GATHERING
GREETING AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
And also with you.
The risen Christ is with us.
Praise the Lord!
PRELUDE Rev. Gene Risch
CALL TO WORSHIP Ascension Sunday
Leader: We gather as a covenant people for worship, praise and prayer.
People: We gather because the tomb is empty and Christ is alive.
Leader: Though physically absent from us, the Spirit of Christ is here.
People: Because Christ is with us, he gives us his peace.
Leader: He replaces our doubt with faith and our fear with hope.
People: He opens our minds to understand the scripture.
Leader: He reminds us of what we have seen and heard.
People: He calls us to be witnesses.
Leader: We gather so that we may be sent.
People: We go to make his name known to the nations.
Leader: We go to fulfill his mission.
People: We go in his time, to live his plan, using his ways, not our own.
Leader: We gather to worship so that we may be sent.
People: We go with joy, to be God’s people.
PRAISE MUSIC: “Hail the Day that Sees Him Rise” UMH 312
PSALM 47 UMH 781
TIME WITH THE YOUTH
HYMN: “Crown Him with Many Crowns” UMH 327
PROCLAIMING GOD’S WORD
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION: for Ascension Sunday
Holy God, one of Jesus’ final earthly acts before he ascended to be with you was to open the minds of his followers so they might understand the Scriptures. He wanted them to know how his life and ministry had fulfilled everything that was written about him. We, too, desire to understand your word to us. We want to know the meaning of your life and death to our daily experiences. We ask for wisdom and understanding as this sacred text is read and proclaimed. Speak to us, we pray, the message of life and hope and faith. Instruct us in the way you would have us go. Amen.
GOSPEL LESSON: Luke 24:44-53 PB, pg. 96
NEW TESTAMENT LESSON: Acts 1:1-11 PB, pg. 112
THE MESSAGE: Pastor Vicki Lerdahl
RESPONSE HYMN: “Shine, Jesus, Shine” Renew 247
PRAYERS AND OFFERING
RECEIVING THE OFFERING
*PRESENTATION OF OUR OFFERING UMH 71
“Glory be to the Father”
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE: Joys and Concerns
PASTORAL PRAYER
SENDING FORTH
*CIRCLE SONG UMH 393
Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.
*BLESSING
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*Stand as you are able. The quiet room is available in the back of the sanctuary.
Bulletin/ sermon used by permission from Homiletics.
Michael Keffer will be with us again on May 26th.
Information on the Mingus Mountain Summer Camp is on the bulletin board. Scholarships are available!!! Help send a kid to camp.