Order of Worship

Seventh Sunday of Easter

Ascension Sunday

BOLD indicates congregational SPEAKING participation

GATHERING AS THE BODY OF CHRIST

Prelude

 "God the Sculptor of the Mountains"

 TFWS #2060

   Welcome and Sharing of Announcements

A Time to Make Connections

Call to Worship

Liturgist: Let us remember what our God has done!

People:  God created the world out of a formless void.

Liturgist: Let us remember what our God has done!

People: God made every animal and plant, bird and fish.

Liturgist: Let us remember what our God has done!

People: God created people in the image of God.

Liturgist: Let us remember what our God has done!

People: God created the world out of a formless void.

Liturgist: Let us remember what our God has done!

People: God has made us caretakers of the earth.

Liturgist: Let us complete our task in faithfulness.

People: Blessed are you, O God, creator of all that is.

Blessed are you, O God, creator of all that will be.

Blessed are you, O God, who made us in your image.

Praised be your name! Amen.

Opening Prayer



Eternal God, your Spirit moved on the waters— and there was light, your first creation. Your Spirit moved on the water of our baptism— and again, there was light in our souls and hearts. Let your holy light shine on us today, as we remember your creation and our special part in it. Amen..

Opening Hymn

   “God of the Sparrow God of the Whale” 

   UMH #122

Message in Music

  “Jesus Loves Me” 

by Anna Warner/ William Bradbury

Ellis Till & Nancy Burns, duet 

Courtney Till, piano

Children's Time

Courtney Till

Pastoral Prayer and 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. 

Prayer Response

 “Father, I Adore You”    

  TFWS #2038        

ATTENTION TO THE WORD OF GOD

Scripture Readings: Genesis 1:1-5; 1 John 4:7-13

When God began to create[a] the heavens and the earth, 2 the earth was complete chaos, and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God[b] swept over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us, and his love is perfected in us.

Liturgist: The word of God for the people of God.

People: Thanks be to God.  

Message

“Apostle’s Creed (II): God the Creator”

  Pastor Seok-Hwan 

We Respond

Offering

“All Things Bright and Beautiful” 

 UMH #147

Doxology

 UMH #94

*Offertory Prayer

Gracious God, we praise you! Endless source of life, pour your blessing upon the gifts we bring before you. Bless our giving in your abundance for the restoration of all people. Through our offering, may those who are weary be energized; may those who feel forgotten find a home. With the joy of your grace filling our hearts, we pray. Amen.

Closing Hymn

 “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”  

UMH #89

The Blessing and Sending Forth

May God’s creative Spirit be with us in our hearts

and minds as we leave this place to return home.

May God’s creative Spirit help us to see with new wonder

the splendor of your creation all around us

and inspire us to preserve and protect it.

Postlude

"Ode to Joy"  

 Ludwig van Beethoven, arr. Nuno Carmona

(The Abingdon Worship Annual 2020)