May 11, 2025

WE GATHER IN AWE AND PRAISE

PRELUDE                                                                                        "Prelude"                                                                   David P. Ruhl

INTROIT                                 “Shout to the North”                                     Martin Smith

WELCOME                                                                    Rev. Trip Porch

One: Christ has risen!

All: Christ has risen indeed!

*CALL TO WORSHIP  written by Elizabeth Rice

One: Sisters and brothers – arise.

All: Arise and lift your hearts. Arise and lift your eyes. Arise and lift your voices.

One: The living God, The living, moving Spirit of God has called us together -

All: in witness, in celebration, in struggle.

One: Reach out toward each other.

All: Our God reaches out toward us!

Let us worship God!

*HYMN 316                                                     “Where Charity and Love Prevail”                             TWENTY-FOURTH

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION                                                                         Rebekah Gayley

Compassionate God, You formed us for relationship — with you, with one another, and especially with those who are vulnerable. Yet too often, we look away from suffering, keep our distance from poverty, and turn our ministry into something impersonal. Forgive us for the ways we choose convenience over connection.      Forgive us when we fail to see resurrection growing in the quiet, daily acts of care. Turn us again toward love that knows names, stories, and needs. Raise us to new life and make us people of holy relationship. Amen.

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON

*RESPONSE OF PARDON 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                       "The King of Love My Shepherd Is"                         arr. Dan Forrest

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 9:36-43  The Voice

In a nearby coastal city, Joppa, there lived a disciple whose Aramaic name was Tabitha, or Dorcás in Greek. She was a good woman - devotedly doing good and giving to the poor. While Peter was in Lydda, she fell sick and died. Her fellow disciples washed her body and laid her in an upstairs room. They had heard Peter was nearby, so two of them went with an urgent message, “Please come to Joppa as soon as possible.”

Peter went with them and immediately entered the room where the corpse had been placed. It was quite a scene-the widows of the community were crowded in the room, weeping, showing the various items of clothing that Dorcas had made for them.

Peter asked them to leave the room; then he got on his knees. He prayed for a while and then turned to her body and spoke: “Tabitha, get up!”

She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. Giving her his hand, Peter lifted her up. Then he called in the other disciples-including the widows-and reintroduced them to their beloved friend. The news of this miracle spread throughout the city, and many believed in the Lord. Peter stayed in Joppa for some time as the guest of Simon, a tanner by profession.

Holy Wisdom, Holy Word

Thanks be to God

SERMON                                                                                              Rev. Trip Porch

WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD

*HYMN 324                             “For All The Faithful Women”                                                  NYLAND

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE  

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

OFFERTORY                                “Safe Within Your Arms”                                                      Mark Hayes

                                                                                                    Betsy Tullis - soloist                                                

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

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION

Loving God, Receive these gifts as signs of our gratitude and our hope. Use them — and use us — to clothe the world in mercy, to bring friendship where there is isolation, and to lift up life where there is despair. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

*HYMN 244                                   “This Joyful Eastertide”                                                       VRUECHTEN

TIME OF COMMUNITY SHARING 

CHARGE & BENEDICTION

CHORAL RESPONSE                        “Amen”                                                               Peter Lutkin

POSTLUDE                                  "Shout to the North"                                            Phillip Keveren

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