The Day of Pentecost May 20, 2018

Transcription

1 The Day of Pentecost May 20, 2018 Saint James Evangelical Lutheran Church 460 West Annapolis Street - West Saint Paul, MN Church Office: (651) Fax: (651) stjlc@saintjameslutheran.com Pastor Michael Albrecht malbrecht@saintjameslutheran.com Pastor Richard Stadler rstadler@saintjameslutheran.com Tom Rowland Organist & Choir Director trowland5726@comcast.net Pastor Dale Critchley dcritchley@saintjameslutheran.com Terese Thune Youth Director tthune@saintjameslutheran.com Shirley Hess Parish Nurse shrlhess@gmail.com

2 WELCOME TO WORSHIP! The Day of Pentecost May 20, 2018 Pentecost is the birthday of the New Testament Church. Ten days after our Lord ascended into heaven, He poured out the Holy Spirit upon His apostles, giving them the ability to speak in languages they had never studied or spoken before. Pious Jews from all over the Roman world heard the Gospel preached to them in their own heart languages. Three thousand of them received Holy Baptism. GUESTS AND VISITORS, we are delighted that you are worshiping with us today! Please take a moment to fill out a Welcome, Guest card which is available in the pew racks and place it in the offering. For every guest who completes this form, Saint James will donate $5 to the Neighbor s Food Shelf. Also, stop by the Visitor Welcome Center as you leave and pick up a small gift. Thank you for coming, and please come back and visit again soon. You are always welcome here at Saint James. LARGE PRINT COPIES OF THE SERVICE ARE AVAILABLE IN THE NARTHEX. PREPARING FOR WORSHIP You are invited to ponder Psalm 139, which can be found on page 476 in the pew Bible. SPECIAL POCKET HEARING SYSTEMS are available from the ushers for anyone desiring an amplified broadcast of the service. THE NURSERY is not staffed but is available for parents who have young children who become noisy or restless during the service. We are thankful for families who teach their children to worship by bringing them to church. When your little ones become noisy, feel free to take them to the narthex or the nursery to settle them down. The service can be seen and heard on TV in both locations. 2

3 THE ORDER OF SERVICE PRELUDE: (8:00) Organ: God s Time is the Best Time J.S. Bach, arr. Burkhardt (10:30) Handbells: Beautiful Savior... Eithun Joyful, Joyful Dobrinski GATHERING HYMN: Christian Worship #184 O Holy Spirit, Enter In for the stanza 3 A big thank you to the grandchildren of Liz Adams for their contribution to the handbell choir in memory of their grandma who played in the choir for 36 years. The handbell music for today was purchased with those funds and includes an arrangement of Liz s favorite hymn, Rock of Ages. PASTORAL GREETING: Pastor Albrecht THE COMMON SERVICE: Christian Worship, pages PRAYER OF THE DAY PSALM OF THE DAY: Christian Worship #238 Oh, Bless the Lord, My Soul OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Ezekiel 37:1-14 The hand of the LORD was on me, and he brought me out by his Spirit and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. He led me all around them. There were a great many of them on the surface of the valley, and they were very dry. Then he said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" I replied, "Lord GOD, only you know." He said to me, "Prophesy concerning these bones and say to them: Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! This is what the Lord GOD says to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you will live. I will put tendons on you, make flesh grow on you, and cover you with skin. I will put breath in you so that you come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD." So I prophesied as I had been commanded. While I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. As I looked, tendons appeared on them, flesh grew, and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man. Say to it: This is what the Lord GOD says: Breath, come from the four winds and breathe into these slain so that they may live!" So I prophesied as he commanded me; the breath entered them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, a vast army. Then he said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Look how they say, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope has perished; we are cut off.' Therefore, prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Lord GOD says: I am going to open your graves and The prophet Ezekiel lived and preached during the Babylonian Captivity, a low point in the history of Israel. The LORD ordered him to preach to a valley full of dry bones, and the Gospel produced a miracle of resurrection. The Holy Spirit and the Holy Word always go together. 3

4 bring you up from them, my people, and lead you into the land of Israel. You will know that I am the LORD, my people, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I am the LORD. I have spoken, and I will do it. This is the declaration of the LORD.' " Reading Response P: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God! P: Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Alleluia! C: (sing) Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Pilgrims from all over the Roman world were gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Old Testament festival of Pentecost. The promise Jesus had given to His apostles only ten days earlier was fulfilled, You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. EPISTLE LESSON: Acts 2:1-21 When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them. Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were Jews staying in Jerusalem, devout people from every nation under heaven. When this sound occurred, a crowd came together and was confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were astounded and amazed, saying, "Look, aren't all these who are speaking Galileans? How is it that each of us can hear them in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites; those who live in Mesopotamia, in Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts), Cretans and Arabs -- we hear them declaring the magnificent acts of God in our own tongues." They were all astounded and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But some sneered and said, "They're drunk on new wine." Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them: "Fellow Jews and all you residents of Jerusalem, let me explain this to you and pay attention to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it's only nine in the morning. On the contrary, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: And it will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all people; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. I will even pour out my Spirit on my servants in those days, both men and women and they will prophesy. I will display wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below: blood and fire and a cloud of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Reading Response P: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God! 4

