Welcome And Opening Prayer
Prelude Voluntary on Charterhouse Leo Sowerby
Responsive Call to Worship based on Psalm 130
Out of the depths we cry to you, O Lord. Lord, hear our voice!
Let your ears be attentive to the voice of our supplications!
If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered.
We wait for the Lord, our souls wait,
and in his word we hope;
our souls wait for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning,
more than those who watch for the morning.
O people, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem.
It is he who will redeem Israel from all its sins.
Let us worship God!
Hymn Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.
Perfect submission, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending, bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love.
Call to Confession
Confession of Sin
Gracious God, we are coming out of a year where we were focused on survival. We were worried about ourselves and the lives of those we love. Your Word calls us into community, and we did that as best we could considering the circumstances. This time has changed everything, and although we may long for how things used to be, we come together looking to you for guidance. Help us to know how best to serve you and one another. Above all, we know that we are called into service to this community. Lord, give us wisdom. Give us compassion. Give us patience. We confess our absolute dependence on You and your Spirit. It is in Jesus’ name we pray. silent confession)
Assurance of Pardon
Gloria Patri
Prayer for Illumination
Spirit of the Living God, we gather around your word. We open our hearts and minds to receive your grace. Inspire us. Convict us. Only you give the words of life. Amen.
First Scripture Reading (Unison) Acts 1:6-8
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his 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.”
Second Scripture Reading John 15:1-11
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.
Sermon “Where to from Here” Rev. Robin Miller Currás
Hymn He Leadeth Me
He leadeth me, O blessed thought,
O words with heavenly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be,
still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.
He leadeth me, he leadeth me,
by his own hand he leadeth me!
His faithful follower I would be,
for by his hand he leadeth me.
Lord, I would clasp thy hand in mine,
nor ever murmur nor repine,
content, whatever lot I see,
since ’tis my God that leadeth me.
And when my task on earth is done,
when by thy grace the victory’s won,
e’en death’s cold wave I will not flee,
since God through Jordan leadeth me.
Affirmation of Faith* from A Brief Statement of Faith
In life and in death we belong to God.
Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit,
we trust in the one triune God, the Holy One of Israel,
whom alone we worship and serve.
Offertory Holy Manna Mark Albrecht
Liz Moulthrop, violin
Doxology Lasst uns erfreuen
Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below;
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Praise him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Pastoral Prayer/The Lord’s Prayer
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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Hymn Be Thou My Vision
Be thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
naught be all else to me, save that thou art–
thou my best thought, by day or by night,
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.
Be thou my Wisdom, and thou my true Word,
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord;
thou and thou only, first in my heart,
high King of heaven, my Treasure thou art.
High King of heaven, my victory won,
may I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
Benediction
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