Click HERE for a printable version of Order of Worship
Dear Church Family,
We are delighted to gather for worship over the phone or in person for our Simple Prayer Service. We share with you
the Order of Worship that we will use on the evening of Wednesday, April 24, 2024.
We will begin the service at 7 PM. Please join us by using our Conference Call. We want everyone to have the opportunity
to worship. We are so happy to have you join us.
Welcome to St. Matthew’s UMC!
Conference Call
Please Dial-in: 267-807-9601
Use access code: 111-576-270#
SIMPLE PRAYER FOR APRIL 24, 2024
WEDNESDAY OF THE 4TH WEEK OF EASTER
GREETING AND WELCOME
*LUCENARIUM: LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE
Leader: Jesus Christ is the light of the world
All: A light no darkness can extinguish.
Leader: The Lord is risen!
All: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Leader: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you. Leader: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them up to the Lord.
Leader: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Leader: Blessed are you, Lord God of our salvation, to you be praise and glory forever.
All: As once you ransomed your people from Egypt and led them to freedom in the promised land,
so now you have delivered us
from the dominion of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of your risen Son.
May we, the first fruits of your new creation,
rejoice in the new life you have given us,
and praise you for your mighty acts.
Leader: Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
All: Blessed be God for ever and ever. Amen.
Hymn: Now the Green Blade Riseth UMH 311
CCLI #109164 CCS #11256
Epistle Reading: Acts 11:19-26
19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and they spoke the word to no one except Jews. 20 But among them were some men of Cyprus and Cyrene who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists also, proclaiming the Lord Jesus. 21 The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord. 22 News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were brought to the Lord. 25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for an entire year they met with the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called “Christians.”
The Word of the Lord. THANKS BE TO GOD.
Congregational Response Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
1 O give thanks to the Lord, for the Lord is good;
God’s steadfast love endures forever!
2 Let Israel say,
“God’s steadfast love endures forever.”
14 The Lord is my strength and my might;
the Lord has become my salvation.
15 There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the Lord does valiantly;
16 the right hand of the Lord is exalted;
the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.”
17 I shall not die, but I shall live,
and recount the deeds of the Lord.
18 The Lord has chastened me sorely,
but he did not give me over to death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord;
the righteous shall enter through it.
21 I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord’s doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
GOSPEL LESSON: John 10:22-30
22 At that time the Festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah,[a] tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me, 26 but you do not believe because you do not belong to my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, in regard to what he has given me, is greater than all, and no one can snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.”
The Gospel of the Lord. THANKS BE TO GOD.
MUSIC FOR MEDITATION
REFLECTION: Grazing in the Pastures of Eternity
—from a homily of St Gregory the Great (ca 540-604)
Jesus said: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them; they follow me, and I give them eternal life.” Shortly before this, the Lord had declared: “If anyone enters the sheepfold through me, he shall be saved; he shall go freely in and out and shall find good pasture.” He will enter into a life of faith, from belief to contemplation, and will graze in the good pastures of everlasting life.
So our Lord’s sheep will finally reach their grazing ground where all who follow him in simplicity of heart will feed on the green pastures of eternity. These pastures are the spiritual joys of heaven. There the elect look upon the face of God with unclouded vision and feast at the banquet of life forevermore.
Let us set out for these pastures where he shall keep joyful festival with so many of our fellow citizens. May the thought of their happiness urge us on! Let us stir up our hearts, rekindle our faith, and long eagerly for what heaven has in store for us. To love thus is to be already on our way. No matter what obstacles we encounter, we must not allow them to turn us aside from the joy of that heavenly feast. Anyone who is determined to reach his destination is not deterred by the roughness of the road that leads to it. Nor must we allow the charm of success to seduce us, or we shall be like a foolish traveler who is so distracted by the pleasant meadows through which he is passing that he forgets where he is going.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE:
As candles are lit and prayers are lifted up from the silence of our hearts by those assembled, all may sing as the musicians lead
Alleluia, alleluia UMH 186
THE LORD’S PRAYER
CLOSING PRAYER (all in unison):
Lord, You have arisen forever in my heart.
May the sunrise remind me to shine in Your light.
May the caress of a gentle breeze
remind me of Your compassion.
May the fragrance of a flower
remind me to blossom in Your love.
May the singing of birds
bring a song of joy to my lips.
And in the closing of each day
may I remember to quietly pray.
Wherever I am, whatever I do,
may my thoughts in joy return to You. Amen.
—Susan Helene Kramer
Benediction
Response: Triple Amen UMH #898