RIVIERA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
WORSHIP SERVICE – MAY 2, 2021
11:00 am EST
DOWNLOAD TODAY’S WORSHIP BULLETIN HERE: 05-02-2021 Bulletin Script.pdf
Reconciliation | this sermon series defines the DNA of Riviera Church.
But we should never rest on our laurels as these issues are the issues of our day and the ones to which we are called as a Matthew 25 Church – by building a vital congregation who is working towards dismantling structural racism and eradicating systemic poverty.
CHIMING OF THE HOUR & WELCOMING THE LIGHT
GREETINGS — Rev. Martha Shiverick
Welcome and thank you for connecting with us in our digital sacred space united in community. Let us know you worshiped with us by filling out the Friendship Form located on our website https://rivierachurch.org/ If you are joining us via Facebook or YouTube, please check in or leave us a comment so we know you worshiped with us. You may also share any prayer requests or joys which will be sent to our pastoral care team. Don’t forget to keep checking our main social media outlets, Facebook and Instagram, for up- to-date information, find us @RivieraChurch
CALL TO WORSHIP — Vivian and John German
One: From the ends of the earth we are gathered together in this worship service.
All: The poor, and the rich, the joyful and the sorrowful, the honored, and the despised.
One: All are gathered in this one online worshipping community.
All: And we are here to reflect how God’s love embraces all of us.
We have come from many worlds and are worshipping from home in many locations, but we worship God as one family called Riviera!
Let us together worship God!
CALL TO CONFESSION — Annie Castro and Alejandra Rondon
When we are in bondage, God offers to set us free. When we are poor, God in Christ identifies with us and offers us riches money cannot buy. When we are lonely and discouraged, the Holy Spirit is our Comforter, pointing us beyond ourselves. Everyone who calls on God, our Creator and Parent, for help will be saved. Let us together seek the healing only God can provide.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
O God, we confess that we have not acknowledged you as the source of our successes, our substance, our selves. We have been far more ready to complain when things go wrong that to praise when all is well. We have fed ourselves a rich diet while neglecting to feed our souls. Power and wealth have assumed greater importance to us than sensitivity and service. We have allowed religious words and forms to substitute for living encounters with the persons you have called us to love.
Forgive us, compassionate Creator, and grant us the opportunity to start over again in this new week and month. Keep us from repeating the mistakes of the past or from new evils that could mislead or destroy. We offer our earnest prayers for pardon and deliverance. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
God hears our cries and forgives all who are penitent and believing. God provides the resources for our rescue and redemption. Whoever trusts God will not be disappointed. Whoever reaches out to others in the Spirit of Christ will know the joy of God’s love. You are forgiven. You are accepted. You are loved. Share these gifts.
CHILDREN’S SERMON — Anna Rosas
CHILDREN’S SONG
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- Hymn 399: ‘Alleluia, Alleluia, Give Thanks’
THE WORD
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION — Vivian and John German
Come, Holy Spirit, that through your word we may be guided into the love of God for all the world. Amen.
CHORAL ANTHEM
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- “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light”
SCRIPTURE — Vivian and John German
2 Corinthians 5: 16-21
From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. 17 So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. 20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
PRAYER FOR RECONCILIATION:
Holy God, we believe that you want to bring about true justice and lasting
peace on earth; we believe that you are, in a special sense, the God of the suffering, the poor, and the downtrodden. We praise you who gives justice to the oppressed and bread to the hungry; who sets captives free and makes the blind to see; who protects strangers, orphans, and widows and obstructs the plans of the wicked. In your mercy, hear our prayer. Amen.
– – Adapted from Book of Common Worship Page 613
SERMON
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- ‘In Seeking Reconciliation’
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND LORD’S PRAYER – Doreen Ruggiero
Let us pray for all creation in praying for the good of the earth, saying,
God who makes us one, hear our prayer.
Word of life reveal the wonder of your world to all people.
Show us anew what lives around us, over us, beneath us, within us. Enliven the church with your Spirit, that we may honor your earth with responsible care.
God who makes us one, hear our prayer.
Giver of all good things bring trust and sympathy to the nations of the world. Let peacemakers reign wherever there is conflict.
Give wisdom to leaders and hope to the poor.
God who makes us one, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, as we enter the month where our Hurricane season begins, uphold our siblings who endure disasters caused by weather or war, famine, COVID and other sicknesses, or greed. Strengthen all who are in peril as we know you are our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble. God who makes us one, hear our prayer.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
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.
Our Creator, who art in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kin-dom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kin-dom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Be in the Know – read the bulletin and see what opportunities for ministry you are interested in making a connection with, events to participate in and classes to expand your faith journey in.
CALL TO OFFERING — Rev. Martha Shiverick
Offering what we have for the sake of others is a discipline, of letting go of our possessions, our time, and even ourselves to extend the gospel witness into the world. Through our offerings, O God, give your loving Spirit to a world in need of comfort. Amen.
INVITATION TO GIVE TITHES AND OFFERINGS
The Act of Gratitude
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You may donate today via credit/debit card by visiting our website at www.rivierachurch.org/give and clicking on the GIVE button or use the scan me code below with your phone camera.- You may download the free Give+ app (iOS & Android)
- You may consider setting up online payment via your bank bill pay program.
