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WEDNESDAY, MAY 16TH —
• Dorcas and Ruth Circle will meet at 1:30 P.M.
in Adair U.M.C.
• Esther Circle will meet in Adair at 7 P.M.Sandy Farnsworth is hostess.
• Martha Circle will meet at 7 P.M.in Casey U.M.C.
≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈THURSDAY, MAY 17TH —
Deborah-Mary Circle will meet at 2 P.M.
in Casey U.M.C.
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SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER ASCENSION DAY
COLOR: WHITE
Many Choices to Make! Today is a worship
planning geek's dream service - or worst
nightmare. Many emphases competing for
central attention all on one day! Celebrate
both Ascension and the ongoing mission of
seventh day of Easter — but one will be in the
foreground and the other background.
• OUR SCRIPTURE READINGS ARE •
FOR THE SEVENTH DAY OF EASTER:
ACTS 1:15-17, 21-26
NEW INTERNATIONAL READER'S VERSION
(NIRV)
About 120 disciples of Jesus have gathered in
the days between his Ascension and Pentecost;
and in the midst of their praying and wondering,
they select new leadership (Matthias) for
whatever the Spirit will open up as the next steps
of their ministry.
ACTS 1:15-17
15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers.
About 120 of them were there.
16 Peter said, "Brothers, a long time ago the HolySpirit spoke through David's mouth about Judas.
What he said in Scripture had to come true. Judas
was the guide for the men who arrested Jesus.
17 But Judas was one of us. He shared with us inour work for God."
ACTS 1:21-26
21 So we need to choose someone to take his
place. It will have to be a man who was with us the
whole time the Lord Jesus lived among us.
22 That time began when John was baptizing. It
ended when Jesus was taken up from us. The one
we choose must join us in giving witness that Jesus
rose from the dead."
23 So they suggested two men. One was Joseph,
who was called Barsabbas; also called Justus. The
other man was Matthias.
24 Then they prayed. "Lord," they said, "you knoweveryone's heart. Show us which of these two you
have chosen.
25 Show us who should take the place of Judas as
an apostle. He gave up being an apostle to go where
he belongs."
26 Then they cast lots. Matthias was chosen.———————————————————————
PSALM 1 (UMH 738)
NEW INTERNATIONAL READER'S VERSION
Two ways - - one grounded in the processes of
seeking power among people, the other in the
practice of meditating on the word of God.
1 Blessed is the one who obeys the law of the Lord.
He doesn't follow the advice of evil people.
He doesn't make a habit of doing what sinners do.
He doesn't join those who make fun of the Lord and
his law.
2 Instead, he takes delight in the law of the Lord.
He thinks about his law day and night.
3 He is like a tree that is planted near a stream of
water.
It always bears its fruit at the right time.
Its leaves don't dry up.
Everything godly people do turns out well.
4 Sinful people are not like that at all.
They are like straw
that the wind blows away.
5 When the Lord judges them, their life will come to
an end.
Sinners won't have any place among those who are
godly.
6 The Lord watches over the lives of those who are
godly.
But the lives of sinful people will lead to their death.
———————————————————————
1 JOHN 5:9-13
NEW INTERNATIONAL READER'S VERSION
God is out to give us eternal life through Jesus
Christ.
Trust your life to this, and you have eternal life.
1 JOHN 5:9-13
9 We accept the witness of people. But the witness
of God is more important because it is God who gives
it. He has given witness about his Son.
10 Those who believe in the Son of God have
accepted that witness in their hearts. Those who do
not believe God's witness are calling him a liar. That's
because they have not believed his witness about
his Son.
11 Here is God's witness. He has given us eternal life.
That life is found in his Son.
12 Those who belong to the Son have life. Those who
do not belong to the Son of God do not have life.
FINAL WORDS
13 I'm writing these things to you who believe in the
name of the Son of God. I'm doing it so you will know
that you have eternal life.
———————————————————————
JOHN 17:6-19
NEW INTERNATIONAL READER'S VERSION
Jesus asks the Father to protect his disciples
from the evil one so that they can be one with
one another as he and the Father are one.
Jesus Prays for His Disciples
6 "I have shown you to the disciples you gave me
out of the world. They were yours. You gave them
to me. And they have obeyed your word.
7 Now they know that everything you have givenme comes from you.
8 I gave them the words you gave me. And they
accepted them. They knew for certain that I came
from you. They believed that you sent me.
