Worship Guide - Seventh Sunday of Easter, Year A

Worship With 1 Click

(The above is a screenshot, not a video)

NOTE: If you'd like to try watching all of this Sunday's worship service in a series of linked videos, one after the other (with text included), you can begin by clicking this link. Just press the button that says "PLAY ALL" and sit back and relax. Otherwise, proceed as normal through the sections.
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It's important to note that the text video sections are each approximately 30 seconds long, which may or may not be enough time to read, so please be ready to pause the video at these times until you're finished reading (the space bar in most cases will pause and restart your video). 

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Cast all your anxieties on God, for God cares for you…
 
The wonder of these scriptures is how, even as they were written in another time with different circumstances, they continue to capture the human experience, and even more importantly, the hope we have as we look to the skies and the stars. Or maybe we don’t even have to look that far.
 
The Celtic Christians of Ireland in the fifth to tenth centuries believed the distance between heaven and earth was thin. It started “one foot above your head.” To help them remember, they built large stone crosses right in the middle of fields where they worked. 

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Set your space for worship and then enter in. What elements do you find essential today? A rock, a cairn, a cross. Something solid. And something with wings that draws you to the heavens a foot above your head. And bread, juice or wine. Enter in.

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Connections with Andrea

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Prelude

As we gather, we remember that in our Sunday worship this is a time to also gather our joys and concerns. If you have a prayers you would like to share, please do so here. These will be shared by email to our St Andrew prayer list so that we pray for what you hold by name. This information is not shared online in a searchable form.

Gathering Song

You are our protector,
You are our guardian and defender.
You are courage.
You are our haven and our hope.
You are our faith,
Our great consolation.
You are our eternal life,
Great and wonderful Lord,
God almighty,
Merciful Savior.
Amen.

Opening Hymn

You will receive power when the Spirit comes to you, and you will be my witnesses (Acts 1:6ff). That’s it. That is enough information. There’s no when or what provided—you have a mission, you have resources. God-given mission. God-supplied resources to carry it out. That is enough.
 
The relevant questions for us are where and how. Where are we being sent to share this good news and to bless? Where is our Jerusalem? Our Judea? Our Samaria?
 
And how? How will we witness? How will we act? How will we glorify? Of course these questions are already answered in a way—rooted in our past. In memory. In the imagination and intelligence and love that we have known and rely on again. On the community that surrounds us even now. The surprises. That which holds and sustains us. What we see now that we didn’t see even weeks ago.
 
You will receive power when the Spirit comes to you. A catalyst to change more rapid and dramatic than we could have imagined. And here we are. Jerusalem. Judea. Samaria. Acting. Blessing.
 
Now, bless someone else. Send a text to a couple of people. Make a call. Who comes to mind for you? Wish them well. More than that, wish them peace. Then click below.

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The Word

Spirit of Glory, Spirit of God,
bless us with a word of life this day
to restore, support, and strengthen us
as we seek to be one with you.
Amen.
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Acts 1:6-14 † Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35 † 1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11 † John 17:1-11

Psalm Response

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Meditation

A printed version of the sermon is available here.

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Song of Response

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Gather and Give Thanks

If you haven’t already, set the elements—some bread, some juice or wine—in the living room or kitchen where you experience worship electronically in these days with our faith community. Bring them with joy, giving thanks for God’s provision, for the life that grows in and around us this Spring. Light a candle or place a flower or the photograph of someone you wish to bring into the circle of faith beside the bread and the cup. Thank you for taking yourself as seriously as God takes us! Do not underestimate the power of objects to sharpen and strengthen our memories and renew our faith.

​If a joy or a concern has come to mind, please share it with the assembly here so you do not carry it alone. These will be shared by email to our St Andrew prayer list so that we pray for what you hold by name. This information is emailed to a curated group, not shared or posted online in a searchable form.

As we respond to God's grace and new life, consider those ways you can express gratitude and thanksgiving even, and especially, where you are! And remember that we continue to keep our financial commitments to our mission partners and staff. Thank you for remembering to send in your financial pledges and offerings.

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Sending Song

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Blessing and Charge

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