Nourished by the Spirit of God

The 5th Sunday of Easter – May 2nd, 2021

Summary: Jesus core mission was to teach, and he used images from daily life to help people understand his message.  In Jesus day, wine was an important source of hydration, and was used in many of his parables.  In the example of the vine and branches, Jesus is the vine and we are the fruit.  He wants us to bear “good fruit”, and this means reaching out to our neighbors in love.  Jesus also presents God as the one who prunes the vine.  This is to caution us against allowing people in our lives that have a negative influence on us.  The Father also needs to prune those desires of our hearts that can cause us to go in the wrong direction.  The “pruning tool” of God is love, not threats.  Putting our faith in God’s love allows us to bear “good fruit”.

Order of Worship
Prelude: Selections from songs without words, by Felix Mendelssohn
Greeting
Opening Hymn “Now the Green Blade Rises”
Apostolic Greeting
Prayer of the Day

1st Reading: 1 John 4:7-21
Gospel Reading: John 15:1-8
Choir Anthem: “Come Ye Faithful”, R.S Thatcher
Sermon: “Nourished by the Spirit of God”
Sermon Hymn: “Christ is Alive! Let Christians Sing”

Holy Communion
Prayers and The Lord’s Prayer
Benediction
Sending Hymn: “I Know That My Redeemer Lives”
Dismissal
Postlude: “Three Preludes”, by J.S. Bach