Hybrid Worship May 3, 2026 FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

Hybrid Worship

May 3, 2026

FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

Presider: Rev Sally Bullas

Music: Frances Armstrong

We acknowledge that these lands upon which we worship are the

traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw

First Nation. Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey,

you are welcome here!

Words for Worship

Words of response are in bold & italics

Prelude

Acknowledgement of the Land

We prayerfully acknowledge with thanksgiving that we

gather on the unceded territories of the Snuneymuxw people. Gracious God, help us to seek a new relationship with the first peoples here, one based in honour and respect. Amen.

Centering & Stillness                                                        (From Psalm 31:24)
            Be strong, and let your heart take courage,
            all you who wait for the Lord.

(invitation to sit in silence)

Introit: Where Two or Three are Gathered (X3) MV #14

Where two or three are gathered in my name,

I am there, I am there.

Call to Worship

The grace of Christ Jesus, the love of God,

and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And also with you..

Lighting of Candle (candle is lit)

Christ is our Light.

Thanks be to God!

Opening Words (Christine Longhurst, worshipwords.co.uk)
People of God, open your eyes! Look around!
The presence of Christ is here - among us and within us.
God’s salvation is close at hand - nearer than you know.

So open your hearts and minds to the Spirit,
and let us worship God together!

Opening Hymn: We Are One (vs 1,2,4) VU #402

¹We are one as we come,
As we come, joyful to be here,
In the praise on our lips
There's a sense that God is near.
We are one as we sing,
As we seek, we are found;
And we come needful of God's grace
As we meet, together in this place.

²We are one as we share,
As we share brokenness and fear,
In the touch of a hand
There's a sense that God is here.
We are one as we care,
As we heal, we are healed;
And we share warmth in God's embrace
As we pray together in this place.

⁴We are one as we hear,
As we hear, heart and hand unite;
In the word we receive
There's a sense that God is light.
We are one as we leave,
As we love, we are loved;
And we seek justice in God's ways
As we move together from this place.

Prayer of Forgiveness (Thandiwe Dale-Ferguson, worshipwords.co.uk, adapted)
At this junction on our journey, we heed your call, O God.

We gather as your people,

looking for new life for our life.

We gather, as your imperfect children, aware of our moments of selfishness and ambition, our tendency for cynicism and fear, our times of confusion and doubt.

Yet your grace abounds, Holy One.

Your everlasting love awaits us.

So, we come as we are. With our shortcomings, yes, but also with our gifts, remembering that we are created in your image.

We come, and your Word nourishes us.

Your Spirit calls us.

We come desiring to walk your ways of justice, to hear your words of wisdom and renewal,

We come to extend, like yours, our open hands…

May this meeting renew in us the audacity

to follow you and love you, every day, wherever you call us. Amen.

Peace of Christ

May the peace of Christ be with you.

And also with you.

Let us share the peace of Christ with one another.

Prayer Before the Reading of Scripture
By the gift of your Spirit, calm and quiet our souls that we may hear your Word today and be lifted up to walk with you. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

Scripture: Acts 7:55-60 (NRSV) Reader: Nancy Hetherington Peirce

But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him, and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died.

This is the Word of God.

Thanks be to God.

Gospel Reading Reader: Nancy Hetherington Peirce
As is your custom, please stand or sit for the reading of the gospel.

God be with you.

And also with you

The Good News according to John

Glory to you, Christ Jesus.

John 14:1-14 (NRSV)

Jesus the Way to the Father

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I

say to you I do not speak on my own, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, but if you do not, then believe because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

This is the Gospel of Christ.

Thanks be to God

Word: “God in Us…Us in God”

Hymn of Response: Are You a Shepherd? MV #126

¹Are you a shepherd, good shepherd who leads us

safely through danger, while calming our fears?

Are you a father who shelters and feeds us,

shares in our laughter and wipes away tears?

[Refrain]

Yes, you are shepherd, parent and teacher,

but you are greater than all that we know.

Holy and living, loving and giving,

God, you are with us wherever we go.

²Are you a mother, good mother who bears us,

comforts, protects us and helps us to rest?

Are you a teacher who daily prepares us,

challenging students to offer their best? [R]

³Great, gentle shepherd, forever beside us,

lead all your children in paths that are right.

Great, loving parent, wise teacher, you guide us.

We want to love you and bring you delight. [R]

Life & Work of the Church

A Statement of Faith (Daniel Sire, progressivechristianity.org)

I believe in God, the source of all life, wholeness, and love.

I believe that God is revealed in Jesus Christ.

I believe that in his life, Jesus reveals God in grace, mercy, forgiveness, and justice.

I believe that in his death, Jesus reveals God’s determined presence in the world even in the face of hatred, violence,

and pain.

I believe that in his resurrection, Jesus reveals God calling us to abundant life both now and forever; life beyond our fearful and fragile imaginations.

I believe that God lives among us, within us, and through us by the power of the Holy Spirit.

I believe that God moves us to be together in communities of faith, hope, and love.

I believe these things not out of certainty but out of faith; as one who trusts in the reality of God revealed in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit.

Prayers of the People Paddy Waymark

Your Light centers us,

Hear our Prayers.

Lords Prayer (spoken) VU #959

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kin-dom come, your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.

For the kin-dom, the power, and the glory are yours

now and forever.

Amen.

Offering (offering now to be collected)

Doxology (sung) CP #669

Praise God the Source of life and birth,

Praise God the Word, who came to earth.

Praise God the Spirit, holy flame.

All Glory, honour to God’s name.

Offering Prayer (United Church of Christ, worshipwords.co.uk)

Blessing God, we believe in the power of gifts – when we bring them together – to serve more than ourselves. They serve your Shalom, your Realm on earth. We give with gratitude for your presence around, among and with in us.

Closing Hymn: Travel On, Travel On VU #647

¹Travel on, travel on, there's a spirit that is flowing

a spirit that is flowing night and day.

Travel on, travel on, with the spirit that is flowing,