June 1, 2025 | Ascension Sunday

PRELUDE

Call to Worship   Psalm 9:11-14; 47:5-7

 Pastor: Sing praises to the

  Lord, who sits

  enthroned in

  Zion! Tell among

  the peoples his

  deeds!

 

 People: Recount all his

  praises and

  rejoice in his

  salvation.

 

 Pastor: God has gone up

  with a shout, the

  sound of  a

  trumpet. Sing

  praises to God,

  sing praises!

 

 People: Sing praises to

  our King; sing

  praises!

 

 Pastor: For God is the

  King of all the

  earth; sing  

  praises with a

  psalm!

 

 All: Sing praises to

  the Lord, who

  sits enthroned in

  Zion! Amen◆

 

PRAYER of INVOCATION    from Ephesians 1:13-14

O Christ, we have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in you. May your Spirit meet with us today, and guarantee our inheritance in you, to the praise of your glory. Amen. ◆

SONG of ADORATION    “Yet Not I But Through Christ In Me” 

What gift of grace is Jesus, my Redeemer
There is no more for Heaven now to give
He is my joy, my righteousness, and freedom
My steadfast love, my deep and boundless peace

To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
For my life is wholly bound to His
Oh, how strange and divine, I can sing, "All is mine"
Yet not I, but through Christ in me

The night is dark, but I am not forsaken
For by my side, the Savior, He will stay
I labor on in weakness and rejoicing
For in my need, His power is displayed

To this I hold, my Shepherd will defend me
Through the deepest valley, He will lead
Oh, the night has been won, and I shall overcome
Yet not I, but through Christ in me

No fate I dread, I know I am forgiven
The future's sure, the price, it has been paid
For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon
And He was raised to overthrow the grave

To this I hold, my sin has been defeated
Jesus, now and ever is my plea
Oh, the chains are released, I can sing, "I am free"
Yet not I, but through Christ in me

With every breath, I long to follow Jesus
For He has said that He will bring me home
And day by day, I know He will renew me
Until I stand with joy before the throne

To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
All the glory evermore to Him
When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat
"Yet not I, but through Christ in me"

To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
All the glory evermore to Him
When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat
"Yet not I, but through Christ in me"

When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat
"Yet not I, but through Christ in me"
Yet not I, but through Christ in me
Yet not I, but through Christ in me

Farren /  Thompson © Integrity's Alleluia! Music, Cityalight Music  CCLI #3071858

 

 

Confession and Assurance

READING of GOD’S LAW

   Hear God’s Law, His Will for Your Life, from Matthew 5:

"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.'  But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be lia-ble to the hell of fire . . .

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart . . .

 “You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

 

“You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  45 so that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven.”

 

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God. ◆

 

PRAYER of CONFESSION  from Augustine’s Confessions

 

 Pastor:  Risen and ascended Lord,

  You reign in glory,

  exalted above all powers

  and principalities,

 yet we confess how slow we are to bend the knee,
how quick we are to seek comfort in this world rather than your Kingdom.

 

 All:  Forgive us, Lord. You

  called us to be your

  witnesses to the ends of

  the earth, but we have

  stood still, eyes to the

  sky, content to admire

  your glory without

  sharing your grace.

 

 Pastor: You send us your Spirit,

  yet we try to do your

  work in our own

  strength. You intercede

  for us at the right

  hand of the Father, yet

  we often live as if we are

  alone and unloved.

 

 All: Too late have we loved

  you, O Beauty so ancient

  and so new. Lift our

  hearts to where you are,

  and send us out in the

  power of your Spirit,

  that we may live as your

  Body on earth,

  to the praise of your

  glory. Amen. ◆

 

ASSURANCE of PARDON     from Isaiah 62:11-12

  Receive these words of comfort from God:

Behold, the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the earth:
Say to the daughter of Zion,
    “Behold, your salvation comes;
behold, his reward is with him,
    and his recompense before him.”
And they shall be called The Holy People,
    The Redeemed of the Lord;
and you shall be called Sought Out,
    A City Not Forsaken. 

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and   

     by the promises we have together received in God’s Holy

Word, be assured that you are not forsaken. Your sins are forgiven and your guilt washed away in Jesus blood, now walk in freedom to the glory of His holy name. Amen. ◆

 

SONG of RESPONSE           “The Solid Rock” CH #526

 

Life of Worship

PROFESSION of FAITH The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of all that exists—seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father before all worlds; Light of Light, True God of True God, begotten, not made, of One Being with the Father. Through Him, all things were made.

For us and for our salvation, He came down from heaven.     By the power of the Holy Spirit, he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and was made man.

For our sake, He was crucified under Pontius Pilate. He suf-fered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again, in accordance with the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, where he sits at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord, the Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and from the Son. With the Father and the Son He is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy, universal, and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism unto the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.

Amen.◆

OFFERING

 

DOXOLOGY  -  CH#815

 

PRAYER of DEDICATION

KIDS’ SONG            “Day by Day”       Alanna Dougherty, Piano

CHILDREN’S CATECHISM

   Q42: How is the Word of God to

 be read and heard?    

A: With diligence, preparation, and prayer; so that we may   
      accept it with faith and practice it in our lives.

         From The New City Catechism for Kids, ©2018 Crossway Books. Used with permission

PASSING of the PEACE

 

 

Ministry of the Word

SONG     “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing”     CH #499

PRAYER for ILLUMINATION  

Lord Godi, just as you lifted the eyes of the disciples to the rising Christ at his ascension, so lift our eyes to You as we hear your holy Word today, that we too might turn our eyes to your truth and follow in your Way through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ◆

SCRIPTURE READING      John 4:27-30, 39-42 

SERMON    “Heard for Ourselves”

 

Ministry of Sacrament

COMMUNION HYMN     “Come Share the Lord”    CH#462

INVITATION to the LORD’S SUPPER

WORDS of INSTITUTION

The BREAD and the CUP

(All baptized believers who look to Christ and His cross alone for salvation are invited to join us at the Lord’s Table)

FELLOWSHIP FUND OFFERING

SONG of RESPONSE     “Blest Be the Tie”    CH#426

BENEDICTION

 

POSTLUDE