UJCC Sunday House Worship Service
May 10, 2020 * 5th Sunday of Easter / Mother’s Day
Interlude We Gather Together / Count Your Blessings Larry Honda
Blessings to you this Sunday morning! You are invited to use the following prayers & order of worship as we lift our hearts to God together from our respective homes!
Call To Worship
Fathering God, you have searched us and known us.
You know when we lie down and when we rise up; you discern our thoughts from far away.
Mothering God, it was you who formed our inward parts, you who knit us together in our mother’s womb. We praise you, for we are fearfully and wonderfully made!
Holy Son, you have come into the world as the Word made flesh and dwelling among us, as a constant and abiding reminder that God is always with us, even to the ends of the earth.
You are the light that has shined in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
Creating Spirit: Where can we go that you are not with us?
If we ascend to heaven, you are there.
If we make our bed in the depths, you are there.
If we perceive the darkness overwhelming us, we know that even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you.
You hem us in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon us.
When we come to the end, you are still with us.
Loving God, in your wisdom you have created us and given us many gifts. Today, we thank you for all that we mean to each other and to our friends and families. We thank you for the love that has brought us to this time and place, and for your love which abides to tie us all together. Where you are, O God, there is love. Amen. (dm)
Song of Centering “Blest be The Tie That Binds” Rebecca Messer
Children’s Time Rev. Akiko Miyake-Stoner
Scripture Reading in Japanese 1 Peter 2:2-10 Miwa & Nanami Jones
Sermon “Like Living Stones” Rev. Rae Kim
Song of Reflection “More Than Enough”
-Piano by Rebecca Messer
-Singers: Lucy Kim, Halle Sembritzki, and Rebecca Messer
* You are invited to continue your spiritual practice of giving to the church. Please either mail your offering to the church (136 N. Villa Ave., Clovis, CA 93612) or try our online giving option (LINK HERE). Thank you!
Doxology Youth Band
Joys and Concerns & Time of Prayer
You are invited to share your joys and concerns with one another using our usual format:
Person lifting the prayer: “O God of Mercy;” everyone’s response: “This is our prayer.”
After you share your joys and concerns, go around the circle and offer prayer, praying freely or using this format:
“God, I thank you for…” and “God, I ask for…”
You are invited to close together with The Lord’s Prayer.
* Please join in our Zoom Fellowship & Prayer meeting at 11:30
From your computer or smartphone, join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/840076506
Meeting ID: 840 076 506
Or call: +1 669 900 6833
* Zoom Sunday School at 1pm today
https://zoom.us/j/93560739216?pwd=S0hpL3hzZTNnOE1pYytkbUZ6eUkyUT09
Meeting ID: 935 6073 9216
Password: 0701
* If you or your kids would like to contribute to our virtual worship by music, painting, photos, or anything, please contact Rev. Rae: sungrae@ujcclife.com
Worship Resource: (dm) slightly adapted; “Blessing of Our Individual Creation”, UMC Discipleship Ministry: https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/chosen-precious/fifth-sunday-of-easter-year-a-lectionary-planning-notes/fifth-sunday-of-easter-year-a-liturgical-resources
1 Peter 2:2-10
2:2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation- 2:3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. 2:4Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight, and 2:5like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 2:6 For it stands in scripture: "See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."
2:7 To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the very head of the corner,” 2:8 and "A stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 2:10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.