Bulletin – Sunday, May 26, 2024 – Trinity / Ascension Sunday

Sunday, May 26, 2024
Trinity / Ascension Sunday

We Gather as People of Faith

Welcome

Announcements

Lighting the Christ Candle

Call to Worship

One:   Today is Ascension Sunday when we celebrate Christ’s return to God.
All:      We look up in wonder as he is lifted from us into heaven!

One:   But this is not a time to gaze upward. There is work to be done.
All:      Jesus has entrusted the ministry of God’s love to us.

One:   Let’s get to work!
All:      Let’s make our hearts ready for the task ahead with prayer and praise!

One:   Amen.
All:      Amen!

Hymn – “Praise with Joy the World’s Creator” (VU #312)

Praise with joy the world’s Creator,
God of justice, love, and peace,
Source and end of human knowledge,
God whose grace shall never cease.
Celebrate the Maker’s glory,
Power to rescue and release.

Praise to Christ who feeds the hungry,
Frees the captive, finds the lost,
Heals the sick, upsets religion,
Fearless both of fate and cost.
Celebrate Christ’s constant presence.
Friend and stranger, guest and hose.

Praise the Spirit sent among us,
Liberating truth from pride,
Forging bonds where race or gender,
Age or nation dare divide.
Celebrate the Spirit’s treasure:
Foolishness none dare deride.

Praise the Maker, Christ, and Spirit,
One God in community,
Calling Christians to embody
Oneness and diversity.
This the world shall see reflected:
God is One and One in Three.

Prayer of Approach and Confession

Heavenly Parent, as we celebrate Ascension Sunday today, help us to always remember that Jesus is alive and reigning at your right hand. Fill us with your Holy Spirit so that we may boldly proclaim the Good News of salvation through Him…(silence)…

Words of Assurance

 Sung Response – “Spirit of Life” (VU #381)

Spirit of Life, come unto me.
Sing in my heart all the stirrings of compassion.
Blow in the wind, rise in the sea; move in the hand, giving life the shape of justice.
Roots hold me close; wings set me free;
Spirit of Life, come to me, come to me.
We Hear God’s Word

Scripture Reading:        Acts 1:1-11

¹ In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach ² until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. ³ After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. ⁴ On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. ⁵ For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

⁶ Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

⁷ He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

⁹ After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

¹⁰ They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ¹¹ “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Scripture Reading:         Acts 2:42-47

⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God!

 Hymn – “The Church is Wherever God’s People” (VU #579)

The church is wherever God’s people are praising,
Singing God’s goodness for joy on this day.
The church is wherever disciples of Jesus
Remember his story and walk in his way.

The church is wherever God’s people are helping,
Caring for neighbours in sickness and need.
The church is wherever God’s people are sharing
The words of the Bible in gift and in deed.

Meditation – “Walking Downhill”

Anthem – “We are the Followers”

We are the followers of Jesus.
We’re the followers of the Lamb of God.
We are the followers of Jesus Christ,
We’re the followers of the Lord.

We are the followers,
We’re the followers of the Lamb of God.
We are the followers,
We’re the followers of the Lord.

Halle, halle, hallelujah!
Let the love of Christ shine through.
Halle, halle, hallelujah!
Followers of the Lord.

We are born of the Spirit, born from above.
Our lives are a gift from God who loves us.
Praise to our Maker, let us sing
And tell the whole world:

Halle, halle, hallelujah!
Let the love of Christ shine through.
Halle, halle, hallelujah!
Followers of the Lord.

We are the followers,
We’re the followers of the Lamb of God.
We are the followers,
We’re the followers of the Lord.

Halle, halle, hallelujah!
Let the love of Christ shine through.
Halle, halle, hallelujah!
Followers of the Lord.
We are the followers of the Lord.

We Respond to God’s Word

Invitation to Share

Offering Response – “We Give You but Your Own (VU #542)

We give you but your own, whate’er the gift may be;
All that we have is yours alone, we give it gratefully.

Offering Prayer

Accept these gifts O God, accept us O God, to further your realm here and around the world. In Jesus the Christ’s name we pray O God. Amen.

Prayers of the People

We Go Into God’s World

Hymn – “Sing a New World into Being”

Sing a new world into being. Sound a bold and hopeful theme.
Find a tune for silent yearnings. Lend your voice and dare to dream:
Dream a church where all who worship find their lives and loves belong.
Sing a new world into being. Sing as Christ inspires your song!

Sing a new world into being. Where each gender, class, and race
Brings its rainbow gifts and colours to God’s limitless embrace.
Where the lines that once divided form instead the ties that bind.
Sing a new world into being: risk transforming heart and mind!

Sing a new world into being where the homeless find a home.
Where no children ever hunger but are filled with God’s shalom;
Where all people work for justice, where all hate and vengeance cease.
Sing a new world into being: raise the harmonies of peace.

Sing a new world into being. Join the ancient prophets’ cry
For a time of health and plenty when all tears have been wiped dry;
When compassion flows like waters, pouring balm for all who grieve.
Sing a new world into being: live the promise you believe!

Benediction

Response – “One More Step Along the World We Go” (VU #639)

One more step along the world we go,
One more step along the world we go,
From the old things to the new,
Keep us travelling along with you:
And it’s from the old we travel to the new;
Keep us travelling along with you.