THE LITURGY

07 May 2023 / 10:00 AM

PRELUDE Please turn off your mobile phones or put them on silent mode.
PROCESSIONAL
LIGHTING OF ALTAR CANDLES
CALL TO WORSHIP
Liturgist: God has called us together for this time of worship. God is listening to
our thoughts and God inclines an ear to us and hears us.
People: God knows us better than we know ourselves.
Liturgist: Let us open our hearts to the One who gives us life. Let us set our
faith and hope in God.
People: In one another’s presence, we renew our vows. Together we offer our
thanksgiving sacrifice.
Liturgist: God’s promises to us are ancient and ever new. God is with us here
and on all the roads we travel.
ALL: Together we lift our voices in songs of praise. Together we recognize we
are precious in God’s sight.

INVOCATION In unison
Wondrous God, present with us when we do not know it, valuing us when we do not
care for ourselves, planting in us the seed of Your word even when the soil of our
hearts is hard and unyielding, open our eyes to recognize You here. May we sense
Your presence next to us. May we hear Your voice. May we feel Your touch. May we
see You in one another and in the beauty all around us. May Your reality emerge deep
inside each life, transforming our thoughts and deeds and our relationship with one
another. Amen.

HYMN OF PRAISE
“I SING THE MIGHTY POWER OF GOD”

We sing the mighty power of God

that made the mountains rise,
that spread the flowing seas abroad
and built the lofty skies.
We sing the wisdom that ordained
the sun to rule the day;
the moon shines full at his command,
and all the stars obey.

2 We sing the goodness of the Lord

that filled the earth with food;
he formed the creatures with his word
and then pronounced them good.
Lord, how your wonders are displayed,
where'er we turn our eyes,
if we survey the ground we tread
or gaze upon the skies.
 3 There's not a plant or flower below
but makes your glories known,
and clouds arise and tempests blow
by order from your throne;
while all that borrows life from you
is ever in your care,
and everywhere that we can be,
you, God, are present there.

CALL TO CONFESSION
Liturgist: Peter preached: “Save yourselves from this crooked generation. Repent… so
your sins may be forgiven.” We participate in our society’s alienation from God. We
have joined the “me” generation in putting our own interests before all else.
We have much to confess before we can claim the wholeness God offers.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION In unison

O God, we confess that we rush through our days without recognizing Your presence
with us. We follow our busy diversions without reference to Your will for us. We strive
for financial success and personal recognition, while You call for obedience to truth and
genuine mutual love. Purify our souls, we pray, and redirect our priorities. May we be
born anew through Your living and enduring word. Amen.

SILENT MEDITATION [Soft music.]

WORDS OF ASSURANCE
Minister: The promise of forgiveness is for us and for our children, for everyone whom
God calls. The gift of the Holy Spirit is ours to receive. Lift up the cup of salvation every
day, and call on God’s name. Give thanks for the words and deeds of Jesus, who
revealed God’s love for us and enlists us as disciples and apostles.

CHURCH CONCERNS

Birthdays / Anniversaries
MAY
May 02 Daboy Labrado
May 03 Pastor Kyle Valdez
May 04 Gloria Liban
May 05 Alyn Manalo
May 05 John Mark Navarrete
May 06 Elijan Liban

SCHEDULE OF LITURGISTS
May 07 : Angie Manansala
May 14 : John Mark Navarrete
May 21 : Alicia Senturias
May 28 : Judy Gonzales
SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS ASSIGNMENTS
CYF 1 (Younger) - Pem
CYF 2 (Older) - Ed S.
Young Parents/Couple - Judy
Adult 1 - Alain
Adult 2 (Seniors) – Lina

SCHEDULE OF OFFERTORY USHERS

May 07 : Cel De Jesus / Chito De Jesus
May 14 : Rey Rosal / Jedidiah Rosal
May 21 : Alain Liban / Irene Liban
May 28 : John Mark / Vanny Navarrete

BIBLE STUDY SCHEDULES

Tuesdays & Wednesdays

Our Tuesdays & Wednesdays online Bible study sessions continue. We encourage
everyone to be a part of this continuing effort to nurture our faith and keep our spiritual
life growing.

Karangalan Village Bible Study Session

Our Bible Study Session in Karangalan Village will resume, on May 4. We are
reminding our karangalan village members to please take note of this schedule.

