South Church in Andover
United Church of Christ

THE WORSHIP OF GOD
ORDER FOR THE SERVICE

Fourth Sunday of Easter
April 13, 2008

Let the prelude be a curtain of music which brings us into the sanctuary to worship God.
 Let necessary conversation be gentle and the preparation we make together be prayerful.

PRELUDE     Invocation     Alexander Guilmant

WELCOME

Announcements

Introduction of Visitors and Guests

Exchange of Peace

     The peace of Jesus Christ be with you.

     And also with you.

INTROIT         Sanctus & Osanna in Excelsis (Mass in G)    F. Shubert

CALL TO WORSHIP      

All of creation reflects God’s light, God’s love and God’s image.   

The earth and all its people praise our God.

How good and how lovely it is

To live together in unity.

Love and faith come together,

Justice and peace join hands.

All creation reflects God’s glory.

Lord, open our lips, that our mouths and hearts may proclaim your praise!

* HYMN    There’s a Sweet, Sweet Spirit                               #398 Red

PRAYER OF INVOCATION AND THE LORD’S PRAYER

COMMISSIONING OF THE SEARCH COMMITTEE

Words of Introduction

Words of Covenant

Congregational Response: We do, relying on God’s grace. And we promise to hold them in love as they serve our church; to assist them when invited, to attend to their communications, to offer input and ask questions with respect, to trust in their work and diligence, and to pray with them and for them in this task. All this we promise in faith and hope, firmly believing in the power of God’s Spirit to guide and support us all.

Prayer of Blessing

SCRIPTURE     Psalm 23  (in bulletin)

LET THE CHILDREN COME             Rev. Drury

Children in grades K-High School may move to their church school classrooms. Parents of children up to age 7, please go to your child's classroom after worship.

* HYMN The Lord’s My Shepherd  #179 Red

SACRAMENT OF CHRISTIAN BAPTISM

Samantha Trombly,

                                   daughter of Julie Rutherford and Sean Trombly

Evan Alexander Peters Joncas,

                                                        son of David Joncas and Lauren Peters

Congregational Response

On behalf of the whole Christian Church, we now receive Samantha and Evan into our love and care. We promise to uphold them and their parents in the fulfillment of their vows and to be a Christian community which encourages love for God and neighbor, and nurtures in their spiritual life a Christ centered faith, hope and joy.

* HYMN  Jesus, Friend, So Kind and Gentle 277 Blue

SCRIPTURE   Acts 2: 42 - 47   (in bulletin)

SERMON        Rev. Stedman
               Growing in Faith, in Community, in Covenant

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE         

OFFERING OF OUR GIFTS IN THANKSGIVING

  Invitation
  Offertory                 W. A Mozart

         Andante from Concerto for Flute, Harp and Piano
    Nic Galat, flute; Cassie Becker, harp; Annelise Messler, piano
* Doxology       

* Dedication Prayer   

* HYMN   O For a World  #386 Red

* BENEDICTION

* RESPONSE  Go Now in Peace   Don Besig     

POSTLUDE     Romance     Jean Sibelius

               Annelise Mesler, piano

·  Those who are able may stand.

Participating in Today’s Service

Greeters: The Aycock Family

Acolytes: Seamus Curtin-Orsmond and Daniel Jacavanco
Deacon: Arlene Hawkins
Youth: Shaun Lima
Head Usher: Ellen Arvidson

Moderator: Bill Schroeder

Scriptures For This Day         New Revised Standard Version

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures;
     he leads me beside still waters;
     he restores my soul.

He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil;
     for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
     you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,

     and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

Acts 2: 42 - 47

The people devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.

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, 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.