Sunday Worship Service, April 19, 2020

BULLETIN TEXT

RIVIERA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
SUNDAY APRIL 19, 2020
2ND SUNDAY OF EASTER
DOUBTING THOMAS

Good Morning! We’re delighted that you are joining us today. We thank God for the gift of technology and the ability to worship together even when we are apart. Let us know you worshiped with us today by filling out the Friendship Form located on our website WORSHIP page as you scroll past the links to the worship aids for today’s service. www.rivierachurch.org.

If you are joining in via Facebook, please leave us a comment.

GATHERING

OPENING HYMN 

• • Hymn 246 “Christ is Alive!”

CHIMING OF THE HOUR AND WELCOMING THE LIGHT

GREETINGS – Rev. Martha M. Shiverick

CALL TO WORSHIP

One: For that which we can see,
All: We are in awe.
One: For that which we believe,
All: We are reverent.
One: For that which we hope,
All: We are empowered.
One: For that which we puzzle,
All: We are humbled.
One: Let us worship God!

OPENING PRAYER

God of signs and wonders, you have revealed to us that Jesus Christ is your son and our Savior. Strengthen our faith so that statement may have meaning and relevance to us in our daily lives. Amen.

CALL TO CONFESSION The Rev. Rosemary Noga Welton and The Rev. Dr. David Welton

God has been made known to us in deeds of power, signs and wonders, and will not abandon us if we confess the truth about our lives.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

(Adapted from The Litany of Trust written by Sister Faustina Maria Pia, SV)

From the belief that I have to earn your love,
Deliver me, O God.
From the fear that I am unlovable or that my life has no meaning or worth,
Deliver me, O God.
From the false security that I have what it takes,
Deliver me, O God.
From the fear that trusting you will leave me more destitute,
Deliver me, O God.
From all suspicion of your words and promises,
Deliver me, O God.
From anxiety about the future or the fear of being asked to give more that I have,
Deliver me, O God.
From resentment and excessive preoccupation with the past,
Deliver me, O God.
From disbelief in your love and presence in the midst of suffering and trial,
Deliver me, O God.
From the fear of what love demands,
Deliver me, O God.

Now hear our silent prayers….

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

My friends, God is our refuge and will not abandon us. So we can pray to you, God, as you are continually holding us, sustaining us, and loving us.

God, I trust in you.

That your love goes deeper than our sins and failings, and it transforms us.

God, I trust in you.

That not knowing what tomorrow brings is an invitation to lean on you.

God, I trust in you.

That you will not leave me and that you are present in the church.

God, I trust in you.

That you give me all the strength I need for what is asked.

God, I trust in you.

That my life is a gift and that you are my Lord and my God and that I am your beloved child.

God, I trust in you. Amen.

THE CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

CHORAL ANTHEM

• • This Easter Celebration (Carolyn Winfrey-Gillette)

THE WORD

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION – Jackie and Luke Fouche 

Guiding God, send your Holy Spirit upon the reading of your Word that it may serve to show us the path of life and lead us to your presence where there is fullness of joy.  Amen.

SCRIPTURE – John 20:19-31

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.  Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Jesus and Thomas

But Thomas (who was called the Twin[a]), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

The Purpose of This Book

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

SERMON – Rev. Martha M. Shiverick

• ‘The Doubters’ Club

HYMN

• • Hymn 817 “We Walk by Faith and Not by Sight”

RESPONSE

RESPONSE

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

This Prayer is made from responses given when I asked people to fill in the following sentence:

I doubt ____, but I have faith in ______. The liturgical response comes from Mark 9:24. ‘God, I do believe, help my unbelief.’

Dear God, We are all doubting Thomas. Whether we question ourselves, others, our government, or our faith, we live with uncertainty and doubt. As we hear the doubts of many, let us pray for certainty in our life, praying: God, I do believe, help my unbelief.

One wrote: I doubt that I will always feel God’s presence, but I trust that God is always with me.

God, I do believe, help my unbelief.

At times we doubt our leaders; some wrote: I doubt Trump, but I trust rational scientific people and I doubt Trump but I trust Fauci. Others said they put their trust in God instead of people.

God, I do believe, help my unbelief.

It is a difficult time we in which we are now living. People wrote of their fears, of frustration, of needing guidance, and wanting the ability to feel gratitude in this time. One wrote, I doubt what is really going on now in the world, but I trust God.

God I do believe, help my unbelief.

Doubt might be a human condition. One wrote: I doubt often and another wrote that I doubt frequently, but both trusted in God.

God, I do believe, help my unbelief.

God, we all doubting Thomas, and we yearn for a closer relationship with you. We pray that all might know your love and know that you are found within our love. We pray all this in Christ’s name and we also pray in the manner in which Christ taught, praying:

For the Lord’s Prayer we appreciate the diverse traditions and backgrounds that make up the Riviera family of faith, and encourage you to use whatever words for this prayer are meaningful for you.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Creator in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

CALL TO OFFERING

Siblings of God, we have no good apart from our Lord.

Therefore let us keep God at the forefront of our minds and give generously from all that we have been given, that others may also receive from the fullness of God.

INVITATION TO GIVE TITHES AND OFFERINGS

The Act of Gratitude

1. 1. You may donate today via credit/debit card by visiting our website at www.rivierachurch.org and clicking on the GIVE button
   2. You may download the free Give+ app (iOS & Android)
   3. You may consider setting up online payment via your bank bill-pay program.
   4. You may also mail in your check to the church at Riviera Presbyterian Church at 5275 Sunset Drive, Miami FL 33143

If you are a member of another church, please donate to them during this time.

SENDING

CHARGE AND BENEDICTION

CLOSING HYMN

• • Hymn 240 “Alleluia! Alleluia! Give Thanks”

Don’t forget to fill out the Friendship Form BELOW or leave us a comment on Facebook so we know you have worshipped with us today. Please also include any prayers which will be sent to our pastoral care team.

Riviera’s Food Pantry Ministry will be distributing food on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00 am – 12:00 noon on the east entrance of the sanctuary.

If you would like to shop for the food pantry the following items are desperately needed:

• • Peanut butter,
  • Pasta sauce,
  • Pasta,
  • Mac and cheese,
  • Soup,
  • Rice,
  • Beans,
  • Paper bags.
  • Please, NO condiments at this time.

Donations can be dropped off at the church Fellowship Hall doors on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 am – 12:00 noon. If you are ordering the food to be delivered please schedule them for Tuesdays or Thursdays.

We invite you to join us for next Sunday’s service as we celebrate Earth Day. Joining us will be

The Rev. Dr. Neddy Astudillo, Latin America Director and Florida Organizer of Green Faith.

Riviera Ukulele Ensemble Rehearsal will start today at 12:45pm via Zoom. Check your emails for the link.