May 24, 2020 - Seventh Sunday of Easter: Jesus prays to God for our protection:What Joy!

Eternal God, we are Your people, who believe in Your Messiah, Your Christ, Jesus. Jesus prayed that we would see and know You by his life, teachings, ministry, death, and resurrection. He was faithful. We look to You now because Jesus taught us that You are eternally present and faithful to Your people. You will never leave us or forsake us no matter what this world brings into our lives. In this time of worship open our hearts, our minds, and our souls to Your faithful presence as we lift to You the prayers within our hearts—all of them—knowing You are faithful from everlasting to everlasting.

Especially we pray for our loved ones - keep them: keep them in health, in safety, in comfort, in Your care. For those in Michigan whose dams have failed and are facing flooding, for any among us who feel constrained, or emotionally distressed by our time and era, for any who need to know Your love for them in this hurting world.

We also lift to You those who need comfort as they mourn their loved ones. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit, The comforter, who would remind us of Your promises that Nothing in life, or in Death, things present, nor things to come, nor angel or demons within our lives, nor anything in all of creation will ever be able to separate us from Your love in Jesus the Christ, our Lord.

The Lord's Prayer

Opening Hymn: No. 117 Oh God, Our Help in Ages Past

Call to Worship: Psalm 68: 3-4 [adapted]

Pastor: Let the righteous be joyful;
People: let us exult before God; let us be jubilant with joy!
Pastor: Sing to God, sing praises to God's name;
People: Let us lift up our hearts in song to God's name and be exultant before God!

Choral Anthem: Russell Mauldin (arr.): Blades Of Grass And Pure White Stones

Unison Prayer:

Loving and Gracious God, You have blessed us by sending Jesus into our lives. You have given us joy by Your gracious actions that show us how to live lives of peace and grace. We, like Jesus, pray to You to protect us; protect us in this world; protect us to be faithful to Your teachings and the teachings of Jesus; protect our hearts, our souls, and our minds by Your faithfulness to us. Thank you for being present with us wherever we find ourselves and reminding us that You are faithful toward us everyday of our lives. Teach us this mystery by the power of the Holy Spirit moving within our lives. Help us live in the reality of Your presence and love that cultivates joy and praise within us.

Hymn: No. 369 Blessed Assurance

Gospel Reading and message John 17: 1 -11, Jesus prays to God for our protection:What Joy!

Closing Hymn: No. 374 Standing on the Promises

Benediction: [adapted from Psalm 68 & 23]

Pastor: People of God, go forth with joy knowing that God is faithful from everlasting to everlasting.
People: We have been reminded that Jesus trusted God to protect us.
Pastor: People of God, go forth with joy knowing that Jesus prayed for us to be faithful to God.
People: We have been reminded that Jesus taught us God's faithfulness.
Pastor: People of God, go forth with joy knowing that God sends the Holy Spirit: the Spirit of Truth; the Spirit of comfort; the Spirit of empowerment; the Spirit of love.
People: We have been reminded that God and Jesus want us to know without doubt that God loves us from everlasting to everlasting.
Pastor: People of God, go forth with joy knowing that God went out before God's people, and will go out with us this day, and this hour.
People: We have been reminded that God's abundant goodness has showered upon God's people for all of eternity and will continue toward us as we go forth with our lives.
Pastor: People of God, sing to God, sing praises to the Lord;
People: We have been reminded to open the songs of our hearts to God who who loves to hear our joy and praise.
Pastor: People of God, know that we are safe in God's care for all of eternity;
People: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

Postlude: Albert Travis: Joyful, Joyful played by John Hutchinson