June 1, 2025

WE GATHER IN AWE AND PRAISE

PRELUDE                                                                “How Can I Keep From Singing?”                                arr. Lily Topolski                              

INTROIT                                         “This Is the Day”                                                       Pablo Sosa 

WELCOME                                                                    Rev. Trip Porch

One: This is the day that the Lord has made

All: Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

*CALL TO WORSHIP

One: When the ground trembles and the prison doors fly open—

All: God is at work, breaking the chains of injustice.

One: When songs rise up from the heart of suffering—

All: God is with us, teaching us how to hope.

One: When enemies become siblings and captors become guests—

All: God is near, transforming us all.

One: Come in praise, let us worship the God who gives freedom.

*HYMN 661                                   “His Eye is on the Sparrow” SPARROW

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION                                                                Dirk White

Liberating God, we confess that we have grown used to the walls that divide us. We have ignored the cries of those imprisoned by injustice, poverty, addiction, and fear. We have forgotten those whom society locks away and those whom we ourselves have shut out. Forgive us. Free us from our complacency. Shake the ground beneath us until we are moved to act in love, sing in hope, and work for the freedom of all Your children. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON                                                          Rev. Trip Porch 

*RESPONSE OF PARDON 659            “Know That God Is Good”                    MUNGU NI MWEMA

*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                        “Christ Has Broken Down the Wall”                             Mark A. Miller

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE                                                                 Rev Trip Porch

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION                                                                  

SCRIPTURE  Acts 16:16-34 CEB

 One day, when we were on the way to the place for prayer, we met a slave woman. She had a spirit that enabled her to predict the future. She made a lot of money for her owners through fortune-telling. She began following Paul and us, shouting, “These people are servants of the Most High God! They are proclaiming a way of salvation to you!”  She did this for many days.

This annoyed Paul so much that he finally turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ, I command you to leave her!” It left her at that very moment.

Her owners realized that their hope for making money was gone. They grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the officials in the city center. When her owners approached the legal authorities, they said, “These people are causing an uproar in our city. They are Jews who promote customs that we Romans can’t accept or practice.”  The crowd joined in the attacks against Paul and Silas, so the authorities ordered that they be stripped of their clothes and beaten with a rod.  When Paul and Silas had been severely beaten, the authorities threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to secure them with great care.  When he received these instructions, he threw them into the innermost cell and secured their feet in stocks.

 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. All at once there was such a violent earthquake that it shook the prison’s foundations. The doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.   When the jailer awoke and saw the open doors of the prison, he thought the prisoners had escaped, so he drew his sword and was about to kill himself.  But Paul shouted loudly, “Don’t harm yourself! We’re all here!”

 The jailer called for some lights, rushed in, and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.  He led them outside and asked, “Honorable masters, what must I do to be rescued?”

 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your entire household.” They spoke the Lord’s word to him and everyone else in his house.  Right then, in the middle of the night, the jailer welcomed them and washed their wounds. He and everyone in his household were immediately baptized.  He brought them into his home and gave them a meal. He was overjoyed because he and everyone in his household had come to believe in God.  

SERMON                                                                                  Rev. Trip Porch

WE RESPSOND TO GOD’S WORD

*HYMN 764                        “For the Troubles and the Sufferings”            PELA DORES DESTE MUNDO

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

OFFERTORY                              “Microlude No. 13"                           Daniel E. Gawthrop                              

COMMUNION

INVITATION TO THE TABLE

GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

  SHARING OF BREAD AND CUP      103                        “Come Now O Prince of Peace”                                 O-SO-SO

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

God of liberation, we give you thanks that you have met us at this table, that you have fed us with mercy, and filled us with hope. May this meal strengthen us to proclaim your justice, to live in your freedom, and to sing your song— even in the darkest places. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen. 

NEW MEMBER WELCOME

*HYMN 821                                         “How Can I Keep from Singing?”        HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING 

TIME OF COMMUNITY SHARING

CHARGE & BENEDICTION                                                                                                                                                                      

POSTLUDE                                   "His Eye is On the Sparrow"                         arr. Katheryn Carpenter    

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