May 22, 2020

Looking Up

Greeting: May the God of peace make you whole and holy, may you be kept safe in body, heart, and mind, and thus ready for the presence. God has called you and will not fail you.' (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. Acts 1: 4b

As I read this passage, I am again reminded how hard it is to wait and how challenging it is to know where to look while we wait.  The disciples have been through the wringer - first leaving their homes to follow Jesus, then losing Jesus to death on the cross, to fearing for their own lives, then the miraculous appearance of the Risen Christ. And now another change - Jesus leaves again in a different way but tells them to wait for God's promise.  WOW!!  But where and how do we wait?  And how will we know when the Holy Spirit comes?  And which way should we be looking to make sure we don't miss the coming?  We today know the answer to a lot of those questions for the disciples of that time but we do not know the answers to those questions in our own time.  So we must wait and keep alert to where God is breaking through into our lives in Spirit-filled ways.  So, look around you and be prepared to see the Holy Spirit coming from a direction you may not expect.  And keep praying and listening for God's guidance as we enter a new phase of our lives as Christian people. Amen. 

Growing our Online Presence

Our Online Committee (Bryan Sartain, Shannon Slater, Stephnaie Porter and Pastor Cindy) are continuing to work on a proposal to present at Church Council about upgrading and continuing our online presence. We have met with Trustees and will be in conversation with Finance and SPRC this week.  We do have a candidate for staffing this ministry and will be discussing those details. .  If you are interested in joining us, or have any questions or concerns, please contact Pastor Cindy.  And may God guide our efforts to reach out with a message of hope and grace in their troubled times.  

Join us for Worship

This Sunday,  join us by clicking below: 

https://www.facebook.com/pilotpointfumc/

and it will take you to our page.   When it asks you to sign in just X out or say NOT NOW and you can scroll down and find the video, which should be near the top of the page. If you have any announcements or prayers, please email to Pastor CIndy at office@pilotpointfumc.org or text her at 903-213-3796. .  Below is the Order of Worship: 

Ascension Sunday, May 24

Prelude – Hail Thee, Festival Day #324

Call to Worship:

God holds out to us the promise of new life. Life as unpredictable, as unrehearsed, as explosive as life at the very beginning. God calls us to respond to this gift with creativity, with joy, and with courage. In worship, we can begin to accept this gift of new life. Let us worship God!

Hymn: Christ Has Risen TFWS # 2115

Joys and Concerns

Pastoral Prayer

Lord’s Prayer

Jesus Shall Reign #157 1,4,5

Prayers of the People:

Great and loving God, we who come to worship are also persons who sometimes feel that you have abandoned us or left us to fend for ourselves. Although we rely upon our ever-presence, we suspect our absence. Encourage us, O God, when we doubt your promise to be with us always. In our worship, grant us the gifts of discernment and hope. Enable us to recognize your workings in the commonplace and the everyday. Open us to faith and help us to perceive not only what is, but also what, by your grace, might be. We offer this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Offertory:

Doxology #94

Scripture Reading: : Acts 1: 1-11

Children’s Time: This is Where Children belong

Sermon: Wondering and Waiting

This is the Day of New Beginnings # 383

* Benediction:

Spirit of New Life, in whom we live and move and have our being, we worship you. We thank you for your presence among us and in your whole creation. Fill us with your power, that by truthful words, just actions and share life we may witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.

Sending Forth: Hail Thee, Festival Day 324

Meetings - Social Distance Style

As we begin to ease back in to time together, we have started having in person meetings with social distance, optional masks and even adding some folks on ZOOM.  The Church Council met last week and the Prayer Group and Trustees met this week. Next week, we have the following meetings:

Worship  - 11:45 Sunday May 24

Finance - 6 pm Wednesday, May 27

SPRC - 7 pm Wednesday, May 27

We will practice social distancing in these meetings and ask that folks be aware of how they enter and leave the bulding.  Someone should wipe down common surfaces both before and after each meeting.  We have wipes and a spray bottle and paper towels in the narthex.  Be aware of what you touch and wipe those surfaces accordingly. We don't have a cleaning staff that can go in after each meeting so we need to share the cleaning work as we strive to discern opening to the public. 

April and May Birthdays

Many apologies to April folks.  I misplaced the birthday list so I am inviting belated birthday wishes for those folks who celebrated in April.

April 5 - Will Stewart

April 6- Sharon Purcell

April 26 - CJ Hilliard                        April 28 - Rene Scott Hilliard

April 28 - Steve Messman               April 29 - Jim Porter

April 30 - Robin Young                    April 30 - Paige Sartain

May Birthdays

May 7 - Jenna Vawter                     May 10 - Denise Sartain

May 19 - Gene Davis                       May 21 - Betty Gill

May 21 - Hallie Sewell                     May 26 - Lucette Beall