Our vision: A church that listens, praises God, inspires, and serves others.
Memorial Weekend: The Seventh Sunday Of Easter. May 24, 2020, -10:30 A.M.
Join or Watch Our Video Service Here.
PRELUDE
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
LIGHTING THE CHRIST CANDLE, WE REMEMBER GOD IS WITH US
CALL TO WORSHIP (Responsive)
Leader: We are called to be witnesses of God' s love.
People: Call us to love one another, to love or neighbors as ourselves.
Leader: We are called to be witnesses of God's Justice.
People: Let us stand with the oppressed and speak out for those in need.
Leader: We are called to be witnesses of God's peace.
People: Keep us to the path of peacemaking and help us be bearers of peace in the world.
Leader: We are called to be witnesses of God.
All: Come, let us follow Jesus, who leads us into God's ways of love, justice, and peace. Amen.
OPENING HYMN: "America the Beautiful".
Memorial Day Litany
Leader: Let us give thanks to God for this land with all it chartered liberties. For all the wonder of our country's story.
People: We give you thanks, O God.
Leader: For those who in all time and places have been true and brave, and have lived upright lives and ministered to the human family.
People: We give you thanks, O God.
Leader: For those who served their country in its hour of need, and especially for those who gave even their lives in that service.
People: We give you thanks, O God.
Leader: Almighty and Merciful Gd, as we remember these your servants, remembering with gratitude their courage and strength, we hold before you those who mourn them. Look upon your bereaved servants with your mercy. As this day brings them memories of those they have lost a little while, may it also bring your consolation and the assurance that their loved ones are alive forever in your living presence.
THE COMMANDMENT OF JESUS (John 15: 5, 12)
I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
SPECIAL MUSIC: "Alleluia! Gracious Jesus!" Based on hymn tune Hyfrydol.
SCRIPTURE LESSON: Acts 1: 6 - 14. NRSV.
So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?" He replied,"It is not for you to know them times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea ad Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." When he had said this, as they were watching , he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing upward heaven, suddenly tow men in white robes stood by them. They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven/ This Jesus, who has been taken up fro you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John,and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James so of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.
CHILDREN'S MESSAGE
SHARING OUR JOYS AND CONCERNS
PRAYER OF CONFESSION FOR ASCENSION SUNDAY (Unison)
God of heights, lift us up:
We are crawling in the mire of everyday routine.
God of heaven, lift us up:
We are overwhelmed with the attention required by the things of this earth.
God of the stars, lift us up:
We cannot see past the clouds of "truth" that some wold have us believe.
God of the sun, lift us up:
We are dazzled by the false jewels of society.
God of the moon, lift us up:
We are taxed by other's demands to shine for them.
God of the universe, lift us up:
We want to stretch and breathe and see and be awe-stuck.
God of heights, lift us up.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE- Pastor
As the Body of Christ,
we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to be Christ's witnesses.
Each of us has our own story of what Jesus' life means for us.
Through our life-stories we can convey hope to the hopeless,
joy to the downtrodden, and peace where there is turmoil. Amen.
PRAYER SONG: "Hear Our Prayer, O God" (NCH, No. 517)
I need you every hour, O God of grace;
The peace your voice affords, I now embrace.
I need you, how I need you! Every hour I need you;
O bless me now my Savior; I come to you.
PASTORAL PRAYER
THE PRAYER OF JESUS (Unison)
We join our hearts together as we pray:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come;, your will be d;one on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread, Forgive us our trespasses , as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.
OFFERING THOUGHTS
O Ever-present and loving God,
your Word tells us to cast our cares on you because you care for us.
In faith and trust we present our gifts and ourselves;, to you.
Bless and multiply them to meet the needs,
both hidden and apparent, of our beloved ones.
Inspire each of us to live as Christ's witnesses,
today and ever more.
By the power of the Holy Spirit, we pray. Amen.
MUSICAL OFFERING: "Grace Greater than Our Sin"
MESSAGE; "Final Instructions" Pastor Candy Thomas
CLOSING HYMN: "God Bless America.
COMMISSION
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE: America the Beautiful.
We honor our CCC veterans today and thank them for their service: Wally Carlson, Daniel Best, Bill McDowell, Frank Tirb, and Edward (Ted) Hudson.
Thanks to Graham for his music and videography!