5 VERSE OF THE DAY: Christian Worship, page 40 GOSPEL LESSON: John 15:26-16:15 "When the Counselor comes, the one I will send to you from the Father -- the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father -- he will testify about me. You also will testify, because you have been with me from the beginning. I have told you these things to keep you from stumbling. They will ban you from the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service to God. They will do these things because they haven't known the Father or me. But I have told you these things so that when their time comes you will remember I told them to you. I didn't tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going away to him who sent me, and not one of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' Yet, because I have spoken these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don't go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment: About sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; and about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. I still have many things to tell you, but you can't bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything the Father has is mine. This is why I told you that he takes from what is mine and will declare it to you. Less than 24 hours before He died on the cross, Jesus explained to His disciples that He would send the Holy Spirit to them. The disciples would be persecuted for preaching the Gospel, but the Holy Spirit would guide them into all truth. Gospel Response P: This is the Gospel of the Lord. C: Praise to You, O Christ! NICENE CREED: Christian Worship, page 31 SERMON HYMN: Christian Worship #176 Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord Children are invited to come forward during the final stanza SERMON: Text: John 16:7-15 Theme: Here Comes the Judge! RESPONSE TO THE SERMON: Christian Worship, page 20 5

6 Give online at give.4gvn.us You can find step by step directions in the I Give Online card available in the pew racks. OFFERING: We joyously and gratefully bring our firstfruits to God. OFFERTORY: (8:00) Organ: The Day Full of Grace Christoph E.F. Weyse (10:30) Handbells: Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart Eithun HYMN OF REDEDICATION: Christian Worship #185, stanzas 1 & 2 O Holy Spirit, Grant Us Grace SANCTUARY INTERIOR COMMITTEE UPDATE: Christine Hansen PRAYER FOR OURSELVES AND OTHERS LORD S PRAYER FIRST BLESSING LITURGY OF THE SACRAMENT: P: The Lord be with you. C: (sing) And with your spirit. P: Lift up your hearts. C: (sing) We lift them up unto the Lord. P: Let us give thanks unto the Lord, our God. C: (sing) It is good and right so to do. P: It is truly meet, right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who on this day kept His promise and poured out the Holy Spirit to empower His Church to proclaim the Gospel in all the world. Therefore, with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and singing: Holy, Holy, Holy: Christian Worship, page 22 WORDS OF INSTITUTION O Christ, Lamb of God: Christian Worship, page 23 6

7 The Sacrament of the Altar is a special blessing for God s people: our sins are forgiven, our faith is strengthened, and our resolve to live for the Lord is renewed. We believe the word of Jesus that under the bread and the wine we receive the Real Presence of our Savior, His Body and His Blood, for the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. All who are baptized and confirmed and confess this understanding of the Lord s Supper are welcome to receive the sacrament with us. We enjoy fellowship in a close communion with each other as we receive the Body and Blood of our Lord together. Visitors who wish to continue to commune with us on a regular basis, or those who have questions are encouraged to speak with one of the pastors. Parents are welcome to bring their non-confirmed children with them to the altar. The pastor will pronounce a blessing on them. Parents should instruct such unconfirmed children not to stand on the cushions and to keep their hands folded, so the pastor will know who should not receive the sacrament. Non-alcoholic white wine is available in each tray for anyone who prefers it. Gluten-free wafers are also available. To indicate that you prefer gluten-free, please raise your index finger when the wafers are brought to you. DISTRIBUTION HYMNS: (10:30) Handbells: Rock of Ages Krug Christian Worship #182 Holy Spirit, Ever Dwelling Christian Worship #317 O Lord, We Praise You THANKSGIVING: Christian Worship, page 24 BENEDICTION POSTLUDE: Fanfare and Toccata on Coronation Tim Fields 7

8 SAINT JAMES FOUNDATION Remember the Foundation in your will your gift can make a difference for generations to come. Suggested Wording: In thanks to God for the gift of His Son Jesus, and for all His blessings to me in my lifetime, I gift and bequeath to Saint James Lutheran Church Foundation at 460 West Annapolis Street, West Saint Paul, MN the amount of $ or (specify the asset.). SERVING IN OUR WORSHIP TODAY Pastor Michael Albrecht (preaching) Organist: Joni Norrgard Harrison Lawrence, Organ Intern Saint James Handbells, directed by Winifred Farley Ushers: (8:00) Ken Noack and Team #1 (10:30) Steve Lehmann and Team #2 Audio Video Team: Hannah Critchley, Sharon Ferrara, Glenn & Wendy Gatzke, Jerry Hinz, Len & Diane Munson, Jerry Peterson, Becky Martinez, Lorna Redding, and Leif Thune Screen Slide Production: Ami Heesch PEOPLE TO PRAY FOR Let us remember to pray for some of our veteran members: Elaine Wachholz, Iona Wagenknecht, Audrey Ward, Ruth Wassmann Stewardship Thought Quitters never win. Winners never quit. ~ Chuck Swindoll (Contributed by a Saint James member) MISSIONS TO PRAY FOR This week please pray for Yogen Chhetri and his wife Kamala, and all their students at the Himalayan School of Music in Thimphu, Bhutan, and the congregation that worships in their home. FLOWERS Living as a Local Missionary What is your boss/teacher/etc. stressed about? If you re not sure, get to know them well enough to ask. Tell them you ll pray for them. The flowers in the chancel vases are to celebrate the birthdays of the Grubish men Benjamin turning 6 on May 17 th and Don 40-something on May 31 st. If you would like to order FLOWERS please contact Altar Guild Flower Chairwoman Kathy Stadler at or stadlerek@comcast.net. 8