let all that you do be done in love
TRANSCRIPT
Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 9, 2021
GATHERING AROUND GOD’S WORD
Prelude
Rhosymedre (Lovely) R. Vaughan Williams
Songs My Mother Taught Me Antonín Dvořák
Introit God Is Here Glenn Wonacott
God is here, reaching out to all who gather; God is here,
listening to the prayers of all. God is here, giving grace
where hearts are wounded; God is here, lifting lives after
a fall. God is here, calling us to find our passion; God is
here, teaching us to find ourselves. Reaching, listening,
giving grace, lifting lives to see God’s face. God is here,
showing why we all are here; for God is here.
**Call to Worship (responsively)
Leader: Blessed is God, who hears our prayers:
People: Whose steadfast love endures forever.
Leader: Christ’s command is to love each other the way
he loved us.
People: May we fulfill Christ’s command each day!
Leader: Christ was the perfect example of how we should
love one another.
People: With the help of God, we can strive for that
perfect ideal and bring peace to all we meet.
**Hymn Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above
Prayer of Confession (unison)
God of all love, we confess that we have fallen short of
your command to love one another. We have
gossiped, we have turned a cold shoulder to our
siblings who need our help and love, out of selfishness
or resentment. We imprison ourselves with our self-
seeking thoughts and ideas and forget your call to
bring peace and love to those we meet.
We ask you Lord to remove all barriers that bar us
from communion with our fellow human beings. Take
away all the old ideas we have in our minds that keep
us from being the people you want us to be. Give us
the strength and wisdom to be the beautiful people
you know we can be. Let us fulfill your will for us and
show the world what it means to be a Christian.
Amen.
Silent Confession
Declaration of Pardon (responsively)
Leader: In Christ we have the best example of One who
forgives sinners.
People: Let us love as Christ did and be a light to all
we meet.
Leader: Christ was the light of the world.
People: Let us all be lights in the world in his name.
Leader: Friends, believe the good news of the gospel.
People: In Jesus Christ, we are a new creation.
**Gloria Patri #581
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy
Ghost; as it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall
be, world without end. Amen, Amen.
**Passing of the Peace (responsively)
Leader: Christ is risen!
People: He is risen indeed!
Leader: Through Christ we have the source of peace.
People: Let us all turn to Christ and share our joy
and peace with all we meet.
Leader: The peace of Christ be with you all.
People: And also with you.
PROCLAIMING GOD’S WORD
Prayer of Illumination (unison)
Gracious God, you gave us the Prince of Peace, Jesus
Christ, to be with us in our earthly journey. Loving
Lord, you also gave us the gift of the scriptures to
help guide us on our way. Open our hearts, minds,
and ears to hear your word. Through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Scripture Lesson Acts 10:44-48 44 While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell
upon all who heard the word. 45 The circumcised
believers who had come with Peter were astounded that
the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on
the Gentiles, 46 for they heard them speaking in tongues
and extolling God. Then Peter said, 47 ”Can anyone
withhold the water for baptizing these people who have
received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 So he
ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
Then they invited him to stay for several days.
Leader: The word of God for the people of God.
People: Thanks be to God!
Scripture Lesson Psalm 98 1 O sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things.
His right hand and his holy arm
have gotten him victory. 2 The Lord has made known his victory;
he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the
nations. 3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the victory of our God. 4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises. 5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody. 6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord. 7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who live in it. 8 Let the floods clap their hands;
let the hills sing together for joy 9 at the presence of the Lord, for he is coming
to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.
Leader: The word of God for the people of God.
People: Thanks be to God!
Anthem
Beloved, If God So Loved Us James Rogers
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one
another. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and
His love is perfected in us.
Scripture Lesson John 15:9-17 9 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide
in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will
abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s
commandments and abide in his love. 11 I have said these
things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your
joy may be complete. 12 ”This is my commandment, that
you love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has
greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s
friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command
you. 15 I do not call you servants any longer, because the
servant] does not know what the master is doing; but I
have called you friends, because I have made known to
you everything that I have heard from my Father. 16 You
did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you
to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father
will give you whatever you ask him in my name. 17 I am
giving you these commands so that you may love one
another.