- 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.
The 2021 Per Capita is $37 per member. Each church is asked to pay this annual apportionment. If you would like to help us defray the cost, we welcome your donation. You may donate online https://www.rivierachurch.org/give under Per Capita.
DOXOLOGY: AN EXPRESSION OF FAITH TO GOD
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise God, all creatures here below;
Praise God, ye hosts in heaven above;
Praise God, the Trinity of Love. Amen
INVITATION TO COMMUNION
After the last hymn we will go into the Zoom Communion Service
Meeting ID 829-1129-7119 | Passcode 056833
INSTRUCTIONS PRIOR TO COMMUNION
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- Prepare a space for communion.
- Light a candle and place it on your table, with bread and a cup filled with wine or grape juice;
- Add any other items (bible or cross) that will make your table a spiritual and holy place.
COMMUNION HYMN
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- Hymn 729: “Lord, I Want to Be a Christian”
PRAYER OF PREPARATION
Let us pray.
God, we ask you to be present with us as we meet knowing that you transcend our physical distance from one another. You are not tied to time or space and you part the veil between us as we come together to share your holy meal. We know that we are only a computer or phone screen apart and that through this sacrament we are your body whether physically distanced or together. Amen.
INVITATION TO THE TABLE
At Riviera Church we practice open communion. You need not be a member of Riviera or any church to share in this sacramental meal. Communion is a tactile, sensory experience where we symbolically serve a meal that has been handed down to us from the ancient Hebrews at their Passover Table and adapted by Jesus as he shared his last meal with his disciples. You are invited to participate in this communion in any way that fits your faith journey at this time. Taste the love that we share together even in this time of worshipping online.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
One: The Lord be with you.
All: And also, with you.
One: Lift up your hearts!
All: We lift them up to the Lord.
One: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
God, we thank you for this holy time, when even though we are separated by space out of our love and respect for each other, we have the ability to come together in other ways. You have called us to be your church, your body, your hands and heart, and although we dearly miss our community, within this virus we realize that you call us to ministry outside our church building in the world you have created.
Through your son Jesus, we have learned the great power of love and forgiveness. We live using Christ’s life and ministries of caring for others as our model. We welcome all to our community. And we thank you that You send us to befriend the lost, to serve the poor, to reconcile our enemies, and share your message of unconditional love and acceptance to a hurting world.
O God form the minds of your faithful people into a single will. Make us love
what you command and desire what you promise, that, amid all the changes of this world, our hearts may be fixed where true joy is to be found; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Heavenly Creator, we thank you for these gifts of bread and wine which are at my table and also at the tables of our homes. May they be for us a holy and spiritual meal where we feel your presence. May they feed us to continue the ministry of Riviera to which you call us. Amen.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION THE COMMUNION
THE PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
God, here at our tables you feed us with bread and wine and as much as we would like to stay here together in this protected ZOOM room with the people we love, you send us back to our work – only it is no longer the same work because we know that you are with us and in us, shaping and transforming us to be your witnesses in the world. We are your hands and heart working for justice, peace, and reconciliation in all your creation. Nourished in body, mind, and spirit, may all that we say and do give you glory. Amen.
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
After the communion worship service you are invited to remain in the Zoom Room for Holy Grounds Fellowship Gathering:
This is a time to connect with one another and if you are new to our worship service we extend an invitation to join and introduce yourself. We would love to meet you!
Thank you for worshipping online. Take a moment to fill out the Friendship Form below on our website to let us know you worshiped with us. You may also share any prayer requests or joys which will be sent to our pastoral care team.
If you would like to be added to our mailing list, please send us an email at rivierachurch@gmail.com.
Are you ready to dig deeper into the scripture passage for this Sunday’s Sermon? Begin Your Sunday Morning with Zoom Online Adult Bible Study Class
10:00 am – 10:30 am
This is a great opportunity to study Sunday’s sermon liturgy with Pastor Missy.
Meeting 860-148-3445 / Password: 2708
MOTHERS DAY
send your 10 -15 second video in to Robertson Adams (robertson.adams@gmail.com) by MONDAY MAY 3rd and it will be a part of the worship service Sunday, May 9th.
Did you enjoy watching The Chronicles of Narnia movies?
Here is an opportunity to continue the journey with the Youth Reading Group
Upper Elementary and up. You don’t need to have the book. Just log in on Sundays at 3:45 pm
Email Anna at rivierapreschristianed@gmail.com to obtain the Zoom Meeting information.
MUSIC CREDITS
Video and audio were recorded by various members of the church staff and members for the purpose of providing online worship to all and produced by Robertson Adams Digital, Inc.
Reprinted/streamed with permission under ONE LICENSE#A-713957. All rights reserved.
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- Be Thou My Vision #03338 Contributors: David Evans Tune: © 1927, Oxford University Press
- Alleluia, Alleluia, Give Thanks #22011Donald Fishel Words and Music
- I Want To Walk As A Child of the Light #60-9019 Text & Music ©1970,1975 Celebration
Public Domain Hymns
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- Lord I Want To Be a Christian
FRIENDSHIP FORM
