Page Updated by Sunday Morning
Sunday, May 17, 2026 -- 10:30am Worship Service
This week’s bulletin art is a depiction of the ascension by Methodist minister and artist John Bower titled “Coming and Going” from his book, Exploring Christian Faith Through Art, 2014.
Welcome to Maxwell Street! We hope you will consider wearing a nametag so that we might get to know one another better. They can be found in the lobbies outside the sanctuary. You can find more helpful information inside this bulletin.
INTROIT 692 - Spirit, Open My Heart (sing twice)
Spirit, open my heart
to the joy and pain of living.
As you love, may I love,
in receiving and in giving.
Spirit, open my heart.
GREETING & ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE - Hail, Jesus Christ, Our Redeemer, Hugh S. Livinston (1945-2014)
CALL TO WORSHIP
Let the righteous be joyful; let them be jubilant before God.
Sing to God, sing praises to the name of the Lord.
Lift up a song to the Lord, who rides upon the clouds.
God is the parent of orphans and the protector of those who mourn.
Awesome is God in the sanctuary; the Lord gives power and strength to the people.
Blessed be the Lord!
+ HYMN 246 - Christ Is Alive!
+ CONFESSION & PARDON
Eternal God, you have loved us from generation to generation. You have shown your faithfulness more often than we can recall. The Bible tells us of your steadfast mercy. You even pray for us. Yet we live holding on to past hurts; we are not open to your new creation. We prefer the safety of what we know to the excitement of discipleship. Forgive us, we pray, and make us again as you would have us be. We make all of our prayers in the name of Jesus Christ. Listen now as we offer our silent prayers of confession.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
Thanks be to God.
RESPONSE TO FORGIVENESS - Hymn 588 Alleluia
Choir: Alleluia, alleluia! (repeats)
All: Alleluia, alleluia!
PASSING OF THE PEACE
CHILDREN'S MESSAGE
TEACHER APPRECIATION
PRAYER FOR OPENNESS
Pour out your Holy Spirit, O God, and prepare our hearts to accept your word. Silence in us any voice but your own, that, hearing, we may also obey your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING- 1 Peter 4.12-14, 5.6-11 NT pg 235 (NRSVUE)
ANTHEM - O Christ, Surround Me, arr. McNair, Chancel Choir, Susan Carey, piano
SCRIPTURE READING - John 17.1-11 NT pg 111 (NRSVUE)
SERMON - “We May Be One”, Rev. Matt Falco
+ STATEMENT OF FAITH- From a portion of the PC(USA) Brief Statement of Faith
In a broken and fearful world the Spirit gives us courage to pray without ceasing, to witness among all peoples to Christ as Lord and Savior, to unmask idolatries in Church and culture, to hear the voices of peoples long silenced, and to work with others for justice, freedom, and peace. In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit, we strive to serve Christ in our daily tasks and to live holy and joyful lives, even as we watch for God’s new heaven and new earth, praying, “Come, Lord Jesus!”
+ HYMN 260 - Alleluia! Sing To Jesus!
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORD'S PRAYER
OFFERING
• OFFERTORY - Solemn Melody, John Dixon (b. 1957)
+ • DOXOLOGY
Praise God from whom all blessing flow Praise Christ the Word in flesh born low;
Praise Holy Spirit evermore; One God, Triune, whom we adore. Amen.
+ • PRAYER OF DEDICATION
+ HYMN 295 - Go to the World!
+ CHARGE & BENEDICTION
+ BENEDICTION RESPONSE -Hymn 80, You Shall Go Out With Joy (The Trees of the Field)
You shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace;
the mountains and the hills will break forth before you;
there’ll be shouts of joy, and all the trees of the field
will clap, will clap their hands.
And all the trees of the field will clap their hands;
the trees of the field will clap their hands;
the trees of the field will clap their hands
while you go out with joy.
POSTLUDE- Crown Him With Many Crowns, arr. Don Hustad (1918-2013)
Welcome to Maxwell Street! We hope you will consider wearing a nametag so that we might get to know one another better. They can be found in the lobbies outside the sanctuary. You can find more helpful information inside this bulletin.
INTROIT 692 - Spirit, Open My Heart (sing twice)
Spirit, open my heart
to the joy and pain of living.
As you love, may I love,
in receiving and in giving.
Spirit, open my heart.
GREETING & ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE - Hail, Jesus Christ, Our Redeemer, Hugh S. Livinston (1945-2014)
CALL TO WORSHIP
Let the righteous be joyful; let them be jubilant before God.
Sing to God, sing praises to the name of the Lord.
Lift up a song to the Lord, who rides upon the clouds.
God is the parent of orphans and the protector of those who mourn.
Awesome is God in the sanctuary; the Lord gives power and strength to the people.
Blessed be the Lord!
+ HYMN 246 - Christ Is Alive!
+ CONFESSION & PARDON
Eternal God, you have loved us from generation to generation. You have shown your faithfulness more often than we can recall. The Bible tells us of your steadfast mercy. You even pray for us. Yet we live holding on to past hurts; we are not open to your new creation. We prefer the safety of what we know to the excitement of discipleship. Forgive us, we pray, and make us again as you would have us be. We make all of our prayers in the name of Jesus Christ. Listen now as we offer our silent prayers of confession.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
Thanks be to God.
RESPONSE TO FORGIVENESS - Hymn 588 Alleluia
Choir: Alleluia, alleluia! (repeats)
All: Alleluia, alleluia!
PASSING OF THE PEACE
CHILDREN'S MESSAGE
TEACHER APPRECIATION
PRAYER FOR OPENNESS
Pour out your Holy Spirit, O God, and prepare our hearts to accept your word. Silence in us any voice but your own, that, hearing, we may also obey your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING- 1 Peter 4.12-14, 5.6-11 NT pg 235 (NRSVUE)
ANTHEM - O Christ, Surround Me, arr. McNair, Chancel Choir, Susan Carey, piano
SCRIPTURE READING - John 17.1-11 NT pg 111 (NRSVUE)
SERMON - “We May Be One”, Rev. Matt Falco
+ STATEMENT OF FAITH- From a portion of the PC(USA) Brief Statement of Faith
In a broken and fearful world the Spirit gives us courage to pray without ceasing, to witness among all peoples to Christ as Lord and Savior, to unmask idolatries in Church and culture, to hear the voices of peoples long silenced, and to work with others for justice, freedom, and peace. In gratitude to God, empowered by the Spirit, we strive to serve Christ in our daily tasks and to live holy and joyful lives, even as we watch for God’s new heaven and new earth, praying, “Come, Lord Jesus!”
+ HYMN 260 - Alleluia! Sing To Jesus!
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE & THE LORD'S PRAYER
OFFERING
• OFFERTORY - Solemn Melody, John Dixon (b. 1957)
+ • DOXOLOGY
Praise God from whom all blessing flow Praise Christ the Word in flesh born low;
Praise Holy Spirit evermore; One God, Triune, whom we adore. Amen.
+ • PRAYER OF DEDICATION
+ HYMN 295 - Go to the World!
+ CHARGE & BENEDICTION
+ BENEDICTION RESPONSE -Hymn 80, You Shall Go Out With Joy (The Trees of the Field)
You shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace;
the mountains and the hills will break forth before you;
there’ll be shouts of joy, and all the trees of the field
will clap, will clap their hands.
And all the trees of the field will clap their hands;
the trees of the field will clap their hands;
the trees of the field will clap their hands
while you go out with joy.
POSTLUDE- Crown Him With Many Crowns, arr. Don Hustad (1918-2013)