WELCOME TO WORSHIP
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
WE HEAR THE WORD PROCLAIMED
CLOSING PRAYER Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your Spirit, to give ourselves for others, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
SCRIPTURE — Acts 1:1-11
WE GO AS GOD’S PEOPLE INTO THE WORLD
This is the word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God. SERMON
HYMN
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WE RENEW OUR COMMITMENT
#156 I Love to Tell the Story — HANKEY
CELEBRATION OF MINISTRY BENEDICTION
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ASCENSION SUNDAY • JUNE 1, 2025 • 11:00AM
THE COMMUNITY GATHERS Welcome to worship at Centenary! We are a church for everyone. As you prepare for worship, we invite you to greet your neighbor and share the love of Christ. Please silence all mobile communication devices. † Please stand as you are able
PRELUDE
I’ve Got the Joy Down in My Heart — arr. Valerie W. Stephenson
GREETING INTROIT
Sanctus — Bob Chilcott Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts. Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
CALL TO WORSHIP Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit We rejoice in that promise Because of his Ascension, Christ is with us always We give thanks for his presence We pray that we might also ascend in heart and mind Lord, grant us this grace
OFFERTORY Bread of the World — Margaret R. Tucker DOXOLOGY #95 Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow — OLD 100th Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all creatures here below; praise God above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
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PRAYER OF DEDICATION Loving God, without You we would be nothing. Help us to give back to others in the way that you have given to us. Your love guides us, protects us, and models for us the ways in which we are called to live. All that we are and all that we have is yours. May our offerings be just part of what we give to you this day and always, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
HYMN OF PROCESSION #312 Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise — LLANFAIR AFFIRMATION OF FAITH I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord: who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick 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.
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AFFIRMATION RESPONSE Festival Alleluia — James Chepponis The Chancel Choir will sing first, then the congregation will be invited to join.
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POSTLUDE
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BENEDICTION RESPONSE Go Now in Peace — Robert Lau Go now in peace, and may God’s peace go with you. Believe and trust His holy word. Amen.
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WE CELEBRATE HOLY COMMUNION The congregation is invited to follow the communion liturgy beginning on page 12 of the hymnal. INVITATION TO COMMUNION Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him, who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another. Therefore, let us confess before God and one another. CONFESSION AND PARDON THE GREAT THANKSGIVING THE LORD’S PRAYER 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. RECEIVING OF ELEMENTS MUSIC AT COMMUNION Ave Verum Corpus, K. 618 — W. A. Mozart Hail, true Body, born of the Virgin Mary, who has truly suffered, was sacrificed on the cross for mortals, whose side was pierced, whence flowed water and blood: be for us a foretaste of heaven during our final examining. O Jesu sweet, O Jesu pure, O Jesu, Son of Mary, have mercy upon me. Amen.
Thank you for joining us in worship today. SERMON NOTES
___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ PARTICIPANTS IN WORSHIP PREACHING The Reverend Meg Peters, Assoc. Minister
CRUCIFER Taylor Paris
LITURGISTS The Reverend Kate May, Assoc. Minister
TORCHBEARERS Camilla Boehnlein Beverly Douglas
MUSIC Jonathan Emmons, Director of Music Ministries Joshua Sobel, Organ Scholar The Chancel Choir Sam Howell, Music Ministry Intern Carillonneurs: Camille Jones, Director
FLOWERS The Chancel Flowers are given in loving memory of Mildred & Marion Nash and Nancy & Dick Crowder by Rick & Sara Crowder, Brian Crowder and Ann Brown Crowder.
The anthem texts are printed with permission. One License A-707342 By entering the Sanctuary, you grant to Centenary United Methodist Church unrestricted right to use and publish, transmit or telecast photographs or likenesses that might be taken of you this day for use in communications related to the church.