Sunday, May 16, 2021 – Seventh Sunday of Easter / Ascension Sunday
CALL TO WORSHIP:
To worship and pray,
we have come this day.
To meditate on God’s teachings,
we have come this day.
Gathered as one family of Christ,
we have come together in love.
OPENING HYMN: Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee – please click the link to play the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxEUIJuDQfA
Note: The hymn may not open in a new page, so you might have to hit the “back” arrow to return to the church website after the hymn. Thanks!
OPENING PRAYER: Holy Spirit, be with us in our worship this day. Draw us ever closer to you, that we may become one. Draw us ever closer to your word, that we may be wise. Draw us ever closer to your world, that we may serve and love, as you guide us to do. In your holy name, we pray. Amen.
SPECIAL MUSIC: Here I Am to Worship – please click the link to play the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBmi171Vuz4
Note: The song may not open in a new page, so you might have to hit the “back” arrow to return to the church website after the song. Thanks!
PASTORAL PRAYER:
Almighty God, Jesus said, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Holy One has set.” Yet, we keep searching for signs to predict the future. Instead, help us to live each day to the fullest. Jesus said, “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Yet, we are more concerned with following procedures and routines. Help us to break free, opening our hearts to those around us. When Jesus prayed, he “lifted his eyes to the heavens.” Too often we dwell in this world. Let us join in lifting our hearts to heaven this morning. (silent prayers) Jesus said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.” Forgive us, Holy One, when we shape the world according to our desires. Help us to faithfully devote ourselves to you, asking for the power to do your will. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
OFFERTORY: Please see the bottom of this page for giving instructions. Thank you!
Let us pray: We offer to you, Lord, what you have first given us: our time, our talents, our gifts, and our service. And, we ask for your blessing, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
THE WORD OF GOD
Let Us Pray: Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit, that as the Scriptures are read and your Word is proclaimed, we may hear with joy what you say to us today. Amen.
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
4 Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.
SCRIPTURE: John 17:6-19
6 “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
SCRIPTURE: Luke 24:44-53
44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
The Word of God for the People of God
MESSAGE: Permanent Markers
SENDING HYMN: Crown Him with Many Crowns – please click the link to play the hymn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YJnVN6wdvI
Note: The hymn may not open in a new page, so you might have to hit the “back” arrow to return to the church website after the hymn. Thanks!
BENEDICTION:
Let us go forth in our humanness, trusting in the divinity of God, witnessed with the ascension of Jesus Christ. Let us rejoice in one another as we await the promise of the Spirit. Go in peace. Amen.
Thank you for worshipping with us this day! Stay safe and God bless!
NOTE: Following conference directives, both Lake Street UMC (9:00am worship) and Pleasant Valley UMC (10:30am worship) are open this week for in-person services.
GIVING INSTRUCTIONS:
With meeting expenses for the churches, we would continue to welcome any weekly or monthly offerings, allowing us to further our ministries, serving others as part of serving God.
Lake Street offerings can be mailed or dropped off with Delores Fye – 427 Spruce St. Apt. #2, Clearfield, PA 16830.
Pleasant Valley offerings can be mailed to Sandy Bowser – 301 Orchard Rd., Woodland, PA 16881.
