May 17, 2026 | Ascension Sunday
PRELUDE
Call to Worship Psalm 24:3-10
Pastor: Lift up your heads, O
gates! And be lifted up, O
ancient doors, that the
King of Glory may come
in.
People: Who is this King of
glory? The Lord, strong
and mighty, the Lord,
mighty in battle!
Pastor: Lift up your heads, O
gates! And lift them up, O
ancient doors, that the
glorious King may enter.
People: Who shall ascend the hill
of the Lord? And who
shall stand in his holy
place?
People: He who has clean hands
and a pure heart, who
does not lift up his soul to
what is false and does not
swear deceitfully. Who is
this King of Glory?
All: The Lord of Hosts—He is
the King of glory!
Amen.◆
PRAYER of INVOCATION Psalm 99:1-3
SONG of ADORATION “Behold Our God” #14
Confession and Assurance
READING of GOD’S LAW
Hear God’s Law, His Will for Your Life, from Matthew 5:
"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire . . .
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart . . .
“You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
“You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven.”
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God. ◆
CONFESSION of SIN “Trisagion” #18
ASSURANCE of PARDON
From Isaiah 62:11-12
Receive these words of comfort from God—
Behold, the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the earth:
Say to the daughter of Zion,
“Behold, your salvation comes;
behold, his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.”
And they shall be called The Holy People,
The Redeemed of the Lord;
and you shall be called Sought Out,
A City Not Forsaken.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and
by the promises we have together received in God’s Holy
Word, be assured that you are not forsaken. Your sins are forgiven and your guilt washed away in Jesus blood, now walk in freedom to the glory of His holy name. Amen. ◆
SONG of RESPONSE “Join All the Glorious Names” #847
Life of Worship
PROFESSION of FAITH The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there shall he come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Church universal,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen. ◆
OFFERING
DOXOLOGY #334
PRAYER of DEDICATION
CHILDREN’S TIME
PASSING of the PEACE
(Children age 3 through grade 2 may go to Judson Kids.)
PRAYER OF INTERCESSION
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done in 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. ◆
Ministry of the Word
In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you 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, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed 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 and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
SERMON “Risen Indeed!”
SONG of RESPONSE “Gloria Patri” #331
SONG of DEPARTURE “My Friends, May You Grow in Grace”
My friends, may you grow in grace,
And in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior.
My friends, may you grow in grace,
And in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
To God be the glory, now and forever!
Now and forever, Amen! (Repeat)
Meaney / Demey / Kett © 2000 Timothy James CCLI #3071858
POSTLUDE
