The Celebration of the Gospel
May 17, 2015 — Ascension Sunday
He was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
— Acts 1.9
______ We Gather as The Body of Christ________
GREETING
PRELUDE Savior, Like A Shepherd Lead Us Tune: BRADBURY, arr: Marianne Kim
[As we listen to the music we quiet our minds and bodies,
listen for our hearts’ deepest desires,
and become present to the Holy One who is lovingly present for us.]
* CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Love has been crucified, but love has risen.
All: Love has risen over us.
Love reigns supreme over all the world .
Love reigns in our hearts.
God of love, lead us as we worship.
Christ of love, lead us as we live.
Spirit of love, rise up; the world is yours.
* SONG Hail the Day that Sees Him Rise Blue hymnal #312
(10:30) CHILDREN’S TIME
___________ We Attend to the Word ___________
(10:30) THE WORD IN SONG Sanctus, from Messe Solennelle Charles Gounod
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Eternal God, in mercy you have raised Christ from the dead; in love you have set Christ to rule over all Creation. By your Spirit raise Christ u to rule in our hearts, with your mercy and grace. Amen.
NEW TESTAMENT Ephesians 1.15-23
[ The author prays for wisdom and enlightenment for Jesus’ followers, exalts the power of love over all things, and declares that God has given Christ that power over this world. As the church we are the embodiment of that love.]
I pray that God, the Womb of Love,
who in Jesus has embodied among us
the love that creates and orders our lives
and makes them good and beautiful,
may awaken in you deep awareness
of God’s presence and love.
With the eyes of your heart enlightened
may you have the hope God has for you;
may you live in wonder and trust
of the gifts we all receive as God’s Beloved;
may you come more deeply to trust
the immeasurable power of God’s love.
It is love that raised Christ from the dead:
the power that orders the universe,
that rules over all human dominion
and all realms before and after humans,
in the visible world and the unseen.
All things are subject to the Lordship of Love.
And we, the church, are the Body of that love,
love that fills everything, and contains everything.
Everything.
Alleluia.
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GOSPEL Acts 1.1-11
[ Luke opens the second volume of his Gospel, starting where the book of Luke left off: Jesus appears for 40 days after his resurrection, then, after he has charged his followers to “be my witnesses to the ends of the earth,” he is taken up into heaven. ]
In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over the course of forty days and speaking about the empire of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of God. ‘This’, he said, “is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
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 the times or periods that God has set by God’s 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 and 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 up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, People of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
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SERMON
SONG Alleluia, Alleluia Blue hymnal #162
* AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (Ephesians 1.17-23)
We give our hearts to the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, who calls us to hope, who gives us a glorious inheritance among the saints, and who shows immeasurably great power for us who trust.
God has shown that power in raising Christ from the dead and seating Christ beside God 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 age to come.
God has put all things under Christ’s feet and has made Christ the head over all things for the church, which is Christ’s body, the fullness of God who fills all in all. Alleluia!
* SONG We Will Glorify the King of Kings Black hymnal # 2087
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
[Anyone who wishes may share a prayer concern at the microphone.]
PASSING THE PEACE
_____ We Are Sent in Ministry to the World______
OFFERING OUR GIFTS
8:30: In The Midst Of Earthly Life – Samuel Scheidt
10:30:God Is Gone Up – Gerald Finzi
* OFFERING SONG
Christ is risen, but no longer in firm flesh that we can hold.
Christ is risen far beyond our thought or power, forms of old.
As a fire can’t keep its light but shines it out; it travels on,
Christ has risen and ascended: love to rule the world has gone.
Christ is risen, and has named us witnesses to all the world.
We are now the risen Body, hands outstretched and grace unfurled.
So we bring our lives to God, that God will bless them, shining bright,
and we pray the Spirit lead us radiating love’s pure light.
* PRAYER
Gracious God, we give you these gifts as symbols of our lives. Receive them with love, bless them with grace and use them according to your will. May we be witnesses of your love throughout the world, for the sake of the healing of all Creation, in the name and the Spirit of Christ. Amen.
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG Let Us Now Depart in Thy Peace Blue hymnal # 668
* THE BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
RESPONSE We stand and sing to our neighbors:
May the grace and peace of Christ be with you my friends.
Go and share the love of God, love that never ends.
POSTLUDE Fanfare Dale G. Rider
[During the postlude there are people ready to pray with you at the candles in the corners.]