GIRDWOOD CHAPEL UMC

May 7, 2023 – The Fifth Sunday of Easter. CHRIST IS RISEN!!

Order of Sunday Worship

(bold text indicates congregational responses; * indicates please stand as able)

 

Welcome

*Call to Worship (inspired by Psalms 47 & 93)
Clap your hands, shout out, sing praises to our God!
For the Lord is king over all the earth.
We have been chosen, the beloved of the Lord.
We gather in praise and thanksgiving!
We gather in God’s house, where there is room for all.
O Lord, may holiness fill your house.
*Hymn: God of Love and God of Power (UMC Hymnal #578) 
Music and lyrics are also on the screen
 
Communal Prayer (adapted from Teresa of Avila ca.1515–82)
God of love, help us to remember
    that Christ has no body now on earth but ours, no hands but ours, no feet but ours.
    Ours are the eyes to see the needs of the world.
    Ours are the hands with which to bless everyone now.
    Ours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good.
Sustain us with your Spirit for this mission entrusted to us,
the Church,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
 
Scripture Readings: Acts 1:1-11
 
Theophilus, the first scroll I wrote concerned everything Jesus did and taught from the beginning, 2 right up to the day when he was taken up into heaven. Before he was taken up, working in the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus instructed the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he showed them that he was alive with many convincing proofs. He appeared to them over a period of forty days, speaking to them about God’s kingdom. 4 While they were eating together, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for what the Father had promised. He said, “This is what you heard from me: 5 John baptized with water, but in only a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
6 As a result, those who had gathered together asked Jesus, “Lord, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now?”
7 Jesus replied, “It isn’t for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 Rather, 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 end of the earth.”
9 After Jesus said these things, as they were watching, he was lifted up and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going away and as they were staring toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood next to them. 11 They said, “Galileans, why are you standing here, looking toward heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you saw him go into heaven.”
 

            Response: For the Word of God in scripture,

for the Word of God around us,

for the Word of God within us,

we say: Thanks be to God.

 

Sermon

 

Hymn: In the Midst of New Dimensions (TFWS #2238)

Music and lyrics are on the screen

 

Weekly Schedule (Community Life Together)

  • Thursday: Walk, Talk, & Pray, 10:00am
  • Our Food Pantry days and times: First Sundays 2 – 4pm; 2nd and 4th Wednesdays
Coming up!
  • Alaska Annual Conference in Fairbanks (Terry & Pastor Nico attending) June 4 – 6
  • Pacific Northwest Annual Conference in Tacoma (Pastor Nico attending) June 13 – 18

 

Invitation to Generosity

To give go to www.girdwoodchapel.com/give

Mail your offering to PO Box 1068

 

Prayer of Thanksgiving

 

Transition time off of Facebook

 

Community Prayers 

Leader: God in your mercy

People: Hear our prayer
 

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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

 

Holy Communion: You are invited and welcome to participate in communion with us. Please find something to eat and something to drink (like bread and a beverage) and follow along in the liturgy. Congregational responses are in bold. After the prayers we will all be invited to eat and to drink together.

 

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

 

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, 

[…]

 

And so,

with your people on earth 

and all the company of heaven

we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

 

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, 

heaven and earth are full of your glory. 

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. 

Hosanna in the highest.

 

Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ. 

[…]

 

And so, 

in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, 

we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving

as a holy and living sacrifice,

in union with Christ’s offering for us,

as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

 

Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again. 

 

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here,

and on these gifts […]

 

Through your Son Jesus Christ, 

with the Holy Spirit in your holy church, 

all honor and glory is yours, almighty God, 

now and for ever.

Amen.

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 tresspasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

 

Music during Communion: Build Your Kingdom Here (Rend Collective, ©2011 Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing), CCLI #6186078)

 

Benediction Song:“On Eagles Wings”

And God will raise us up

On eagles’ wings

Bear us on the breath of dawn

Make us to shine like the sun

And hold us, in the palm, of God’s hand