Worship Service - May 18, 2025

                                           Elkton United Methodist Church

                                                    Fifth Sunday of Easter

                                                     Sunday, May 18, 2025

                                                                10:00 a.m.

---

GREETING AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE................................... “BREATHE ON ME, BREATH OF GOD”¹......... ARR. BY MARK HAYES

INTROIT...................................... “WE HAVE COME INTO HIS HOUSE”¹..................... CHANCEL CHOIR

OPENING

TIME OF CENTERING PRAYER

RESPONSE #641 (UMH)............................................................................................. “FILL MY CUP, LORD”

Fill my cup, Lord, I lift it up, Lord.  Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.  Bread 

of heaven, feed me till I want no more; fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole.

**CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader:      Praise God, all you people!

People:     Praise the Lord of all creation!

Leader:      Whales breaching the ocean waves, fish dancing on the ocean floor;
People:     giant redwoods stretching to the sky, tomato vines producing

                  succulent fruit.

Leader:      Mountains blocking the sunrise, redbuds decorating our backyard, grass

                  growing faster than our children;

People:     streams trickling, waterfalls flowing, waves crashing.

Leader:      Praise the Lord of all creation!

All:            Praise God, all you people!

**HYMN #62 (UMH)................................................................ “ALL CREATURES OF OUR GOD AND KING”

CALL TO CONFESSION

We show others who we are by the lives we lead, the words we speak, the actions we 

undertake.  Let us confess how we have not lived as children of God, when we have failed 

to love as we have been loved…

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (IN UNISON)

Who are we to get in your way, Holy God?  We put people into neat, little boxes, but you 

rip them open, so folks can dance in your joy.  We imprison others with our unmet

expectations, and you set them free with a Word.  We build walls around those we don't 

know, and you tear them down, so they can experience release into your kingdom.  Who 

are we to get in your way, Lord, especially in the way of your forgiveness offered to all!  

Give us your vision that sees everyone as equal - forgiven, graced, loved - even as we seek 

to follow our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  AMEN.

SILENT PRAYERS OF CONFESSION

WORDS OF PARDON AND ASSURANCE

Leader:    We know who God is by the love shown to us in Christ Jesus.

People:    We will show others who we are - and Whose we are - by the love poured out 

                 by our lives.  Thanks be to God, we are forgiven!  AMEN.

NEW TESTAMENT LESSON, REVELATION 21:1-6 (PAGE 259)

Leader:    Christ is risen!

People:    He is risen indeed!

MUSICAL OFFERING........... “AND CAN IT BE THAT I SHOULD GAIN”¹............... HANDBELL CHOIR

**GOSPEL LESSON, JOHN 13:31-35 (PAGE 108)

Leader:    Christ is risen!

People:    He is risen indeed!

**RESPONSE #322 (UMH).................................................. “UP FROM THE GRAVE HE AROSE” (REFRAIN)

Up from the grave he arose, with a mighty triumph o’er his foes;

He arose a victor from the dark domain, and he lives forever, with his saints to reign.  

He arose!  He arose!  Hallelujah!  Christ arose!

SERMON......................................... “EVERY TEAR WIPED AWAY”......................... REV. ERIC WARNER

**RESPONSE #706 (UMH)....................................................................................... “SOON AND VERY SOON”

PRAYER CONCERNS/PASTORAL PRAYER

THE LORD'S PRAYER (IN UNISON)

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come, thy will be 

done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our 

trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.  And lead us not into temptation, 

but deliver us from evil.  For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.  

AMEN.

RESPONSE #2215 (TFWS)................................................................................................. “CARES CHORUS”

I cast all my cares upon you, I lay all of my burdens down at your feet, and anytime 

that I don't know what to do, I will cast all my cares upon you.

CALL TO OFFERING

OFFERTORY

**DOXOLOGY #95 (UMH)..................................... “PRAISE GOD, FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW”

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Amen.

**OFFERTORY PRAYER............................. “LEAD ME, LORD”¹...................................... CHANCEL CHOIR

**HYMN #2282 (TFWS).......................................................................................................... “I’LL FLY AWAY”

**CHORAL BENEDICTION................... “A CHORAL BENEDICTION”¹.......................... CHANCEL CHOIR

**CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE

Bind us together, Lord, bind us together with cords that cannot be broken.

Bind us together, Lord, bind us together, bind us together in love. 

POSTLUDE..................................................... “JUBILATION”¹.............................................. JASON PAYNE

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> 

                        Flowers on the altar are given in loving memory of Larry Garber by his family,

                                Gail, Gretchen, Nicole, Hunter, Megan, Halle, Colin and Charlotte,

                               in honor of his 77th birthday today, May 18th.  We love and miss you.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> 

**Indicates the congregation should stand if able

UMH: United Methodist Hymnal (red cover)

TFWS: The Faith We Sing (black cover)

W&S: Worship & Song (green cover)

¹Public Music performance provided for and reported to CCLI Licensing

Copyright License: #1824650/Recording License:  CSPL148932