"Listen Carefully" - May 3, 2020 Worship ServiceDr. Jennifer Blake
Posted by First Presbyterian Church of Omaha on Sunday, May 3, 2020
The Service for the Lord’s Day
May 3, 2020
“Listen Carefully!
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WE GATHER TO PRAISE GOD, THE LORD OF LIFE
Prelude “Lord of All Being” arr. T McKibben
News of the Church
The Greeting and Welcoming of One Another
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Hymn “Here I Am To Worship” MW Smith
Light of the World
You stepped down into darkness
Open my eyes
Let me see
Beauty that made
This heart adore You
Hope of a life
Spent with You
Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You’re my God
You’re altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me
King of all days
Oh, so highly exalted
Glorious in Heaven above
Humbly You came
To the earth You created
All for love’s sake became poor
Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You’re my God
You’re altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me
I’ll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross
I’ll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross
Call to Worship (Responsive)
Leader: We gather this morning to listen carefully,
People: to recognize the voice of our Lord and Savior.
Leader: We seek the words of the One who truly knows us;
People: and wants us to follow Him into safety.
Leader: Jesus is the Shepherd and we are His sheep. He keeps watch over us and
protects us from harm.
All: Let us worship God!
Hymn “Forever” C Tomlin
Give thanks to the Lord our God and King
His love endures forever
For He is good, He is above all things
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise
With a mighty hand and outstretched arm
His love endures forever
For the life that’s been reborn
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise
Sing praise, sing praise
Forever God is faithful
Forever God is strong
Forever God is with us
Forever, forever
From the rising to the setting sun
His love endures forever
And by the grace of God we will carry on
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise
Sing praise, sing praise
Forever God is faithful
Forever God is strong
Forever God is with us
Forever, forever
Prayer of Confession (Unison)
Dear Lord, we are surrounded by the murmurs of the world. We try to listen to You, but the noise of the masses often blocks out Your voice. In times of fear and confusion, we seek Your direction, but we question where the advice really comes from. Teach us to recognize You through Your written word and promises. Remind us of Your constant love and Your vow to keep us safe from harm. Help us to distinguish Your wisdom and comfort from those who only wish to help themselves.Help …(Silent time of prayer)
Assurance of Pardon
Leader: When we lose focus and fail to reach out to Jesus, He continues to reach out
to us. Even if we don’t listen, He continues to speak to us. When we don’t
deserve a second chance, He continues to forgive us and grant us mercy.
All: Thanks be to God!
The Gloria Patri – Hymn #581
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD
Children’s Message AJ Baratta
Message “Listen Carefully!” Dr. Jennifer Blake
John 10:1-15
Psalm 23 (MSG)
Jesus the Good Shepherd
10 “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
7 So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.
A David Psalm
23 1-3 God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction. 4 Even when the way goes through Death Valley,
I’m not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure. 5 You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing.
6 Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life.
WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD
Hymn #187 “Savior like a Shepherd Lead Us”
Savior, like a shepherd lead us; much we need your tender care.
In your pleasant pastures feed us; for our use your fold prepare.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, you have bought us: we are yours.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, you have bought us: we are yours.
We are yours in love befriend us; be the guardian of our way.
Keep your flock: from sin defend us; seek us when we go astray.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, hear your children when we pray.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, hear your children when we pray.
You have promised to receive us; poor and sinful though we be;
You have mercy to relieve us, grace top cleanse and power to free.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, early let us turn to you.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, early let us turn to you
Early let us seek your favor; early let us do your will.
Blessed Lord on only Savior, with your love our spirits fill.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, you have loved us; love us still.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, you have loved us; love us still.
Prayers of the People and The Lord’s Prayer (Unison)
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 debts as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.
Offering:
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Offertory Anthem “It Took a Miracle” arr. G Sprunger
Prayer of Dedication
WE GO FORTH TO SERVE
Hymn #35 “Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty”
Praise ye the Lord, the Almighty,
the King of creation! O my soul,
praise him, for he is thy health
and salvation! All ye who hear,
now to his temple draw near;
join me in glad adoration!
Praise ye the Lord, who’er all things
so wondrously reigneth, shelters thee
under his wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen how thy desires
e’er have been granted
in what he ordaineth?
Praise ye the Lord! O let all that is
in me adore him! All that hath life
and breath, come now with praises
before him! Let the amen
sound from his people again;
gladly for aye we adore him.
Benediction
Benediction Response “Blest Be the Tie that Binds” arr. L Mason
Blest be the tie that binds
our hearts in Christian love.
The fellowship of kindred minds
is like to that above.
When we are called to part,
it gives us inward pain;
but we shall still be joined in heart,
and hope to meet again.
Postlude “The Trumpet Shall Sound” G Handel
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*CCLI License #11316036
As you sign off today, remember that you are always close enough to Jesus to hear His voice; but you must listen for it.
