April 25th, 2021 Worship
Thank you for worshipping with us at Calvary Moravian Church. To support our ministries, you can mail the office a check (948 N. 21st St. Allentown 18104). An online giving portal is at: https://mmfa.info/calvary-moravian-church-pa-donation-form/
This is our Last Sunday for Zoom worship at
10 a.m. for Sunday school check-in and 10:45 a.m. for worship.
https://zoom.us/j/673028163, Meeting ID: 673 028 163
You can call this number and listen to the service on any telephone as well:
(929) 205-6099 (enter 673028163#).
Starting May 2nd, we will continue to Livestream our worship service to Calvary Moravian Church Allentown Youtube channel but there will be no ZOOM!
May Schedule:
May 2 and May 9, 10:45 a.m. Outside Worship on Livingston St. side of the church, weather -permitting. (If weather does not permit, we will be inside, with physical distancing). Please wear a mask to arrive and leave, and observe physical distancing. Chairs will be provided or you can bring your own.
May 16: 10:45 a.m. Inside Worship begins. We will continue to require masks, limit seating (3 ft + distance, every other pew), etc.
Sugarcake Sale!
Just in time for Mother’s Day, our sugarcake bakers will be baking on Friday, May 7th. Helpers are welcome after 10 a.m. that day. Pick-up will be available after 1 p.m. that day, or at church on Sunday, May 9th. $6 each. To order, please contact the office at churchcalvarymoravian@gmail.com or 610-435-6881
Looking ahead:
If you would like to supply any special music for our in-person worship (solos by vaccinated individuals, instrumental music), please talk with Anne Ettinger or Pastor Janel. Also, if you would like to serve as a scripture reader for our in-person worship services, please talk with Pastor Janel.
We are happy to welcome Warren Gericke today to provide our message on caring for God’s creation!
Worship:
Welcome and Announcements
Hymn 538 For the Beauty of the Earth (verses 1 and 2)
For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies,
for the love which from our birth, over and around us lies.
Refrain:
Lord of all, to you we raise, this our hymn of grateful praise.
For the beauty of each hour, of the day and of the night,
hill and vale and tree and flower, sun and moon and stars of light.
Refrain
Call to Worship – Psalm 104:1-2.
The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it; for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers.
Silent Meditation
Liturgy for Creation pg. 26
TUNE: ROEDER
God of the sparrow, God of the whale, God of the swirling stars,
How does the creature say Awe? How does the creature say Praise?
God of the earthquake, God of the storm,
God of the trumpet blast,
How does the creature say Praise? How does the creature say Save?
TEXT: © by Jaroslav J. Vajda, TUNE: © by G.I.A. Publications, Inc.
Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the heights above.
Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars.
Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding.
Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created.
Princes and rulers, men and women, old and young together,
Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget none of his benefits.
He forgives our sins and heals our diseases; he redeems our lives and crowns us with love and compassion.
We have one who speaks to the Father in our defense–Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for the sins of the whole world.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart, in full assurance of faith, and confess our sins.
Gracious God, we confess to you our sins: sins of oppression, when prejudice, fear, and hate rule our hearts; sins of neglect, when we poison the earth for profit or we ignore pleas for mercy and justice; sins of pride; and sins of greed. Lord, forgive us when we feed our anger and bathe in our despair. Hear now our confessions and know our hearts.
Silent confession
Have mercy, O God, according to your unfailing love;
Wash away all our iniquity and cleanse us from our sin. Amen.
As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is God’s love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
TUNE: MARTIN NYSTROM
As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after you.
You alone are my heart’s desire, and I long to worship you.
You alone are my strength, my shield; to you alone may my spirit yield.
You alone are my heart’s desire, and I long to worship you.
TEXT AND TUNE: © by Maranatha! Music (administered by the Copyright Company, Nashville, TN 37203).
All rights reserved. International copyright secured. Used by permission.
In praise of our Creator, let us affirm our faith.
I believe in the one true God, the Father of humanity,
who creates and sustains the universe in wisdom and power,
who calls us into being and into relationship with God by grace,
whose nature is love.
I believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
who lived that we might see God,
who died that we might be reconciled to God,
who rose again that we might experience the life of God,
who freely accepts and welcomes all who come to him,
not on the basis of their merit,
but on the basis of his unconditional love.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
who is God present with us now,
who shows us our need for God,
who assures us of God’s love in all circumstances,
who lives the life and the love of Jesus Christ through us.
In this faith I will seek to live in harmony with God, with people everywhere, and with all of creation. Amen.
We offer thanks to you, Creator God, for your artistry in frost and snow in the icy stillness of winter, for new life bursting forth and blooming in spring.
We thank you for sunshine and rain and for growth in summer, which you nurture into the fruitful abundance of autumn.
We thank you for the seasons of the spirit, for joy and sorrow, for pleasure and pain, for gladness and grief, for friendship and solitude.
We are grateful to you for your sustaining presence in all circumstances, and for giving us the strength through which we can do all things.
We pray for those who because of greed or selfishness exploit the gifts of the earth, that they may learn to be careful stewards of your creation.
We pray for all who by their commitment and involvement are working to preserve our planet, that you would multiply their efforts.
We pray for those who suffer from prejudice, poverty, or pain, that you would draw near to them and provide for them true justice and mercy.
We pray for those whose lives are being wasted in careless
living or despair, that they may find the joy of self-discipline and the hope that comes through Christ.
We pray for your whole church, that it may become a powerful agent of reconciliation and renewal in the name of Jesus Christ.
We pray for all people, that everyone will recognize your awesome majesty and bow in obedient and joyful service.
TUNE: ROEDER
God of the hungry, God of the sick,
God of the prodigal,
How does the creature say Care? How does the creature say Life?
God of the neighbor, God of the foe,
God of the pruning hook,
How does the creature say Love? How does the creature say Peace?
God of the ages, God near at hand,
God of the loving heart,
How do your children say Joy? How do your children say Home?
TEXT: © 1983 by Jaroslav J. Vada. TUNE: © 1987 by G.I.A. Publications, Inc
Reprinted or adapted from the 1995 Moravian Book of Worship with the permission of the Interprovincial Board of Communication, Moravian Church in America. © 1995 IBOC. www.moravian.org; e-mail: pubs@mcnp.org. All rights reserved. All copyrighted hymns used with CCLI license and streaming/recording license (#3902159).
Prayers of the People
Pastoral Prayer/Lord’s Prayer.
Scripture Genesis 1:20-31. Alma McMahan.
Message “Caring for God’s Creation” Warren Gericke
Hymn 456 “This is my Father’s World”
This is my Father’s world, And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings, The music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas— his hand the wonders wrought.
This is my Father’s world: he shines in all that’s fair
In the rustling grass, I hear Him pass, He speaks to me everywhere.
This is my Father’s world: Why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King: let the heavens ring! God reigns; let earth be glad!
This is my Father’s world: O let us not forget
That though the wrong seems often strong, God is the ruler yet.
He trusts us with his world, to keep it clean and fair –
All earth and trees, all skies and seas, all creatures everywhere.
Benediction
Calvary Moravian Church 