Leader: The word of God for the people of God.
People: Thanks be to God!
Sermon “Love One Another”
Brian Louis, Seminarian, preaching
RESPONDING TO GOD’S WORD
**Hymn We Are One in the Spirit
**Affirmation of Faith (unison) The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of
heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son,
our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born
of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead and buried; he descended into
hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he
ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of
God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come
to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy
Ghost, the holy catholic church, the communion of
saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the
body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
Welcome and Announcements
Solo
Eternal Life - A Prayer of St. Francis Olive Dungan
Corinne Wallace-Crane, soloist
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace; Where there
is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light; Where there is sadness,
joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to
understand, to be loved as to love; For it is in giving that
we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; It is
in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Prayers of the People the Lord’s Prayer (“debts”)
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 the power and the glory,
forever. Amen.
Prayer Response
Love Is The Spirit of This Church Thomas Matthews
Love is the spirit of this church, and service is its law.
This is our great covenant: to dwell together in peace, to
seek the truth, and to help one another.
BEARING THE WORD OUT INTO THE WORLD
**Hymn Now Thank We All Our God
**The Charge and the Benediction
**Benediction
The Lord Bless You and Keep You John Rutter
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face
to shine upon you and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift
up the light of his countenance upon you and give you
peace. Amen.
Postlude A Festive Trumpet Tune Gilbert Martin
Thanks to Those Assisting in Our Service
Liturgists: Pastor Neff and Leah Smith
Livestream Operator: Lisa Armstrong
OUR MISSION AND VISION
Mission Statement: We are a diverse and inclusive
community bringing people to Christ through the power
of service, education, hospitality and compassion.
Vision Statement: Second Presbyterian Church seeks to
be a diverse, vibrant and passionate Christ-centered
community of hospitality and outreach actively serving
the South Loop, the city of Chicago, and the world. We
accomplish this through inspirational worship in our
historic sanctuary, educational ministry to all ages, and
the power of compassionate service to our neighbors.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Worship Welcome to Second Presbyterian Church. All are
welcome regardless of ethnicity, economic group or
sexual orientation to share together in the joy and power
of God’s love in Jesus Christ.
We open for in-person worship. Worship is live-streamed
on our website 2ndPresbyterian.org each Sunday
morning. Join us at 11:00 a.m. for the worship. The
sanctuary doors will open at 10:30 a.m.
If you are new to Second Presbyterian Church, please
sign a blue visitor’s card and leave your email address as
you exit the sanctuary.
Our guest tenor today is Mr. Nole Jones.
The flowers in the sanctuary are given by Barbara
Crawford and Barbara Floyd, “in memory of our loving
mothers.”
Second Church is a praying congregation! Please sign a
yellow prayer card and note any prayer requests so that
we may pray with you and for you.
The Bowman family is proud to announce that Jillian
Elizabeth Bowman will be attending the Pritzker School
of Medicine at the University of Chicago. In June of
2020, she completed her undergraduate degree at the
College of the University of Chicago. Jillian graduated
with Honors with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Then
she spent a year teaching as part of City Year Chicago,
an AmeriCorps program. She will begin medical school
in August. Jillian is the daughter of Karen Ashley-
Bowman (church member) and Dr. Steven Bowman. She
is the granddaughter of Dr. Glenda Manley Ashley
(church member) and Dr. William Ashley.
We are taking prayer requests. You can submit them by
clicking this link https://forms.gle/72RzSMc9tAA7y5st8
so that we can pray with you and for you. All prayer
requests will go to Pastor Neff and our Office
Administrator Ashley McLean. There is an option to
mark whether or not your prayer is private.
An Inquirer’s Class for those considering membership
will be offered on Sunday, May 23rd at 9:30 a.m. in the
pastor’s study. The class will go over Presbyterian
history, theology, worship and polity. We will also
explore ways to get involved at Second Presbyterian
Church. All are welcome. For more information, please
contact Pastor Neff or the church office.
