WESTPORT RISING WORSHIP SERVICE
Ascension of the Lord Sunday & Mother’s Day
May 12, 2024
PRELUDE: Look, Ye Saints! The Sight Is Glorious Mark Hayes
WORDS OF WELCOME
OPENING SCRIPTURE (Ascension): Luke 24: 44-52 Drew Irwin, Liturgist
OPENING HYMN: You, Lord, Are Both Lamb and Shepherd GTG#274
RESPONSIVE CALL TO WORSHIP: Acts 1: 1-14 (based on the Message)
Leader: As all the men and women disciples, the ones Jesus had chosen through the Holy Spirit and who had followed Jesus from Galilee, met and ate meals together, Jesus talked to them about things concerning the kingdom of God. Jesus instructed them that they were to go to Jerusalem and not leave, “but wait for what the Father has promised: the promise you heard from me: John baptized in water; you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit. …And when the Holy Spirit comes, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria and even to the ends of the world.”
People: So they all left the mountain called Olives and returned to Jerusalem a little over half a mile away. They all went to the upper room they had been using as a meeting place.
Leader: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas, son of James.
People: And the women who followed Jesus from Galilee and had kept vigil at the cross, and had come to the tomb witnessing his resurrection: Mary Magdalene, Mary the wife of Cleopas, Johanna, Mary the mother of James and Joses, Salome the mother of the sons of Zebedee, together with Mary, Jesus’ mother, and his brothers.
ALL: They all agreed they were in this for good, completely together in prayer, as they waited for the Holy Spirit.
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN: For All the Faithful Women GTG#324
UNISON CONFESSION OF OUR NEED FOR GOD AND HOW HARD IT IS TO WAIT:
God of Majesty, you led the Messiah through suffering into risen life, and took him up to the glory of heaven. We want to be witnesses for Your loving purpose “in this for good, together, in prayer.” Creation is still suffering on earth. There is so much violence and hate and hunger. Our flesh is weak, even as our hearts yearn to be open. We can’t follow Jesus’ path on our own. We need YOU, Creator, Christ and Spirit, to show us the way, and the right time, and give us the strength and wisdom necessary– and to forgive us when we stumble. We ask this trusting in your steadfast love, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON:
As he ascended from the mountaintop into heaven Jesus lifted up his hands and blessed his beloved followers, then and you his beloved followers now: “Lo I Am With You Always Even To the End of the Age.”
SUNG RESPONSE: Halle, Halle, Hallelujah! GTG#591
SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST:
Pastor: The grace, peace, love and joy of Jesus Christ be with you.
People: And also with you.
Pastor: Let us share the peace of Christ with one another.
CHORAL ANTHEM: A Rose Touched By the Sun’s Warm Rays Jean Berger
UNISON PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION: May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to You, O God, our rock and redeemer.
SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 108: 1-5, 12-13; John 17: 20-26
MESSAGE: Out of the Shadows, Into the Light
CONGREGATIONAL HYMN: Woman in the Night GTG#161
WELCOMING, NEWS IN AROUND AND BEYOND THE COMMUNITY
SUNG PREPARATION FOR PRAYER: Come, Bring Your Burdens to God GTG#851
JOYS AND CONCERNS, PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION,
THE LORD’S PRAYER (Our Creator, who art in heaven…)
INVITATION TO GIVE
OFFERTORY SOLO: To My Little Son text, Julia Johnson Davis; music, Florence Price; Sarah Baxter, alto
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
CLOSING HYMN: For the Faithful Who Have Answered StF#2186
BENEDICTION
BENEDICTION RESPONSE: Goodness Is Stronger than Evil GTG#750
CHARGE TO CONGREGATION
POSTLUDE: I Will Arise and Go to Jesus (RESTORATION) Mary McDonald
A WESTPORT WARM WELCOMING!
- WELCOME! MEMBERS! NEWCOMERS! FRIENDS! We are so glad you could join us for worship today! VISITORS, please take a moment to let us know you were here by picking up an attendance card (in the pews) and filling out whatever information you would like to share with us.
- WELCOME FAMILIES! Children’s Sunday School meets in the 2nd floor Children’s Space, Sunday mornings during the 1st half of worship, beginning at 11:00 am.
- Pastor Susan will be on Vacation this week. She will return for the Worship Service on Sunday, May 19.
- Sunday, May 19th, which is Pentecost & Communion Sunday, at 12:10pm (following Worship Service), please join us for a Bon Voyage Party in honor of Marian Thomas in the Fellowship Hall. Light refreshments will be served as we wish Marian warmest wishes as she embarks on her latest adventure – relocating to Oberlin, Ohio. Please contact Laura Hughes by text or phone at (315) 345-4524 for more information.
MISSION & OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES:
- Bread, Buns, Fruit, Water, Meat, Peanut Butter, Cheese are always needed for our INTERRUPT HUNGER work. WESTPORT SHOWERS happens on Sundays & Thursday nights. Men’s boxer brief underwear needed. Men’s and Women’s shoes, pants. Backpacks!
- WESTPORT SHOWERS is looking for additional volunteers to help with Sunday mornings. With the increase in guests, we would like to have teams of 2 volunteers upstairs working together at the door and 2 downstairs working in the shower/laundry room each Sunday. You would be working with experienced volunteers who can train you in what is needed. If you would like to help, and are willing to volunteer 1 Sunday morning a month, reach out to Drew Irwin or Allison Rozga for more information.
- *WEEKDAY LUNCH VOLUNTEERS. We could use a few more people to help with making weekday lunches. We have an opening on Wednesdays (to make lunches to be given out on Thursdays).
- Please contact the church office for more information.
INREACH & OUTREACH IN THE COMING WEEK: (All Events are at the Church, 201 Westport Rd – unless noted)
Monday, May 13 4:30 p.m. FREDitation – a centering prayer experience – 20 min (Chapel)
6:30 p.m. Men’s AA Meeting (Storefront)
7:30 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 60 (Westport Rising Room)
Tuesday, May 14 6:00 p.m. Irish Dance (Westport Rising Room)
Wednesday, May 15 8:00 p.m. Mission & Outreach Committee Meeting (Zoom)
Thursday, May 16 5:30 p.m. Westport Showers – For Women, Trans, & Gender Non-conforming people (Basement)
Friday, May 17 12:00 noon Westport Center for the Arts’ Brown Bag Concert Series: The Violetta Duo, Dorothy Glick Maglione (flute) & Madelyn Moore (clarinet) (Sanctuary)
4:30 p.m. Willow Woods Spring Program & Graduation (Sanctuary)
Saturday, May 18 8:30 a.m. Living Integrated (Men’s Support Group) (Storefront)
10:00 a.m. Cub Scouts (Westport Rising Room)
Sunday, May 19 PENTECOST SUNDAY – COMMUNION SERVICE
8-9:30 a.m. Westport Showers (Fellowship Room & Basement)
11:00 a.m. Service of the Lord’s Day: Celebration of Holy Communion (Sanctuary)
Children’s Sunday School (Upstairs Children’s Room)
12:10 p.m. Bon Voyage Party for Marian (Fellowship Room)
LOOKING AHEAD:
Wednesday, May 22 7:00 p.m. Zoom Bible Study – contact church office for link (Online) *meets every other week*
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