Sunday April 26th Worship Service

(“The Good Shepherd” Dupre, Julien 1851-1910, Painting California Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco, CA, US)

©Order of Worship for Sunday April 26, 2026

Fourth Sunday of Easter

For the Avent Ferry UMC Worship Video Click Here Link (Link opens in a new window) 

Prelude:……..“Precious Lord, Take My Hand”………..Greg D.
Words and Music: Thomas A. Dorsey,  1932 © 1938 Hill & Range Songs
 
Coming of the Light:
 
Greetings:…………………………………………Pastor Liz
 
Announcements:………………………………………….Lorri B.
 
Call to Worship:…………………………………………….Ian D.
Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed.
 
Opening Prayer:…………….Psalm 23………………..Ian D.
 
A Psalm of David
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
he makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

Opening Hymns:……“Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us” #381 UMH
Words: Attr. to Dorothy A. Thrupp, 1836
Music: William B. Bradbury, 1859
 
1. Savior, like a shepherd lead us, much we need thy
tender care; in thy pleasant pastures feed us, for our
use thy folds prepare.  Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Thou hast bought us, thine we are.  Blessed Jesus!
blessed Jesus! Thou hast bought us, thine we are.
 
2. We are thine, thou dost befriend us, be the guardian
of our way; keep thy flock, from sin defend us, seek
us when we go astray. Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Hear, O hear us when we pray. Blessed Jesus, blessed
Jesus! Hear, O hear us when we pray.

3. Thou hast promised to receive us, poor and sinful
though we be; thou hast mercy to relieve us, grace to
cleanse and power to free. Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
We will early turn to thee.  Blessed Jesus, blessed
Jesus! We will early turn to thee.
 
4. Early let us seek thy favor, early let us do thy will;
blessed Lord and only Savior, with thy love our bosoms
fill.  Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast loved us,
love us still. Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast
loved us, love us still.
 
“Gentle Shepherd”  #3096 W&S
Words: Gloria Gaither  Music: William J. Gaither © 1974
William J. Gaither, Inc.
 
Gentle Shepherd, come and lead us, for we need you to
help us find our way.  Gentle Shepherd, come and feed
us, for we need your strength from day to day.  There’s
no other we can turn to who can help us face another
day; gentle Shepherd, come and lead us, for we
need you to help us find our way.
 
Passing of the Peace:.………………………………Pastor Liz
Let us offer signs of reconciliation and peace to one another.
 
Gloria Patri:………“Glory Be to the Father” #71 UMH
Words: Lesser Doxology, 3rd-4th century
Music: Henry W. Greatorex, 1851
 
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.
 
Sign of the Resurrection:……………………..Samantha M.
 
Giving of our tithes and offerings……..…….Pastor Liz
You can do this with no fee through your bank’s online bill pay option. It is easy to set up for automatic monthly giving. Or, you can use this link: Online Giving
 
Offertory:…“Christ the Lord is Risen Today”…Handbell Choir
Arr. by Sondra K. Tucker ASCAP © 2020 by Sondra Tucker
 
Offertory Response:………… “The Doxology”………..#94 UMH
Words: Thomas Ken, 1674 Music: Geistliche Kirchengesänge, 1623; Adapt. © 1989 The United Methodist Publishing House
.
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise God,
all creatures here below: Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise God the
source of all our gifts! Praise Jesus Christ, whose power up-lifts!  Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
 
Prayer After Receiving:……………………………..Pastor Liz
 
Sign of the Resurrection:……………………………….Lusi R.
 
Prayers of the People:……………………………….Pastor Liz
 
Anthem:…………..“The Strife Is O’er”…………..Handbell Choir
Arr. by Sondra K. Tucker © 2020 by Sondra Tucker
 
Gospel Lesson:………….John 10:1-10……………Ian D.
Christ the shepherd
Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.  All who came before me are thieves and bandits, but the sheep did not listen to them.  I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

Hymn of Preparation:… “Lead Me, Guide Me” #2214 TFWS
Words and Music: Doris Akers
© 1953 Doris Akers, admin. By Unichappell Music, Inc.
 