Bible Studies:
We welcome you to join our Sunday morning and
Tuesday afternoon Bible Study Classes. If you would like
the curriculum, please contact the church office. The
conference call number: (312) 248-0036. No PIN
required.
Sunday morning Bible Study 9:30 a.m.
Tuesday afternoons Philippians 1:30 p.m.
Alpha to Omega Bible Discussion Group: The Alpha
to Omega Discussion group is in the New Testament.
Meetings are on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month at
6 p.m. Please use this phone number: (312) 248-0036
(No pin is required). For more information contact Flea
Parker at [email protected] or (210) 861-6988.
RIM (Recreation and Interest Ministries) Committee:
Book Group: Our next book of discussion is The Sultan
of Byzantium by Selcuk Altun. Please email Ann
Belletire if you would like to join this very lively
discussion group at [email protected].
Time: May 16th 2021 at 9:30 a.m. central time
Join Zoom Meeting: Click Here
Or Call: (312) 626-6799
Meeting ID: 868 6496 0108
Passcode: 726317
Support Our Mission and Ministry: The work of the
church is critical in this time of crisis. Our ministry
continues to grow in creative and innovative ways. You
may now give your offering on the Second Presbyterian
Church website at www.2ndpresbyterian.org. Look for
the “Donate” button and scroll down, following the
prompts. Thank you for your faithful giving!
Connect with Us: Dr. Neff’s sermons, poetry and
reflections on ministry can be found in his blog:
www.davidneff.me. To obtain copies of sermons, please
contact the church office.
PRAYER REQUESTS (please pray for the following)
Deborah Odoi – God’s strength as they grieve for
husband and father loss
Ann and Mike Belletire – Patrick Connors; Bob
Wasmund; Darnell Grayson
Alice Sam – my daughter; to gain employment
Nate Battle – Pastor Neff; our congregation
Ochiabutor family – Princess has successful surgrey;
prayers for speedy recovery; God’s protection on Jr.
Davina O. – the family and friends of Terrance Clarke;
recovery for Brandon Boston
Lisa Armstrong – Randy Grippe and Jane Dolan; Jane is
struggling with medical diagnosis and treatments
Pastor Neff – the Presbyterian Synod of Cameroon; for
all pastors, elders and churches living under persecution
Praymaker was started by Paige & Peter Braxton of Second Presbyterian as a way to share the healing power of hope and prayer with others.
Praymaker is a website where people can request a prayer from a spiritual leader of their choice and have it sent it to someone in their lives. Our lives are filled with celebration, sorrow, and hope, and in these moments, the right words are sometimes hard to find. Praymaker is personalized prayer delivered.
1) Request a prayer on www.praymaker.com 2) Spiritual leader creates a personalized prayer. 3) The audio is texted to your loved one.
Praymaker is looking for community members interested in joining Paige & Peter in this ministry. There are many ways to help and support.
To learn more e-mail us at: [email protected] Visit: www.praymaker.com
The Session Reverend Dr. David M. Neff, Pastor
Darlene Pollard, Clerk
2021
Dr. Cliff Crawford
Anthony
Ochiabutor
Vicki Reynolds
2022
Darlene Pollard
Howard Tiffen
Amy Haack
2023
Lisa Armstrong
Karen Ashley-
Bowman
Ozzie Kinnard
The Board of Deacons
Jane Tiffen, President
Jeremy Nichols, Secretary
2021
Denise Conway
Catherine
Soberekon
Tracy Cargo
2022
Jeremy Nichols
Francis Osazuwa
Jane Tiffen
2023
Nate Battle
Sharon Singer
Margaret Robinson
Church Staff
Reverend Dr. David M. Neff, Pastor
Michael Shawgo, Music Director
Ashley McLean, Office Administrator
Marco Alberto, Sexton
Brian Louis, Seminarian
Second Presbyterian Quartet
Sherry Watkins, soprano
Corinne Wallace-Crane, alto
John Concepcion, tenor
Vince Wallace, bass
Diverse. Inclusive. Community. Engaging. Passionate
SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
2ndPresbyterian.org 1936 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60616