
36 And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 37 But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!
38 “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? 39 Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” 40 As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet.
41 Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he ate it as they watched.
44 Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46 And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. 47 It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations,[a] beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ 48 You are witnesses of all these things.
Sermon “Quantum Physics, Star Trek and the Dimension of God” The Rev. J Phillip Miller-Evans
Hymn
Sharing Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer
When we are blinded by anger,
you pour out your love
for all to see;
when we wonder
what tomorrow will bring,
you call us to trust in you;
when sadness fills our hearts,
you plant gladness in our hearts.
God of Easter:
touch us with your grace.
You show us your hands,
so we may reach out
to mend the broken;
you show us your feet,
so we may walk with
those the world passes by;
you show us your face,
so we may know who our
sisters and brothers look like.
Risen Christ:
touch us with your compassion.
You open our eyes,
so we may see God's love;
you open our minds,
so we may welcome God's Word;
you open our lips,
so we may be God's witnesses.
Spirit of Hope:
touch us with your peace.
God in Community, Holy in One,
open us to your presence,
as we pray as Jesus has taught us, saying,
Lord’s Prayer (Ecumenical Version)
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come,
your will be done on earth as in heaven
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen
Statement about Offering our Gifts
Remembering the generosity of spirit that once brought the church unity of heart and mind, let us offer our gifts and open our hearts.
Donations can be mailed to Lakeview Presbyterian Church at 1310 22 nd Av S, St Petersburg, FL, 33705 or given online through our website lakeviewpresbyterianchurch.org
Special Music: sung by Keisha Prime
Prayer of Dedication
What will be done with the gifts we offer in these moments has not been revealed to us, Holy God, but knowing you through Jesus, and trusting in you by the power of the Holy Spirit, we do know they will be used to bring hope, to bring healing, to bring justice to all those people and places who long for these blessings. And so we offer these gifts with gratitude to you, in Jesus' name. Amen.
Charge and Blessing
Go now, to be God's children in the world.
We will open our minds to understand the needs around us.
Go now, to be Christ's servants in the world.
We will open our hands to share our blessings with all.
Go now, to be the Spirit's hope for the world.
We will open our hearts to welcome those who have no one to care for them.
In the names of the Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, go in peace. Amen
Postlude: “Alleluia, Alleluia! Give Thanks” Donald Fishel, 1973