Look Down To Look Up

Opening Announcements — Rev. Johan Dodge

Good Morning and Welcome to Worship!

Worship is often the first place that new people come into contact

with this growing community of faith. And so if you are joining us for

the first time, I say to you what I say every Sunday. You are welcome

here. Here is a place where all are welcome. For such is the love of

God for God’s Very Good Creation.

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. 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.

Redeeming God, you call us to devote ourselves constantly to prayer

for the sake of Jesus Christ. Therefore, let us offer our prayers this

day on behalf of your church and the world, saying, fill us with your

Spirit’s power, that we may be one with Christ, as Christ is one with

you. Rescuing God, parent of orphans and protector of widows, you

give the desolate a home to live in and lead out the prisoners into

prosperity. Help us to order the patterns of our common life to support

the health of your human family and the welfare of your world. Fill us

with your Spirit's power,

that we may be one with Christ, as Christ is one with you.

Steadfast God, you have given to your church the inheritance of

Christ, and bestowed your Spirit’s love upon us to make us one

in you. Help us to grow in strength and courage to witness to

this hope: that all may find your saving love eternally in Christ.

Fill us with your Spirit’s power,

that we may be one with Christ, as Christ is one with you.

Life-giving God, you send rain in abundance to relieve the

parched crops and thirsty land, and make clean the winds of

heaven. Help us to find sustainable solutions as we seek to

honor and care for the well-being of your creation. Fill us with

your Spirit’s power,

that we may be one with Christ, as Christ is one with you.

Loving God, you heard the sufferings of your people, listened to

our cries, and sent a Son into our world that was no stranger to

our pain. Help us to offer your healing and compassion as we

minister to others in the mercy of your Christ. Fill us with your

Spirit’s power,

that we may be one with Christ, as Christ is one with you.

Resurrecting God, you draw near to those who are sick and dying,

and you call them home to you.

May we all know the joy of life eternal shared with you, Father,

Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Spirit of Glory, Spirit of God, bless us with a word of life this day to restore, support, and strengthen us as we seek to be one with you. Amen.

Acts 1:⁶-14 6So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷ He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸ 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.” ⁹ When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. ¹⁰ While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. ¹¹ They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward 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.” ¹²Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. ¹³ 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. ¹⁴ All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers. 1 Peter ⁴:12-14, 5:6-11 ¹²Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. ¹⁴ If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you. ⁶ Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. ⁷ Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. ⁸Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. ¹⁰ And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. ¹¹ To him be the power forever and ever. Amen. 6Through Silvanus, whom I consider a faithful brother, I have written this short letter to encourage you and to testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. Your sister church in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings; and so does my son Mark. ¹⁴Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ. John 17:1-11 ¹ After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, ² since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. ³ And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 41 glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. ⁵ So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed. ⁶] have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. ⁷ Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; ⁸ for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. ⁹ l am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. ¹⁰ All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. ¹¹And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.”

Questions for Reflection: Rev. Johan Dodge

Where have you experienced God’s welcome in your life? Where

have you experienced God’s welcome in your church? If we are to be

one with Christ, as Christ is one with God, how can your church

become a more compelling witness to God’s radical invitation to

homecoming?

INVITATION TO THE OFFERING — Marylee Thomsen

Jesus said to the Father, All mine are yours, and all yours are mine.

Therefore, let us offer to God this day our lives and labors in service

of Christ's love.

Glorious God, everything that is given to us rains forth out of the abundance of your love, even Jesus Christ our Lord. Bless these gifts and our lives together that all we are and all we offer give glory to you; in the name of Christ, who is the way, truth, and life. Amen.

Siblings, God loves and cares for each of us. Therefore, cast all anxiety on God, and may the abundance of God bless you, the strength of Christ keep you, and the Spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, shine upon you forever. Blessed Be the Tie that Binds Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love. The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above. Amen.