Due to time constraints, I was unable to post a video worship service. We did make an audio worship service. The sermon’s theme is how the Holy Spirit can bring us blessings and peace during these unusual times. I hope anyone who listens is blessed by this service.
(There is an error at the beginning of the audio file. I referred to this Sunday as the Sixth Sunday of Easter, and it is really the Fifth.)
For just the sermon:
20200510_bulletin (You can download the bulletin in .pdf format or follow it by scrolling down.)
SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY
Fifth Sunday of Easter A – May 10, 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: The spirit of God calls us from many places; some of us come from busy homes with many people some of us live alone.
All: We are a part of the family.
One: This week has been different for each of us; some of us have had happy news we want to celebrate and some of us have faced grief and need to cry.
All: We are members of God’s family.
One: Yet we all come to this same website; all of us seeking God’s presence in our lives through the Holy Spirit, all of us seeking God’s presence with each other.
All: Together we become God’s family.
Prayer of Day
Hymn “His Eye is on the Sparrow”
Why should I feel discouraged? Why should the shadow come?
Why should my heart be lonely and long for heaven and home, When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is he:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me.
Refrain:
I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free, For his eye is on the sparrow and I know he watches me.
“Let not your heart be troubled,” his tender word I hear, And resting on his goodness, I lose my doubts and fears; Though by the path he leadeth but one step I may see: His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me.
Refrain:
I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free, For his eye is on the sparrow and I know he watches me.
Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise, When son gives place to sighing, when hope within me dies I draw the closer to him, from care he set me free:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me.
Refrain:
I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free, For his eye is on the sparrow and I know he watches me.
(Words by Civilla Martin, Music by Charles Gabriel)
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: 1 Peter 3:13-22
Our first text today is from the book of Peter’s first letter. Open your Bible to First Peter, chapter 3, verses 13 through 22.
Let us hear the inspired Word of the Lord.
3:13 Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good?
3:14 But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated,
3:15 but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you;
3:16 yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame.
3:17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil.
3:18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit,
3:19 in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison,
3:20 who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water.
3:21 And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you–not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
3:22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.
One: The inspired Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God
Second Reading: John 14:15-21
Prayer of Illumination
Our sermon text is from the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to John, chapter 14: verses 15 through 21. Open your bible to John, chapter 14, verses 15 through 21.
Let us listen to the inspired Word of the Lord.
14:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever.
14:17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.
14:18 “I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you.
14:19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live.
14:20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.
14:21 They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”
One: The inspired Word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God
Sermon “The Holy Spirit’s Presence during Difficult Times” Rev. Chris Turner
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”
Offering
Doxology
Hymn “To God Be the Glory”
To God be the glory great things he hath done!
So loved He the world that He gave us His son, Who yielded His life an atonement for sin, -And opened the life=gate, that all may go in.
Refrain:
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Let the earth hear his voice! Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father throught Jesus the Son, And give Him the glory, Great things He hath done!
Great things He hat taught us, great things He hath done, And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son; But purer and Higher and greater will be Our wonder, out transport when Jesus we see.
Refrain:
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Let the earth hear his voice! Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father throught Jesus the Son, And give Him the glory, Great things He hath done!
(Fanny J Crosby 1875 William Howard Doane 1875)
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 Website: wpcabilene.org
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 (if you are donating to the PRESBYTERIAN CHILDREN’S HOMES & SERVICES, please note this in the memo line.
Westminster Presbyterian Church, 4515 South 14th Street, Abilene, Texas 79605–4736,
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
This is a great posst thanks
Thank you so much!