Virtual Worship for May 24, 2020

The Presbyterian Church, Coshocton, Ohio

Pastor Karen Crawford

Liturgists: Sarah and Jacob Heading

Musicians: Alice Hoover, Mark Wagner, and Caroline Heading

Prelude: America, the Beautiful, Caroline Heading, Piano

Greeting/Announcements: Pastor Karen

Choral Introit: When You Believe, One Voice Choir

Opening Sentences/Gathering Prayer: Jacob Heading

We have gathered—new followers and lifelong disciples,  the powerful and the powerless, those who have too little and those who have too much. 

We have gathered, for we are one in Christ.

We have come—seekers and skeptics, sinners and saints, the poor in spirit and the rich in faith.

We have come, for we are eager to hear God’s word.

We are here, together.

Let us glorify the one true God.

Hymn: Christ Whose Glory Fills the Skies, Alice Hoover, Organ

Christ, whose glory fills the skies,
Christ, the true, the only Light,
Sun of Righteousness, arise,
triumph o’er the shades of night;
Dayspring from on high, be near;
Daystar, in my heart appear.

Dark and cheerless is the morn
unaccompanied by thee;
joyless is the day’s return
’til thy mercy’s beams I see;
’til they inward light impart,
glad my eyes, and warm my heart.

Visit, then, this soul of mine;
pierce the gloom of sin and grief;
fill me, Radiancy divine;
scatter all my unbelief;
more and more thyself display,
shining to the perfect day.

Call to Confession/ Prayer of Confession/Assurance of Pardon: Pastor Karen

Lord Jesus, you long for us to be one, just as you and the Father are one. But we gravitate toward those who think like us, behave like us, pray like us, because it is easier than looking beyond difference to discover what is good and kind and faithful in those we call the other. Even in our houses of worship, we are slow to reach across the aisle to embrace siblings in faith with whom we hold little in common. Forgive us, we pray. Wash us in the waters of our baptism, so that, with one mind, we might continue the work you gave us to do. Amen.

Time with Children: Jonah

See the Children’s Message page for more music and activities about Jonah

Praise Song: What a Beautiful Name, Hillsong, Reese Oliveira

Prayer for Illumination/Scripture: 1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11: Sarah Heading

Anthem: Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying, sung by Cardinal Chorale

About the Composer: Ken Medema: Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1943, Ken is a song writer, composer, recording artist, and story-teller through music. Blind from birth, Ken began playing the piano at age five and studied classical music by reading Braille. He graduated from Grand Rapids Christian High School and studied music therapy at Michigan State University in Lansing, Michigan. As a music therapist in both Indiana and New Jersey, he began writing songs for hurting teenagers, an experience that helped to launch a career of writing songs on Christian life that has taken him to venues large and small all over North America and beyond. (From Wikipedia)

Scripture: John 17: 1-11 : Pastor Karen

This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ!

Message and Prayer for Graduates: May You Be One, Pastor Karen

Hymn: The Prayer

I pray you’ll be our eyes
And watch us where we go.
And help us to be wise
In times when we don’t know.
Let this be our prayer
When we lose our way.

Lead us to a place.
Guide us with your grace
Give us space so we’ll be safe.

La luce che tu hai
(I pray we’ll find your light)
Nel cuore rester
(And hold it in our hearts)
A ricordarci che
(When stars go out each night)
L’eterna stella sei

Nella mia preghiera
(Let this be our prayer)
Quanta fede c’è
(When shadows fill our day)

Lead us to a place
(Guide us with your grace)
Give us faith so we’ll be safe

Sogniamo un mondo senza più violenza
Un mondo di giustizia e di speranza
Ognuno dia la mano al suo vicino
Simbolo di pace, e di fraternità

La forza che ci dà
(We ask that life be kind)
È il desiderio che
(And watch us from above
Ognuno trovi amor
(We hope each soul will find)
Intorno e dentro a sé
(Another soul to love)

Let this be our prayer
Let this be our prayer
Just like every child.
Just like every child.

Need to find a place
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we’ll be safe.

È la fede che
Hai acceso in noi
Sento che ci salvera

Affirmation of Faith: Apostles’ Creed: Jacob Heading

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 Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on 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 Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.  Amen.

Invitation to the Offering/Prayer of Thanksgiving/Dedication/Lord’s Prayer

Glorious God, everything that is given to us rains forth out of the abundance of your love, even Jesus Christ our Lord. Bless these gifts and our lives together that all we are and all we offer give glory to you. 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 debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Offertory: Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow, Alice Hoover, Organ

Charge/Benediction: Pastor Karen

Postlude: Battle Hymn of the Republic, Mark Wagner, Piano