CHURCH OUTING
The venue of our church outing on May 6 is still being finalized as the one we have
earlier announced informed us that they cannot accommodate more than 50 persons.
Please wait for further advice on this.

UCCP 75TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

As we have been announcing, the UCCP will be celebrating its 75th founding
anniversary on May 25, 2023. The grand celebration will be held at the SMX
Convention Center in Mall of Asia (MOA) after a weeklong caravan from different points
all over the country. As a UCCP local congregation, Citadel is set to join the big affair.
We are now requesting those who are willing to join to please have your names listed.
We need to get the list names who are joining and submit to the conference for
monitoring and proper coordination. The church council has committed to house 10
guests who will need a place to stay the night following the event from different
conferences. Before they depart to return to their homes, we will give them a place to
sleep on and breakfast.

BOOK LAUNCH
Bishop's third book was successfully released last Friday, May 5, in front of a sizable
audience. The occasion was marked by outstanding reviews of a few church leaders
and theologians. A small group of invited singers created a lovely musical atmosphere,
that made the event even more amiable.

THE CHURCH AT PRAYER [Soft organ music.]

THE LORD’S PRAYER IN SONG
READING FROM THE SCRIPTURES Romans 15:1-7
*GLORIA PATRI

ANTHEM UCCP THE CITADEL CHURCH CHOIR

MESSAGE
“EMBRACING AND ACCEPTING ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE”
Bishop Jessie S. Suarez

SUNDAY SCHOOL

HYMN OF TRANSITION
“Break Thou the Bread of Life”

1 Break now the bread of life, dear Lord, to me,

as once you broke the loaves beside the sea.
Beyond the sacred page I seek you, Lord;
my spirit waits for you, O living Word.

2 Bless your own word of truth, dear Lord, to me,

as when you blessed the bread by Galilee.
Then shall all bondage cease, all fetters fall;
and I shall find my peace, my All in all!

3 You are the bread of life, dear Lord, to me,

your holy word the truth that rescues me.
Give me to eat and live with you above;
teach me to love your truth, for you are love.

4 O send your Spirit now, dear Lord, to me,

that he may touch my eyes and make me see.
Show me the truth made plain within your Word,
for in your book revealed I see you, Lord.

THE HOLY COMMUNION

CALL TO OFFERING
Liturgist: Our offerings are a sacrifice of thanksgiving in the spirit of Jesus, who gave
everything, even life itself, to proclaim God’s inclusive love.
ALL: God calls all people to become children of the promise, and to this end we
dedicate our gifts.

*DOXOLOGY
*OFFERING PRAYER In unison
Thank You, God, for the privilege of joining with Christ in the proclamation of Your love
for all people. May the ministries we support serve to unite people across all
differences, building up the body of Christ and reaching out to the world with healing
energy. Bless these gifts and all who give in any way to make Your love known. Amen.
*HYMN OF DEDICATION
“HE LEADETH ME”

1 He leadeth me: O blessed thought! O words with heavenly comfort fraught!

Whate'er I do, where'er I be, still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me.

Refrain:
He leadeth me, he leadeth me; by his own hand he leadeth me:
his faithful follower I would be, for by his hand he leadeth me.

2 Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom, sometimes where Eden's flowers bloom,
by waters calm, o'er troubled sea, still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me. Refrain

3 Lord, I would clasp thy hand in mine, nor ever murmur nor repine;
content, whatever lot I see, since 'tis my God that leadeth me. Refrain

4 And when my task on earth is done, when, by thy grace, the victory's won,
e'en death's cold wave I will not flee, since God through Jordan leadeth me. Refrain

*PRAYER AND BLESSING

Minister: We have been called away from a corrupt generation. We have been
ransomed from our futile ways. Life’s meaning is not to be found in silver and gold. We
have found new life in trusting God. We have been born anew through God’s enduring
word. We embrace a living faith and hope. We purify our souls through obedience to
the truth. We love one another deeply from the heart. Christ is alive in our midst. Christ
goes with us along all life’s roads. We go out to serve in Christ’s name. May the love of
Christ find expression in us. Amen.

RESPONSE IN SONG
(Refrain) “He Leadeth Me”

He leadeth me, he leadeth me; by his own hand he leadeth me:

his faithful follower I would be, for by his hand he leadeth me.

POSTLUDE
RECESSIONAL