May 3, 2026 | Fifth Sunday of Easter
Call to Worship
PRELUDE
RESPONSIVE PRAYER Psalm 150:1-2, 6 #385
WELCOME
PRAYER of INVOCATION
SONG of ADORATION “Rejoice” #8
Confession and Assurance
READING of GOD’S LAW
Hear God’s Law, His Will for Your Life, from Matthew 5:38-42
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic,[h] let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
PRAYER of CONFESSION “Have Mercy on Us” #100
ASSURANCE of PARDON from John 8:2-11
Hear these words of comfort from God’s Word:
Early in the morning Jesus came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” . . . “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” . . . But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, "No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
Christ has bought our freedom and our God has forgiven our sins. Let us go and sin no more. Amen. ◆
SONG of RESPONSE “I Hear the Words of Love” #131
Life of Worship
PROFESSION of FAITH - The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there shall he come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Church universal,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen. ◆
OFFERING
DOXOLOGY #334
PRAYER of DEDICATION
CHILDREN’S CATECHISM
Q.14. How did God create man?
A. God created man male and female,
after His own image, in knowledge,
righteousness, and holiness, with
dominion over the creatures.
(Gen. 1:27; Col. 3:10; Eph. 4:24; Gen. 1:28)
PASSING of the PEACE
(Children stay in the service today.)
Ministry of the Word
SONG “God, in the Gospel of His Son” #301
PRAYER for ILLUMINATION #293
SCRIPTURE READING John 7:40-44
When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” So there was a division among the people over him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.
SERMON “Unity & Division” Pastor Zach
Ministry of Sacrament
COMMUNION HYMN “Behold the Lamb” #315
INVITATION to the LORD’S SUPPER
WORDS of INSTITUTION
The BREAD and the CUP
(All who look to Christ and His cross alone for
salvation are invited to join us at the Lord’s Table)
FELLOWSHIP FUND OFFERING
SONG of RESPONSE “Blest Be the Tie” #426
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
