Worship Order for May 24, 2020

Introduction

Welcome to Worship!

Today is the 7th Sunday of Easter. We continue to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord. However, this past Thursday was the Day of the Ascension of our Lord. It is this festival day that we will be focusing on for our worship and sermon. In our country, we also recognize Monday as Memorial Day–when we remember and give thanks for the countless people who stepped up to serve our country and lost their lives in so doing. And so we come to our Father in this hour to give thanks for so much and to turn our heart toward our King and Savior, Jesus Christ.

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

Almighty God, Jesus ascended to the throne at your right hand. Help us to trust in his never-ending presence, that we may bear witness to your grace until the day we celebrate with all the saints around your throne; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

Psalm 47

Clap your hands, all peoples!
    Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared,
    a great king over all the earth.
He subdued peoples under us,
    and nations under our feet.
He chose our heritage for us,
    the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah

God has gone up with a shout,
    the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
Sing praises to God, sing praises!
    Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
For God is the King of all the earth;
    sing praises with a psalm!

God reigns over the nations;
    God sits on his holy throne.
The princes of the peoples gather
    as the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God;
    he is highly exalted!

Ephesians 1:15-23

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Sharing Option: On this Memorial Day, take a minute and think/discuss if you know anyone or are related to anyone who has served and paid the ultimate price while fighting and defending our country. How can we give thanks for these soldiers this day?

Another Song for Worship

Today’s Lesson and Sermon

Some Discussion Questions:

1. Discuss about things that you are excited about as the world opens up again.
2. What are some things that you have learned about yourself during these days of social distancing and sheltering in place?
3. What is something that you will adjust, or not return to as things move towards opening up again?
4. Share a story about a time when Jesus helped you through a difficult situation.
5. Think about a time of great joy and happiness, how was Jesus involved in that moment?
6. Think about the 4 places that Acts mentions and the ways Pastor Scott described them (Jerusalem=your city, Judea=your state, Samaria=your country, and the Ends of the Earth=foreign aid work) in what ways have you been connected to these areas?

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

Let us Pray:

In the quiet sanctuaries of our own hearts,
let each of us name and call on the One whose power over us
is great and gentle, firm and forgiving, holy and healing …

You who created us,
who sustain us,
who call us to live in peace,
hear our prayer this day.

Hear our prayer for all who have died,
whose hearts and hopes are known to you alone …

Hear our prayer for those who put the welfare of others
ahead of their own
and give us hearts as generous as theirs …

Hear our prayer for those who gave their lives
in the service of others,
and accept the gift of their sacrifice …

Help us to shape and make a world
where we will lay down the arms of war
and turn our swords into ploughshares
for a harvest of justice and peace …

Comfort those who grieve the loss of their loved ones
and let your healing be the hope in our hearts…

Hear our prayer this day
and in your mercy answer us
in the name of all that is holy.

In the name of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

On This memorial Day we remember all who have served and died in service to our country

“In Flanders Field” is a poem written by Dr. John McCrae in 1915 as a memorial to those who died in a WWI battle fought in Belgium. The good doctor treated many of the soldiers and was a close friend of one of the soldiers who died, Alexis Helmer.

As we remember those who have died, and as we give thanks for the freedoms their deaths have procured for the United States of America, we pause to give thanks for their sacrifice and continue to entrust them into the hands of our Almighty Father in Heaven.

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: For All The Saints

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!