ORDER OF WORSHIP - MAY 17TH, 2026
- Union Church
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
ORDER OF WORSHIP
MAY 17TH, 2026 10:30 AM
SEVENTH SUNDAY IN EASTER
Ascension Sunday
**Kindly stand if you are able
**PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR PHONE before Worship
PRELUDE “Great Is the Lord” - Michael & Deborah Smith
John Coates, Organ
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP (Adapted from Psalm 68)
LEADER: Let God rise up, let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee before him.
PEOPLE: Let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God; let them be
jubilant with joy.
LEADER: Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds.
PEOPLE: Let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God; let them be
jubilant with joy.
LEADER: Awesome is God in his sanctuary, the God of Israel; he gives power and
strength to his people.
PEOPLE: Let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God; let them be
jubilant with joy.
INVOCATION
On this Ascension Sunday, when we commemorate the ascension of Jesus into
Heaven, we ask you, Lord, to fill this space with your Spirit as we come to worship and praise you.
**OPENING HYMN “Alleluia, Sing to Jesus” Red #263
CALL TO CONFESSION
Our sins do not keep us from God. All we need do is ask for forgiveness with humble hearts, and God will hear our pleas.
PRAYER FOR UNDERSTANDING
Merciful God, we come to you to ask for strength and courage. It can be hard to live each day, especially when we try to live without your support. We try to fill our lives with material items and worldly things, but we still find ourselves longing for meaning and peace. Help us to come to you and lay our burdens at your feet. Help us to turn away from the distractions of the world and turn towards your love.
(A moment for silent personal confession)
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Jesus assured the disciples that even after he was no longer with them, they would still be one with him. We are all one with the Spirit, one with Jesus, and one with God, the Father.
**GLORIA PATRI Avery & Marsh (Back of Red Cover)
**HYMN OF PRAISE “Crown Him with Many Crowns” Red #92
**PASSING OF THE PEACE
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (from the Heidelberg Catechism)
I am not my own, but belong— body and soul, in life and in death — to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Lord, as we here these words let them fill our hearts and minds with you Spirit so that we may live as disciples of Christ.
SCRIPTURE READINGS
NEW TESTAMENT 1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11 Rob Ferguson
GOSPEL John 17:1-26
SERMON MESSAGE “Being One” James Philips
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
And Lord we pray for those in our own hearts whose names you already know, for their own healing and comfort, in your name and that of our redeemer Jesus Christ, 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 TITHES AND OFFERINGS
Let us return to God the offerings of our life and the gifts of the earth. May our gifts be a blessing to those who receive them. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
OFFERTORY “All Things Are Yours” Red #657
DOXOLOGY Avery & Marsh (Back of the Red hymnal)
**PRAYER OF THANKS
We thank you, our Lord for those gifts to us that we send to you for your work and ours in congregation, community, and culture. Guide us in good use as we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
**HYMN OF PARTING “God Be with You” Red #840
BENEDICTION
Even monkeys fall from trees.
-Korean Proverb
POSTLUDE “Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise” Red #258
James Phillips
Union Church
44 Balmville Rd, Newburgh NY 12550
(845) 562-0954
