Third Sunday of Easter – Theme: Redemption April 18, 2021 – 8:30 AM VIRTUAL WORSHIP with ASL Interpretation 406 Main Street Odessa, DE 19730 302-378-2420 www.stpaulsodessa.org

WE ENTER GOD’S GATES WITH PRAISE WELCOME WITH MUSIC AND IMAGES Prelude: Jesus Paid It All Amy Brown Mark Holden, Photographer & Curator WELCOME Rev. Kevin Benjamin CALL TO WORSHIP Jordan Rodriguez Let us test and examine our ways and return to the Lord! Let us lift up our hearts and hands to God in heaven! Let us proclaim in all the world the glory due God's name! Let us bring our offerings into the courts of Almighty God! Let us come together and bring praise for our salvation in Christ! Blessed be the name of the Lord! OPENING HYMN: Spirit Song Duane Dillard Katelynn Scott & Nancee Bleistine Verse 1: O let the Son of God enfold you, With His Spirit and His love, Let Him fill your heart and satisfy your soul. O let Him have the things that hold you, And His Spirit like a dove, Will descend upon your life and make you whole. Chorus: Jesus, O Jesus, Come and fill Your lambs. Jesus, O Je- sus, Come and fill Your lambs. Verse 2: O come and sing this song with gladness, As your hearts are filled with joy. Lift your hands in sweet surrender to His name. O give Him all your tears and sadness, Give Him all your years of pain, And you'll enter into life in Jesus' name. Chorus: Jesus, O Jesus, Come and fill Your lambs. Jesus, O Jesus, Come and fill Your lambs. OPENING PRAYER Jordan Rodriguez Morning has broken like the first morning, blackbird has spoken like the first bird. Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning! Praise for them, springing fresh from the Word! Sweet the rain's new fall sunlit from heaven, like the first dewfall on the first grass, Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden, sprung in completeness where His feet pass. Ours is the sunlight! Ours is the morning born of the one light Eden saw play! Praise with elation, praise every morning, God's recreation, of the new day! CHILDREN’S TIME: I Thank You Jesus I thank You, Jesus. I thank You, Jesus. I thank You, Jesus, I thank You Lord, oh, You’ve brought me from a mighty, a mighty long way, a mighty long way. I thank You, Jesus, I thank You, Jesus, I thank You, Jesus, I thank You Lord; oh, You’ve brought me from a mighty, a mighty long way, a mighty long way. Ellie Leuliette shares a blessing with our children! LENTEN SLIDESHOW AFFIRMATION OF FAITH 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 Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at 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 Spirit, the Universal church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. Gloria Patria 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. EPISTLE SCRIPTURE Acts 3:12-19 Jordan Rodriguez, Liturgist When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godli- ness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Ja- cob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see. “Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, One: May this story inspire us all All: To walk in the way that leads to life. HYMN OF PREPARATION: Blessed Assurance Duane Dillard Katelynn Scott & Nancee Bleistine Verse 1: Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood. Refrain: This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long; this is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long. Verse 2: Perfect submission, perfect delight, visions of rapture now burst on my sight; angels descending bring from above echoes of mercy, whispers of love. Refrain: This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long; this is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long. Verse 3: Perfect submission, all is at rest; I in my Savior am happy and blest, watching and waiting, looking above, filled with his good- ness, lost in his love. Refrain: This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long; this is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long. THE MESSAGE: Redemption Rev. Ryan Scott WE GIVE THANKS INVITATION TO THE WAY OF CHRIST: Family Prayer Song Come and fill our homes With Your presence, You alone are worthy of our reverence. As for me and my house, We will serve the Lord, As for me and my house, We will serve the Lord, As for me and my house, We will serve the Lord, We will serve the Lord. Lord, we vow to live holy, Bowing our knees to You only. As for me and my house, We will serve the Lord, As for me and my house, We will serve the Lord, As for me and my house, We will serve