The Gathering Prayer

God – we gather in your presence.

Father – we long for more of you.

Jesus – we place you at the center.

Holy Spirit – come and fill our time together.

Help us to be fully present here,

to your word, to one another,

and to the world you love.

Amen.

Join Anderson by standing and reciting alongside.

The text of lectionary passage for you to read aloud as you remain standing.

To be read aloud: 

Psalm 116 (NIV)

I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;

    he heard my cry for mercy.

Because he turned his ear to me,

    I will call on him as long as I live.

The cords of death entangled me,

    the anguish of the grave came over me;

    I was overcome by distress and sorrow.

Then I called on the name of the Lord:

    “Lord, save me!”

What shall I return to the Lord

    for all his goodness to me?

I will lift up the cup of salvation

    and call on the name of the Lord.

I will fulfill my vows to the Lord

    in the presence of all his people.

Precious in the sight of the Lord

    is the death of his faithful servants.

Truly I am your servant, Lord;

    I serve you just as my mother did;

    you have freed me from my chains.

I will sacrifice a thank offering to you

    and call on the name of the Lord.

I will fulfill my vows to the Lord

    in the presence of all his people,

in the courts of the house of the Lord—

    in your midst, Jerusalem.

Praise the Lord.

Lectionary Texts for today: 

Acts 2:14a, 36-41; Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19; 1 Peter 1:17-23; Luke 24:13-35

Sermon Questions

1. How do you respond when you start to doubt that God is being attentive to your cries for help? 
2. In what way might you offer thanksgiving to God that is sacrificial?
3. How can we remember to offer thanksgiving to God when we are in the midst of a new and ongoing crisis?
4. What might it look like for us to offer thanksgiving as a community?

Take some time to listen to the Spirit and respond in prayer, however you feel led.

In this season of Easter we are learning to recognize the ways God has provided and continues to provide for us, and to resist the temptation of the endless pursuit of more. That is why our theme is “enough.” With that in mind, how can these words from Paul shape us? 

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: ‘They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.’”  2 Corinthians 9:6-9

Let’s live generously to bless the poor and those in need in our community. If you are someone in need of financial help, please reach out.

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1 Peter 1:17-23

Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.