SUNDAY SERVICE
May 5, 2024
Welcome to Wellington Heights Community Church
Scripture Reading
Psalm 98:1-3b,4 TPT
Go ahead-sing your brand-new song to the Lord! He is famous for his miracles and marvels, for he is victorious through his mighty power and holy strength. Everyone knows how God has saved us, for he has displayed his justice throughout history. He never forgets to show us his love and faithfulness. So go ahead, everyone, and shout out your praises with joy! Break out of the box and let loose with the most joyous sounds of praise!
Opening Prayer
Faithful God,
we come into Your presence with gratitude,
deeply grateful for the unfailing love and faithfulness
You have shown toward us, Your people.
When we call out to You, You answer.
When we are exhausted, You give us the strength to go on.
When we find ourselves in trouble,
You are there, standing beside us.
We come together in gratitude and praise,
offering You the worship of our hearts and lives.
Open our eyes to see and know You here among us;
open our ears to recognize Your voice.
And then send us out from here,
to live and work in the world as Your faithful disciples.
In the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.
Worship
Prayer of Confession
Awesome and compassionate God, you have loved us with unfailing, self-giving mercy, but we have not loved you. You constantly call us, but we do not listen. You ask us to love, but we walk away from those around us in need, wrapped in our own concerns and priorities. We acknowledge that we are too inclined toward selfishness, jealousy, anger, revenge, greed, and prejudice. God of grace, as you come to us in love, we repent in spirit and in truth, admit our sin, and gratefully receive your forgiveness through Jesus, our Redeemer. Amen.
Communion Explanation & Instructions
5-Minute Connection
Announcements
Youth Summer Camp
Are you looking for a summer camp for your 1st-12th graders this summer? Westminster is partnering with Wellington Heights Community Church to provide scholarships to Bear Creek camp in Wyoming, Iowa. Check out the Digital Newsletter for registration details.
Worship Wednesdays
Introducing Worship Wednesdays at Wellington Heights Community Church. This monthly gathering is held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM beginning Wednesday, May 8, 2024.
Worship Wednesdays serve as a platform for the WHCC worship team to discover and introduce new music that resonates with our spiritual journey while revisiting and refining songs for a deeper Sunday Worship experience. They provide an inclusive space where we can engage in meaningful worship, learn new songs, and deepen our connection to one another and our faith through music.
Flourishing Neighborhood Index
The Flourishing Neighborhood Index (FNI), a collaborative process for learning about our neighborhood, has kicked off with Neighborhood Mapping! In Neighborhood Mapping, FNI volunteers will walk through the neighborhood to co-create a detailed map of Wellington Heights. If you are interested in helping and weren't able to attend our April 17th training, there is still time to get involved! Please email nora@wellingtonheightscommunitychurch.org if you are interested in volunteering for Neighborhood Mapping!
Pr. Keeyon’s class presentation
Our non-anxious Savior: How Jesus used silence as resistance
Pr. Keeyon is in need of a live audience for a class project. For this project he will be focusing on How Jesus used silence as resistance.
As we advocate against harmful systems and powers, this presentation explores the significance of silence in the path of resisting evil within a society that often glorifies the loudest and busiest individuals. Reflecting on Jesus' life, we observe his tranquil pace of grace and his ability to lead a non-anxious existence. Let's delve deeper into the role of silence in his approach to challenging authority and maintaining a peaceful demeanor.
Scripture Reading
John 15: 9-12, CEB
Love each other
9 “As the Father loved me, I too have loved you. Remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have said these things to you so that my joy will be in you and your joy will be complete. 12 This is my commandment: love each other just as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than to give up one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I don’t call you servants any longer, because servants don’t know what their master is doing. Instead, I call you friends, because everything I heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You didn’t choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you could go and produce fruit and so that your fruit could last. As a result, whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. 17 I give you these commandments so that you can love each other.
Introduction to Rev. Dr. BrendaSalter McNeil & Stephanie Carter's video conversation
Rev. Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil is a woman of God gifted as a teacher and preacher and a leader in the international movement for peace and reconciliation. Her mission is to inspire, equip, and empower emerging Christian leaders to practice reconciliation in various spheres of influence. She is an Associate Professor of reconciliation studies in the School of Theology at Seattle Pacific University, where she also directs the Reconciliation Studies program. She also serves on the pastoral staff of Quest Church in Seattle, WA. Dr. Brenda is recognized internationally as one of the foremost reconciliation leaders and was featured as one of the 50 most influential women to watch by Christianity Today. She is the author of Roadmap to Reconciliation 2.0, A Credible Witness: Reflections on Power, Evangelism and Race (2008), The Heart of Racial Justice: How Soul Change Leads to Social Change (2005), coauthored with Rick Richardson, Becoming Brave: Finding the Courage to Pursue Racial Justice Now and Empowered to Repair: Becoming People Who Mend Broken Systems and Heal Our Communities.
Sermon
Video Conversation with Rev. Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil
Prayers of the People
We pray for ourselves and on the behalf of others. In our prayers, we pray for the church, the nation, and all who govern, the well-being of the world, and the concerns of our community of faith, including those who are in need or suffer. We are reminded in prayer that we are part of a larger fellowship, the Church—the Body of Christ
Bound together in Christ, let us pray together to our God, saying:
God of all mercies, hear our prayer.
For the church in all of its diverse forms in every place, that it may be strengthened to boldly demonstrate and proclaim the liberating Good News to the ends of the earth
God of all mercies, hear our prayer.
For the all those in positions of public trust, may they discern ways to overcome division and work together for the health and flourishing of life in every aspect, we pray: God of all mercies, hear our prayer.
For all of creation that you created and renewed in the power of the resurrection, may we be wise and careful stewards of creation; we pray: God of all mercies, hear our prayer.
For all those who are affected by war, natural disaster, violence, and division, may peace be near and may bless the work of those who help and heal in the aftermath; inspire us to all be instruments of Your help and healing; we pray:
God of all mercies, hear our prayer.
In the power of the Spirit, we pray for the sick and the suffering, for the marginalized and abandoned, for the grieving and disappointment, for those experiencing anxiety and depression, for those who are hurt by the church or its members, and we pray for the coming of justice and for healing for all the world we pray: God of all mercies, hear our prayer.
By the working of your Spirit, deepen our communion with you and empower us to use our lives to be a sign of Your steadfast love.
Amen.
Special Music
My Jesus - Claire Ovel
Closing Worship
Church Clap - Children’s Ministry
Benediction
