April 28, 2024
WE GATHER IN AWE AND PRAISE
PRELUDE “Be Thou My Vision” traditional Irish melody
arr. Lily Topolski
INTROIT “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” Ludwig van Beethoven
WELCOME Rev. Betsy Maurath
One: This is the day that the Lord has made
All: Let us rejoice and be glad in it
*CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Come, let us sit together; let us study the Word.
People: Together, let us read and understand.
Leader: Come, let us walk together; trusting that the way will be made clear.
People: Together, let us take a risk, loving God and neighbor. Let us open our hearts, that we might be changed
*HYMN 485 “We Know That Christ Is Raised” ENGELBERG
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION Bob Concitis
Center us now, O God, on your presence in this place among your people, as we lift up our heart’s desires, our soul’s deep needs, our hungers, fears and failures. We have often failed to be obedient to your will in our lives, as individual disciples and as a church. We pray that you will forgive us and enliven us to be and to do the gospel of Christ. Open us to your Spirit’s urgings and awaken us to live faithfully as your people in a changing often hurting world. Amen
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON
*RESPONSE OF PRAISE 243 “Be Not Afraid” BE NOT AFRAID
One: The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all,
All: And also with you.
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD
ANTHEM “Alchemy” Amy Gordon
Commissioned by Indianola Presbyterian Church
RECOGNITION OF MUSICIANS see insert
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE Acts 8:26-40
An angel from the Lord spoke to Philip, “At noon, take the road that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a desert road.) So he did. Meanwhile, an Ethiopian man was on his way home from Jerusalem, where he had come to worship. He was a eunuch and an official responsible for the entire treasury of Candace. (Candace is the title given to the Ethiopian queen.) He was reading the prophet Isaiah while sitting in his carriage. The Spirit told Philip, “Approach this carriage and stay with it.”
Running up to the carriage, Philip heard the man reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you really understand what you are reading?”
The man replied, “Without someone to guide me, how could I?” Then he invited Philip to climb up and sit with him. This was the passage of scripture he was reading:
Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter
and like a lamb before its shearer is silent
so he didn’t open his mouth.
In his humiliation justice was taken away from him.
Who can tell the story of his descendants
because his life was taken from the earth?
The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, about whom does the prophet say this? Is he talking about himself or someone else?” Starting with that passage, Philip proclaimed the good news about Jesus to him. As they went down the road, they came to some water.
The eunuch said, “Look! Water! What would keep me from being baptized?” He ordered that the carriage halt. Both Philip and the eunuch went down to the water, where Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Lord’s Spirit suddenly took Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing. Philip found himself in Azotus. He traveled through that area, preaching the good news in all the cities until he reached Caesarea.
Holy Wisdom, Holy Word
Thanks be to God
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE Marie Boozer
SERMON Rev. Betsy Maurath
WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD
*HYMN 480 “Take Me to the Water” TAKE ME TO THE WATER
PRAYER OF THE PEOPLE followed by The Lord’s Prayer
TIME OF OFFERING online giving is available at www. indianolapres.org/give
On Sundays where African American Spirituals are sung, Any loose offering will go to support the Columbus Cultural Orchestra, whose mission is to advance a collective of multi-generational musicians of color by performing high-quality jazz, classical, and hip-hop music.
OFFERTORY “Sweet Hour of Prayer” William B. Bradbury
arr. Lindy Kerby
*OFFERTORY RESPONSE 609 “Praise God, from Whom All Blessing Flow”
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Thank you, God, for this high and holy moment in worship and in life when we have something to give that others need. Take our gifts, our witness, our lives to benefit your human family. May your glory be known among us and in all the world. Amen.
*HYMN 300 “We Are One in the Spirit” THEY’LL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS
TIME OF COMMUNITY SHARING
CHARGE & BENEDICTION
CHORAL RESPONSE “Lord Dismiss Us With Your Blessing” 18th century Sicilian melody
POSTLUDE “God Be With You Till We Meet Again” William G. Tomer
arr. Linda Hartman
Acknowledgments: Unless otherwise indicated, all texts and music are printed and broadcast under OneLicense.net license #A-702452