For the week of May 12 – Ascension Sunday
Morning Prayer: Almighty God, Your ascended Son promised the gift of holy power. Send Your Spirit of revelation and wisdom, that in the blessed freedom of hope, we may witness to the grace of forgiveness and sing songs of joy with the peoples of earth to the One who makes us one body. Amen. (Lectionary Prayers)
Opening Hymn #312 Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise
- Hail the day that sees Him rise, Alleluia! To His throne above the skies, Alleluia!
Christ, awhile to mortals given, Alleluia! Re-ascends His native heaven, Alleluia! - There the glorious triumph waits, Alleluia! Lift your heads, eternal gates, Alleluia!
Christ hath conquered death and sin, Alleluia! Take the King of glory in, Alleluia! - See! The heaven it’s Lord receives, Alleluia! Yet He loves the earth He leaves, Alleluia!
Though returning to His throne, Alleluia! Still He calls the world His own, Alleluia! - See! He lifts His hands above, Alleluia! See! He shows the prints of love, Alleluia!
Hark! His gracious lips bestow, Alleluia! Blessings on His church below, Alleluia!
Psalm 47
47:1 Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with loud songs of joy.
47:2 For the LORD, the Most High, is awesome, a great king over all the earth.
47:3 He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet.
47:4 He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom He loves. Selah
47:5 God has gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
47:6 Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.
47:7 For God is the king of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm.
47:8 God is king over the nations; God sits on His holy throne.
47:9 The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; He is highly exalted.
Children’s Time 2 Timothy 1:3-5
I am grateful to God—whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did—when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you.
Children’s Message
It’s Mothers’ Day and we are celebrating all those who have and continue to mother us. As we look at Paul's letter to Timothy, we get a glimpse of women of faith who influenced Timothy, his grandmother and his mother. They were important to Timothy and they are important to us.
Can you name a woman that is important to your faith? I will forever be grateful for Virgie Croman. She was my middle school/high school Sunday School teacher. She was fundamental to how I understand faith and my role in my family and my church family. I contribute my deep love of Holy Communion to her. She would come to the church early on Communion Sundays and bake the bread for us. It was a joy to come into the church and have the church smell of fresh baked bread – plus it would still be warm when we would receive communion during worship. It was an invitation without words and it was hard to turn down the invitation to come to the table.
As we celebrate this day, remember to give thanks to God for the women that shaped your faith.
Prayers of Intercession: Thank You, Lord, for hearing our prayers for those dear to our hearts. We now pray as You have taught us: 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 sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us, not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Offering spotlight: Blessings to the mothers who have expended their time, talents, and resources to raise children in the faith. Sanctified offerings are not limited to money. Thank you for being Christian role models.
Offering prayer: Compassionate Creator, in our communal life, may our actions, love, and giving reflect Christ's presence within us. Help us live in a way that displays Christ's life in us, showcasing love, respect, and hospitality. As we share and give, may it reflect not only on us but also glorify Jesus. Guide us in honoring one another and celebrating our commitments as part of our faith. In gratitude, abundance, and equity, we present these offerings, believing that sharing Christ is the most loving act. In the name of Jesus, our rock and redeemer, we pray. Amen. (Discipleship Ministries)
Hymn of Preparation: #156 I Love to Tell the Story
- I love to tell the story of unseen things above, of Jesus and His glory,
of Jesus and His love. I love to tell the story, because I know 'tis true;
it satisfies my longings as nothing else can do.
Refrain: I love to tell the story, 'twill be my theme in glory,
to tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.
- I love to tell the story; more wonderful it seems than all the golden fancies
of all our golden dreams. I love to tell the story, it did so much for me;
and that is just the reason I tell it now to thee. (Refrain) - I love to tell the story; 'tis pleasant to repeat what seems, each time I tell it,
more wonderfully sweet. I love to tell the story, for some have never heard
the message of salvation from God's own holy Word. (Refrain) - I love to tell the story, for those who know it best seem hungering and thirsting
to hear it like the rest. And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song,
'twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long. (Refrain)
Message Scripture: Luke 24:44-53
Then He (Jesus) said to them, “These are My words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about Me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then He opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what My Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
Then He led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up His hands, He blessed them. While He was blessing them, He withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.
