Worship for Sunday, May 24, 2020

The Seventh Sunday of Easter
Sunday, May 24, 2020

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OUR WORSHIP FOR TODAY

THE OPENING SENTENCE

Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.       

OPENING HYMN: "In Christ There Is No East or West" (Video Link):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngKBEbaomiE   

PRAYER OF THE DAY

O God of glory, your Son Jesus Christ suffered for us and ascended to your right hand. Unite us with Christ and each other in suffering and in joy, that all the world may be drawn into your bountiful presence, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

FIRST READING: Acts 1:6-14

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.’ When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

PSALM: Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35

  Let God arise, and let God’s enemies be scattered;

  let those who hate God flee.

 As smoke is driven away, so you should drive them away;

  as the wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish 

            at the presence of God.

 But let the righteous be glad and rejoice 
                before God;

  let them also be merry and joyful.

 Sing to God, sing praises to God’s name; 
                 exalt the one who rides the clouds;

  I Am is that name, rejoice before God!

 In your holy habitation, O God,

  you are a father to orphans, 

                 defender of widows;

 you give the solitary a home 

                  and bring forth prisoners into freedom;

  but the rebels shall live in desert places.

 O God, when you went forth before your people,

  when you marched through the wilderness,

 the earth quaked, and the skies poured down rain, 

              at the presence of God,

the God of Sinai,

  at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

 You sent a bountiful rain, O God;

  you restored your inheritance 
                 when it languished.

 Your people found their home in it;

  in your goodness, O God, 
                  you have made provision for the poor.

 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth;

  sing praises to the Lord.

 You ride in the heavens, O God, 
                   in the ancient heavens;

  you send forth your voice, your mighty voice.

 Ascribe power to God,

  whose majesty is over Israel; 
                    whose strength is in the skies.

 How wonderful you are in your holy places, 
                    O God of Israel,

  giving strength and power to your people! 
                    Blessed be God!

SECOND READING: 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice in so far as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you.

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves; keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

THE HOLY GOSPEL: John 17:1-11

After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.

‘I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.

CHILDREN'S MESSAGE (Video Link):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chgqmM2bx8c

HOMILY FOR THE DAY (Video Link):  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTioqm-QVKo

THE APOSTLES' CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

Uplifted by the promised hope of healing and resurrection, we join the people of God in all times and places in praying for the church, the world, and all who are in need.

A brief silence.

O God, call your people to be one, as you are one. Unite your church in the truth of your gospel, the love of our neighbor, and the call to proclaim your reign to all people. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Breathe life into your creation. Guide your people as we explore the mysteries of the universe. We pray for the work of scientists and mathematicians whose skill enriches our understanding. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Make your justice known among the nations of the earth. Protect the vulnerable. Redirect those who use violence and greed as weapons. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Come to the aid of your children. We pray for those engulfed in grief, those without supportive families, and for all who are isolated, powerless, or afraid, that all may rest their anxieties in your care. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

You come near to us when we are lost, and you hear our distress. We pray for those who suffer in any way. (You may lift up the names of those for whom you would like to pray here.)  Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Healing God, during Christ’s ministry on Earth, you showed your power and caring by healing people of all ages and stations of life from physical, mental, and spiritual ailments. Be present now to people who need your loving touch because of COVID-19. May they feel your power of healing through the care of doctors and nurses.  Take away the fear, anxiety, and feelings of isolation from people receiving treatment or under quarantine. Give them a sense of purpose in pursuing health and protecting others from exposure to the disease. Protect their families and friends and bring peace to all who love them.  Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Sheltering God, we lift to You our concern for people who are more likely than others to become severely ill from COVID-19 — the elderly and people with chronic health conditions. Protect them from harm and be their comfort in this time of uncertainty. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Caring God, be with people making decisions that affect the lives and futures of our families, communities, countries, and the wider world. Strengthen doctors, nurses, and other caregivers.  Strengthen pastors and chaplains. Inspire and invigorate people developing better tests to diagnose the virus, vaccines to prevent it, and protocols and communication to eliminate the disease’s spread. May truth and empathy be the touchstones of people setting policies for our protection. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Raise all your saints to eternal life. We especially lift unto you those who have served in the military and lost their lives for the sake of others.  (You may lift up the names of those who have died in Christ here.)   Until that day, we give you thanks for the faithful examples of those who have listened to your voice and now rest in you. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

With bold confidence in your love, almighty God, we place all for whom we pray into your eternal care; through Christ our Lord.  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 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 and ever. Amen.

CONCLUDING PRAYER  

A Prayer of St. Chrysostom

        Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them:

         Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be

            best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your        

            truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. 

             Amen

CLOSING PETITION FOR BLESSING

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. _{Romans 15:13}   
Amen 

CLOSING HYMN: "Blest Be the Tie That Binds" (Video Link): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKn5wiMhBo8