Worship Order for May 17, 2020

Introduction

Welcome to Worship!

Important Update: Join Pastor Scott and Reggie Live on Facebook at 10:00am

Follow this link to the lyrics for the songs that Reggie will be leading. And, if you don’t have facebook, you will be able to watch and participate later today.

Today we hear Jesus teaching about the power and work of the Holy Spirit. Understandably, our focus often centers on Jesus. In these words from Jesus we expand our viewpoint and center on the power, work, and might of the Holy Spirit in our lives. And so, as we come into this time of worship, may we do so aware and dependent upon the precious Holy Spirit that comes along side of us to help, encourage, build up, and so much more. Come, Holy Spirit!

Our church calendar marked today as the day that we celebrate the graduates of Prince of Peace. It is an annual celebration that coincides with the commencement services of our colleges and schools. It is a joyous time. And, like so many things these days, this year it looks different. Even still, as we worship in our typical pattern today, we will be taking a moment to honor and celebrate God’s work in the lives of these 8 people.

Gather with loved ones, in the same room or on the phone, and participate in worship. As you do, even if these words are on a big tv, a computer screen, or a tablet, remember this. This is worship. It is not something you watch. Worship is participatory in nature. Certainly it is different than if we were in the same room singing and praying together. But, I encourage you to engage your hearts, sing and say the words, give of your heart and mind to this time as we encounter the risen Lord Jesus together.

Order of Worship

A Prelude to center our hearts on the One who conquered the grave

We call on the Name of the Triune God. We gather in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

An Opening Song

The Kyrie

In Peace, Let us pray to the Lord

Lord, Have Mercy

For the Peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy

For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

Help, save, comfort and defend us, gracious Lord.

Amen.

Openning Prayer

O God, from whom all good things come: Lead us by the inspiration of your Spirit to think those things which are right, and by your goodness help us to do them; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

A time of Confession with Psalm 66

Psalm 66:8-20

L. God of all mercy and consolation, come to the aid of your people, turning us from our sin to live for you alone. Give us the power of your Holy Spirit that, attentive to your Word, we may confess our sins, receive your forgiveness, and grow into the fullness of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

All. Amen

L. Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and one another.

Bless our God, O peoples;
    let the sound of his praise be heard,
who has kept our soul among the living
    and has not let our feet slip.
For you, O God, have tested us;
    you have tried us as silver is tried.
You brought us into the net;
    you laid a crushing burden on our backs;
you let men ride over our heads;
    we went through fire and through water;
yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.

I will come into your house with burnt offerings;
    I will perform my vows to you,
that which my lips uttered
    and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.
I will offer to you burnt offerings of fattened animals,
    with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams;
I will make an offering of bulls and goats. Selah

Come and hear, all you who fear God,
    and I will tell what he has done for my soul.
I cried to him with my mouth,
    and high praise was on my tongue.
If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,
    the Lord would not have listened.
But truly God has listened;
    he has attended to the voice of my prayer.

Blessed be God,
    because he has not rejected my prayer
    or removed his steadfast love from me!

Reflection Question: The thread of this psalm is this. Hardship is followed by deliverance and our response is an act of worship. Following this, the one who was delivered shares the account of God’s faithfulness. Share a trial that you have been through (or are going through). How did God deliver you through the hardship? Did you do an act of worship–a prayer of thanks? a memento or artifact that tells the story of your deliverance? A gift of thanks to the friend who helped you through?

Think for a moment about how you will mark and celebrate the coming deliverance for you and your loved ones on the other side of this pandemic. How will you remember these days and celebrate that, although things were different, God will see you through to the other side?

Hear these words of absolution

In light of our confession and in light of our lack of faith during the times when we are pressed, here these words of grace and forgiveness.

Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life.

Amen.

Acts 17:16-31

Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.” Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.

So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for

“‘In him we live and move and have our being’;

as even some of your own poets have said,

“‘For we are indeed his offspring.’

Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

Sharing Option: What other stories from scripture or hymns/songs of praise come to mind as you read these words?

Another Song for Worship

Today’s Gospel and Sermon

Some Discussion Questions:

1. Remember “Who Wants to be a Millionaire”–Who is on your lifeline? Name some people you call upon when you need help fixing something? Need a laugh? A dose of courage? To work through a problem? For some spiritual help?
2. As Pastor Scott spoke about the Narthex as a place that helps him lean into the Holy Spirit–is there a place where you go to remember that you have a helper?
3. When was a time in your life when you were at Peace–even though very little around you was peaceful?
4. When was a time you felt utterly alone?
5. Why do you think keeping commandments is evidence of loving Jesus?

We Profess the Nicene Creed:

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father.  Through him all things were made.  For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven;  by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the virgin Mary, and was made man.  For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried.  On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures;  he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.  He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son.  With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified.  He has spoken through the prophets.  We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.  We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.  We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.  Amen

Prayer

For our prayers today I invite you to practice the Faith 5. The Faith5 is a simple devotional tool that you can use to process your day together as a family as well as in your own reflective heart through journalling. The steps are simple and yet profound.

1. Share your Highs and Lows: the best and worst part the past week
2. Read, again, this Word from today’s Gospel: “Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.'”
3. Talk about how God’s Word of Peace connects to your highs and lows.
4. Pray through your highs and lows.
5. Bless one another. Trace the sign of the cross on foreheads or hands and says these or similar words: “Jesus loves you and so do I.”

You can learn more about the Faith5 here

On This Graduation Sunday, we give thanks to God for His work in the lives of our college and High School Graduates

In case you missed last weeks announcement regarding offering

Pray together the Lord’s Prayer

Every Wednesday night in the Youth Zone, as the youth gather to pray at the end of the time, our dear brother Jeffery leads the youth and leaders in the Lord’s Prayer. We miss many things about not being together. Thanks to this video, we can have a taste of the faithfulness of Jeffery as he leads us in the Lord’s Prayer.

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name

Thy kingdom come, they will be 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

Lead us not into temptation, and deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory

Forever and ever. Amen.

A Closing Song

A Closing Benediction

Christ is risen!

He is risen, indeed!

Christ is risen! Alleluia!

He is risen, indeed! Alleluia!

CHRIST IS RISEN! ALLELUIA!

HE IS RISEN INDEED! ALLELUIA

And so, may the author and perfecter of our faith, Jesus Christ–the crucified and risen one, make you perfect in every way to do that which is well pleasing in His sight. Through the power of the Holy Spirit both now and forever.

Amen.

A Postlude of Praise

here is a Sunday School Lesson with Mrs. Mac!