Welcome! We are so glad you are here!

1. Welcome! We are so glad you are here!

2. Before the worship service begins, please turn off your cell phone. God may be calling YOU, but probably not on your cell phone. Please turn off your cell phone, or put it on vibrate.

3. Call to Reflection • Prelude: • Sunshine in My Soul • arr. Mark Hayes

4. PRAYER OF TRANSFORMATION

5. Adapted from St. Augustine, 354-430 What do we love when we love you, O God? Not the beauty of body… nor the brightness of light so friendly to the eyes,

6. not sweet and various melodies of songs, nor the fragrance of flowers and ointments and spices…And yet we do love a kind of light, melody, fragrance, food, embracement when we love our God.

7. For God is…where that light shines into our soul which no place can contain, where that voice sounds which time does not take away, where that fragrance smells which no wind scatters,

8. and where there is that flavor which eating does not diminish. Thank you, O God, for the fullness you bring! In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

9. Smell is a potent wizard that transports you across thousands of miles and all the years you have lived. Helen Keller, who was deaf and blind

10. The neurological interconnection between the sense of smell (olfaction) and emotion is uniquely intimate …no other sensory system has this kind of privilege and direct access to the part of the brain that controls our emotions. Rachel Herz, Cognitive Neuroscientist

11. And we, as often as we hear anything of good people, draw in as it were through our nostrils a breath of sweetness. Gregory the Great, 540-604

12. Odors, whether real or alleged, are often used as the basis for conferring a moral identity upon an individual or group. Gale Largey and Rob Watson, Sociologists

13. Christ is the flower of Mary, who spouted forth from a virginal womb to spread the good odor of faith throughout the whole world… Ambrose of Milan

14. To smell God was to know God as a transcendent yet transforming presence, a presence actively known through bodily experience. Susan Ashbrook Harvey, Historian, from her book, Scenting Salvation

15. The preaching of Christ reaches our ears just as an aroma reaches our nostrils, bringing God and his only begotten Son right into the midst of his creation.

16. A person who speaks the truth about Christ is just such a good aroma from God, worthy of praise from the one who believes. But one who makes erroneous assertions about Christ has a bad smell to believers and unbelievers alike. Ambrosiaster

17. Prayers when they reach heaven become fragrant roses, pouring out their holy perfume before God….God smells a sweet savor when we pray believingly, sincerely, adoringly and with love. J.R. Miller

18. Put an altar of incense in your innermost heart. Be a sweet aroma of Christ. Origen

19. HYMN • I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord • # 441 in the Blue Hymnals

20. I love Thy kingdom, Lord, The house of Thine abode, The church our blest Redeemer saved With His own precious blood.

21. I love Thy church, O God; Her walls before Thee stand, Dear as the apple of Thine eye,And graven on Thy hand.

22. For her my tears shall fall, For her my prayers ascend; To her my cares and toils be given, Till toils and cares shall end.

23. Beyond my highest joyI prize her heavenly ways, Her sweet communion, solemn vows, Her hymns of love and praise.

24. Sure as Thy truth shall last, To Zion shall be given The brightest glories earth can yieldAnd brighter bliss of Heaven.

25. Prayer for Forgiveness • (in unison) • Adapted from • St. John Chrysostom • (c. 347-407)

26. We are not worthy, Master and Lord, that you should come beneath the roof • of our souls; yet since in your love towards all, you wish to dwell in us, in boldness, we come. You command; open the gates, which you alone have made.

27. And you will come in and enlightened our darkened reasoning. We believe that you will do this; for you did not send away the prostitute who came to you with tears, nor cast out the repenting tax-collector, nor reject the thief who acknowledged your kingdom.

28. But you counted all of these as members • of your band of friends. You are blessed forevermore. Thank you, Jesus! In Your blessed name we pray. Amen.

29. A Time for Silence You may use this time for silent prayer, meditation, or simplyto rest in the presence of God.

30. Assurance of Forgiveness

31. Glory be to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost; • As it was in the beginning, • is now, and ever shall be, • world without end. Amen. • As it was in the beginning, • is now, and ever shall be, • world without end. Amen. • Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. • Amen. Amen. Amen.

32. A TIME WITH THE Children

33. Who are you?

34. Who are we? We are the body of Christ.

35. Why are we here? To know God’s love for us.

36. The News • of the • Community

37. Visitors, to First Church! Following worship, please join us on the patio for juice and coffee

38. Bold Justice Annual Assembly • Monday, April 23rd, • at St. David’s Church • 3900 South University Dr., Davie • Call to Order: 7:30 p.m.

39. 5K – April 29th Call Sharon at 954-604-8666 for information

40. Anthem — • God So Loved the World • Kenneth Benoit • The Anthem is a prayer. • Please, no applause.

44. Thanksgiving for the Word

45. O Word of God incarnate, O Wisdom from on high, O Truth unchanged, unchanging, O Light of our dark sky: We praise You for the radiance That from the hallowed page, A lantern to our footsteps, Shines on from age to age.

46. Scripture Reading— Ephesians 5:1-5 (New Testament, Page 194 in pew Bible)

47. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

48. But fornication and impurity of any kind, or greed, must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints.

49. Entirely out of place is obscene, silly, and vulgar talk; but instead, let there be thanksgiving.

50. Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure person, or one who is greedy (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.