WEST CENTER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, New York 10708
Tel No. (914) 337-3829
www.westcenterchurch.org
101 Pondfield Road West
Bronxville, New York 10708
Tel No. (914) 337-3829
www.westcenterchurch.org
MAY 15, 2022 FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER 11:00 AM
WORSHIP THROUGH PRAISE
PRELUDE:
* RESPONSIVE CALL TO WORSHIP:
Pastor: Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
People: His greatness is unsearchable.
Pastor: The Lord is gracious and merciful,
People: Slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Pastor: The Lord is good to all,
People: And his compassion is over all that he has made.
Pastor: We come to reveal together the divine within us,
People: We come here to be more faithful disciples!
* OPENING HYMN: NO. 455 “ALL CREATURES OF OUR GOD AND KING”
UNISON PRAYER OF INVOCATION: Contemporary Collect, pg. 1
UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE: Forgive us, O God, for our fears of change and our resistance to that which is new. We have such a rich heritage and a strong tradition, and we are slow to change. We marvel at how you challenged your followers in earlier days, and we wonder if we can be changed. Grant us your wisdom to discern the presence of your renewing Spirit. Fill us with your love, so that we will not fear your calls for newness. Take us by the hand and lead us to your path, through Jesus Christ. AMEN.
LORD’S PRAYER (“DEBTS”)
* RESPONSIVE READING OF PSALM 148, pp. 2 & 3
* GLORIA PATRI: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be;
World without end. AMEN.
WORSHIP THROUGH CARING, PRAYING AND GIVING
MEDITATIONAL HYMN NO. 441 “I LOVE THY KINGDOM, LORD”
MOMENT OF SILENT PRAYER/THE CHURCH AT PRAYER
CHORAL RESPONSE:Hear our Prayer, O Lord, Hear our prayer, O Lord,
Incline thine ear to us and grant us thy peace. AMEN
SHARING OF OUR GIFTS, TITHES AND OFFERING PRECEDED BY PRAYER
PRAYER OF DEDICATION: We thank you God, for the gift of life and for your grace. Receive our offerings as a sign of our gratitude and a desire to serve you with our whole life. Create a new spirit, a spirit of gratitude, grace, and a willingness to listen to you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN
OFFERTORY: “BLESS US, O LORD” (B. HAMBLEN)
Bless us, O Lord, we humbly pray; All through this day and every day.
Be Thou our comfort, guide and stay. Give us to know Thy will Divine;
Hopes and desires to Thee resign; Take Thou our hearts, and make them Thine.
Guide us through shadowed paths or bright, so may we choose our way aright.
Thou are the way, the truth, the light. Help us, we pray, in danger’s hour;
Thou are our rock – our shield and tower.
Save us by Thy Love’s almighty power. Hear us, O Lord; help us, O Lord;
Bless us and save us, O Lord.
* DOXOLOGY AND PRAYER OF GRATITUDE
PASSING OF PEACE, JOYS, CONCERNS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
WORSHIP THROUGH REFLECTION AND MEDITATION
FIRST READING: Acts 11: 1- 18, pp. 1 & 2
NEW TESTAMENT WITNESS: Revelation 21: 1 - 6, pp. 2 & 3
RESPONSE HYMN: NO. 280 “AMAZING GRACE”
THE GOSPEL WITNESS: St. John 13: 31 – 35, pg. 4
PREACHING OF THE WORD: IMAGINE – Rev. Dr. Chris. Ponnuraj
* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (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 to hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. AMEN.
* CLOSING HYMN NO. 276 “GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS”
* BENEDICTION: (THREE-FOLD AMEN)
CHORAL RESPONSE:
May the Lord, Mighty God, bless and keep you forever;
Grant you peace, perfect peace, courage in ev’ry endeavor.
Lift up your eyes and see God’s face, full of grace forever; may the lord,
Mighty God, bless and keep you forever.
POSTLUDE:
*Please stand as you are able and comfortable standing.
In the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ a cordial welcome to those who have come to this house of worship. We thank you for worshiping with us today. Your presence encourages and strengthens us. Guests are invited to sign the guest book in the narthex. We look forward to seeing you again.
Our Friendship and Fellowship Coffee Hour will be held in Bodge Lounge. Come and share the joy of Christ’s love with us. Please sign up, if you wish to host a Coffee hour.
Save the Date: June 12 is the 95th Anniversary of the official organization of West Center Church. We’d like to celebrate with a special lunch after the service – please let us know if you’d like to help.
HAPPY BIRTHDAYS
5/4 Ben Rice, 5/9 Celia Milton, 5/17 Taylor Furey, 5/17 Daisy Grace Ikwechegh,
5/22 John Strybos, 5/26 Scott Johnson, 5/26 Bambi Mitchell
COVENANT OF CARE
Ted St. Angelo, Cindi Barna, Paul Collarile, Jaimelyn DeFrancesco
Ann Jamison, Charlotte Johnson, Jeanette Johnson, Scott Johnson, Michael LaRaus,
Rick Macerata, Joe Miller, June Nickerson, Paula Parson, Master Sgt. Timothy Peters,
John Polvere, Louise Quartuccio, Anthony Russo, Edith Unger, Amanda Wilson,
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj - Minister
ckponnuraj@gmail.com
(917) 743-1574
Mr. John Strybos - Music Director
jpstrybos@aol.com
(203) 921-5210
Soloist: Kelly Guerra; Pianist: Katie Chan-Chee
WORSHIP THROUGH PRAISE
PRELUDE:
* RESPONSIVE CALL TO WORSHIP:
Pastor: Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
People: His greatness is unsearchable.
