May 6 – Fifth Sunday of Easter

May 6 – Fifth Sunday of Easter

Acts 8:26–40

Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch.

 

Psalm 22:25–31 (VU p. 746 Parts Three and Four)

Praise God who has heard our call.

 

1 John 4:7–21

Everyone who loves is born of God.

 

John 15:1–8

Jesus is the true vine.

Spark

Have everyone stand in the centre aisle (or another appropriate place) on either side of a long, thick rope. Write a Call to Worship based on John 15 that has various members of different groups (e.g., age groups) within the congregation speaking and then taking hold of the rope until everyone is holding on—to become the vine.

Theme Engagement Question

Who has opened your eyes and heart to a new way of looking at faith or an aspect of faith you hadn’t considered before?

With Children

Bring an ivy or other potted vine plant to show. Talk to the children about where the leaves come from on a vine and how they get their nourishment. Assure them that, like a leaf that grows from the vine and finds its nourishment there, there is nothing special that they have to do to be a beloved part of Jesus’ vine except want to be there. Talk about the nourishment for our lives that we receive from Jesus.

Sermon Starter

Christians often think that they must go out and convince others to believe. We forget that God is at work in the hearts of people drawing those who will listen into relationship. As the reading from 1 John says, the love of God comes from God; we cannot instill it. Our role is to have our eyes open to the places where we can help a person to hear and respond to that voice that is already calling them from within. The Ethiopian eunuch was already worshipping and reading scripture, but Philip’s openness to the situation meant that the man received the needed instruction that led to his baptism.

Hymns

Book of Acts

VU 602            “Blest be the tie that binds”

VU 677            “O God of every nation”

MV 145           “Draw the circle wide”

MV 154           “Deep in our hearts”

 

Psalm

VU 377            “Holy Spirit, hear us”

VU 385            “Spirit divine, attend”

MV 2               “Come all you people”

 

Epistle

VU 367            “Come down, O love divine”

VU 658            “O Love that wilt not let me go”

MV 91             “Cradle me in your arms”

MV 101           “Jesus, you fill our hearts”

 

Gospel

VU 333            “Love divine, all loves excelling”

VU 371            “Open my eyes”

MV 102           “Jesus, your Spirit in us”