Hampstead Congregational Church UCC

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Hampstead Congregational Church

April 28, 2024

Fifth Sunday of Easter

No Matter Who You Are or Where You Are on Life’s Journey,

You are Welcome Here!

Order of Worship

Hampstead Congregational Church

April 28, 2024

Fifth Sunday of Easter

No Matter Who You Are or Where You Are on Life’s Journey,

You are Welcome Here!

Order of Worship

Prelude                                                                                                          Herb Tardiff  

Greetings and Announcements

Passing of the Peace of Christ 

Call to Worship (responsive)                                                 Rev. Paige Besse-Rankin

Come to the vineyard of God.
We seek Christ, the vine of great love.
Drink from the waters of life.
We live in the light of God’s grace.
Come to the vineyard of God.
All are welcome here.

Invocation   (unison)                                                                                      Brad Robie

      Loving God, we come together to reconnect to you, the source of love. No one has ever seen God, but here, connected to one another, God lives in us. Grafted again to the taproot of love in this time together, we strengthen ourselves to reach out like branches bearing good fruit to the world. Abide with us in this time, O God.  Root us together in your hope.  Amen.     

Opening Hymn:   Ch #284  

Scripture Reading:  (NSRVUE)                                                                   Brad Robie

John 15: 1-8

”I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. ²He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. ³You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. ⁴Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. ⁵I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. ⁷If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.

1 John 4: 7-21

⁷ Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. ⁸ Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. ⁹ God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. ¹⁰ In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. ¹¹ Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. 

¹² No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us, and his love is perfected in us.

Children’s Message

Sermon:  “Pruning Lessons”                                             Rev. Paige Besse-Rankin

Special Music

Call for Concerns & Celebrations

Pastoral Prayer                                                                     Rev. Paige Besse-Rankin

The Lord’s Prayer:

     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.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.  Amen.

Call to Offering

Prayer of Dedication                                                              Rev. Paige Besse-Rankin

     Gracious God, as we offer our gifts today, we reflect on the wisdom in the words from John’s gospel. In this imagery, we recognize our role as branches, connected to you, the source of our strength and vitality. Help us stay rooted in your love, producing fruit that brings glory to your name. May these gifts signify our commitment to abide in your teachings and work joyfully in response to your love. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Hymn of Going Forth:  Ch #494   

Benediction                                                                             Rev. Paige Besse-Rankin

Go into the world and bear the fruit of love.

Find the places of lifelessness and bring renewal.

Be the branches and create the community of life.

Do it all through the power of Jesus.

Music Usage permitted through OneLicense HCC License # A-730412 and CCLI License Number 2927783. All rights reserved.

Announcements…

Spring Clean-up -- Operations is requesting your help to clean up the church grounds after a winter that was mild temperature wise, but gave us periods of extreme windy weather. Debris including leaves and branches are primary targets. In addition, there are some areas inside the building such as the kitchen and under furniture that need to be addressed. If you have a rake, blower, pruners, a tarp, etc., bring them with you. The date is Saturday, May 11, 9am-12pm. Please see the task list if you cannot make it Saturday.  Many hands make light work.  Thank you, Operations Team  

April 29^th Church Weekly Calendar

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