# *FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER* *Please stand in body or in spirit* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YX55lfx6Us ## 🎵 Gathering - **Gathering Song:** *This is the Day* - **Unison Welcome:** *“No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here”* ## 📣 Announcements ### News in the Pews — May 18, 2025 **Contact Information:** - The Rev. Caroline E. Saxton — [email protected] (641) 260-1868 (cell) - Tonya Schwartz, Office Administrator — [email protected] (717) 263-8593 (office) - Gary Crum, Music Director | Barbara Motchka, Organist - Roxanne Davenport, Director of Children & Youth - The Rev. Stephen W. Hoffman, Pastor Emeritus --- ### 🗓️ This Week at St. John's *Today* - Bible Study on the Book of Daniel, 8:00 pm, Zoom (link in Friday e-blast) *Monday, May 19* - 10:00 am — Meditation Group (Parlor Room 104) - 1:30 pm — How We Learn to be Brave Book Study (Conference Room 111) - 6:30 pm — Bible and a Beer (Trojan Diner) - 7:00 pm — Boy Scouts (Fellowship Hall) *Tuesday, May 20* - 9:00 am — Summer Singers Rehearsal (Fellowship Hall) - 5:30 pm — Yoga (Room 202) - 6:00 pm — Ladies Bible Study (Zoom) *Wednesday, May 21* - 4:00 pm — Spiritual Life Organization Meeting (Conference Room 111) - 6:30 pm — Council Meeting (Conference Room 111) *Thursday, May 22* - 6:00 pm — Bell Choir Practice (Bell Room 117) - 7:15 pm — Choir Rehearsal (Choir Room 103) *Sunday, May 25* - 8:45 am — Wired Word Church School Class (Room 116) - 10:00 am — Sunday Service (Sanctuary) --- ### ☀️ St. John’s Summer Camp *Needed: Kitchen helpers!* See sign-up sheet in the front lobby. **Counselors:** If you can help even for a day, contact: - Mary Lee Yaukey ([email protected]) - Renee Byers ([email protected]) --- ### 🍺 Bible and a Beer An opportunity to talk about faith in public. Join us on the 3rd Monday of the month at the Trojan Diner at 6:30 pm. *Next gathering: May 19.* --- ### 🥪 All Church Pentecost Picnic Will be held after worship on Sunday, June 8. Come & enjoy! --- ### 🏓 Beginners Pickleball! Contact the church office if interested in lessons. --- ### 🧠 Mental Health Awareness May is Mental Health Awareness Month. As part of our Covenant of Welcome and Affirmation, there will be a special Mental Health Sunday on May 25, highlighting the belovedness of all God’s people. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. --- ### 🙏 Spiritual Life Organization Meeting Spiritual Deepening is a core theme of our Future Together Strategic Plan. Action steps include: 1. Center prayer practices (individual and communal) 2. Expand worship styles and practices 3. Provide additional faith formation & spiritual study opportunities Join us if interested in organizing the Spiritual Life Standing Committee. *Meeting: Wednesday, May 21, 4:00 pm, Conference Room 111* --- ### 🏃‍♂️ Race Against Poverty St. John’s is sponsoring the 15th Annual Race Against Poverty held in June. - The race will be held on Friday, June 6. - Join the official St. John’s team! - Contact Pastor Caroline to learn more. - The Race Against Poverty will be the First Fruits recipient in May. --- ### 📚 Monday Afternoon Book Study Current book: *How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith* by Mariann Edgar Budde. - Reading: Chapter 2 “Deciding to Stay” - Next meeting: Monday, May 19, 1:30 pm --- ### 📖 Sunday Night Bible Study - Led by Pastor Caroline - Sunday evenings, 8:00 pm via Zoom - Book of Daniel (May 18: Daniel Chapter 9) - Meeting ID: 836 0593 5961 | Passcode: 277938 (Link in weekly e-blast; all translations welcome.) --- ### 💬 Join Us for Life Talk - Share what’s on your mind — concerns, worries, or just to chat with other adults. - Not a prayer request? Just want coffee and conversation? Join after Sunday services. --- ### 🎈 Birthday Balloons - Celebrate birthdays with coffee after service the last Sunday of each month. - May birthdays will be honored Sunday, May 25. --- ### 📧 Stay in Touch Contact the church office to: - Join the email list - Receive weekly emails, Diana’s Devotionals - Join the Prayer Chain ## ✌️ Passing of the Peace - *“The peace of Christ be with you”* - *“And also with you”* ## 🔔 Chiming of the Trinity ## 🎶 Prelude --- ## ✨ Call to Worship *(adapted from* *Gathered by Love*)* > Come to praise God, all you faithful people! > Come, for God welcomes you and offers to draw close. > **Praise to God, who rules over all the earth.** > **Praise to God, who is as near as our next breath.** > God has a place for us in this world; > we have come that God may instruct and equip us. > **God provides abundantly for our needs.** > **God makes of one family all who dwell on earth.** > > Let us worship together! ## 🎵 *Hymn #271* – *Christian People, Sing Together* Christian people, sing together, all united in one voice. Though we come from many cultures, yet in Christ we all rejoice. In our daily lives we're scattered, serving God in various ways. Then in worship we're united, giving Him our thanks and praise. God created countless faces, yet in Christ we all are one. Though we look from many angles, all our views reflect the Son. So we bring each gift and talent, offering what we have to share, and God blends us all together in one body of His care. Teach us, Lord, to trust each other, though our ways are not the same. As you call us to Your purpose, bless our working in Your name. In the world of daily living, each uniquely serves Your will. Show how every person matters as our calling we fulfill --- ## 🧎‍♀️ Call to Confession *(adapted from* *Gathered by Love*)* > The God revealed to us in the pages of Scripture is a welcoming and inclusive God who directs us to love one another. So we gather to seek removal of all barriers to that love. > > Come to confess all that separates you from others and from your own best self. ## 🙏 Prayer of Confession *(adapted from* *Gathered by Love*)* > *We admit, holy God, that we find it hard to hear your promise of new life.