Worship Guide
May 29, 2022
Seventh Sunday of Easter
Creating Disciples of Jesus who Transform the World
ENTRANCE WITH PRAISE
Greetings:
Minister: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!
People: And also with you!
Special Music: Stefanie
Centering Words:
Wait to be clothed with power from on high. The one who ascended will come to us again, bringing new life and new hope.
*Call to Worship:
Leader: Clap your hands, people of God.
People: Shout to God with cries of joy.
Leader: Look to the heavens, brothers and sisters in Christ.
People: Witness the power of our God.
Leader: Clap your hands, people of God.
People: Shout to God with cries of joy.
Leader: Come! Let us pray.
ALL: God of mystery, part the veil that keeps us from seeing your full glory and might. Open our eyes to behold the risen Christ, who ascended to you in glory. Open our hearts this day, that our spirits may ascend to you as he ascended that day. Focus our thoughts on the power of your salvation, that we may move beyond the mundane to contemplate mysteries and wonders worthy of our meditations. May we be found worthy of your great gifts, and may we be clothed with your power on high. Amen.
Hymn: “This is My Father’s World”
This is my Father’s world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees,
of skies and seas;
his hand the wonders wrought.
This is my Father’s world,
the birds their carols raise,
the morning light, the lily white,
declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world:
He shines in all that’s fair;
in the rustling grass I hear Him pass;
he speaks to me everywhere.
This is my Father’s world.
O let me ne’er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world:
why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens Ring!
God reigns; let the earth be glad!
PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD
Words of Assurance
Wait patiently for the Spirit to stir your spirit.
Wait hopefully to be filled by the living God.
For God justifies our hope, and Christ fills us up with power from on high.
Praises be to God.
*New Testament Reading: John 17:20-26
20 “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24 Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
25 “Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
Leader: This is the Word of God, for the People of God
People: Thanks be to God!
WORD AND RESPONSE
Special Music: “His Gentle Look” Michael
Time with Young Friends: “Jesus Loves Me”
Children’s Message: “Midnight Earthquake of Praise!”
Hymn: “The Lily of the Valley”
I have found a friend in Jesus,
he's everything to me,
he's the fairest of
ten thousand to my soul;
the Lily of the Valley,
in him alone I see
all I need to cleanse
and make me fully whole.
In sorrow he's my comfort,
in trouble he's my stay,
he tells me every care
on him to roll.
He's the Lily of the Valley,
the bright and Morning Star,
he's the fairest of
ten thousand to my soul.
He all my grief has taken,
and all my sorrows borne;
in temptation he's
my strong and mighty tower;
I have all for him forsaken,
and all my idols torn
from my heart, and now
he keeps me by his power.
Though all the world forsake me,
and Satan tempts me sore,
through Jesus I shall safely
reach the goal
He's the Lily of the Valley,
the bright and Morning Star,
he's the fairest of
ten thousand to my soul.
He will never, never leave me,
nor yet forsake me here,
while I live by faith and
do his blessed will;
a wall of fire about me,
I've nothing now to fear,
with his manna he my hungry
soul shall fill
then sweeping up to glory,
to see his blessed face,
where rivers of delight
shall ever roll.
He's the Lily of the Valley,
the bright and Morning Star,
he's the fairest of
ten thousand to my soul.
Sermon: “Disturbing the City” Acts 16:16-34
16 One day, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave-girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling. 17 While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, “These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation.” 18 She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
19 But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities. 20 When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, “These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews 21 and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or observe.” 22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods. 23 After they had given them a severe flogging, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29 The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them outside and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They answered, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay. 34 He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God.
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
Hymn: “God Will Take Care of You”
Be not dismayed what e'er betide,
God will take care of you;
beneath his wings of love abide,
God will take care of you;
God will take care of you,
through every day,
o'er all the way;
he will take care of you,
God will take care of you;
Through days of toil when heart doth fail,
God will take care of you;
when dangers fierce your path asail,
God will take care of you;
God will take care of you,
through every day,
o'er all the way;
he will take care of you,
God will take care of you;
All you may need he will provide,
God will take care of you;
nothing you ask will be denied,
God will take care of you;
God will take care of you,
through every day,
o'er all the way;
he will take care of you,
God will take care of you;
No matter what may be the test,
God will take care of you;
lean, weary one, upon his breasts,
God will take care of you;
God will take care of you,
through every day,
o'er all the way;
he will take care of you,
God will take care of you;
Psalter: Psalm 97
1 The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice;
let the many coastlands be glad!
2 Clouds and thick darkness surround
the Lord; righteousness and justice are the foundation of God's throne.
3 Fire goes before the Lord, and burns up his
adversaries round about.
4 The Lord's lightnings illumine the
world; the earth sees and trembles.
5 The mountains melt like wax before the
Lord, before the Lord of all the earth.
6 The heavens proclaim God's
Righteousness and all the peoples behold God's glory.
7 All worshipers of images are put to shame,
who make their boast in worthless idols;
all gods bow down before the Lord.
8 Zion hears and is glad,
and the daughters of Judah rejoice,
because of your judgments, O God.
9 For you, O Lord, are most high over all the
earth; you are exalted far above all gods.
10 The Lord loves those who hate evil,
preserves the lives of his faithful,
and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
11 Light dawns for the righteous,
and joy for the upright in heart.
12 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,
and give thanks to God's holy name!
Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host;
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen
Special Music: “Blessed be the Name” Donna
Prayers of the People Joys and concerns:
Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer
SENDING FORTH
Hymn: “Have a Little Talk with Jesus”
I once was lost in sin but Jesus took me in
and then a little light from heaven
filled my soul;
it bathed my heart in love
and wrote my name above,
And just a little talk with Jesus
made me whole.
Now let us have a little talk with Jesus,
let us tell him all about our troubles,
he will hear our faintest cry,
and he will answer by and by;
now when you feel
a little prayer wheel turning,
and you know a little fire is burning,
you will find a little talk with Jesus
makes it right, makes it right
Sometimes my path seems drear,
without a ray of cheer,
and then a cloud of doubt may hide
the light of day;
the mist of sin may rise
and hide the starry skies,
but just a little talk with Jesus
clears the way.
Now let us have a little talk with Jesus,
let us tell him all about our troubles,
he will hear our faintest cry,
and he will answer by and by;
now when you feel a
little prayer wheel turning,
and you know a little fire is burning,
you will find a little talk with Jesus
makes it right, makes it right
I may have doubts and fears,
my eyes be filled with tears,
but Jesus is a friend who watches
day and night;
I go to him in prayer,
he knows my every care,
and just a little talk with Jesus
makes it right.
Now let us have a little talk with Jesus,
let us tell him all about our troubles,
he will hear our faintest cry,
and he will answer by and by;
now when you feel a
little prayer wheel turning,
and you know a little fire is burning,
you will find a little talk with Jesus
makes it right, makes it right
Special Music: Stefanie
Benediction
