Sunday, April 19, 2020, Second Sunday of Easter

Welcome and Announcements

Audio: Welcome and Announcements and Call to Worship

Call to Worship, I Peter 1:3-9

Blessed be the God of our Savior, Jesus Christ!
God has given us a new birth in the living hope of the resurrection.
God has given us an inheritance that is imperishable and unfading.
In this we rejoice, even when we suffer trials.
For although we have not seen Jesus, we love him and believe in him.
For the outcome of our faith is the salvation of our souls.  LET US WORSHIP GOD!

Hymn, Christ Is Alive, 246

Prayer of the Day

Audio: Prayer of the Day, Prayer of Confession, Assurance of Pardon, Moment for Earth Day, and Prayer for Illumination

Prayer of Confession

God, You have made known to us the ways of life. Yet, too often, we put other things above You and turn away from the ways of life and toward the ways of death. In the midst of this ominous virus, we are tempted to hoard, to take care of only ourselves and our loved ones, ignoring the poor, the unemployed, and the destitute. Forgive us and guide us back into Your presence, that we may know the fullness of joy. 

Assurance of Pardon

Moment for the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, Nora Johnson

Prayer for Illumination

Guiding God, send Your Holy Spirit upon the reading of Your Word, that it may serve to show us the path of life and lead us into Your presence where there is fullness of joy. AMEN.

Time for Children, Jenny Newman

Hebrew Reading, Psalm 16  

Audio: Scripture Readings and Sermon

Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
    I have no good apart from you.”[a]

As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble,
    in whom is all my delight.

Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows;[b]
    their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
    or take their names upon my lips.

The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
    you hold my lot.
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    I have a goodly heritage.

I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
    in the night also my heart instructs me.
I keep the Lord always before me;
    because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;
    my body also rests secure.
10 For you do not give me up to Sheol,
    or let your faithful one see the Pit.

11 You show me the path of life.
    In your presence there is fullness of joy;
    in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Gospel Reading, John 20:19-31

19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin[a]), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may come to believe[b] that Jesus is the Messiah,[c] the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Epistle Reading, I Peter 1:3-9  

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice,[a] even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although you have not seen[b] him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Sermon, “The Reading of the Will,” Rev. Vincent Kolb       

Hymn, We Know That Christ Is Raised, 485

Affirmation of Faith, Heidelberg Catechism, 4.031

Audio: Affirmation of Faith, Pastoral Prayer, The Lord’s Prayer

Jesus Christ is ordained by God the Father and anointed with the Holy Spirit to be our chief Prophet and Teacher, fully revealing to us the secret purpose and will of God concerning our redemption; to be our only High Priest, having redeemed us by the one sacrifice of his body and ever interceding for us with the Father; and to be our eternal King, governing us by his Word and Spirit, and defending and sustaining us in the redemption he has won for us.                                               

Pastoral Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer, 2019 Vatican Update

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;
do not let us fall into temptation,
            but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power
            and the glory forever. Amen.

Anthem, We Are Not Alone

We are not alone, for God is with us
We are never alone, For God is with us
Now Through all our days
Always, Forever and ever We are never alone
And God will make us strong
We will press on For God is with us.
Now Through all our days We are never alone
Always, Forever and ever, We are never alone
Our God is with us Now

Benediction

Audio: Benediction

Closing Anthem, God Be With You Till We Meet Again

To follow along with the text and music: Hymn 542, verses 1 and 3

Announcements

* The Session has closed the building through April 30 to observe the governmental restrictions of social distancing.

* Many thanks to Peter Gilmore, Nora Johnson, and Rev. Karen Rohrer for being part of the service this this week!

* Want to participate in Earth Day commemorations virtually? Go to earthweekpgh.org for ways you can participate!

* Want to join Pastor Vincent’s Wednesday morning Bible study on the lectionary texts? Contact the office to get on the email list for connection to the Zoom meeting.

* Zoom confused? Set up a call with Amy, and we’ll work through it together.

* It’s not the same as the thrill of putting the envelope in the plate, but you can still pay on your pledges either through eGive (click here!) or by mailing your check to the church. We continue to need your support in this challenging time!

* Weekly Sunday school lessons and other resources are on Jenny’s Children and Youth blog (click here!)

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