Bulletin April 26th

Prelude                                       Blessed Assurance

Opening Hymn*                      Who You Say I Am            

Call to Worship                    (based on John 10:1-10)

Ldr:    Jesus said, “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not              enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another  way is a thief and a bandit.”

Ppl:     But You, Lord Jesus, are no thief. You came openly,  honestly, and sacrificially — the rightful Shepherd of  our souls.

Ldr:    “The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the  sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the  sheep hear his voice.”

Ppl:    We have heard Your voice, Lord! Among all the   competing voices of this world, Yours is the one that  calls us by name.

Ldr:    “He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of  them, and the sheep follow him because they know his  voice.”

Ppl:     You know us, Lord — not as a crowd, but by name.  You do not drive us from behind; You lead us from  the front. Where You go, we will follow.

Ldr:     “They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from  him because they do not know the voice of strangers.”

Ppl:    Tune our ears, Good Shepherd. In a world full of  strange voices promising what they cannot deliver,  teach us to recognize the sound of the One who truly  loves us.

Ldr     Jesus said, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the   sheep. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come  in and go out and find pasture.”

Ppl:    You are the gate, Lord — the only way into safety,  the only path to life, the only entrance to the Father’s  fold.

Ldr:    “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.”

Ppl:    Protect us, Lord, from every voice that would lead us astray, every false promise that would rob us of life, and every lie that seeks to destroy what You have built in us.

Ldr:    “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

Ppl:     Not just survival, but abundance! Not just existence, but life overflowing!

All:     Come, let us worship the Good Shepherd — who  knows us by name, leads us into green pastures,  guards us as our gate, and gives us life beyond  anything we could ask or imagine. He has  called, and we have come! Amen.

Young People’s Message:      

Where Have YOU Experienced God this week?

Sharing of Praises and Concerns

Prayer Hymn* 328   Surely the Presence of the Lord

Prayer 

Gospel Song   Gentle Shepherd

Presenting Ourselves & Our Gifts

Today’s Message:

 “Good Shepherds and Gate Crashers”

John 10:1-10

Sending Forth/Sending the Light

Closing Hymn* 381     Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us

Benediction

Community Outreach

Pregnancy & Parenting Center: Baby bottles are due back to Asbury if you still have one out please let Tammy know.

Mt Zion Food Cupboard has a workday on  Thursday 5-14 from 9-11 am. Food giveaway will be on Saturday 5-16 from 9 to 11 am. Food donations can be put into the entryway closet.

Upcoming Events

Weekly Bible Study Sunday at 6pm

May 06   Sisters of Faith Meeting 7 pm

May 08   Movie Night 7pm “Hoovey”

May 11   Ad Council Meeting 7pm

May 23   Game Night

May 31   Fifth Sunday Fellowship

There will be no Junior Church this morning.

The nursery will still be available.

There are kids bulletins on the back table.

Miracle Offering

The Allegheny West Conference is partnering with the North Carolina Conference to support our sisters and brothers in the West Congo Conference of Africa. Our goal is to collect 160,000 dollars. This money will be used to help with educational expenses, transportation needs, clean drinking water, and micro business loans to support local churches. Please mark your envelope “Miracle Offering” or place a donation on back table. Thank you.

Disciples Who Make Disciples

This is the topic for our upcoming Annual Conference.

There is a letter from our Superintendent, Jeff Greenway, on the back table.  Please take time to read it to see where the GMC is focusing this year.