the Lord, We will serve the Lord. OFFERTORY PRAYER On my own what I have to give doesn't amount to much in the light of all you have given to me and in the face of so much need. Put together as a congregation, what we offer you here in love becomes more, not simply added together, but somehow multiplied in its usefulness. We ask you to bless our gifts and with the addition of your blessing, just as it was with the loaves and fishes, there is enough for all. Amen. THE OFFERING http://www.stpaulsodessa.org/VANCOOnlineGiving Today’s YELLOW HAT mission offering supports Cystic Fibrosis. Yellow Hat total for March was $957.00. Thank you for your generous donations. Offertory: Amazing Grace Amy Brown PASTORAL PRAYER Rev. Kevin Benjamin Lord of Dawn and Darkness, how grateful we are for your loving mercies. You saw our fear and doubt, our suspicion, our mistrust, and you banished them from our lives, replacing them with hope, peace, love, and joy. You called us to be your witnesses, to all the world, unafraid of what others might think or say about us. We have been invited out of our darkened hideaways, into the light of your world as emissaries of hope and justice, peace and compassion. Be with us, as we participate in ministries of healing and hope through this church, in our community, region, nation, and world. Give us courage and strength to be your disciples in all the circumstances of our lives; for we ask this in Jesus’ Name. AMEN. THE LORD’S PRAYER Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed by thy name, Thy kingdom come, thy will done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil, For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. SILENT PRAYER MEDITATION SONG PRAYER OF CONFESSION Jordan Rodriguez God our Redeemer, you have saved your people through Jesus Christ, your Son. You have delivered your people out of slavery to sin and have freed us into new life. Yet, we still wander through the wilderness of our sins. How quickly we forget who you are. How quickly we forget all our blessings. How quickly we forget all your good commandments that guide our new lives in Jesus Christ. Forgive us of our sins. Renew our hearts and minds that we may understand the Gospel. Give us ears to hear and eyes to see the sweet hope of faith in Christ. Return us to the covenant that you swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. Continue to establish us as your people. Free us from the idols that ensnare us, and bind us to your grace. HOLY COMMUNION Rev. Kevin Benjamin PRAYER OF SALVATION Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. WE GO IN THE SPIRIT SENDING FORTH SENDING HYMN: Shout to the Lord Duane Dillard Katelynn Scott & Nancee Bleistine Verse: My Jesus, my Savior, Lord there is none like You, All of my days I want to praise. The wonders of Your mighty love. My com- fort, my shelter, Tower of refuge and strength, Let every breath, all that I am, Never cease to worship You. Chorus: Shout to the Lord all the Earth, let us sing, Power and maj- esty, praise to the King Mountains bow down and the seas will roar, At the sound of Your name I sing for joy at the work of Your hands, Forever I'll love You, for- ever I'll stand Nothing compares to the promise I have in You. COMMUNITY CHURCH INTERVIEW Phyllis Burris & Nancee Bleistine BENEDICTION Rev. Kevin Benjamin Fix your eyes on the Lord. Place your hand in His Hand, trusting in his guiding and comfort. Go into this world, that needs so much the words of healing love, and bring the good news of God’s absolute love and presence to all people. Go in peace. AMEN. ANNOUNCEMENTS & POSTLUDE: Praise Him, Praise Him! Amy Brown TRUSTEES ELECTION Charlii Miller

Adult Studies every Sunday morning at 10am-will be same Zoom info every week: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89943278646?pwd=WHpXWElzejUwRkhrNXpIQUlvUUpZQT09 Meeting ID: 899 4327 8646 Passcode: odessa (All links will be available on our website, stpaulsodessa.org and Facebook site, St. Paul’s UMC Odessa – Zoom invitations and passwords will be sent via email) The Scott’s host weekly Wednesday evening Bible Study via Zoom at 6:30pm with the same Zoom info every week: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88240507907?pwd=YWdzeXUyWHpIUWl3dXVCeGJaUXl4dz09 Meeting ID: 882 4050 7907 Passcode: nest Carole Harmon hosts a prayer circle, Thursday mornings at 10 AM. (Please contact Carole or the church office if you have prayer requests or would like a Zoom invitation to join the group.) Rev. Kevin Benjamin, Pastor [email protected] (302) 