Refrain
Lead me, guide me, along the way, for if you lead
me, I cannot stray. Lord, let me walk each day with
thee. Lead me, O Lord, lead me.
 
1. I am weak and I need thy strength and power
to help me over my weakest hour.  Help me
through the darkness thy face to see,
Lead me, O Lord, lead me.
Refrain
Lead me, guide me, along the way, for if you lead
me, I cannot stray. Lord, let me walk each day with
thee. Lead me, O Lord, lead me.
 
2. Help me tread in the paths of righteousness, Be my
aid when Satan and sin oppress.  I am putting all
my trust in thee. Lead me, O Lord, lead me.
Refrain
Lead me, guide me, along the way, for if you lead
me, I cannot stray. Lord, let me walk each day with
thee. Lead me, O Lord, lead me.
 
3. I am lost if you take your hand from me, I am
blind without thy Light to see, Lord, just always
let me thy servant be. Lead me, O Lord, Lead me.
Refrain
Lead me, guide me, along the way, for if you lead
me, I cannot stray. Lord, let me walk each day with
thee. Lead me, O Lord, lead me.
 
Sermon:………………………………………………..Pastor Liz
 
Closing Hymn:……“Since Jesus Came into My Heart”  #2140 TFWS
Words: R.H. McDaniel Music: Charles H. Gabriel
 
1. What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought
since Jesus came into my heart!
I have light in my soul for which long I had sought,
since Jesus came into my heart!
Refrain
Since Jesus came into my heart, since Jesus came into
my heart, floods of joy o’er my soul like the sea billows
roll, since Jesus came into my heart.
 
2. I have ceased from my wandering and going astray,
since Jesus came into my heart!
And my sins, which were many, are all washed away,
since Jesus came into my heart!
 
Refrain
Since Jesus came into my heart, since Jesus came into
my heart, floods of joy o’er my soul like the sea billows
roll, since Jesus came into my heart.
 
3. I’m possessed of a hope that is steadfast and sure,
since Jesus came into my heart!
And no dark clouds of doubt now my pathway obscure,
since Jesus came into my heart!
Refrain
Since Jesus came into my heart, since Jesus came into
my heart, floods of joy o’er my soul like the sea billows
roll, since Jesus came into my heart.
 
4. There’s a light in the valley of death now for me,
since Jesus came into my heart!
And the gates of the City beyond I can see,
since Jesus came into my heart!
Refrain
Since Jesus came into my heart, since Jesus came into
my heart, floods of joy o’er my soul like the sea billows
roll, since Jesus came into my heart.
 
5. I shall go there to dwell in that City, I know,
since Jesus came into my heart!
And I’m happy, so happy, as onward I go,
since Jesus came into my heart!
Refrain
Since Jesus came into my heart, since Jesus came into
my heart, floods of joy o’er my soul like the sea billows
roll, since Jesus came into my heart.
 
Dismissal with Blessing:……………………Pastor Liz
 
Postlude:…………………………………………………………

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Join Avent Ferry UMC for our Annual Church BBQ Fundraiser. On Saturday May 2, 2026 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm

• Single BBQ Plates are $20.00 and include pulled pork BBQ, potato salad, coleslaw, cornbread, a dessert and a drink. (Vegan BBQ also available).
• Family Dinner Package (3 Dinner Plate combo) are $50.00 and include pulled pork BBQ, potato salad, coleslaw, cornbread, a dessert and a drink. (Vegan BBQ also available).

You can add a tip if you would like by selecting the Regular + Tip option at checkout, which will add $2.00 to each dinner.

Thank you for your support!

Tickets can be purchased from any of our Church members prior to the event, on the day of the event, or online using link below: Buy Here (link will open in a new window)