May 13 2018 Welcome to OPC Cambridge Chimes

May 13, 2018 Welcome to OPC

Cambridge Chimes Welcome and Announcements Greeting Each Other Ringing of the Bell

Prelude “Trumpet in Dialogue” ~Clerambault Lighting of the candles

*CALL TO WORSHIP L: Sisters and brothers, shout to God with songs of great joy! P: Great is our Lord and greatly to be praised! L: Though his love and blessings, God has made us whole.

P: In our wholeness, God calls us to minister to those around us. L: God calls us to ministries of hope and love. P: God calls us to ministries of repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

L: We rejoice in this calling. P: We rejoice, knowing God calls and equips us. L: Come, let us celebrate the love of God! P: Let us praise God’s name and serve God joyfully.

*Hymn #150 “Come, Christians, Join to Sing” v. 1 Come, Christians, join to sing Alleluia! Amen! Loud praise to Christ our King; Alleluia! Amen!

*Hymn #150 “Come, Christians, Join to Sing” v. 1 Let all, with heart and voice Before His throne rejoice; Praise is His gracious choice; Alleluia! Amen!

*Hymn #150 “Come, Christians, Join to Sing” v. 2 Come, lift your hearts on high; Alleluia! Amen! Let praises fill the sky; Alleluia! Amen!

*Hymn #150 “Come, Christians, Join to Sing” v. 2 He is our guide and friend; To us He’ll condescend; His love shall never end; Alleluia! Amen!

*Hymn #150 “Come, Christians, Join to Sing” v. 3 Praise yet our Christ again; Alleluia! Amen! Life shall not end the strain; Alleluia! Amen!

*Hymn #150 “Come, Christians, Join to Sing” v. 3 On heaven’s blissful shore His goodness we’ll adore, Singing forevermore, “Alleluia! Amen!”

*PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison) Forgiving and gracious God, you have called us to be your body, “the church, ” to live out our Resurrection faith. You have asked us to place our trust in you and

to bring the good news of repentance and forgiveness of sins to all people. But we have failed to do this. We have given our faith and our calling a back seat to the activities and

stresses in our lives. We fail to give forgiveness; we fail to ask forgiveness. You, who raised Christ from the dead, have promised to raise our spirits and bring us to new life.

You have done this, and yet we remain static in our response to you. Forgive us for the smallness of our faith. Clear our spirits of the clutter of everyday living.

Help us to be open always to your word and your love. Challenge us to move in directions of peace and hope and forgiveness for all people.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON L: Our God has told us he is faithful and just, and when we confess our sins he will forgive us. Sisters and brothers, in Christ’s name you are forgiven. P: Alleluia! Thanks be to God, amen.

CHOIR ANTHEM “May You Always Have a Song” ~Jay Althouse

Time With Young Christians

A Celebration of Mothers (unison prayer)

Creator God, the One who gave birth to this beautiful world, today we give thanks for all the “mothers” in our lives.

We are grateful to all the women who have, in one way or another, offered “mothering” to us. We give thanks for those who gave birth to us, for those who taught and raised us,

and for those mothers who loved us unconditionally. We bow our heads as we remember all the women in our lives who have helped us make good decisions, who showed the

beauty and joy in life and who helped us hang onto hope. (brief pause to remember these mothers/women silently)

Thank you, God, for the nurturing, hope-filled women you have surrounded us with. Bless each of them this day, and remind them how special and vital they are. Thanks be to God, Amen.

PROCLAIMING THE WORD SCRIPTURE READING: Acts 1: 1 -11

In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.

After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over the course of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father.

‘This, ’ he said, ‘is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. ’ So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is 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, nd 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 in heaven,

will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven. ’

SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 24: 44 -53

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. ’ Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 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, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. 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. ’ Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy;

and they were continually in the temple blessing God. L: This is the Word of the Lord. P: Thanks be to God!

“Final Thoughts” Rev. Tedd Pullano

*Hymn #396 “O For a Closer Walk with God” v. 1 O for a closer walk with God, A calm and heavenly frame, A light to shine upon the road That leads me to the Lamb!

*Hymn #396 “O For a Closer Walk with God” v. 2 Return, O holy Dove, return, Sweet messenger of rest! I hate the sins that made Thee mourn And drove Thee from my breast.

*Hymn #396 “O For a Closer Walk with God” v. 3 The dearest idol I have known, Whatee’r that idol be, Help me to tear it from Thy throne, And worship only Thee.

*Hymn #396 “O For a Closer Walk with God” v. 4 So shall my walk be close with God, Calm and serene my frame; So purer light shall mark the road That leads me to the Lamb.

OFFERING OUR GIFTS TO GOD OFFERTORY INVITATION Offertory “Pan Pastorale” ~Godard

*DOXOLOGY #542 v. 4 Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

*PRAYER OF DEDICATION Loving Creator and Redeemer, you give us all we need. For that we are deeply grateful. This morning we have returned a portion of those blessings to you.