The Rev. Dr. Albert Potgieter, Pastor Elizabeth Frank, Music Director WE APPROACH OUR GOD Prelude Precious Lord, Take My Hand - George N. Allen, Arr. E. Frank Welcome and Announcements Call to Worship L: Jesus has invited us to a wedding. P: Jesus has invited us to dance, to sing, to celebrate. L: Jesus has invited us to a great feast with good food and great wine. P: Jesus has invited us to receive life, abundant life! L: Who will come? P: We will come! Votum Hymn of Praise: When Morning Gilds the Skies, Laudes Domini When morning gilds the skies, My heart awaking cries: “May Jesus Christ be praised!” Alike at work and prayer, To Jesus I repair; May Jesus Christ be praised! The night becomes as day When from the heart we say: “May Jesus Christ be praised!” The pow’rs of darkness fear When this sweet chant they hear: “May Jesus Christ be praised!” Be this, while life is mine, My canticle divine: “May Jesus Christ be praised!” Be this th’ eternal song Through all the ages long: “May Jesus Christ be praised!” Call to Confession L: The psalmist reminds us, “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger forever.” With this knowledge, we may confess our sins before God and one another with confidence. Prayer of Confession Lord, how we must try your patience! We often doubt, when we should place our faith in your abiding presence. We think that we have to have all the answers, and judge others who fail to live up to our expectations. We think that we are the one thing that matters most in life. So we place ourselves at the center of our own universe. Forgive us when we show how shallow our faith is. Help us to really understand the miraculous ways in which you have already worked in our lives and will continue to work as we journey in faith. Bring to us the Light of Joy, and let it flood through our whole beings, that we may be transformed into people of joyful service and faith. In Jesus' Name, we pray. Amen! Lord Have Mercy John Weaver Words of Assurance: L: God's love is continually poured out for us. Drink from the cup of forgiveness and compassion. P: In Jesus' Name, we are forgiven! Amen! The Law of God: Matthew 22:37-40 (MSG) Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.’ This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ These two commands are pegs; everything in God’s Law and the Prophets hangs from them.” Passing the Peace L: Peace be with you. P: And also with you. L: Extend the sign of God’s peace to each other. WE LISTEN TO GOD’S WORD Children’s Sermon Duet: Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, African American Spirtual, Arr. E. Frank CHERYL WARFIELD, SOPRANO; REUVEN ARISTIGUETA, TENOR Scripture Reading: John 2:1-11 (NRSV) The Wedding at Cana 2 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. 9 When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. Message: It’s a Celebration - Pastor Albert In this passage, Jesus kicked off a wedding celebration so insanely awesome that it changed the world we live in. And it is a celebration that is still going strong to this day. John 2:1-3 (NRSV) Proverbs 3:10 (NRSV) John 2:10 (MSG) Why would Jesus provide wine for this party? To give us the message that… In Christ we have an undeniable sense of . Romans 8:31 (NRSV) In Christ we are optimistic about the . Isaiah 25:6 (NRSV) In Christ we are abundantly . In Christ our deepest are met. John 10:10 (NRSV) WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD Time of Offering and Thanksgiving Your offering may be placed in the plate near the entrance door or sent to the church via check in the mail to: CCD, 39-50 Douglaston Parkway, Douglaston, NY 11363, or digitally through Tithe.ly: https://tithe.ly/give?c=1332203 or you may text the word “give” to (844) 997-1849 Offertory: My Lord, What a Morning, African American Spiritual - Chery Warfield, Soprano Doxology Old Hundredth Prayer of Dedication/Offering 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 debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and power, and the glory, forever. Amen. Closing Hymn: He’s got the Whole World in His Hands, African American Spiritual He’s got the whole world in his hands. He’s got the whole wide world in his hands. He’s got the whole world in his hands. He’s got the whole world in his hands. He’s got the wind and the rain in his hands. He’s got the wind and the rain in his hands. He’s got the wind and the rain in his hands. He’s got the whole world in his hands. He’s got the little bitty baby in his hands. He’s got the little bitty baby in his hands. He’s got the little bitty baby in his hands. He’s got the whole world in his hands. He’s got ev’rybody in his hands. He’s got ev’rybody in his hands. He’s got ev’rybody in his hands. He’s got the whole world in his hands. Benediction Postlude He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands, African American Spiritual - Arr. E. Frank