East St. Olaf Lutheran Church

Transcription

1 East St. Olaf Lutheran Church 6200 County Road 3 SW - Byron, MN Fifth Sunday of Easter Sunday, April 29,, 2018 Pastor Paul Thompson Organist: Pat Nelson INTRODUCTION This Sunday s image of how the risen Christ shares his life with us is the image of the vine. Christ the vine and we the branches are alive in each other, in the mystery of mutual abiding that we read of in the gospel and the first letter of John. Baptism makes us a part of Christ s living and life-giving self and makes us alive with Christ s life. As the vine brings food to the branches, Christ feeds us at his table. We are sent out to bear fruit for the life of the world. ANNOUNCEMENTS CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, who forgives all our sin, whose mercy endures forever. 1 God of all mercy and consolation, come to the help of your people, turning us from our sin to live for you alone. Give us the power of your Holy Spirit that we may confess our sin, receive your forgiveness, and grow into the fullness of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another. Most merciful God, we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. God, who is rich in mercy, loved us even when we were dead in sin, and made us alive together with Christ. By grace you have been saved. In the name of Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. Almighty God strengthen you with power through the Holy Spirit, that Christ may live in your hearts through faith. GATHERING SONG When Morning Gilds the Skies (ELW 853) GREETING The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you. CANTICLE OF PRAISE (ELW p. 185) and peace to God s people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. 2

2 and peace to God s people on earth. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. and peace to God s people on earth. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. and peace to God s people on earth. and peace to God s people on earth. PRAYER OF THE DAY Let us pray. O God, you give us your Son as the vine apart from whom we cannot live. Nourish our life in his resurrection, that we may bear the fruit of love and know the fullness of your joy, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. FIRST READING: Acts 8:26-40 A reading from Acts. Led by the Spirit, Philip encounters an Ethiopian official who is returning to his African home after having been to Jerusalem to worship. Philip uses their encounter to proclaim the gospel to him. Upon coming to faith in Jesus, the Ethiopian is baptized by Philip. 26An angel of the Lord said to Philip, Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. (This is a wilderness road.) 27 So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to 3 Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, Go over to this chariot and join it. 30 So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, Do you understand what you are reading? 31 He replied, How can I, unless someone guides me? And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. 32 Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this: Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. 33In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth. 34The eunuch asked Philip, About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else? 35 Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized? 38 He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea. Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God. PSALM: Psalm 22: From you comes my praise in the great assembly; I will perform my vows in the sight of those who fear the LORD. 26The poor shall eat and be satisfied, Let those who seek the LORD give praise! May your hearts live forever! 27All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD; all the families of nations shall bow before God. 28For dominion belongs to the LORD, who rules over the nations. 29Indeed, all who sleep in the earth shall bow down in worship; 4

3 all who go down to the dust, though they be dead, shall kneel before the LORD. 30Their descendants shall serve the LORD, whom they shall proclaim to generations to come. 31They shall proclaim God s deliverance to a people yet unborn, saying to them, The LORD has acted! SECOND READING: 1 John 4:7-21 A reading from 1 John. We love God and others because God first loved us. We cannot say we love God, whom we have not seen, while hating fellow Christians, whom we regularly see. Love toward God is to be matched by love toward others because the essence of God is love. 7Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 God s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. 15 God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. 16 So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Those who say, I love God, and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom 5 they have not seen. 21 The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also. Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (ELW p. 188) Alleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia. GOSPEL: John 15:1-8 The holy gospel according to John. Glory to you, O Lord. [Jesus said:] 1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. 2He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. 3 You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. 4Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. SERMON HYMN OF THE DAY Hallelujah! Jesus Lives! (ELW 380) CREED I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; 6

