Berkey Avenue Mennonite Fellowship

May 16, 2010

Pastors:  Anita Kehr and Dan Schrock

Youth Pastor:  Lois Stoltzfus Mast

Phone:  (574) 534-2398           e-mail: 

Web-Site:  www.berkeyavenue.org

Ascension Day:  Here but Not Seen

Prelude     

Introduction to the morning

Call to Worship:  The Flame of the Presence of Christ 

            Leader:      I watch this morning

                              for the light that the darkness has not overcome.

            People:      I watch for the fire that was in the beginning

                              and that burns still in the brilliance of the

                              rising sun.

            Leader:      I watch for the glow of life that gleams in the

                              growing earth

                              and glistens in sea and sky.

            People:      I watch for your light, O God,

                              in the eyes of every living creature

                              and in the ever-living flame of my own soul.

            Leader:      If the grace of seeing were mine this day

                              I would glimpse you in all that lives.

            All:            Grant me the grace of seeing this day.

                              Grant me the grace of seeing.  Amen.

Scripture:   Psalm 93  Chanted with Alleulia (HWB 101) (Sustain the last chord of Alleluia through the chanting of the verses until the next Alleluia.)

            The Lord is king, robed in majesty;

                  the Lord is robed, and is girded with strength. 

                  (Alleluia)                                                                                                                                      

            God has established the world; it shall never be moved;

                  your throne is established from of old;

                  you are everlasting.  (Alleluia)

            The floods have lifted up, O Lord,

                  the floods have lifted up their voice;

                  the floods lift up their roaring.  (Alleluia)

            More majestic than the thunders of mighty waters,

                  more majestic than the waves of the sea,

                  majestic on high is the Lord!  (Alleluia)

            Your decrees are very sure;

                  holiness befits your house,

            O Lord, forevermore.  (Alleluia)

Songs                                                                           

            Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

            Praise, I will praise you, Lord (HWB 76)

            Breathe on me breath of God (HWB 356)

Prayer:  Uncrowd my heart

            Leader:      Grant me the grace of listening this day.

                              Grant me the grace of listening:

            People:      Uncrowd my heart, O God,

                              until silence speaks

                              in your still, small voice;

                              turn me from the hearing of words,

                              and the making of words,

                              and the confusion of much speaking

                              to listening,

                              waiting,

                              stillness,

                              silence.

Silence

Children’s Time                                                                 Lois Mast

Song:   Veni Sancte Spiritus (HWB 298)

Scripture:  Luke 24:44-53                                            Denise Risser                                                

            Then [Jesus] said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you – that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.”  Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.  You are witnesses of these things.  And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

            Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them.  While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven.  And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God. 

Silence

Song:   Confitemini Domino (Come and fill our hearts) (STJ 59)

Scripture:  Ephesians 1:15-23                                    Daniel Grimes

Silence

Prayers of Petition:                                                       Dan Nafziger

      Song:  Healing balm, forgiving Lord, Kyrie eleison.  (STJ 55)

            All:            Gracious God, send us your Holy Spirit

                                    so we might pray according to your will.

            Leader:      We pray for the church in every place

                                    And for the ministry Christ has given each

                                    of us.

                              (silence and/or free prayers followed by song)

            Leader:      We pray for the peace of the world,

                                    that respect and forbearance might grow,

                                    that oppression and vengeance might be

                                    overcome.

                              (silence and/or free prayers followed by song)

            Leader:      We pray for those in positions of public trust,

                                    That they might serve justice and promote

                                    freedom.

                              (silence and/or free prayers followed by song)

            Leader:      We pray for blessing on all human labor,

                                    that the riches of creation might be used

                                    for the common good.

                              (silence and/or free prayers followed by song)

            Leader:      We pray for those in poverty, illness, and

                                    suffering, that they might be set free and

                                    given hope.

                              (silence and/or free prayers followed by song)

            Leader:      We pray for those who make us their enemies.

                              We pray for ourselves when we become the

                                    enemy.

                              May we find forgiveness and be transformed.

                              (silence and/or free prayers followed by song)

            Leader:      We thank you for the bounty of nature,

                                    the treasures of culture, meaningful work,

                                    and the bonds of human community.

                              Most of all, we thank you for your

                                    immeasurable love in the redemption of the   

                                    world through our Lord Jesus Christ.

                              (silence and/or free prayers followed by song)

            All:            We pray in the name of Christ,

                                    in whom God^* put this power to work

                                    when he raised him from the dead

                                    and seated him at his right hand in the

                                    heavenly places, ²¹far above all rule and

                                    authority and power and dominion,

                                    and above every name that is named,

                                    not only in this age but also in the age to

                                    come.  Amen²²

Song:   Laudate Dominum (Sing praise and bless the Lord)

Acts 1:3-11                                                                       John Mast

            After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.  While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father.  “This,” he said, “is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

            So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?”  He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.  While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them.  They said, “[People] of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven?  This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

      The Flame of the Presence of Christ Ascends 

Offering and Offertory                                                                                                                                  

Introductions

Announcements

Benediction

      Song:  One is the body (STJ 72)

      Spoken           

Readings:

      Call to Worship from Celtic Benediction:  Morning and Night Prayer by J. Philip Newell.

      Prayer:  “Uncrowd my Heart” from Lost in Wonder:  Rediscovering the Spiritual Art of Attentiveness by Esther de Waal.

      Prayer of petition by John Rempel from Words for Worship 2.

Childcare is available for infants and toddlers in the nursery during worship.

Worship Participants:

Worship Leader:   Rita Gingrich and Kathy Stiffney           

Music:   Terri Plank Brenneman

Sound/Projection:  Ben Buckwalter

Ushers:  Snyder family

Visuals:  Terri Plank Brenneman and Kathy Stiffney

Nurture Hour begins ten minutes after the end of worship.  Re-gather in the meetingroom for these opportunities:

Please attend the intergenerational adult class of your choice:

*   The Sermon Discussion Class led by David Heusinkveld and Kirk Stiffney meets in the northeast corner of the meetingroom.

*   A women’s class meets in the Jubilee Hall after the children have finished singing.

*   A long-term discussion-based group meets in the southeast corner of the meetingroom.

*   The College-Age Class led by Joe Liechty, John Roth, and Jan and Peter Shetler, meets in the library.

*   A Bible study on “Teachings on Community,” led by Eldon Nafziger, meets in the northwest corner of the meetingroom.

*   Time of Contemplation at Kathy Stiffney’s home, 712 Greene road.

Children from preschool through fifth grade gather after worship for singing in the Jubilee Hall (the large room north of the fellowship hall).  Younger children may go directly to their classroom (see the room assignments below).

*    Infants and 2-year-olds meet in the Nursery.

*    The preschool class meets in “Joyful.”

*    The primary class meets in “Peace.”

*    The middler class meets in “Forgiveness.”

Youth:

The JYF (grades 6-8) and MYF (grades 9-12) meet in their classrooms off of Jubilee Hall.

Newsletters are available on the literature rack in the fellowship hall.