The Prayer for Reflection

By giving away some of the wealth we cherish so much, we keep ourselves focused on who you are, gracious God, and on what you expect of us. As the body of Christ, we seek to be a healing force in our world. May the offerings of our worship and work presented here today be used in ways that encourage healthful behaviors among us in the church, within our community, and as far as our influence can reach. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Prelude

The Welcome, News and Announcements

The Introit

The Responsive Call to Worship

Help us to accept, O Christ, that our paths may not be smooth and our journey may often be risky.
Help us to accept vulnerability with no promise of security.
Help us to give you devotion with no promise of reward.
We don’t know what we’re asking when we ask for these things. But give us hands to take the cup you hold out to us – a cup of companionship;
Help us gladly immerse ourselves in the baptism you want us to share; and to so know you on the road with us,
that all our anxious thoughts of status, security and reward wash away, and we are left with you, just you, astonished by your love for us again.
And we will wait, we will wonder, and we will worship you. Amen.

The Unison Prayer of Confession

In humility and faith let us confess our sin to God. (1 John 1:9)

“Great Door of Love, come now not only assurance but in power to help me move through life with you. Clear a path for hope. as I step out in faith to pass through the barriers to meet you, may every seeking footstep of mine take me through the doorway of your love. Be my passageway today. O, be my passageway. I open the door of my heart to you.”

The Silent Prayers of Confession

In the assurance of forgiveness, we confidently pray the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples to boldly pray:

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy will be done, thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen.

The Hymn “Come and Find the Quiet Center” BEACH SPRING

Come and find the quiet center in the crowded life we lead,
find the room for hope to enter, find the frame where we are freed:
clear the chaos and the clutter,clear our eyes, that we can see
all the things that really matter, be at peace, and simply be.

In the Spirit let us travel, open to each other’s pain,
let our loves and fears unravel, celebrate the space we gain:
there’s a place for deepest dreaming, there’s a time for heart to care,
in the Spirit’s lively scheming there is always room to spare!

We Proclaim God’s Word

The Responsive Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

The Gospel Lesson Mark 2:1-12

When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. 3 Then some people[a] came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4 And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, “Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and take your mat and walk’? 10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— 11 “I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.” 12 And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

The Hymn #693, “The Gift of Love”

Though I may speak with bravest fire,
And have the gift to all inspire,
And have not love, my words are vain,
As sounding brass, and hopeless gain.

Though I may give all I possess,
And striving so my love profess,
But not be given by love within,
The profit soon turns strangely thin.

Come, Spirit, come, our hearts control,
Our spirits long to be made whole.
Let inward love guide every deed;
By this we worship, and are freed.

Prayer of Illumination

The Meditation “A Way of Moving Through the World”

Music for Meditation

We Respond to God’s Word

The Offertory

The Doxology # 606 Old Hundredth

The Unison Prayer of Dedication

Glorious God, we dedicate these gifts as an expression of our faith. You alone know how much we share and how much we withhold. You know the extent of our trust and the depth of our commitment. May this act of giving draw us closer to you and extend a blessing to all who are helped through our sharing. Amen.

The Service of Holy Communion

The Invitation to the Table

Friends: Let us recall the words of Christ at the last supper: “Let not your hearts be troubled… I will not leave you comfortless.”

Men and women will come from east and west, and from north and south, and sit at the table in the kingdom of God.

This is the Lords table. Our savior invites those who trust him to share the feast which he has prepared.

According to Luke, when our risen Lord was at table With his disciples, he took the bread, and blasted and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him.

The Thanksgiving

Lift up your hearts,
We lift them up to the Lord.
Give thanks to God, for God is good,
God’s love is everlasting.

Holy Lord, God Almighty,
We thank you for commanding light out of darkness, for driving the waters into the sea and dry land, For creating the whole world and calling it good. We thank you for making us in your image to live with each other in love; for the breath of life, the gift of speech, and freedom to choose your way. You have told us your purpose in Commandments to Moses, and called for justice in the cry of the profits. Through long generations, you have been fair and kind to all your children.

