Dear Friends in Christ,
Grace and peace to each of you! Please find attached the order of worship for this coming Sunday, when we celebrate Jesus’ ascension into heaven. We will be worshiping “live” from the parsonage again at 9:30 a.m. this Sunday.
Please find attached the worship liturgy for Sunday’s worship service, which you can print so that you can follow and participate in worship.
Thank you Lionel for beautiful recordings of our worship music. Below is our worship liturgy including Lionel’s songs.
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Worship Service On-Line for May 24, 2020
Ascension of Jesus and 7th Sunday of Easter
Community Congregational Church of Chula Vista
United Church of Christ
Welcome
Call to Worship (Based on Psalm 47)
Pastor: Clap you hands, all you peoples, shout to God with loud songs of Joy.
People: For the Lord, the Most High, is awesome, a great kind over all the earth.
Pastor: God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
People: Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.
All: For God is the king of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm.
Hymn of Praise “Shall We Gather At The River” (NCH, #597; Verses 1,2,4)
Verse 1
Shall we gather at the river, where bright angel feet have trod,
With its crystal tide forever flowing by the throne of God?
Refrain
Yes, we’ll gather at the river, the beautiful, the beautiful river,
Gather with the saints at the river that flows by the throne of God.
Verse 2
On the margin of the river, washing up its silver spray,
We will walk and worship ever, all the happy golden day.
Verse 3
Yes, we’ll gather at the river, the beautiful, the beautiful river,
Gather with the saints at the river that flows by the throne of God.
Prayer of Invocation (Special Prayer for Ascension Sunday, Said in litany form)
Pastor: Almighty God, we come today reminded of your greatness and glory, your sovereign power and eternal purpose all expressed so wonderfully in Jesus Christ, our Lord, Risen and Ascended.
People: We thank you for the wonder of Ascension, that marvelous yet mysterious moment in the life of the Apostles which left them gazing heavenwards in confusion yet departing in joy.
Pastor: We thank you for the way that it brought the earthly ministry of Jesus to a fitting conclusion; signifying his oneness with you, and demonstrating your final seal of approval on all that he had done.
People: We thank you that through his Ascension Jesus is now set free to be Lord of all: no longer bound to a particular place or time,
but with us always—able to reach even to the ends of the earth.
Pastor: We thank you that through his departing Jesus prepared for his coming again: through his Spirit, his Church, and his coming again in glory.
People: Give us a deeper sense of wonder, a stronger faith, and a greater understanding of all you have done. Loving God, like the Apostles, we too will never fully understand all Ascension means. We accept, but we do not fully understand. We believe, yet we have many questions. Help us, despite our uncertainty, to hold firm to the great truth that the wonder of Christ Jesus goes far beyond anything we can ever imagine, and in that faith may we live each day to His glory and honor. Amen.
Special Music by Lionel Jasmin, Minister of Music
Prayers of The People
Lord’s Prayer (said in any language you prefer)
Scripture Reading Luke 24: 44-53
44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; 53 and they were continually in the temple blessing God.
Sermon “The Ascension of Jesus- Mystery, Awe, and Questions”
Closing Hymn “When We All Get To Heaven” (Red, #123, Verses 1,2,4)
Verse 1
Sing the wondrous love of Jesus, Sing His mercy and His grace;
In the mansions bright and blessed He’ll prepare for us a place.
Refrain
When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory!
Verse 2
While we walk the pilgrim pathway clouds will overspread the sky;
But when traveling days are over not a shadow, not a sigh.
Verse 3
Onward to the prize before us! Soon His beauty we’ll behold;
Soon the pearly gates will open we shall tread the streets of gold.
Closing Prayer and Benediction