“The Ascension”, JESUS MAFA, 1973

THE 7TH SUNDAY OF EASTERA Service of the Word

May 24, 2020 10:00 a.m.

2

The 7th Sunday of Easter “The early church’s belief in the Ascension can be read as its refusal to allow its Lord to be localized or spatially restricted. The Ascension in its simplest terms means that Jesus is mobile. He is not a baal, but the Lord of all history.”

— Harvey Cox

GATHERING The Holy Spirit gathers us in unity on the first day, the day of Christ’s resurrection

Prelude — “Prelude on NOEL NOUVELET” by Mark Sedio Dr. Patricia Snyder, organ Welcome Acclamation & Greeting One: Alleluia! Christ is risen! Many: Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia! One: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the

Holy Spirit be with you all. Many: And also with you. Call to Worship — inspired by Psalm 68 One: Let the righteous be joyful!

Let them rejoice before God. Many: Let us all be jubilant with joy! One: Sing to God, all peoples of the world.

Sing praises to God most high. Many: From the sanctuary of heaven,

God gives life and renews the face of the earth. One: Let the righteous be joyful!

Let them rejoice before God. Many: Let all peoples and all creation be jubilant with joy!

3

Hymn — “Now the Green Blade Rises” NOEL NOUVELET

4

Prayer of the Day One: Let us pray. Many: God of heaven and earth,

we celebrate the Christ who came to live as one of us. We celebrate the Christ who would stop at nothing—not even death— to proclaim your love for all people. We celebrate the Christ who rose from death to show that there is no end to your love. And we celebrate the Christ who, in ascending to you, drafted us to continue his work. Glory and praise be to him, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.

News from our Life Together

WORD

God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching, and song Refrain — “Alleluia” CELTIC ALLELUIA

Prayer for Illumination Scripture Reading — 1st Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11

Our faith in Christ does not make us immune from the scorn of others. Nevertheless, we are to resist the designs of evil when we experience disparagement from others because we trust God’s grace will strengthen and guide us.

Scripture Reading — Acts 1:6-14

Before he is lifted into heaven, Jesus promises that the missionary work of the disciples will spread out from Jerusalem to all the world, and that the disciples will be accompanied and empowered by the Holy Spirit. His words provide an outline of the book of Acts.

5

The “Alleluia” refrain (music above) is repeated. Sermon — “Together in Faith” The Rev. Matthew Emery

RESPONSE We begin our lives of responding to the gospel in prayer and offering

Responding with our Gifts

During the offertory music, while reflecting on the gifts we have to offer, those participating via Zoom are welcome to submit prayer petitions—joys and concerns—via the “Chat” feature in Zoom. These petitions will be collected together and transmitted to Pastor Matt for inclusion during the time for prayers of the people.

An Offering Thought [Jesus prayed,] “And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.” — John 17:11 During the COVID-19 pandemic, many of our neighbors—medical personnel, first responders, police, and grocery workers and many others—selflessly put their lives on the line to serve and protect us. As our world recovers, how might we ALL “be one” as stewards of the common good to protect people and God’s creation?

OFFERTORY MUSIC — “He’s Got the Whole World” by Margaret Bonds Cathy Jeffers, soloist

He’s got the whole world in His hand, He’s got the whole world in His hand, He’s got the whole world in His hand, He’s got the whole world in His hand.

He’s got the woods and the waters in His hand, He’s got the woods and the waters in His hand,

He’s got the sun and the moon tight in His hand, He’s got the whole world in His hand.

He’s got the birds and the bees right in His hand, He’s got the birds and the bees right in His hand, He’s got the beast of the field right in His hand, He’s got the whole world in His hand.

He’s got you and me right in His hand, He’s got you and me right in His hand,

He’s got everybody right in His hand, He’s got the whole world in His hand. The Prayers of the People, ending with The Lord’s Prayer

Many: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and glory forever. Amen.

6

SENDING God blesses us and sends us forth in mission for the world

Hymn — “God of Grace and God of Glory” CWM RHONDDA

7

Benediction One: … Alleluia! Christ is risen! Many: Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia! Prelude — Fugue, excerpt fr. “Praeludium in G minor,” BuxWV 149, by Buxtehude

Following the postlude, the Zoom Meeting will remain open for those who wish to connect and chat—a bring-your-own-coffee “coffee hour”! Depending on the number of participants, we may break people into smaller groups using the “breakout room” functionality. We look forward to connecting with you!

Notes and Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements: Cover image from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN; used by permission (Creative Commons Attribution

Noncommercial ShareAlike 3.0 License). Call to Worship adapted from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion, ed. Kimberly Bracken Long, Year A, vol. 1, ©2013 Westminster John Knox Press. Hymn – “Now the Green Blade Rises”: Text by John M. C. Crum, 1928; alt. Music from 15th century French noel; harm. Martin. F. Shaw, 1928. Words and harm.

© Oxford University Press; all rights reserved; reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-719182. Reprinted from The New Century Hymnal, ©1995 The Pilgrim Press, #238. Prayer of the Day adapted from Prayers for All Seasons: Based on the Revised Common Lectionary Year A, ed. Ellen Turnbull, Seasons of the Spirit Collection, ©2016 Wood

Lake Publishing Inc. Refrain – “Alleluia”: Music by Fintan O’Carroll, 1981; harm Christopher Walker, 1985; ©1985 Fintan O’Carroll and Christopher Walker; admin. OCP. All rights reserved;

reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-719182. Reprinted from Glory to God: Hymns, Psalms, and Spiritual Songs, ©2013 Westminster John Knox Press, #587. Scripture introductions reprinted from Sundays and Seasons 2020, ©2019 Augsburg Fortress, Publishers. Offering Thought from Rob Blezard, Stewardship Snippets, Stewardship of Life Institute. Hymn – “God of Grace and God of Glory”: Text by Harry Emerson Fosdick, 1930; alt. Music by John Hughes, c. 1907. Reprinted from The New Century Hymnal, ©1995

The Pilgrim Press, #436. Permission granted for this one-time use.