Sunday May 17, 2026
Message: Rev. Ray Thomas
Liturgist: Nathaniel Jennette
†CALL TO WORSHIP: (Psalm 67: 1-2)
One: Let God grant us grace and bless us,
All: Let God make his face shine upon us,
One: So that your way becomes known on earth,
All: So that your salvation becomes known among all the nations.
†OPENING HYMN: # 464 “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
Lord our God, where would we be without your patience and mercy? We’ve strayed from your ways. We’ve let appearances deceive us and we’ve laid your greater truth aside. We’ve hung onto things – fears, regrets, grudges, and guilt- that our risen Lord has empowered us to release. Fill us anew with your life-giving, peace-generating Spirit. Ground us again in the saving love we receive in Jesus Christ. Reorient our thoughts, fine tune our actions, and guide the journey ahead through your promises of steadfast love. May our lives become living reflections of your love. Hear us, now as we silently pray our personal confessions.
SILENT PRAYER OF CONFESSION: We pray in Jesus’ name, Amen
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
†PASSING OF THE PEACE
†CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE: # 579 “Gloria Patri”
TIME FOR ALL GOD’S CHILDREN
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION:
Overcome our darkness and our doubts with the illumination of your word, Lord. Turn our attention toward your presence and open our hunger and our searching towards your gift of abundant life. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS: Acts 1: 6-14; John 17: 1-11
One: This is the word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.
MESSAGE: “Gifted and Grateful” ,Rev. Ray Thomas
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: (from the PCUSE A Brief Statement of Faith)
In life and in death we belong to God. Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, we trust in the one triune God, the Holy One of Israel, whom alone we worship and serve. We trust in Jesus Christ, fully human, fully God. Jesus proclaimed the reign of God: preaching good news to the poor and release to the captives, teaching by word and deed and blessing the children, healing the sick and binding up the brokenhearted, eating with outcasts, forgiving sinners, and calling all to repent and believe the gospel. Unjustly condemned for blasphemy and sedition, Jesus was crucified, suffering the depths of human pain and giving his life for the sins of the world. God raised this Jesus from the dead, vindicating his sinless life, breaking the power of sin and evil, delivering us from death to life eternal.
SPECIAL MUSIC
CALL FOR GOD’S TITHES AND OUR OFFERING
PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
†CLOSING HYMN: # 538 "Lord, Dismiss Us with Thy Blessing”
†BENEDICTION
†DISMISSAL WITH BLESSING: “Let There Be Peace on Earth”
One: Let God grant us grace and bless us,
All: Let God make his face shine upon us,
One: So that your way becomes known on earth,
All: So that your salvation becomes known among all the nations.
†OPENING HYMN: # 464 “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”
CALL TO CONFESSION
PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
Lord our God, where would we be without your patience and mercy? We’ve strayed from your ways. We’ve let appearances deceive us and we’ve laid your greater truth aside. We’ve hung onto things – fears, regrets, grudges, and guilt- that our risen Lord has empowered us to release. Fill us anew with your life-giving, peace-generating Spirit. Ground us again in the saving love we receive in Jesus Christ. Reorient our thoughts, fine tune our actions, and guide the journey ahead through your promises of steadfast love. May our lives become living reflections of your love. Hear us, now as we silently pray our personal confessions.
SILENT PRAYER OF CONFESSION: We pray in Jesus’ name, Amen
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
†PASSING OF THE PEACE
†CONGREGATIONAL RESPONSE: # 579 “Gloria Patri”
TIME FOR ALL GOD’S CHILDREN
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION:
Overcome our darkness and our doubts with the illumination of your word, Lord. Turn our attention toward your presence and open our hunger and our searching towards your gift of abundant life. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READINGS: Acts 1: 6-14; John 17: 1-11
One: This is the word of God for the people of God.
All: Thanks be to God.
MESSAGE: “Gifted and Grateful” ,Rev. Ray Thomas
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: (from the PCUSE A Brief Statement of Faith)
In life and in death we belong to God. Through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, we trust in the one triune God, the Holy One of Israel, whom alone we worship and serve. We trust in Jesus Christ, fully human, fully God. Jesus proclaimed the reign of God: preaching good news to the poor and release to the captives, teaching by word and deed and blessing the children, healing the sick and binding up the brokenhearted, eating with outcasts, forgiving sinners, and calling all to repent and believe the gospel. Unjustly condemned for blasphemy and sedition, Jesus was crucified, suffering the depths of human pain and giving his life for the sins of the world. God raised this Jesus from the dead, vindicating his sinless life, breaking the power of sin and evil, delivering us from death to life eternal.
SPECIAL MUSIC
CALL FOR GOD’S TITHES AND OUR OFFERING
PASTORAL PRAYER AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
†CLOSING HYMN: # 538 "Lord, Dismiss Us with Thy Blessing”
†BENEDICTION
†DISMISSAL WITH BLESSING: “Let There Be Peace on Earth”