CCLI license #1913561
Lakeview Presbyterian Church Service, May 16, 2021
The Ascension Sunday
Prelude “Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness” James T Manley, 1974
Refrain
Spirit, Spirit of gentleness, blow through the wilderness calling and free,
Spirit, Spirit of restlessness, stir me from placidness, wind, wind on the sea.
You moved on the waters, you called to the deep,
then you coaxed up the mountains from the valleys of sleep;
and over the eons you called to each thing:
""Awake from your slumbers and rise on your wings.""
You swept through the desert, you stung with the sand,
and you goaded your people with a law and a land;
and when they were blinded with idols and lies,
then you spoke through your prophets to open their eyes.
You sang in a stable, you cried from a hill,
then you whispered in silence when the whole world was still;
and down in the city you called once again,
when you blew through your people on the rush of the wind.
You call from tomorrow, you break ancient schemes.
From the bondage of sorrow all the captives dream dreams;
our women see visions, our men clear their eyes.
With bold new decisions your people arise.
Call to Worship (Pastor/People)
Praise God who offers new life to all who will follow after Jesus.
Praise God who renews our vison and restores our dreams.
Praise God who offers new life to all who hold fast to God’s promises.
Praise God who renews our hope and restores our joy.
Praise the God of the past, the present, and the future.
Let all who have life and breath praise our God!
Opening Prayer
We thank you, almighty God, for the life Jesus lived among us, and that he now reigns in power for us. Strengthen our hope and bless the work of our hands, that we may live as his body in this world. Amen.
Hymn “At the Name of Jesus” Caroline Maria Noel, 1890
At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow,
every tongue confess him King of Glory now.
'Tis the Father's pleasure we should call him Lord,
who from the beginning was the mighty Word:
Humbled for a season, to receive a name
from the lips of sinners unto whom he came,
faithfully he bore it spotless to the last,
brought it back victorious when from death he passed.2
Bore it up triumphant with its human light,
through all ranks of creatures to the central height,
to the throne of Godhead, to the Father's breast;
filled it with the glory of that perfect rest.
Christians, this Lord Jesus shall return again,
With His Father’s glory o’er the earth to reign;
For all wreaths of empire meet upon his brow,
And our hearts confess Him King of glory now.
Prayer for Illumination
Open the eyes of our hearts, O God, and grant us a spirit of wisdom through the reading of the sacred words. Amen.
A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles: Acts 1: 15—17, 21—26 NRS
In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons) and said, "Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus—for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry."
So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us -- one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection." So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed and said, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place." And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.
A Reading from the Gospels: Luke 24: 44—53 NRS
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,1 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 worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.
Sermon “Unchosen, But Not Frozen” The Rev. Russell Lehman
Hymn “Trust and Obey” John Sammis, 1846-1919
When we walk with the Lord In the light of His word
What a glory He sheds on our way
While we do His good will He abides with us still
And with all who will trust and obey
Refrain
Trust and obey
For there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus
But to trust and obey
Not a shadow can rise, Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, Not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Refrain
Not a burden we bear, Not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, Not a frown or a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.
Refrain
But we never can prove The delights of His love,
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, And the joy He bestows
Are for them who will trust and obey.
Refrain
Then in fellowship sweet We will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do; Where He sends, we will go,
Never fear, only trust and obey.
Refrain
Sharing Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer
Let us pray for the whole world and everything in it, for there is much need and want, and we, the church, have been called to be Christ’s body in our world today.
Bountiful God, fill those who live in want and need and soften the hearts of those who have abundance and those who are blind to the suffering around them.
God of peace, open the eyes of those in places of authority and power to see the destruction of war and conflict and the value and virtue of peace and justice.
Healing God, touch those who are afflicted in bod, mind, or spirit, Comfort those who are abused, mistreated, or abandoned.
Renewing God, restore the earth and its delicate yet life-giving ecosystem. Empower us to respect and cherish all that is depleted, polluted, or endangered.
Merciful God, touch the heart of your church, heal our divisions and free us from self-righteous ambitions that we may hear your voice, grow in faith and love, and know with surety the inheritance and hope to which you have called us.
Holy God, your power and majesty fill the universe, far above all we see or know.
Reign in our world and in our hearts with Christ and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
Lord’s Prayer (Ecumenical Version)
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come,
your will be done on earth as in heaven
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen
Statement about Offering our Gifts
Christ has called us to be his witnesses to the ends of the earth, so let us give generously to fulfill that call.
Donations can be mailed to Lakeview Presbyterian Church at 1310 22 nd Av S, St Petersburg, FL, 33705 or given online through our website lakeviewpresbyterianchurch.org
Special Music Sung by Keisha Prime
Prayer of Dedication
We give you praise and offer these gifts, for, with Christ ascended by your side, we know all things are possible. Amen.
Charge and Blessing
Grow together in faith and love, being the church, which is Christ’s body.
Go forth knowing
the hope to which God has called you,
the glorious inheritance that you have received,
and God’s power that is at work within you
through Jesus Christ in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Postlude: “Guide my Feet” African-American Spiritual sung by Keisha Prime
Guide my feet while I run this race; (yes, my Lord!)
guide my feet while I run this race; (yes, my Lord!)
guide my feet while I run this race,
for I don’t want to run this race in vain! (race in vain!)
Hold my hand…
Stand by me…
I’m your child…
Search my heart…
Guide my feet…