9 "I pray for them. I am not praying for the world. I
am praying for those you have given me, because
they are yours.
10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine.
Glory has come to me because of my disciples.
11 "I will not remain in the world any longer. But they
are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy
Father, keep them safe by the power of your name.
It is the name you gave me. Keep them safe so they
can be one, just as you and I are one.
12 "While I was with them, I guarded them. I kept
them safe through the name you gave me. None of
them has been lost, except the one who was
sentenced to be destroyed. It happened so that
Scripture would come true.
13 "I am coming to you now. But I say these things
while I am still in the world. I say them so that those
you gave me can have all my joy inside them.
14 I have given them your word. The world has
hated them. This is because they are not part of the
world any more than I am.
15 I do not pray that you will take them out of the
world. I pray that you will keep them safe from the
evil one.
16 "They do not belong to the world, just as I do not
belong to it.
17 Use the truth to make them holy. Your word is truth.
18 You sent me into the world. In the same way, I
have sent them into the world.
19 I make myself holy for them so that they too canbe made holy in a true sense.
———————————————————————
• ASCENSION DAY READINGS
These readings may also be used for
the Seventh Sunday of Easter.
ACTS 1:1-11
NEW INTERNATIONAL READER'S VERSION
Before Jesus ascends into heaven, he twice
redirects the disciples from focusing on earthly
kingdoms and glory to a Spirit-empowered
mission (and the coming of the same Spirit) that
lay before them -- to be witnesses in all the world.
When the angels "interrupt" their wondering gaze,
they also (a third time) redirect the disciples to
continue in this mission by waiting for the coming
of the Spirit in Jerusalem.
ACTS 1:1-11
(New International Reader's Version)
JESUS IS TAKEN UP INTO HEAVEN
1 Theophilus, I wrote about Jesus in my earlier book.
I wrote about all he did and taught
2 until the day he was taken up to heaven. Before
Jesus left, he gave orders to the apostles he had
chosen. He did this through the Holy Spirit.
3 After his suffering and death, he appeared to
them. In many ways he proved that he was alive.
He appeared to them over a period of 40 days.
During that time he spoke about God's kingdom.
4 One day Jesus was eating with them. He gave
them a command. "Do not leave Jerusalem," he said.
"Wait for the gift my Father promised. You have
heard me talk about it.
5 John baptized with water. But in a few days you
will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
6 When the apostles met together, they asked
Jesus a question. "Lord," they said, "are you going
to give the kingdom back to Israel now?"
7 He said to them, "You should not be concerned
about times or dates. The Father has set them by
his own authority.
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit
comes on you. Then you will be my witnesses in
Jerusalem. You will be my witnesses in all Judea
and Samaria. And you will be my witnesses from
one end of the earth to the other."
9 After Jesus said this, he was taken up to heaven.
They watched until a cloud hid him from their sight.
10 While he was going up, they kept on looking atthe sky. Suddenly two men dressed in white clothing
stood beside them.
11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you standhere looking at the sky? Jesus has been taken away
from you into heaven. But he will come back in the
same way you saw him go."
———————————————————————
PSALM 47 (UMH 781)
NEW INTERNATIONAL READER'S VERSION
An enthronement psalm celebrating God's
kingship. This Psalm was chosen because
ascension language is enthronement language.
Jesus ascending into heaven means that Jesus
is now enthroned in heaven.
PSALM 47
A psalm of the Sons of Korah.
1 Clap your hands, all you nations.
Shout to God with cries of joy.
2 How wonderful is the Lord Most High!
He is the great King over the whole earth.
3 He brought nations under our control.
He made them fall under us.
4 He chose our land for us.
The people of Jacob are proud of their land,
and God loves them. Selah!
5 God went up to his throne while his people
were shouting with joy.
The Lord went up while trumpets were
playing.
6 Sing praises to God. Sing praises.
Sing praises to our King. Sing praises.
7 God is the King of the whole earth.
Sing a psalm of praise to him.
8 God rules over the nations.
He is seated on his holy throne.
9 The nobles of the nations come together.
They are now part of the people of the God of
Abraham.
The kings of the earth belong to God.
He is greatly honored.
———————————————————————
EPHESIANS 1:15-23
NEW INTERNATIONAL READER'S VERSION
Paul encourages the churches connected with
the congregation(s) at Ephesus to remember the
fullness of who they now are because of what
God has made them in Jesus Christ, risen,
ascended to the right hand of all power and
reigning in, through and beyond the church.