312-3636 Alice Mullins, Admin/Treasurer [email protected] (302) 378-2420 Amy Brown, Music Director [email protected] (480) 677-0910 Duane Dillard, Accompanist [email protected] (410) 620-4650 Ryan Scott, Family Life Coord. [email protected] (857) 544-3954 The 11 AM In-Person Worship Service has been postponed until further notice. Thank you all for your continued patience, support and understanding. Trustee appointments will be voted by the congregation TODAY at the end of the service as required by State law. Next Trustees meeting will be Tues., May 4 @ 6:30 PM in F/H. Leadership Team Meeting Monthly Leadership Team meeting Monday, April 19 @ 6:30 PM. Task Force Meeting There will be another Zoom Task Force Meeting on Tuesday, April 20 @ 6:30 PM to continue the discussion of opening the church back up for in-person services starting May 1st. We also welcome in-person attendance, for those who would like to come and socially distance safely. If you are not part of the Task Force Committee and would like to join the meeting, please contact the church office for the link to the invite. Family Life Ministries – Virtual Sunday School Children's Zoom Sunday School meets together virtually each week at 11:30 AM to read a bible story and check in. It's a great chance for your kids to interact safely and keep the rhythms of Sunday School. Topic: St. Paul's Children's Sunday School Time: 11:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89558010844?pwd=MmxySWJ5ZkNnR09WdXlxc01NankzUT09 Meeting ID: 895 5801 0844 Passcode: kids Youth Group Youth Group - TODAY, April 18th at 3pm on Zoom. We'll be connecting, having fun, and talking about the Adam and Eve story. Everyone in 6th through 12th grade is welcome. If all goes well, we'll be back in person in May! Zoom info: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81791849603?pwd=NkpCL0Mrc1haaDNUMU5tdytBNUN5dz09 Meeting ID: 817 9184 9603 Passcode: youth St. Paul’s UMM Bible Study The St. Paul's UMM Bible Study has a NEW starting date and will now begin on Monday, April 19 and will continue weekly until Monday, May 10 from 9 AM to 10 AM each Day! Weather permitting, we will gather at the outside Sanctuary (bring a chair), otherwise we will gather inside the church Sanctuary following proper protocol, masks, safe distance, etc. I am happy to report Hap Bonham will facilitate for us again and the Bible Study Scripture will be forthcoming prior to the start date. Any Questions contact Paul [email protected] 302-229-0046 Love Thy Neighbor Fund Our "Love Thy Neighbor Fund" was created to help those in need in the MOT community. This fund may support a time in someone's life when he/she may need a little kindness and generosity to help endure and survive a challenging situation. To those needing assistance, the pastor will use his discretion in sharing monetary resources. If you are able to donate to the Love Thy Neighbor Fund, please make checks payable to St. Paul's UMC and then write in the memo area it is for "Love Thy Neighbor Fund.” Please note, this fund is SEPARATE from the Yellow Hat. Thank you, Love Thy Neighbor Committee PFLAG Meeting Meetings are held at 6:30 PM on the 3rd Thursdays of each month, presently via Zoom. Please join us if you would like to be supported or offer support and please spread the word to all corners of our Communities. We are currently working on a system which will help youth who have been rejected by their parents, find families who will help them. Please contact [email protected] or call 802- 279-8100.

JOYS & CONCERNS: Please take the opportunity to go to the website (www.stpaulsodessa.org) to complete a prayer request. Please email the office when someone can be taken OFF the list. If you or a loved one needs a pastoral visit, please call the church office to schedule. Cards may be sent to Gene Manlove at: 19841 W. 95th Place, Arvada, CO 80007. He recently moved from Odessa Heights to Colorado to live with his daughter. Prayers for: The family of Ginny Guessford, on the loss of our beloved Ginny; The family of Jeanne Hatton, on the loss of our beloved Jeanne; Joe Stemmle; Jerrod Bolline; Sue Holden’s sister, Betsey Snipes; Billy Bush; Faye & Bill Byer and their granddaughter Lauren; Jenna Campbell; Judy; Cindy; Dana Atwell; Bill Smith; Hanna Holland; Kathy Golden; Matt Latocha; Carol Myers; Darryl Dillard Birthdays: April 18-Edward Louis; April 20-Isaac Schrum; April 21-Logan Packard; April 22-Susie Cate, Ron Sutton; April 23-John Cate, Ann Raymond; April 24-Ike Guessford Anniversaries: April 22-Steve & June Anderson