A Reconciling Congregation
224 Forest Home Drive, Ithaca, NY 14850 + (607) 257-4329
Virtual Sunday Worship
THE CHAPEL'S MISSION STATEMENT
Embracing God’s will for our community through education, compassion, and justice.
What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God.”
~ Micah 6:8 ~
MAY 24, 2020
Ascension Sunday, the Theme of "Hope"
Click HERE to join us for Zoom Worship at 10 a.m. (site opens at 9:45 for "visiting")
Meeting ID: 949 2582 6939
or call +16465588656, 94925826939# US (New York)
GREETINGS/ANNOUNCMENTS
Rev. Rebecca Dolch
TIME WITH YOUNG CHRISTIANS
"Blue Sky"
Elizabeth McMahon
PRELUDE
Rick Manning, Fiddler
CALL TO WORSHIP
Today, as we celebrate "Hope" let us be called into worship by the poet Emily Dickinson, who saw hope as a bird singing in our souls—no matter what—and asking nothing from us.
“Hope” is the thing with feathers / That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words / And never stops – at all –
And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard / – And sore must be the storm –
That could abash the little Bird / That kept so many warm –
I’ve heard it in the chillest land / And on the strangest Sea –
Yet never in Extremity, / It asked a crumb – of me.
"Hope is the thing with feathers" by Emily Dickinson, 1861 (as the Civil War was brewing)
HYMN
Come and Find the Quiet Center
Come and find the quiet center in the "Covid" life we lead,
find the room for hope to enter, find the frame where we are freed:
Clear the chaos and the clutter, clear our eyes that we can see
all the things that really matter; be at peace, and simply be.
In the Spirit let us travel, open to each other's pain
let our love and fears unravel, celebrate the space we gain:
There's a place for deepest dreaming, there's a time for hearts to share,
In the Spirit's lively scheming there is always loving care.
BIBLE READINGS
Lamentations 3: 22-26
Acts 1:1-11 ~ The Story of the Ascension of Christ into heaven, 40 days after the resurrection
Katharine Constas
SHARING JOYS AND CONCERNS
PASTORAL PRAYER
LORD'S PRAYER
SPECIAL MUSIC
God Loves You
Kristy Shuck
SERMON
Hope Ascending
HYMN
Hope of the World
(by a Methodist Cornell Graduate, Georgia Harkness, 1954)
Hope of the world, thou Christ of great compassion,
speak to our fearful hearts by conflict rent.
Save us, thy people, from consuming passion, who by our own false hopes and aims are spent.
Hope of the world, God's gift from highest heaven, bringing to hungry souls the bread of life,
still let thy spirit unto us be given, to heal earth's wounds and end all bitter strife.
Hope of the world, O Christ o'er death victorious, who by this sign didst conquer grief and pain,
we would be faithful to thy gospel glorious; thou art our Lord! Thou dost forever reign.
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Pledges
Thanks to all of you for sending in your offerings to Forest Home Chapel, 224 Forest Home Drive, Ithaca, NY 14850. It makes a big difference!
Food Ministries
We are also continuing to support Kitchen Cupboard and Foodnet Meals on Wheels, so if you would like to designate offerings for these important local food ministries, please include that information on the memo line of a separate check.
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