Worship for the Second Sunday of Easter, April 19, 2020

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SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY
Second Sunday of Easter A – April 19, 2020

Welcome & Announcements

Call to Worship Liturgist Amy Turner

One: Our help is in the name of the Lord,
All: maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 124:8)
One: How very good and pleasant it is
All: when the people of God live in unity. (Psalm 133:1)
One: Peace be with you. Jesus stands among us.
All: Peace be with you. The risen Lord is here. (John 20:19, 21)

Prayer of Day

Hymn “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”
1 Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee,
Opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the gloom of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day.
2 All Thy works with joy surround Thee,
Earth and heaven reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee,
Center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flowery meadow, flashing sea,
Singing bird and flowing fountain,
Call us to rejoice in Thee.
3 Mortals, join the happy chorus
Which the morning stars began;
Love divine is reigning o’er us,
Joining all in heaven’s plan.
Ever singing, march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife,
Joyful music leads us sunward
In the triumph song of life.

Call to Confession

Prayer of Confession
Let us pray. Glory to you, O God: you have won victory over death, raising Jesus from the grave and giving us eternal life. Glory to you, O Christ: for us and for our salvation you overcame death and opened the gate to everlasting life. Glory to you, O Holy Spirit: you lead us into the truth. Glory to you, O Blessed Trinity, now and forever. Amen.
(Personal and Silent Prayers of Confession.)

Declaration of Pardon

Gloria Patri

First Reading: Psalm 16
Our first text today is from the book of Psalms, Psalm 16. Let us listen for the Word of the Lord.
16:1 Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.

16:2 I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”

16:3 As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble, in whom is all my delight.

16:4 Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names upon my lips.

16:5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.

16:6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a goodly heritage.

16:7 I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.

16:8 I keep the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

16:9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure.

16:10 For you do not give me up to Sheol, or let your faithful one see the Pit.

16:11 You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
One: The inspired Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God

Second Reading: John 19:20-31

Prayer of Illumination

Our sermon text is from the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to John, chapter 19, verses 20 through 31. Let us listen to the inspired Word of the Lord.

“When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:19–31)
One: The inspired Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God

Sermon “The First Day of the Week”
Rev. ChrisTurner

The Apostles’s Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,

and in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.

Joys and Concerns and Prayers of the People/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 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.

Hymn “Amen”

Offertory

Hymn “Thine is the Glory”
1 Thine is the glory,
Risen, conquering Son;
Endless is the victory
Thou o’er death hast won.
Angels in bright raiment
Rolled the stone away,
Kept the folded grave clothes
Where Thy body lay.

Refrain:
Thine is the glory,
Risen, conquering Son;
Endless is the victory
Thou o’er death hast won.

2 Lo! Jesus meets us,
Risen from the tomb;
Lovingly He greets us,
Scatters fear and gloom.
Let the church with gladness
Hymns of triumph sing,
For the Lord now liveth;
Death hath lost its sting. [Refrain]

3 No more we doubt Thee,
Glorious Prince of life!
Life is naught without Thee;
Aid us in our strife.
Make us more than conquerors
Through Thy deathless love;
Bring us safe through Jordan
To Thy home above. [Refrain]

Charge and Blessing

To join the work and ministry of his congregation, please speak to the pastor at the close of worship about membership or call
Pastor Chris at 325-864-7601 or email wpcabilene@gmail.com.
Westminster Presbyterian Church
Pastor: Rev. Chris Turner (325) 864-7601 (feel free to call or text) or revchristurner@mac.com
Liturgist: Amy Turner • Music director: Dr. Clara Richardson • Organist: Charles Shelton

Some of you have requested information regarding tithing or donating to the One Great Hour of Sharing (our mission emphasis for April):

Your CONTRIBUTIONS and DONATIONS to Westminster, and/or to the Mission Emphases of Westminster, can be MAILED to:

Westminster Presbyterian Church, 4515 South 14th Street, Abilene, Texas 79605-4736,

and/or to the Church’s Treasurer:

Tim Adcock, Suite 108, 2401 South Willis Street, Abilene, Texas 79605-6254.