God's Open House

Sunday, April 18, 2021

Call to Worship

One: We gather in the name of the risen Lord.
All: Christ is risen! Alleluia!
One: We gather as children of the resurrected one.
All: Christ is risen! Alleluia!
One: We gather to share our faith and to worship God.
All: Christ is risen! Alleluia!
One: We gather to proclaim the good news of Easter!
All: Christ is risen! Alleluia!

Prayer of Confession

Lord of all,

you ask that we would give up everything and follow you.
But we hold back.
We hoard our gifts and bury our talents,
afraid that we might fail.

Forgive our selfishness and our fear.
Open our hearts to the security that comes from trust in you,
and the joy of beloved community.
Restore faith in us so that we can walk boldly
where you lead us.

Scripture Acts 5:1-11

1But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property; 2with his wife’s knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3‘Ananias,’ Peter asked, ‘why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? 4While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us but to God!’ 5Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard of it. 6The young men came and wrapped up his body, then carried him out and buried him.

7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8Peter said to her, ‘Tell me whether you and your husband sold the land for such and such a price.’ And she said, ‘Yes, that was the price.’ 9Then Peter said to her, ‘How is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.’ 10Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11And great fear seized the whole church and all who heard of these things.