Sunday May 10, 2026
Message: Rev. Ray Thomas
Liturgist: Linda Tozer
One: Give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make his deeds known to all people!
All: Sing to God; sing praises to the Lord; dwell on all his wondrous works!
One: Give praise to God’s holy name! Let the hearts rejoice of all those seeking the Lord!
All: Pursue the Lord and his strength; seek his face always!
†OPENING HYMN: #527 “Near to the Heart of God”
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
We are still works in progress, Lord, as you know. We have inner work to do, examining our fears, relinquishing grudges, accepting hard-to-swallow truths, and forgiving the sins of others, as well as our own. Your Spirit is breathing new hope into our places of despair and shining a gentle, softening light into our darker recesses of anger and regret. Jesus forgave sinners, healed and empowered persons who appeared helpless, and restored the hopes of so many. Encounter us in those same ways here, Lord, as we are today. Transform us, Lord, as you see us growing as your beloveds: healed, whole, and fully alive. Hear now our silent prayers of confession.
SILENT PRAYER OF CONFESSION: We pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
†PASSING OF THE PEACE
†CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE: # 579 “Gloria Patri”
TIME FOR ALL GOD’S CHILDREN
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION:
Speak to us, Lord, in words beyond words. Spark our imaginations to new possibilities for your kingdom on earth. Nurture the seeds of faith you’ve planted in each of us, so beauty, goodness, and hope may blossom. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS: Ezekiel 34: 1-6; John 14: 15-21
One: This is the word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.
MESSAGE: “Not Without” Rev. Ray Thomas
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: (Romans 8: 31-39)
What then can we say to this? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies; who is to condemn? Is it Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who intercedes for us? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, “For thy sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
SPECIAL MUSIC
CALL FOR GOD’S TITHES AND OUR OFFERING
PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
†CLOSING HYMN: # 555 “Now Thank We All Our God”
†BENEDICTION
†DISMISSAL WITH BLESSING: “Let There Be Peace on Earth”
All: Sing to God; sing praises to the Lord; dwell on all his wondrous works!
One: Give praise to God’s holy name! Let the hearts rejoice of all those seeking the Lord!
All: Pursue the Lord and his strength; seek his face always!
†OPENING HYMN: #527 “Near to the Heart of God”
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
We are still works in progress, Lord, as you know. We have inner work to do, examining our fears, relinquishing grudges, accepting hard-to-swallow truths, and forgiving the sins of others, as well as our own. Your Spirit is breathing new hope into our places of despair and shining a gentle, softening light into our darker recesses of anger and regret. Jesus forgave sinners, healed and empowered persons who appeared helpless, and restored the hopes of so many. Encounter us in those same ways here, Lord, as we are today. Transform us, Lord, as you see us growing as your beloveds: healed, whole, and fully alive. Hear now our silent prayers of confession.
SILENT PRAYER OF CONFESSION: We pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
†PASSING OF THE PEACE
†CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE: # 579 “Gloria Patri”
TIME FOR ALL GOD’S CHILDREN
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION:
Speak to us, Lord, in words beyond words. Spark our imaginations to new possibilities for your kingdom on earth. Nurture the seeds of faith you’ve planted in each of us, so beauty, goodness, and hope may blossom. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS: Ezekiel 34: 1-6; John 14: 15-21
One: This is the word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.
MESSAGE: “Not Without” Rev. Ray Thomas
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: (Romans 8: 31-39)
What then can we say to this? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies; who is to condemn? Is it Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who intercedes for us? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, “For thy sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
SPECIAL MUSIC
CALL FOR GOD’S TITHES AND OUR OFFERING
PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
†CLOSING HYMN: # 555 “Now Thank We All Our God”
†BENEDICTION
†DISMISSAL WITH BLESSING: “Let There Be Peace on Earth”