This Sunday, we'll be celebrating a Love Feast during worship. 
Because of current circumstances, we are unable to celebrate Holy Communion together but we can celebrate a fellowship meal in the Wesleyan tradition. Please be sure to have some food (it could be bread, a muffin, crackers, etc.) as well as something to drink nearby (water, coffee, juice, etc.) on Sunday morning.
Order of Worship
Sunday, May 3, 2020
 
Opening Prayer:  
          O Lord our God, you are always more ready to bestow your good gifts on us than we are to seek them, and are willing to give more than we desire or deserve. Help us so to seek that we may truly find, so to as that we may joyfully receive, so to knock that the door of your mercy may be opened to us; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
 
Opening Hymn:  
 Blessed Assurance 369
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
 O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
 born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.

This is my story, this is my song,
 praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
 praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
 visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending bring from above
 echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
 This is my story, this is my song,
 praising my Savior all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
 praising my Savior all the day long.
 
Perfect submission, all is at rest;
 I in my Savior am happy and blest,
watching and waiting, looking above,
 filled with his goodness, lost in his love.
This is my story, this is my song,
 praising my Savior all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song, 
 praising my Savior all the day long.
* * * * * *

Scripture Reading:     23rd Psalm (click to read)
 
Offering/Prayer of Thanksgiving
Thank you for your generosity! Tithes and offerings may be given through the website
'Give' tab at the top right corner, through text giving (877-960-2396)
or by mail: 820 Almshouse Road, Ivyland, PA 18974
 
Special Music:   
“God on the Mountain” Valerie Sharper
 
Sermon - Pastor Ruth
 
LOVE FEAST
 
Closing Hymn:  
What a Friend We Have In Jesus 526
What a friend we have in Jesus,
 all of our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
 everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
 O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
 everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations?
 Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
 take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
 who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
 take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden,
 cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge;
 take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
 Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he’ll take and shield thee;
 thou wilt find a solace there.
* * * * * *

 
Benediction: 
In these days of anxiety and uncertainty,
may we go forth in Christ’s name into all our interactions (digital or otherwise) 
as a people of hope. 

May we be for the world the body of Christ,
broken and shared to be a blessing for all.

May God bless us and keep us .
May God’s face shine upon us and be gracious to us.
May God look upon us with kindness and give us peace. Amen.
 
Rev. Janice A. Puliti, Pastor
Ruth Portzline, CLM, Pastoral Associate
Soloists, Valerie Sharper & Lynne Tomlinson
Accompanist, Brian Barber
St. John's Ivyland
820 Almshouse Road, Ivyland, PA 18974
215-357-6998
StJohnsIvyland.com