Great and wonderful are your works, Lord God, Almighty. Your ways are just and true. With people of faith from all times and places, we lift our hearts in joyful praise for you alone are holy:

The Hymn Solo #552 “Holy, Holy, Holy”

Holy, holy, holy,
God of power and majesty,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory,
Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is He
Who comes in the name of the Lord
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna in the highest!

Holy God: we thank you for your son Jesus, who lived with us sharing joy and sorrow. He told your story, healed the sick, and was friend of sinners. Obeying you, he took up his cross and was brutally murdered by those he loved.

We praise you that he is not dead, but is risen to rule the world; and that he is still the friend of sinners. We trust him to overcome every power to hurt or divide us, so that, when you bring in your promised kingdom, we will celebrate with victory with the Spirit.

Remembering the Lord Jesus, we break bread and share one cup, announcing his death for the sins of the world and telling his resurrection to all people and nations.

The Institution of the Lord’s Supper

Great God, give your Holy Spirit though we are at separate tables and the breaking of bread and the sharing of the cup are variegated, we ask the Holy Spirit make them all to be the communion of the body and the blood of Christ so that we may be drawn together, joined to Christ the Lord, receive new life, and remain his glad and faithful people until we feast with Him in glory.

O God, who called us from death to life; we give ourselves to you and with the church through all ages, we thank you for your saving love in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(The bread is broken.)

The Lord Jesus, on the night of his arrest, took bread and after giving thanks to God, blessed it, broke it and said: “This is my body, broken for you. Do this, remembering me.”

(The wine is poured.)

In the same way, on the night of his betrayal, he took the cup after supper and said: “This cup is the new covenant, sealed in my blood. Whenever you drink it, do this, remembering me.”

Every time you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord, until he comes.

Sharing of the Bread and Cup

(The elements are distributed.)

Jesus said, “I am the bread of life, the one who comes to me will never be hungry, she who believes in me will never thirst.”

Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. Cut off from me you can do nothing. But with God all things are possible.”

(After all have received.)

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

And also with you.

The Silent, Intercessory and Pastoral Prayer

Please join with me in a moment of silence…
God our help, we thank you for this supper shared in the spirit with your son Jesus, who makes us new and strong, who brings us life eternal. We praise you for giving us all good gifts in Jesus, and pledge ourselves to serve you, even as in Christ you have served us. Amen.

We Go Forth in God’s Name

The Benediction

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

The Sending Hymn #747, “The Lord Now Sends Us Forth”

The Lord now sends us forth with hands to serve and give,
to make of all the earth a better place to live.
The angels are not sent into our world of pain
to do what we were meant to do in Jesus’ name;
that falls to you and me and all who are made free,
Help us, O Lord, we pray, to do your will today.

The Postlude

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Attributions
Call to Worship adapted and reprinted from Lent & Easter Readings from Iona by John Davies; Prayer of Confession adapted and reprinted from Open Door, by Joyce Rupp; Unison Prayer of Dedication reprinted from Led By Love by Lavon Bayler.

Do You Have Ideas You Would Like to Share with the Session? Comment cards are in the pews. Please fill them out and place in the offering box. One convenient way to get in touch with any Session member is to go to your e-news and click on the hyperlinked email address.

Helpful Information:

• Prayer Requests and announcements for the Bulletin/FPCU Family News should be sent to Administrative Assistant Kristin Parry at FPCUlysses@gmail.com
• Reservations for the Chapel should be made through Kristin Parry at 315-283-3137 or FPCUlysses@gmail.com

• Contact Information changes should be sent to Clerk of Session Kris Alling at krisalling56@gmail.com
Helpful Information (Continued)

• Birthday Calendar Updates should be sent to Linda Andrew at lka@ottcmail.com
• Do you have need for a pastoral and confidential conversation? Would you like to recite liturgy on a Sunday morning? Please call Pastor Dan at 845-499-6494.

Kristin Parry, Administrative Assistant
Joseph Pepper, Music Director and Keyboardist
The Rev. Dr. Daniel J. Russell, Interim Pastor

69 East Main Street, P.O. Box 597, Trumansburg, NY 14886
Web Address: http://www.fpcu.info
Email Address: FPCUlysses@gmail.com
Telephone: 607-387-8185