PAUL PRAYS AND GIVES THANKS
15 I have heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus.
I have also heard about your love for all of God's
people. That is why
16 I have not stopped thanking God for you. I always
remember you in my prayers.
17 I pray to the God of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is
the glorious Father. I keep asking him to give you the
wisdom and understanding that come from the Holy
Spirit. I want you to know God better.
18 I also pray that your mind might see more clearly.
Then you will know the hope God has chosen you to
receive. You will know that the things God's people
will receive are rich and glorious.
19 And you will know his great power. It can't be
compared with anything else. It is at work for us
who believe. It is like the mighty strength
20 God showed when he raised Christ from the dead.
He seated him at his right hand in his heavenly
kingdom.
21 There Christ sits far above all who rule and have
authority. He also sits far above all powers and kings.
He is above every title that can be given in this world
and in the world to come.
22 God placed all things under Christ's rule. He
appointed him to be ruler over everything for the
church.
23 The church is Christ's body. It is filled by Christ.
He fills everything in every way.
———————————————————————LUKE 24:44-53
NEW INTERNATIONAL READER'S VERSION
We heard this story a few weeks ago to focus on
repentance. Today we hear it to focus on
ascension and mission. "Power from on high"
will come to the apostles to empower a ministry
of proclamation of repentance and forgiveness
to the whole world.
44 Jesus said to them, "This is what I told you while
I was still with you. Everything written about me
must happen. Everything written about me in the
Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms must
come true."
45 Then he opened their minds so they could
understand the Scriptures.
46 He told them, "This is what is written. The Christ
will suffer. He will rise from the dead on the third day.
47 His followers will preach in his name. They will
tell others to turn away from their sins and be
forgiven. People from every nation will hear it,
beginning at Jerusalem.
48 You have seen these things with your own eyes.
49 "I am going to send you what my Father has
promised. But for now, stay in the city. Stay there
until you have received power from heaven."
JESUS IS TAKEN UP TO HEAVEN
50 Jesus led his disciples out to the area near
Bethany. Then he lifted up his hands and blessed
them.
51 While he was blessing them, he left them. He
was taken up into heaven.
52 Then they worshiped him. With great joy, theyreturned to Jerusalem.
53 Every day they went to the temple, praising God.
———————————————————————
• An annular solar eclipse will take place on
Sunday, May 20, 2012. A solar eclipse occurs as
the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, totally
or partially obscuring the image of the Sun for a
viewer on Earth. An annular solar eclipse occurs
when the Moon's apparent diameter is smaller than
the Sun, causing the Sun to look like a ring, blocking
most of the Sun's light, (depending on your vantage
point). Here is an eclipse from 2011 ————
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Today is Pastor Bob's and Naomi's day off.
The office is closed today.
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TUESDAY, MAY 22ND —
The United Nations proclaimed May 22
The International Day for Biological Diversity
(IDB) in 1992, to increase understanding and
awareness of biodiversity issues.
• • As Earth's human population grows, our
concern for this magnificent sphere grows.
EACH YEAR WE FOCUS ON AN ELEMENT OF
OUR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY.
LAST YEAR WAS THE YEAR OF THE FORESTS.
THIS YEAR WE CELEBRATE THE OCEANS ANDALL THEY CONTAIN.
As our population grows, our concern forearth's oceans intensifies. It is a very busy
place down there.
OCEANS cover about 70% of the Earth's surface
and contain roughly 97% of the Earth's water
supply.
The oceans have always served as a sink for
carbon dioxide, and the burning of fossil fuels
since the beginning of the industrial revolution,
especially over the last 40 years, has given them
more than they can safely absorb. The result is
acidification — a change in the chemical balance
that threatens the oceans’ web of life.
In earth’s history, there have been many episodes
of acidification, mainly from prolonged volcanic
eruptions.
—— Columbia University Oceanography Dept.
• Hundreds of tons of garbage end up in our oceans
and water ways each year and the requirement of
resources to deal with it all is overwhelming.
We are addressing the problem of over fishingthe waters in each hemisphere, as well as trying
to make the waters healthier. A colossal task.
This is the year of the ocean. Many of us do not
have direct contact with oceans but, O YES!
They are very important to us all.
God Bless and Keep You,
Pastor Bob
