Let all that you do be done in love.

1 Corinthians 16:14

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 Flea@golden2.net 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 Annabelle620e@aol.com.

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: info@praymaker.com 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