Message: Pastor Becky
Today we celebrate the Ascension of Jesus, the final act of Jesus’ ministry. We look to the account from Luke. Jesus has spent 40 days teaching the disciples and now this last time, Jesus leads them out into the hills. He lifts up His hands to bless them and while blessing them, Jesus is taken into heaven.
Humanity enters heaven. Flesh and blood meet the Divine. The Incarnation, God putting on flesh in Jesus, is now sealed permanently. Humanity rules over heaven and earth. The implications are massive and they are foundational to our faith and living.
- The Ascension means that Jesus is exalted.
Jesus now occupies the place of ultimate power and authority in the universe. The resurrected, ascended Christ holds a position “far above all rule and authority, power, and dominion, and every name that can be invoked” (Ephesians 1:21-22), not only in the present age but in the age to come.
Jesus is the King of the universe now, not later. We live our lives in the light of Jesus’ reign now. This is at the heart of the gospel: it’s not just that Jesus will help you with your troubles, or that we have a really good friend, or that Jesus provides a deep spiritual experience, while all that is true – the objective fact is He is the Lord of the world. You and I have a relationship with the King of the universe.
This element of the good news, Jesus’ rule, isn’t about belief or opinion. God has appointed Him over all things. This isn’t about private spirituality, but a political reality.
Jesus’ Lordship challenges and overcomes all other allegiances and loyalties. We declare a higher allegiance than one to country or nationality, or ethnicity.
- The Ascension means Christ is praying for us.
In the Ascension, Jesus begins a new ministry, that of High Priest. Paul in Romans 8:34 rejoices over this. “Who is it that condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who dies – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.”
In the book of Hebrews, the writer also rejoices over Jesus’ High Priesthood. Jesus as High Priest knows us, experienced our experiences, and can approach God’s throne with confidence where we will be met with mercy and grace in our times of need and support.
- The Ascension means Christ is with us.
From the right hand of God, Jesus releases the Holy Spirit. No longer is Jesus’ presence confined to His physical location. Jesus is now with all His disciples, those from the beginning and now us! This fulfills the promise to be with us, even until the end of the age.
- Going hand in hand with Jesus’ presence is Jesus’ power working through us.
All authority belongs to Jesus and He empowers us to continue in His works of healing people, caring deeply, and connecting people with Jesus for new life, abundant life, and everlasting life. It is the power to transform us and energize us for the work of following Jesus to become the people the world needs.
People who look and act like Jesus.
People who love one another as God has loved them.
People who serve others with no thought of return.
People who give generously of all they have because their confidence is in the God who provides.
People who quietly but firmly refuse to join in evil.
People pray for the sick and see to them as they recover.
People who stand up for those with no voice.
All that we believe, all that holds our faith together, all that encourages, supports, empowers us – is only possible because of Jesus’ Ascension. And we have to awaken to what we have taken for granted. Awaken to the reality, truly walk in the knowledge, we are in relationship with the RISEN – Risen from the grave and risen into Lordship over all – Jesus Christ and that changes everything and everyone.
Closing Hymn: #572 Pass It On
- It only takes a spark to get a fire going, and soon all those around can warm up in its glowing.
That’s how it is with God’s love once you’ve experienced it; you spread His love to everyone;
You want to pass it on.
- What a wondrous time is spring, when all the trees are budding; the birds begin to sing,
The flowers start their blooming. That’s how it is with God’s love once you’ve experienced it;
You want to sing, it’s fresh like spring, you want to pass it on.
- I wish for you, my friend, this happiness that I’ve found; you can depend on Him,
It matters not where you’re bound. I’ll shout it from the mountaintop;
I want the world to know; the Lord of love has come to me, I want to pass it on.
Go into your week with the blessings of The Father, The Son, The Holy Spirit.
