Sunday Worship

Prelude

Greetings

*Call to Worship  

Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates! 

Behold! The Savior of the world is risen! 

Fling wide the portals of your hearts: 

Let us feel the presence of the God’s grace and love! 

O Holy spirit, lead us on in worship; 

Call us each by name, that we may give God glory!

*Hymn of Welcome #502          In My Heart There Rings a Melody

Opening Prayer (unison)

Shepherd God, we come this morning because we heard your voice and recognized it. From different paths, different weeks, different burdens. We gather now as your flock, in this place, at your invitation. Lead us today. Restore what is worn down in us. Teach us, feed us, and send us out into the abundant life you promised. In the name of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Amen.

Reading from Psalm 23

Call to Confession 

Prayer of Confession (unison)

Gracious God, from before the foundation of the world, you called us by name and pledged your steadfast love. But like ornery sheep, we stray from the fold. You offer to lead us, but we prefer to lead ourselves. Christ laid down his life, yet we refuse to lay down our phones, our plans, our pride. Forgive us, O God. Call us back to the open gate of Christ’s redeeming love that we may enter your Beloved Community and find restoration for our souls, reconciliation with our enemies, and the glory of abiding with you forevermore. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon 

*Gloria Patri #579         Glory Be to the Father

*Passing of the Peace of Christ

Prayer for Illumination

O God, give us the listening ear. Give us the listening ear that will not shrink from a word that corrects and admonishes; a word that challenges us to deeper consecration and higher resolve; a word that lays bare the needs that make our days uneasy; a word that seizes upon everything decent in our nature and channels it into paths of healing in the lives of others. Give us, O Lord, the listening ear. Amen.

Scripture Readings Acts 2:42–47 & John 10:1–10

Scripture Response

The Word of the Lord

Thanks be to God.

Sermon Sheep           Rev. Tony DeLucia

Hymn of Response #503              Since Jesus Came into My Heart

*Affirmation of Faith             Second Helvetic Confession

In all crises and trials of our life we call upon God alone,

and do so by the mediation of our only mediator and intercessor, Jesus Christ.

For we have been explicitly commanded: “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me” (Psalm 1:15).

Moreover, we have a most generous promise from the Lord who said: “If you ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you” (John 16:23),

and: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

And since it is written: “How are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed?” (Romans 10:14),

and since we do believe in God alone, we assuredly call upon God alone, and we do so through Christ alone. Amen. 

*Call for the Offering   

*Doxology #815                               Doxology

*Prayer of Dedication (unison)

Shepherding God, you lead us, guard us, prepare us and preserve us. We have responded by giving back to you what has come from your hand. Bless these gifts, and multiply them in the life of your church, so that the gates of salvation may be flung wide, and all your Beloved Community may know the love and the peace that is ours in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Prayers of the People

The Lord’s Prayer *p16, Blue Hymnal                       Traditional Prayer

*Hymn of Sending #495                   Jesus Loves Even Me

*Charge and Benediction            

*Response to the Benediction #358                          Because He Lives, refrain

*Postlude                       

 

April Birthdays

Chris Herron and Kim McPherson, 4/6

Dick Lugano, 4/8

Pastor Tony DeLucia, 4/11

Peggy Bahnsen, 4/22

Christian Cornell, 4/24

Let us know when we can celebrate your Birthday/Anniversary with you!!

Upcoming Events:

Session Meeting - April 29, 2026, Wednesday at 6:30 pm

Bible Study - April  29, 2026, Wednesday at 7:30 pm

Communion - May 3, 2026

Coffee Hour after Worship - May 10, 2026

Newell Community Dinner - May 30, 2026,  Saturday at American Legion in Newell with: Pulled pork sandwich, baked beans, coleslaw and dessert.