April 27, 2025

WE GATHER IN AWE AND PRAISE

PRELUDE                                                             "I Know That My Redeemer Lives"                           arr. Susan W. Henry

INTROIT                       “Christ Has Risen While Earth Slumbers”                          Welsh Melody

                                                                                                                                                                          arr. Alfred V. Fedak

WELCOME                                                                    Rev. Trip Porch

One: Christ has risen!

All: Christ has risen indeed!

*CALL TO WORSHIP

One: Come, all who seek the way forward,

All: The Risen Lord is leading us, though the path is uncertain.

One: When our plans fail and doors are closed,

All: God opens new doors, inviting us to step forward in faith.

One: Let us worship the God who leads us with persistence and grace.

All: We come to follow, to trust, and to be transformed by God’s call. 

*HYMN 375                                         “Shall We Gather at the River”                               HANSON PLACE 

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION                                                                                                         Trip Porch

Gracious God,

We confess that we often resist when things don’t go our way. We set out with our own plans, our own expectations, and when the path ahead isn’t as we imagined, we grow frustrated or discouraged. We fail to trust that You are leading us in ways we cannot yet see. Forgive us, O God. Give us hearts that are open to Your Spirit’s guidance, even when the road is uncertain. Teach us to follow in faith, to persist in love, and to trust that Your plan is always for our good. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. 

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON 

*RESPONSE OF PRAISE 587              “Alleluia”                                                    CELTIC ALLELUIA

*PASSING OF THE PEACE                                       

     One:   The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all,

     All:      And also with you. 

WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD

ANTHEM                       "All Good Gifts" from Godspell                             Stephen Schwartz

                                                                                                                                                                               arr. John Leavitt

CHILDREN’S RECESSIONAL 175      “Seek Ye First” vs. 1

   Children: May God be with you here

   Congregation: May God be with you there 

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

SCRIPTURE  Acts 16: 6-15   Adapted from The Voice

The Apostle Paul and his companions had been travelling throughout the land, preaching, teaching and spreading the good news of resurrection.  The churches they met with were strengthened in the faith by their visit and kept growing in numbers on a daily basis.

But, t hey were beginning to sense the Holy Spirit telling them not to preach their message further into Asia at this time, so they traveled instead through Phrygia and Galatia. They came near Mysia and planned to go into Bithynia, but again they felt restrained from doing so by the Spirit of Jesus. So they bypassed Mysia and went down to Troas.  That night Paul had a vision in which a Macedonian man was pleading with him. “Come over to Macedonia! Come help us!” This vision convinced us all that God was calling us to bring the good news to that region.

We set sail from the port city of Troas, first stopping in Samothrace, then the next day in Neapolis, finally arriving in Philippi, a Roman colony and one of Macedonia’s leading cities. We stayed in Philippi for several days. On the Sabbath day, we went outside the city walls to the nearby river, assuming that some Jewish people might be gathering for prayer. We found a group of women there, so we sat down and spoke to them. One of them, Lydia, was a businesswoman originally from Thyatira. She made a living buying and selling fine purple fabric. She was a true worshiper of God and listened to Paul with special interest. The Lord opened her heart to take in the message with enthusiasm. She and her whole household were ceremonially washed through baptism. Afterwards Lydia told us, “If you believe I’m truly faithful to the Lord, please, you must come and stay at my home.” We couldn’t turn down her invitation.

Holy Wisdom, Holy Word

Thanks be to God

SERMON   (video)                                                                                                                                                    Cory Schlosser Hall                                                                                                                                       

WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

*HYMN 688                     “Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart”                            MORECAMBE

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE  

TIME OF OFFERING  online giving is available at  www. indianolapres.org/give  

OFFERTORY                                "Little Piece for Organ"                                              John S. Dixon

*OFFERTORY RESPONSE “Praise God from  Whom All Blessings Flow”   LASST UNS ERFREUEN

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

God of all grace, We offer these gifts as a sign of our trust in You. Just as You lead us in unexpected directions, we offer what we have, knowing that You will use it for Your purposes. Bless these offerings and use them to further Your work in the world, that all may know Your love and justice. In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen. 

*HYMN 295                                                “Go to the World”                                                  SINE NOMINE

TIME OF COMMUNITY SHARING

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

CHORAL RESPONSE            “Alleluia, Alleluia! Give Thanks”                       Donald Fishel

POSTLUDE                                   "Go To the World"                                         arr. Judith L. Maggs 

         Acknowledgments: Unless otherwise indicated, all texts and music are printed and broadcast under OneLicense.net license #A-702452