Assurance of Pardon

This is part of the worship SeriesOur Living GuaranteeSeries Introduction Easter Sunday | Easter 2 | Easter 3  Easter 4 | Easter 5 | Easter 6  EASTER 5Living the Guarantee of Plenty for All Act 11:1-18, Revelation 21:1-6Gathering Sentences Alleluia! The Lord is risen!Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!Hallelujah!Hallelujah from heaven, praise God from the mountaintops.Hallelujah from all God's angels and all God's warriors.Praise God, sun and moon and morning stars.Praise God, high heaven and heavenly rain clouds.Praise, O let them praise the name of Yahweh—God spoke the word, and there they were!Let them praise the name of Yahweh—it's the only name worth praising.God's radiance exceeds anything in earth and sky.God has built a monument—God's very own people!May all the best from God and Christ be yours.Grace be with you.—adapted from Psalm 148:1-5, 13-14, Psalms by Eugene H. PetersonPrayer of ConfessionNote: The prayer of confession is based on Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 45; part of the prayer (in italics) will change each week to reflect the Scripture theme. Almighty God, who raised up your Son, Jesus, overcoming death that we might also share in his righteousness, we confess that we have not lived as people already raised to new life. We have forgotten the guarantee of our own glorious resurrection. We lose sight of the abundance of your love for us, and we hoard the gifts you give us, and cut ourselves off from receiving anything else.Merciful God, forgive our sins and make us bolder disciples. Help us to be courageous and daring, rather than compromising and shallow. Help us to live as people anticipating life and victory, rather than shrinking from death and despair. Resurrect us to your new life once again, dear God, in the name of Jesus Christ, living by your side and in our hearts. Amen.Assurance of PardonNote: The Assurance of Pardon remains the same throughout the Easter season.Who is in a position to condemn? Only Christ, and Christ died for us, Christ rose for us, Christ reigns in power for us, Christ prays for us.Anyone in Christ is a new creation: the past is gone; the new has come.Friends, believe the good news of the gospel.In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!—Based on Romans 8:34 Phillips & 2 Corinthians 5:17Hymn Suggestions"Because You Live, O Christ" Murray "We Are Your People" Wren"Jesus, Thy Boundless Love to Me" Gerhardt "Lord, You Give the Great Commission" Rowthorn"Love Divine, All Loves Excelling" Wesley"Blest Be the Tie That Binds" FawcettWays to Involve Children and YouthInvite the children to add butterflies to the banners as appropriate.Have children learn "Sing Alleluia" Johnson, Page and sing it as part of your liturgy.Gather children around the baptismal font and pour some water over their hands. Talk about how, when we are baptized, the Holy Spirit works through the water to make us part of God's family, and how there is always room for more people in the family of God—God never runs out of love for us. Point out how this is why God can promise the water of life to anyone who is thirsty.Sermon StarterSince the fifth Sunday of Easter falls on Mothers' Day this year, you could recall the old Smothers Brothers' "Mom likes you best" routine; or, for those who don't remember the sixties, just talk about sibling rivalry—all those times that we, as children, suspected our parents of favoring a brother or sister over us. Then make the transition to the Jerusalem Christians, who were at first so upset with Peter for baptizing Gentiles. It was bad enough that Paul was doing this sort of thing; now Peter was betraying them too! If all the world were allowed to share in God's love, the Jerusalem Christians would no longer feel special.The point of the message is that God loves all of us and has enough for all to share in the new creation. That's why everyone who is thirsty will be invited to share the water of life in the new Jerusalem. It is human nature to think of everything—including love—as having finite qualities (which is where sibling rivalry comes from). But God always has more to give. Can't we dare to share more freely too?Suggested Anthems"Come to the Water" by John Foley, SJ, first published in Wood Hath Hope (available from Oregon Catholic Press)"Prayer for Today" by Margaret Tucker (CGA 358), unison with flute"Servants of Peace" music by K. Lee Scott (Selah 425-822), SATB, congregation, optional brassRevised Common LectionaryYear C: Easter—Fifth Sunday of Easter