VAN BUREN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
                                                      SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2008
                                                                      10:15 A.M.
                                                      SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
      
                                                      ASSEMBLE IN GOD’S NAME
THE PRELUDE
THE CALL TO WORSHIP AND PRAISE
      One:        Bless God, all people, let the sound of God’s praise be heard.
      
All:        God has kept us among the living and has not let our feet slip.
      One:        Even though tested by fire and led through the water,
      
All:        Yet has God brought us out to a spacious place.
      One:        Let us praise God!

*HYMN        “How Great Thou Art”        #2 Brown

*THE CALL TO CONFESSION
*THE PRAYER OF CONFESSION
      Eternal God, in whom we live and move and have our being, whose face is hidden from
us by our sins, and whose mercy we forget in the blindness of our hearts: Cleanse us from
all our offenses, and deliver us from proud thoughts and vain desires, that with reverent
and humble hearts we may draw near to you, confessing our faults, confiding in your grace,
and finding in you our refuge and strength; through Jesus Christ your Son.  Amen.
 (Silence is
observed for personal confession.)

*THE ASSURANCE OF GOD’S FORGIVENESS
      One:        ...Friends: hear and believe the good news of the gospel.
     
 All:          In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
*THE GLORIA PATRI
(#560 Brown)
*PASSING THE PEACE
      One:        Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us forgive one another.  The peace of our Lord
                      Jesus Christ be with you all.
      
All:        And also with you.

GREETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
(Birthdays)

                                              
HEARING OF GOD’S WORD
THE FIRST LESSON
       1 Peter 3:13-22        page 234
THE GOSPEL LESSON        John 14:15-21        page 109
THE CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
A WORD FOR US:
         “What is the Reason for Your Hope?”      Rev. Friedmeyer

*HYMN        “The Solid Rock”        #215 Brown

     
                                         RESPONDING TO GOD’S WORD        
*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
Hebrews 10:19-25 (NIV) (Unison)           
      
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood
of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and
since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere
heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty
conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold unswervingly to the
hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how we may spur one
another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are
in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day
approaching.


SHARING OUR JOYS AND CONCERNS
OUR PRAYERS AND THE LORD’S PRAYER


THE OFFERING OF OUR GIFTS TO GOD

      The Offertory
      *The Doxology (#554 Brown)
      *Prayer of Dedication (Unison)

     
                                                 GO IN GOD’S NAME
*HYMN
       “O God, Our Help in Ages Past”        #48 Brown
*THE CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
*THE RESPONSE:
“He Is Lord”
     
 Composer Unknown CCLI#2718497
      He is Lord, He is risen for the dead and He is Lord.
      Ev’ry knee shall bow, ev’ry tongue confess
      That Jesus Christ is Lord.
*THE POSTLUDE
      * Please stand as you are able