Pastor: The Lord is gracious and merciful,
People: Slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Pastor: The Lord is good to all,
People: And his compassion is over all that he has made.
Pastor: We come to reveal together the divine within us,
People: We come here to be more faithful disciples!
* OPENING HYMN: NO. 455 “ALL CREATURES OF OUR GOD AND KING”
UNISON PRAYER OF INVOCATION: Contemporary Collect, pg. 1
UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE: Forgive us, O God, for our fears of change and our resistance to that which is new. We have such a rich heritage and a strong tradition, and we are slow to change. We marvel at how you challenged your followers in earlier days, and we wonder if we can be changed. Grant us your wisdom to discern the presence of your renewing Spirit. Fill us with your love, so that we will not fear your calls for newness. Take us by the hand and lead us to your path, through Jesus Christ. AMEN.
LORD’S PRAYER (“DEBTS”)
* RESPONSIVE READING OF PSALM 148, pp. 2 & 3
* GLORIA PATRI: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be;
World without end. AMEN.
WORSHIP THROUGH CARING, PRAYING AND GIVING
MEDITATIONAL HYMN NO. 441 “I LOVE THY KINGDOM, LORD”
MOMENT OF SILENT PRAYER/THE CHURCH AT PRAYER
CHORAL RESPONSE:Hear our Prayer, O Lord, Hear our prayer, O Lord,
Incline thine ear to us and grant us thy peace. AMEN
SHARING OF OUR GIFTS, TITHES AND OFFERING PRECEDED BY PRAYER
PRAYER OF DEDICATION: We thank you God, for the gift of life and for your grace. Receive our offerings as a sign of our gratitude and a desire to serve you with our whole life. Create a new spirit, a spirit of gratitude, grace, and a willingness to listen to you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN
OFFERTORY: “BLESS US, O LORD” (B. HAMBLEN)
Bless us, O Lord, we humbly pray; All through this day and every day.
Be Thou our comfort, guide and stay. Give us to know Thy will Divine;
Hopes and desires to Thee resign; Take Thou our hearts, and make them Thine.
Guide us through shadowed paths or bright, so may we choose our way aright.
Thou are the way, the truth, the light. Help us, we pray, in danger’s hour;
Thou are our rock – our shield and tower.
Save us by Thy Love’s almighty power. Hear us, O Lord; help us, O Lord;
Bless us and save us, O Lord.
* DOXOLOGY AND PRAYER OF GRATITUDE
PASSING OF PEACE, JOYS, CONCERNS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
WORSHIP THROUGH REFLECTION AND MEDITATION
FIRST READING: Acts 11: 1- 18, pp. 1 & 2
NEW TESTAMENT WITNESS: Revelation 21: 1 - 6, pp. 2 & 3
RESPONSE HYMN: NO. 280 “AMAZING GRACE”
THE GOSPEL WITNESS: St. John 13: 31 – 35, pg. 4
PREACHING OF THE WORD: IMAGINE – Rev. Dr. Chris. Ponnuraj
* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (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 to hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. AMEN.
* CLOSING HYMN NO. 276 “GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS”
* BENEDICTION: (THREE-FOLD AMEN)
CHORAL RESPONSE:
May the Lord, Mighty God, bless and keep you forever;
Grant you peace, perfect peace, courage in ev’ry endeavor.
Lift up your eyes and see God’s face, full of grace forever; may the lord,
Mighty God, bless and keep you forever.
POSTLUDE:
*Please stand as you are able and comfortable standing.
In the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ a cordial welcome to those who have come to this house of worship. We thank you for worshiping with us today. Your presence encourages and strengthens us. Guests are invited to sign the guest book in the narthex. We look forward to seeing you again.
Our Friendship and Fellowship Coffee Hour will be held in Bodge Lounge. Come and share the joy of Christ’s love with us. Please sign up, if you wish to host a Coffee hour.
Save the Date: June 12 is the 95th Anniversary of the official organization of West Center Church. We’d like to celebrate with a special lunch after the service – please let us know if you’d like to help.
HAPPY BIRTHDAYS
5/4 Ben Rice, 5/9 Celia Milton, 5/17 Taylor Furey, 5/17 Daisy Grace Ikwechegh,
5/22 John Strybos, 5/26 Scott Johnson, 5/26 Bambi Mitchell
COVENANT OF CARE
Ted St. Angelo, Cindi Barna, Paul Collarile, Jaimelyn DeFrancesco
Ann Jamison, Charlotte Johnson, Jeanette Johnson, Scott Johnson, Michael LaRaus,
Rick Macerata, Joe Miller, June Nickerson, Paula Parson, Master Sgt. Timothy Peters,
John Polvere, Louise Quartuccio, Anthony Russo, Edith Unger, Amanda Wilson,
Rev. Dr. Christopher Ponnuraj - Minister
ckponnuraj@gmail.com
(917) 743-1574
Mr. John Strybos - Music Director
jpstrybos@aol.com
(203) 921-5210
Soloist: Kelly Guerra; Pianist: Katie Chan-Chee