Sunday, May 24, 2020 - Ascension Sunday & 7th Sunday of Easter

Good Morning and Thank you for joining us for our Sunday Worship Services. What I will post here is a modified version of the Worship Guide I mail out and send to our congregation. The links posted will not be available until Saturday, May 23 at 10:00 a.m.

We will begin our worship service this week by reading Psalm 63 for our Call to Worship. Please read it from your own personal Bible.

Our first hymn is “A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing!” #258 in our hymnal (click link for music and words in the comments section https://youtu.be/dd8AOryi-k4.

Now we ask that you recite our Call to Confession:

Jesus tells us that repentance and forgiveness is to be offered in his name.  Therefore, let us confess our sins to God, who assures us of new life through the power of Christ’s redeeming love.

Now we will recite the Prayer of Confession followed by a moment of silent prayers of confession.  Let
us pray…
Living God, we confess that our faith is sometimes weak, our love for others can be
faint, our prayers are often timid, and our gratitude is frequently unconvincing.  When we stand looking
toward heaven, yet feel far from you, you draw near in mercy to forgive us, and fill us with your power, through the grace of Jesus, our resurrected Savior.  (Silent Prayers of Confession) Amen

Now recite the Assurance of Pardon: Sisters and brothers, as Christ is our witness, God’s power to pardon is immeasurable.  Therefore, proclaim this good news to the ends of the earth: through the mercy of Christ, our sins are forgiven...LET US SING GLORY TO GOD! Now sing The Gloria Patri: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.  As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, Amen.    

During our normal Worship time, we would have Time for God’s Children. It can be found under the tab for Sunday School.

Now please recite our Prayer for illumination: Come Holy Spirit, open our minds to see the power of Scripture to give life; enlighten our hearts that we might see Christ in all whom we meet; in the name of the one, holy, and living God, to whom we give all glory.  Amen.

At this time please read Our Old Testament Lesson is from Psalm 47 in your Bible.

At this time, you are asked to click on the link below which contains a solo performance by Lisa Paige singing “.   Immediately following the solo you will listen to Guest Pastor John Welch.  His sermon this Sunday is entitled “Goin’ Home” and he will speak from three different New Testament scriptures – Luke
24:50-53; Acts 1:1-11; and Ephesians 1:15-23.  (Please click on this link https://youtu.be/feM85w2FAuk )  

After Guest Preacher John Welch’s sermon, please come back to this guide and click on the
link
https://youtu.be/c-gaw3glb7c  for the music to our 2nd hymn, “Crown Him with Many Crowns” # 268 in our Hymnal. 

After you have sung the 2nd hymn, we ask that you come back to this Guide for our Prayers
of the People. Please pray for those on the following prayer list and any other prayer concerns you may have.

In Our Prayers - May 24 through May 30, 2020

Pray for people who reveal God’s truth and righteousness.

Pray for our Session and Deacons, and all of the work they do for FPC. 
Pray for the First Presbyterian Church in Arkansas City, Kansas.

Pray for all those who are mission workers. 

*Prayer of Thanksgiving and Lord’s Prayer O God of all glory and majesty, we give you thanks for the gift of your Son, and his power at work in our lives and our gifts.  Bless these gifts for the benefits they afford in bringing life to others in your name.  Bless our lives that we may be your witnesses to the end of the earth as we love and serve you, O God most high.  We pray this in Jesus’ name who taught us to pray, saying, “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us
not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever.  Amen.”

Our last hymn is “Lead On, O King Eternal!” followed by the Benediction sung by Lisa
Paige.  Click this link:   
https://youtu.be/cLacSn10bkc

Visit us on Facebook at:  First Presbyterian Church, Independence, Kansas and find us on YouTube.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT:

Because of God’s grace, love, and gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, we worship, witness, teach and serve.