Faith Demands Doubt! Doubt Requires Faithfulness!

Faith Demands Doubt! Doubt Requires Faithfulness!

5th Sunday of Easter—Season of Eastertide May 15, 2022, 11:00 am

PRELUDE:  Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (LOBE DEN HERREN)— Terry Kirkland

RESPONSIVE CALL TO RETURN TO OUR SOUL:
     Pastor:   Life is this simple:
     People:  We are living in a world
     Pastor:   That is absolutely transparent.
     People:  And God is shining through it all the time.
     Pastor:   This is not just a fable or a nice story.
     People:  It is true.
     Pastor:   If we abandon ourselves to God
     People:  And forget ourselves,
     Pastor:   We see it sometimes,
People:  And maybe we even see it frequently.
Pastor:   God appears everywhere, in everything,
People:  And we cannot be without God.
Pastor:   The only thing is, we need to “see it”.      —Thomas Merton, Benedictine Monk, writer

OPENING HYMN (Please stand if you wish):
#263            Glory to God            All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name

Please be seated 

RESPONSIVE CALL TO CONFESSION AND COMMITMENT:
Pastor:   For the sin of silence,
People:  For the sin of indifference,
     Pastor:   For the secret complicity of the neutral,
     People:  For the closing of borders,
     Pastor:   For the washing of hands,
     People:  For the crime of indifference,
     Pastor:   For the sin of silence,
     People:  For the closing of borders.
     Pastor:  For all that was done,
     People:  For all that was not done,
     Pastor:   Let there be no forgetfulness before the Throne of Glory;
     People:  Let there be remembrance within the human heart;
     Pastor:   And let there at last be forgiveness
     People:  When your children, O God, are free and at peace. Amen.    –Chaim Stern

AFFIRMING OF HEALING, SAVING POWER OF GOD (Remain seated):
#726              Glory to God          Will You Come and Follow Me

BIBLE READINGS:        John 20:24-29    Isaiah 40:1-5, 41:10        Jennifer Weiman                                  

SUNG RESPONSE TO SCRIPTURE:
#735              Glory to God                     I Need Thee

MESSAGE:   Faith Demands Doubt ! Doubt Requires Faith! — Yet Another Paradox in the Jesus Following Life

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN (Please stand if you wish):
Insert from Sing the Faith#2246                       Word of God in Human Language

WELCOMING

CHORAL ANTHEM:   Praise to the Holiest—Raymond H. Haan

Matthew 25 Prayer, Lord’s Prayer, Congregational Response:
#851                      Glory to God                Come, Bring Your Burdens to God

OFFERTORY SOLO:   I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light (tune: HOUSTON); words and music by Kathleen Thomerson; arr. Tom Trenney
Jonathan Doram, tenor

RESPONSIVE PRAYER OF DEDICATION:
     Pastor:   Human progress is neither automatic
People:  Nor inevitable.
Pastor:   Every step toward the goal of justice
People:  Requires sacrifice,
Pastor:   Suffering,
People:  And struggle;
Pastor:   The tireless exertions
People:  And passionate concern
Pastor:   Of dedicated individuals.
People:  Let us become dedicated by what we give,
     Pastor:   Who we become,
People:  And the work we are willing to do.  Amen.                   —Adapted from writings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

CLOSING HYMN (Please stand if you wish):
Insert                   Down to the River to Pray (stanzas 1-4)

BENEDICTION

SUNG BENEDICTION RESPONSE:
Insert                   Down to the River to Pray (stanza 5)

POSTLUDE:   Song without Words, op. 102, no. 3: Presto—-Felix Mendelssohn

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