The Celebration of the Gospel
May 13, 2018 —Ascension Sunday
As they were watching, 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 When Morning Gilds the Skies Joseph Barnby, arr: Cindy Berry
[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: Christ, who was crucified, has been raised from the dead.
All: Christ is risen. Alleluia!
Christ has ascended into heaven and reigns with God over all things.
Christ is the ruler of our lives. Alleluia!
God gives us the Spirit, that we may be the risen Body of Christ.
Christ is alive in us. Alleluia!
* SONG Majesty, Worship His Majesty Blue hymnal # 176
____________We Attend to the Word__________
(10:30) CHILDREN’S TIME
(10:30) THE WORD IN SONG Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise
PRAYER (Blue hymnal # 323)
Everliving God, your eternal Christ once dwelt on earth, confined by time and space.
Give us faith to discern in every time and place the presence among us
of him who is head over all things and fills all,
even Jesus Christ our ascended Lord. Amen.
NEW TESTAMENT Ephesians 1.15-23
[A prayer for wisdom and enlightenment for followers of Jesus, who God has raised and seated in power over all things. ]
The God of our Sovereign Jesus Christ,
the Father and Mother of glory,
has embodied among us in Jesus
the love that creates and orders our lives
and makes them good and beautiful.
I pray that God will 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 divine love that raised Christ from the dead,
raised Christ to rule the universe with love,
to rule over all human dominion
and all realms before and after humans,
in the visible world and the unseen.
All things are subject to the sovereignty of Love.
And we, the church, are the Body of Christ,
the body of that love,
love that fills everything, and contains everything.
Everything.
Alleluia.
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GOSPEL Acts 1.1-11
[The Book of the Acts of the Apostles, the second volume of Luke’s story, starts where the Gospel 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 during 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, “Teacher, is this the time when you will restore sovereignty 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 toward heaven, suddenly two messengers in white robes stood by them. They said, “People of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward 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 You are the nerve; I am your hand
SONG You Are the Nerve Steve G-H
O God, your Christ is risen in your people.
On earth Christ has no body now but ours.
We are the flesh and blood of your compassion:
moved by your Spirit, with its loving powers.
God be our heart, and we will be your Body,
serving in love in all our days and hours.
We are your feet that go with joy to others
to share your love, the gospel we confess.
We are your eyes that see what is and may be,
that see each person’s need and loveliness.
We are your hands, that work with strength for justice,
your hands that shelter, heal and feed and bless.
Love, move in me, and guide me by your Spirit,
even when I don’t see or understand.
My life is yours, to be your living Body,
that I may love and serve at your command.
This is my life, my purpose and my power:
you are the nerve, and I your willing hand.
(10:30) SONG Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) Tomlin and Giglio
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
[Anyone who wishes may share a prayer concern at the microphone.]
THE PRAYER OF JESUS
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 trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST
______We Are Sent in Ministry to the World_____
OFFERING OUR GIFTS
8:15: Jesus Christ, My Sure Defense – J. S. Bach
10:30: Angels Watching Over Me arr. Ruth Elaine Schram
* OFFERING SONG Bless Thou the Gifts Blue hymnal #587
* PRAYER
Gracious God, we give you our lives, symbolized in these gifts. Receive them with love, bless them with grace and use them according to your will. Guide us by your Spirit, make us the living Body of Christ, and send us into the world in love for the sake of the healing of all Creation. Amen.
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG Spirit of the Living God Blue hymnal #393
* 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 Ascension Day Overture J. S. Bach, arr: Andrew Moore