April 30, 2023
Good Shepherd Sunday | Fourth Sunday of Easter
Enhance your online worship experience
Whether you’re a first-time online visitor or a life-long member, we welcome and celebrate the ways you enrich our collective worship of a scattered yet gathered Children of God. As we begin our service, we invite you to light a candle, just as we do in the prelude during our in-person worship. Our two altar candles symbolize that Christ was both a human being and God. A light being carried into the world shows that Jesus Christ is for all people - everywhere. Just as a the acolyte carries the lighted candlelight into the congregation, the light symbolizes the light of Jesus Christ preceding us into the world where we as the church are to serve.
Gathering:
The chiming of the Trinity
Prelude
Because He Lives arr. John Purifoy
Jane Patterson, guest pianist
Welcome and Announcements
Call to Worship
Based on Psalm 23 and 1 John 3:16-24
One: Day by day, God leads us:
Many: to the deep, deep pools of peace, to the green, lush lawns of grace.
One: Day by day, Jesus calls us:
Many: to pour out ourselves in service, to anoint the stranger with hope.
One: Day by day, the Holy Spirit shows us:
Many: the community we could be, the family we are called to become.
Hymn
Where Charity and Love Prevail UMH# 549
Stanzas 1, 2, and 4
Concerns and Prayers with the Lord’s Prayer
UMH# 895
A Reading from the Gospels
Solo
His Eye Is on the Sparrow Charles H. Gabriel
Carol Kinsey
A Reading from the Psalter
Sermon
The Generous Shepherd | Rev. Paula Dempsey
Prayer of Confession & Assurance of Pardon
Jesus calls himself the gate, the entryway into the safety of communion with God. He makes the way; he is the way. He calls to us all to enter into the love and grace of our maker. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven and made new.
In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and made new. Thanks be to God
Affirmation of Faith
A Statement of Faith of the United Church of Canada UMH# 883
UMH #889
Blessing of the Tithes and Offerings
Make a Gift of a Tithe or Offering
Doxology | UMH# 94
Hymn
God of Grace and God of Glory UMH# 577
Postlude
I Love to Tell the Story arr. James Koert
Today’s worship participants
Our Pastor: Rev. Lisa Hartzog
Preaching: Rev. Paula Dempsey
Music Director: Dr. Joel Reed
Pianist: Patty Higgins
Music Intern: Nick Skaggs
We pray for Lisa in the death of her uncle.
Make a Gift | Your Tithes & Offerings
Thank you for your continued financial support.
Mail Your Gift
The best way to contribute right now is by sending your offering through U.S. Mail to our Post Office Box.
Mars Hill United Methodist Church
PO Box 427
Mars Hill, NC 28754
Give Online
If you prefer to give online, Mars Hill United Methodist Church is pleased to offer the convenience and security of online giving through the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church.