Sermon Text: Acts 1:9-11
Sermon Title: "Down and Back Up Again"

Morning Liturgy

Welcome and Announcements

Choral Introit: “Amazing Grace and Love

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see.
Amazing love, how can it be that he would die for you and me?
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.
Amazing love, how can it be that he would die for you and me?
Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come;
It’s grace that’s brought me so very far, and grace will lead me home.
Amazing love, how can it be that he would die for you and me?
When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no fewer days to sing God’s praise than when we’d first begun!
Amazing grace! Amazing grace! Amazing love!

Call to Worship: Revelation 15:3-4

Minister: Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! 
People: Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! 
Minister: Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. 
People: All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.

Trinity Hymnal #14  “New Songs of Celebration Render” 
New songs of celebration render
To him who has great wonders done;
Love sits enthroned in ageless splendor;
Come and adore the mighty One.
He has made known his great salvation,
Which all his friends with joy confess.
He has revealed to ev'ry nation
His everlasting righteousness.
Joyfully, heartily resounding,
Let ev'ry instrument and voice
Peal out the praise of grace abounding,
Calling the whole world to rejoice.
Trumpets and organs, set in motion
Such sounds as make the heavens ring;
All things that live in earth and ocean,
Make music for your mighty King.
Rivers and seas and torrents roaring,
Honor the Lord with wild acclaim;
Mountains and stones look up adoring,
And find a voice to praise his name.
Righteous, commanding, ever glorious,
Praises be his that never cease:
Just is our God, whose truth victorious
Establishes the world in peace.

Prayer of Invocation
 
Reflection on God’s Law

Minister: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
People: This is the great and first commandment. (Matt. 22:37, 38)
Minister: God spoke all these words, saying, "I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods before me."
People: For although there may be so-called "gods" in heaven or on earth… yet for us there is one God. (1 Cor. 8:5-6)
Minister: You shall not make for yourself an idol.
People: What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God. (2 Cor. 6:16)
Minister: You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
People: Let your "yes" be yes and your "no" be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation. (Jam. 5:12)
Minister: Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
People: There remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. (Heb. 4:9-10)

Confession of Sin
Assurance of Grace: John 5:24

Trinity Hymnal #432: “We Give Thee but Thine Own”

We give thee but thine own,
whate'er the gift may be:
all that we have is thine alone,
a trust, O Lord, from thee.

May we thy bounties thus
as stewards true receive,
and gladly, as thou blessest us,
to thee our first-fruits give.

Our hearts are bruised and dead,
and homes are bare and cold,
and lambs for whom the Shepherd bled
are straying from the fold.

And we believe thy Word,
though dim our faith may be,
whate'er for thine we do, O Lord,
we do it unto thee.

Prayer of the Church: Pastor M. Connor Underseth

Trinity Hymnal #289 “A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing” 

A hymn of glory let us sing;
new songs thro'out the world shall ring:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Christ, by a road before untrod,
ascendeth to the throne of God.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

The holy apostolic band
Upon the Mount of Olives stand;
Alleluia! Alleluia!
and with his followers they see
Jesus' resplendent majesty.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

To whom the angels, drawing nigh,
"Why stand and gaze upon the sky?
Alleluia! Alleluia!
This is the Savior," thus they say,
"this is his noble triumph day."
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

"Again shall ye behold him so
as ye today have seen him go,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
in glorious pomp ascending high,
up to the portals of the sky."
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Reading of Sermon Scripture: Acts 1:9-11
9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Sermon: “Down and Back Up Again” by Pastor Joel E. Wood

Prayer of Application and the Lord’s Prayer

Hymn: “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us”

How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon a cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts no pow’r no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

CCLI Song # 1558110

Trinity Hymnal p. 845 “Apostles Creed” 

Minister: Christian, what do you believe? 
All:  I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. 

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Words of Institution
Communion Prayer
Approach the Table
Prayer of Thanksgiving

Trinity Hymnal #731: “Doxology”
Benediction
Postlude