* > *Even when we are dissatisfied with our lives, it is easier to cling to what we know than to risk the unknown.* > *You challenge us to accept people who are different from us, but we are not eager to associate with them.* > *You command us to love one another, but some people are hard to love.* > *O God, melt our defenses so we can accept your love and let it flow through us.* > *Grant us courage to embrace newness. Amen.* ## 🕯 Kyrie – *Hymnal Companion C-4* ## ✨ Assurance of Pardon *(from* *Gathered by Love*)* > God promises to dwell with us, to ease our pain and wipe tears from our eyes. Dare to trust, for God accepts us as we are, that we might become all that we are meant to be. God offers us the opportunity to repent. It is a gift that leads to new life. > > Accept God’s offer of new life in Christ. ## 🎵 *Glory Be to the Father #704* Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amenGlory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen --- ## 📖 Scripture Readings ### 📘 First Reading – Acts 11:1–18 (NRSVue) > 1 Now the apostles and the brothers and sisters who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. > 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, > 3 saying, “Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?” > 4 Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, > 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. > 6 As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. > 7 I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’ > 8 But I replied, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ > 9 But a second time the voice answered from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, you must not call profane.’ > 10 This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. > 11 At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. > 12 The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. > 13 He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; > 14 he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.’ > 15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. > 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ > 17 If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?” > 18 When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, “Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.” --- ### 📜 Responsive Reading – Revelation 21:1–6 (NRSVue) > 1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. > 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. > 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, > “See, the home of God is among mortals. > He will dwell with them; > they will be his peoples, > and God himself will be with them; > 4 he will wipe every tear from their eyes. > Death will be no more; > mourning and crying and pain will be no more, > for the first things have passed away.” > 5 And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” > Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” > 6 Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. > To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.” --- ### 📖 Gospel Reading – John 13:31–35 (NRSVue) > 31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. > 32 If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. > 33 Little children, I am with you only a little longer. > You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ > 34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. > Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. > 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” --- ## 🧒 Children’s Message – *Roxanne Davenport* > *Children’s Corner will be offered following the Children’s Message* ## 🗣 Sermon – *Rev. Caroline E. Saxton* **Title:** *Where Charity and Love Prevail* Where charity and love prevail, there God is ever found; brought here together by Christ's love, by love are we thus bound. With grateful joy and holy fear true charity we learn; let us with heart and mind and strength now love Christ in return. Forgive we now each other's faults as we our faults confess; and let us love each other well in Christian holiness. Let strife among us be unknown, let all contention cease; be Christ the glory that we seek, be ours His holy peace ### 🗒 Sermon Summary - *Central Message*: The core of Christian life is love — not as a sentiment, but as a sustaining, active commandment that transcends doctrinal boundaries. - *Liturgical Connection*: Aligns with post-Easter reflections on how to live in Christ’s absence; emphasizes community and identity through love. --- ### 🎙 Preaching Style - **Type**: Expository-Topical Hybrid - **Examples Used**: Festival of Homiletics reflections, European love metaphors, and a bumper magnet of virtues. - **Learning Styles Addressed**:   - *Auditory*: Stories, repetition.   - *Visual*: Metaphors, described objects.   - *Kinesthetic*: Encouragement toward embodied action. --- ### 🗣 Intonation and Delivery - **Tone**: Warm, pastoral, affirming. - **Modulation**: Emphasis used to support key phrases like "Love is the only thing." - **Visuals/Gestures**: Implied use of visuals through described artifacts (magnet). --- ### 📝 Content Structure - **Organization**: Introduction of scripture → Cultural examples → Personal reflection → Call to action. - **Transitions**: Smooth and natural. - **Learning Supports**: Repetition, paraphrasing, and thematic structure. --- ### 👥 Engagement and Application - **Congregational Challenge**: Resist exclusivity, extend love to outsiders. - **Equity Focus**: Indirect affirmation of inclusion; could benefit from naming marginalized communities explicitly. - **Interactive Style**: No direct audience interaction, but strong internal reflection encouraged. --- ### 📖 Scripture Breakdown - **Primary Passage**: John 13:31–35. - **Usage**: Emphasized as Jesus’ “final instruction” and identity marker for discipleship. - **Interpretive Lens**: Inclusion-focused; love extends beyond doctrinal lines and faith boundaries. --- ### 🧠 Logical Reasoning **Positive Reasoning Elements**: - *Deductive*: “If Jesus said ‘you’ll be known by your love’ → love is the mark of the Christian.” - *Causal*: Love builds relationship → relationship prevents hate. - *Ethical*: Love supersedes doctrine. - *Balanced/Nuanced*: Critiques of church division without condemnation. **No Logical Fallacies Found**: - Arguments were clear, supported, and internally consistent. --- ### 📚 References - **Named**: None - **Implied Resources**:   - Festival of Homiletics (homiletics as praxis)   - Bumper magnet virtues - **Missing**: Would benefit from inclusion of marginalized voices (e.g., James Cone, Wil Gafney, Emilie Townes) --- ### 🗨 Quotes and Illustrative Stories - *“Love is the only thing. It's the beginning and the end.”* - *“It’s not doctrines or dogmas. Love is the only thing.”* - *“Practice peace, lead with love, be joyful…”* (from a bumper magnet) - *Dutch/Belgian love game*: "He loves me, he loves me more" --- ### 🔄 Calls to Action - Practice love as active commitment. - Prioritize love over theological or political division. - Embody values like kindness, peace, and joy in everyday life. - Remember that *who* you love—and *how*—is how the world knows who you follow. --- ### ✅ Suggestions for Improvement - Incorporate explicit affirmations of marginalized communities. - Name and reference theologians who reflect diverse perspectives. - Consider guided reflections or communal activities to deepen the engagement. ## 🙌 Sharing of Joys and Concerns ## 🙏 Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer *(debts)* --- ## 💝 Invitation to Giving ### Offertory ## 🎵 *Offertory Response* (words are on the screen) ## 🙏 *Prayer of Dedication* *(adapted from* *Gathered by Love*)* > *Thank you, God, for making your home with us and claiming us as your people.* > *We dedicate ourselves and our gifts toward the new world you are creating among us.* > *May your love be reflected in our attitudes and actions, wherever we go. Amen.* --- ## 🎵 *Hymn #272* – *They’ll Know We Are Christians* - We are one in the Spirit; we are one in the Lord. - We will walk with each other; we will walk hand in hand. - We will work with each other; we will work side by side. - All praise to the Father, from whom all things come. - And we pray that all unity may one day be restored; - And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land. - And we’ll guard each one’s dignity and save each one’s pride. - And all praise to the Spirit, who makes us one. - And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love. - Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love. ## 🕊 Commission & Benediction ## 🎶 Postlude *(seated)* --- ## ☕ Fellowship Invitation > *Join us for a time of coffee & refreshments after worship!* > *The “Nursery Nook” in the Narthex and infant/toddler space in the Parlor are available for children and families. Age-appropriate activity bags are also available.* --- ## 🎉 Birthdays This Week - **5/20:** Jared Reichelderfer - **5/23:** James Patterson II and Vera Reber - **5/24:** Reed Zeger - **5/25:** Rev. Stephen Hoffman and Brenna Rosenberry --- ## 🙋‍♂️ Worship Participants | Role | Name | |----------------------|-------------------------------| | Pastor | Rev. Caroline E. Saxton | | Organist | Barbara Motichka | | Deacon in Charge | Mike Blumberg | | Lector | N. Aaron Hartman | | Children’s Corner | Melinda and Scot Orndorff | | Media Coordinators | Calvin Frantz & Muneath Ham | | Bulletin Cover | Edd Scheer | --- ## ✝️ The Flowers > *Given in thanksgiving for the life and love of LaRoy “Bud” Evans by Connie Evans and daughters Amy and Becky.* --- ## 📜 St. John’s Vision > *We are called to love, to learn, to worship and to witness in Christ as a congregation that welcomes everyone, and seeks service that will advance God’s realm on earth.* ## ❤️ St. John’s Mission > *To grow in love of God and neighbor* --- ## 📚 Worship Resources - *Gathered by Love: Worship Resources for Year C* by Lavon Bayler - *The Inclusive Bible* - *New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVue)*