This is a video of our May 3rd worship service with communion. You may use bread, crackers, wafers, and so on for the body of Christ. You may use any type of fruit juice (or even a small amount of wine) for the blood of Christ.
Also, we now have our own youtube channel. Please subscibe as we need 100 subscribers to unlock certain features. Search wpc abilene
20200503_bulletin PDF of the bulletin if you would like to download it.
SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY
Fourth Sunday of Easter A – May 3, 2020
Welcome & Announcements
Call to Worship:
One: Our help is in the name of the Lord,
All: maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 124:8)
One: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
All: I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23:1,6)
One: The Lamb of God will be our shepherd;
All: he will guide us to the water of life (Rev. 7:17)
Prayer of Day
Hymn “I come with Joy”
1 I come with joy, a child of God, forgiven, loved and free, the life of Jesus to recall, in love laid down for me.
2 I come with Christians far and near to find, as all are fed, the new community of love in Christ’s communion bread.
3 As Christ breaks bread, and bids us share, each proud division ends. The love that made us, makes us one, and strangers now are friends.
4 The Spirit of the risen Christ, unseen, but ever near, is in such friendship better known, alive among us here.
5 Together met, together bound by all that God has done, we’ll go with joy, to give the world the love that makes us one.
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: John 10:1-10
Our first text today is from the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to John, Let us listen for the Word of the Lord, chapter 10, verses 1 through 10. You are welcome to follow along in your Bible or follow along with the Bulletin.
Let us listen for inspired Word of the Lord.
John 10:1-10
10:1 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.
10:2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.
10:3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
10:4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.
10:5 They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.”
10:6 Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
10:7 So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.
10:8 All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them.
10:9 I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.
10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
One: The inspired Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God
Second Reading: Acts 2:42-47
Prayer of Illumination
Our sermon text is from the book of Acts, written by Luke, chapter 2, verses 42 through 47. You may follow along in your Bible or on the bulletin.
Let us listen to the inspired Word of the Lord.
2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
2:43 Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles.
2:44 All who believed were together and had all things in common;
2:45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.
2:46 Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts,
2:47 praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
One: The inspired Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God
Sermon “The Marks of the Early Church and the Marks Today,”
Rev. Chris Turner
The Nicene Creed (Ecumenical)
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth,of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human.For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead,and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Joys and Concerns and Prayers of the People
Hymn “Amen”
Offering
Doxology
PARTAKING OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
Invitation to the Table of the Lord
GREAT THANKSGIVING Rev. Chris Turner
Leader: Remember the Lord Jesus.
People: We remember and are thankful.
Leader: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them to the Lord.
Leader: Let us pray. It is truly right and …
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.
BREAKING OF THE BREAD
COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Hymn “Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ”
1 Let us talents and tongues employ, Reaching out with a shout of joy: Bread is broken, the wine is poured, Christ is spoken and seen and heard.
Refrain: Jesus lives again, earth can breathe again, pass the Word around: loaves abound!
2 Christ is able to make us one. At the table He sets the tone, Teaching people to live to bless, Love in word and in deed express. (Refrain)
3 Jesus calls us in, sends us out Bearing fruit in a world of doubt, Gives us love to tell, bread to share: God (Immanuel) everywhere! (Refrain)
Charge and Blessing
To join the work and ministry of this congregation, please speak to the pastor 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 Presbyterian Children’s Home (our mission emphasis for May):
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.
PRESBYTERIAN CHILDREN’S HOMES & SERVICES
Westminster’s Mission Emphasis for the month of May is PRESBYTERIAN CHILDREN’S HOMES & SERVICES Providing Christ-centered services to children and families in NEED: Group Homes; Foster Care Program; Adoption Services; Child and Family Programs; Education; Advanced Education; After Care Program; and Single Parent Family Program. CARING in Christ’s name since 1903. To donate to the PRESBYTERIAN CHILDREN’S HOMES & SERVICES, just make YOUR check out to “Westminster” and write “Children’s Homes” on the memo line. You may mail your check to one of the addressed above.
Buffalo Gap Camp
Westminster STILL is collecting ALUMINUM CANS for the BUFFALO GAP PRESBYTERIAN ENCAMPMENT — A PLACE FOR GROWING ! These CANS are sold, and the MONEY raised is used to help defray the COSTS of running the Encampment. Just put your SACKS of cans in the HALLWAY down from the Church Office. DONATIONS also can be made by making out a CHECK to “Westminster”, writing “BUFFALO GAP CAMP” on the MEMO line, and putting THIS check in the Sunday OFFERING plate. G I V E your CANS! & S H A R E your FAITH! & S P R E A D the GOSPEL!
The Presbyterian Food Pantry
The PRESBYTERIAN FOOD Pantry feeds the HUNGRY & so can YOU! In February, food was provided to 106 families, totaling 293 people, with 177 adults, 37 senior citizens, and 79 children. Each and every SUNDAY just put YOUR donations of NON-perishable FOOD items, CASH money (including SAVED change), and TOILETRY items, in the grocery CART in the Narthex. DONATIONS also can be made by making out a CHECK to “Westminster”, writing “FOOD PANTRY” on the MEMO line, and putting THIS check in the Sunday OFFERING plate.
THANK you for YOUR support of THIS vital ministry. G I V E your MONEY! & S H A R E your FOOD! & F E E D the HUNGRY