Worship Resources for
the Center for Faith and Giving
7th Sunday of Easter
Acts 1:6-14
Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35
1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11
John 17:1-11
Call to Worship (in response to Psalm 68)
One: Today we sing out the words of the Psalmist:
Many: Awesome is God who gives power and strength to people.
One: Blessed be God! Let’s tell the story!
Many: God gives the desolate a home,
One: so let the righteous be joyful, exulting before God.
Many: May God be gracious to us and bless us.
All: Praise God whose face shines upon us!
(Consider using this Cameroon processional song to complete the call to worship, Praise, Praise, Praise the Lord – Chalice Worship #30 or here.)
Opening Prayer
We are filled with joy, Gracious God,
for the ways you make yourself known to us
as we worship, sing, and live as followers of your Son, Jesus.
Grant us energy to be followers in word and in deed,
sharing love, seeking justice, and celebrating your gift of abundant life!
AMEN
Moment for Stewardship
What an abundance of gifts we have to offer:
laughter, song, handiwork, engagement.
Together we share our talents, our time, and our truth-telling.
As cheerful givers, we share from our financial resources,
remembering Jesus’ teaching: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
The abundance and the joy work together to make possible the
ministries of this congregation!
Today, let’s share our joy and our abundance
as we receive our morning offering.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Generous God,
You’ve created the cosmos, called each of us into life,
and now you challenge us to partner with you in
sustaining this earth,
supporting the good gifts of Life,
sharing from our resources to lift others into lives of justice and peace.
Receive this offering, help us multiply it, and put it to positive use,
that we might share your tangible love with others who yearn for
the fullness of “enough.”
We pray as believers and followers of Jesus the Christ. AMEN
Invitation to Communion
Jesus invited those who follow him to “do this in remembrance of me.”
As we take the bread, we remember:
one loaf comes from many grains of wheat.
As we drink the cup, we remember:
juice comes from many grapes.
Together, we remember:
Jesus is one Lord in the lives of many followers.
Jesus still calls his disciples to lives of service, healing, and love.
So today, come! Here we put the many pieces of our faith into action
and rejoice as we find our place in the one body of Christ.
REMINDER: The Pentecost Special Day Offering will be received in many congregations on May 17 and 24. The Pentecost Offering supports Disciples’ new church development. Planning, nurturing, and sustaining new congregations are part of the Disciples’ vision. This offering supports the specialized ministry of new church development through both regional and general programs. Gifts for this offering are divided equally between the region in which they’re given and the New Church Ministry. You can find more resources here.