THE SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY
Seventh Sunday After Easter
May 24, 2020
First Presbyterian Church, Fargo
May 24, 2020
First Presbyterian Church, Fargo
The Session and members of First Presbyterian Church, extend a sincere welcome to you! We welcome all persons regardless of race, nationality, disability, gender, or sexual orientation. This includes an open invitation to membership, the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, marriage, funerals, memorial services, and to serve as an officer of the church.
Prelude and Preparation for Worship
Prayer of the Day
Redeeming God, you call us to be one with you, as you are one with Christ. As his perfect love casts out our fear, and changes it to love, unite us by your Spirit of peace, that we may be one with you, as you are one with Christ. Amen.
Redeeming God, you call us to be one with you, as you are one with Christ. As his perfect love casts out our fear, and changes it to love, unite us by your Spirit of peace, that we may be one with you, as you are one with Christ. Amen.
Gathering in Christ’s Presence
Welcome and Concerns of the Church
Opening Sentences
Let the righteous be joyful! Let them rejoice before God.
Let us all be jubilant with joy!
Sing to God, all peoples of the world. Sing praises to God most high.
From the sanctuary of heaven, God gives life and renews the face of the earth.
Let the righteous be joyful! Let them rejoice before God.
Let us all be jubilant with joy!
Opening Sentences
Let the righteous be joyful! Let them rejoice before God.
Let us all be jubilant with joy!
Sing to God, all peoples of the world. Sing praises to God most high.
From the sanctuary of heaven, God gives life and renews the face of the earth.
Let the righteous be joyful! Let them rejoice before God.
Let us all be jubilant with joy!
Hymn — When Morning Gilds the Skies
1 When morning gilds the skies,
my heart awaking cries:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
Alike at work and prayer
to Jesus I repair:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
2 Does sadness fill my mind?
A solace here I find:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
Or fades my earthly bliss?
My comfort still is this:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
3 Let earth's wide circle round
in joyful notes resound:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
Let air and sea and sky
from depth to height reply:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
4 Be this, while life is mine,
my canticle divine:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
Be this the eternal song
through all the ages long:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
my heart awaking cries:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
Alike at work and prayer
to Jesus I repair:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
2 Does sadness fill my mind?
A solace here I find:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
Or fades my earthly bliss?
My comfort still is this:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
3 Let earth's wide circle round
in joyful notes resound:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
Let air and sea and sky
from depth to height reply:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
4 Be this, while life is mine,
my canticle divine:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
Be this the eternal song
through all the ages long:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
Call to Confession
Siblings, God not only desires our repentance, but longs to offer us forgiveness. Therefore, cast all your anxiety on God, because God cares for you eternally.
Prayer of Confession
Loving God, we confess that we do not always bring honor and glory to your name. We are rebellious and weak; we flee before your goodness. Forgive, restore, and strengthen us by the grace and mercy of Christ, that we may rise up again in peace to love and serve your world. Amen.
Assurance of God’s Forgiveness
Siblings, God not only desires our repentance, but longs to offer us forgiveness. Therefore, cast all your anxiety on God, because God cares for you eternally.
Prayer of Confession
Loving God, we confess that we do not always bring honor and glory to your name. We are rebellious and weak; we flee before your goodness. Forgive, restore, and strengthen us by the grace and mercy of Christ, that we may rise up again in peace to love and serve your world. Amen.
Assurance of God’s Forgiveness
Hearing God’s Word
Children’s Message
Prayer for Illumination
Lesson 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.
Sermon Waiting for the Spirit
Lesson 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.
Sermon Waiting for the Spirit
Hymn — This is My Song
1 This is my song, O God of all the nations,
A song of peace for lands afar and mine.
This is my home, the country where my heart is;
Here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine;
But other hearts in other lands are beating
With hope and dreams as true and high as mine.
2 My country’s skies are bluer than the ocean,
And sunlight beams on cloverleaf and pine.
But other lands have sunlight too, and clover,
And skies are everywhere as blue as mine.
So hear my song, O God of all the nations,
A song of peace for their land and for mine.
3 This is my prayer, O Lord of all earth’s kingdoms:
Thy kingdom come; on earth thy will be done.
Let Christ be lifted up till all shall serve him,
And hearts united learn to live as one.
So hear my prayer, O God of all the nations:
Myself I give thee; let thy will be done.
A song of peace for lands afar and mine.
This is my home, the country where my heart is;
Here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine;
But other hearts in other lands are beating
With hope and dreams as true and high as mine.
2 My country’s skies are bluer than the ocean,
And sunlight beams on cloverleaf and pine.
But other lands have sunlight too, and clover,
And skies are everywhere as blue as mine.
So hear my song, O God of all the nations,
A song of peace for their land and for mine.
3 This is my prayer, O Lord of all earth’s kingdoms:
Thy kingdom come; on earth thy will be done.
Let Christ be lifted up till all shall serve him,
And hearts united learn to live as one.
So hear my prayer, O God of all the nations:
Myself I give thee; let thy will be done.
Responding to God’s Word
Statement of Faith The Apostle's 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 the People, ending with 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.
Call for the Offering, ending with the Prayer of Dedication
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 the People, ending with 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.
Call for the Offering, ending with the Prayer of Dedication
Bearing the Word into the World
Hymn — We All are One in Mission
1 We all are one in mission;
we all are one in call,
our varied gifts united
by Christ, the Lord of all.
A single, great commission
compels us from above
to plan and work together
that all may know Christ's love.
2 We all are called for service
to witness in God's name.
Our ministries are different;
our purpose is the same:
to touch the lives of others
by God's surprising grace,
so every folk and nation
may feel God's warm embrace.
3 Now let us be united
and let our song be heard.
Now let us be a vessel
for God's redeeming word.
We all are one in mission;
we all are one in call,
our varied gifts united
by Christ, the Lord of all.
Charge and Benediction
we all are one in call,
our varied gifts united
by Christ, the Lord of all.
A single, great commission
compels us from above
to plan and work together
that all may know Christ's love.
2 We all are called for service
to witness in God's name.
Our ministries are different;
our purpose is the same:
to touch the lives of others
by God's surprising grace,
so every folk and nation
may feel God's warm embrace.
3 Now let us be united
and let our song be heard.
Now let us be a vessel
for God's redeeming word.
We all are one in mission;
we all are one in call,
our varied gifts united
by Christ, the Lord of all.
Charge and Benediction
POSTLUDE