4 he descended to the dead.* On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. *Or, he descended into hell, another translation of this text in widespread use. PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION Rejoicing in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we pray for the witness of the church, the wholeness of creation, and all who are in need. For ministries that nurture faith formation. For missionaries and Bible study leaders. For those who are seeking, questioning, or curious. For seminarians, campus ministers, the newly baptized, and for these synod churches: Pontoppidan Lutheran Church, Ellendale ~ United Redeemer Lutheran Church, Zumbrota ~ Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Plainview ~ Mazoezi Kitusha Lutheran Church, Tanzania ~ Shelui Lutheran Church, Tanzania ~ Palliative Care Program, Iambi Hospital, Tanzania ~ and Seniors Programming Soacha, Colombia, let us pray. For the beauty and health of the earth. For vineyards and orchards, groves and plains. For rain forests and arctic tundra. For volcanoes and mountains, hills and valleys. For oceans deep and rivers wide, let us pray. For spears to be beat into pruning hooks. For harsh words to be reformed into loving speech. For bombs and sniper attacks to cease. For justice and peace in every land, let us pray. For homeless youth and rejected children. For isolated grandparents and lonely nursing home residents. For the shamed, the slighted, and the disregarded members of our communities. For all the sick - especially 7 East Prayers: Viola, Steve, Julie A., Kelly A, Maryann, Heidi G., Sharon, Cecelia, Dale, Vern, Kevin K., Bill, David, Patricia, Sally, Roland, Carol, John, and Harris. West Prayers: Jocelyn S., Boyd P., Chuck B., Bill Tietje, Joanne L., Joann T., Gene H., Robert, Danny, Veronica, Philip, and Matt, let us pray. For all who live with post-traumatic stress disorder and postpartum depression. For all who struggle with eating disorders and anorexia. For all who suffer in silence and all who suffer alone, let us pray. In thanksgiving for (Catherine of Siena and) all the mystics and theologians who live eternally with you. For those we mourn and those we would rather forget. For the kingdom on earth to be as it is in heaven, let us pray. We entrust all our prayers to you, gracious God. Receive them by the power of the Holy Spirit and the love of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. PEACE The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you. OFFERING OFFERING SONG Create in Me a Clean Heart (ELW p. 188) Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with your free Spirit. OFFERING PRAYER Let us pray. Blessed are you, O God, ruler of heaven and earth. Day by day you shower us with blessings. As you have raised us to new life 8

5 in Christ, give us glad and generous hearts, ready to praise you and to respond to those in need, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. LORD S PRAYER Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. BLESSING The God of all grace bless you now and forever. SENDING SONG Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds (ELW 367) DISMISSAL Go in peace. Christ is with you. Thanks be to God. Copyright 2018 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. WELCOME TO THOSE VISITING If you are visiting today, we re glad you chose to worship with us. Please sign our guestbook in the narthex. Times for early/late services rotate monthly between East & West St. Olaf. MAY WORSHIP SCHEDULE WEST: has early service at 9:00 am BOTH: 10:00 am West JAM/East SS & TLC group (May 6 is the last day of West JAM) EAST: has late service at 11:00 am THANK YOU TO THOSE SERVING US Altar Guild: Anyone interested may join Altar Guild April: Sonya Mansfield & Darlene Myhre May: Amanda Pyfferoen & Deanna Bakken TODAY S HIGHLIGHTED ANNOUNCEMENTS Welcome New East St. Olaf Members! We warmly welcome new members, Meghan, Corey and Ella Mae Ohman into our church family. They were received as new members last Sunday. East Trustee Tasks As part of the Trustee goals for providing maintenance for our church, they have added a clipboard near the mailboxes in the narthex to add any items that are noted to be in need of repair or attention. Please add any items that you note to the list and add your name for verification. We thank you for helping make our church the best it can be! Important Dates for Confirmands & Their Parents Following are dates parents & confirmands should be aware of: May 9 (Wed.) BOTH: Fitting all students for confirmation gowns at class that night at West church. May 16 (Wed.) BOTH: Confirmation practice session & photo night for all students at West church. Practice begins at 6:00 pm and the photo session begins at 7:00 pm then ALL move to East church for photos there. May 20 (Sun.) - BOTH: Confirmation Sunday CALLING ALL EAST & WEST MEMBERS! We need you to update your information for the new directory! Please contact Gina Moser with all changes in your contact information. This includes address, address, and telephone numbers. We especially need to know if you have dropped your landline and have only cell phones. Please all updates to Gina at eastwest@kmtel.com AND at 9 10

6 OR jot down your new info and leave it in the secretary s tray at church for Gina. Thanks! IMPORTANT Information You Need to Provide to Mayo Clinic Hospitals to Permit Pastor Paul to Access Your Information When You re Hospitalized!!! When registering at a Mayo Clinic Hospital if you want them to be able to verify to your pastor that you are an in-patient, then complete this info on paperwork being admitted: Your faith tradition (Lutheran) Full faith community Name (East/West St. Olaf Lutheran) Town/City where faith community is located FINAL CALL for Directory Photos!!! Please Call to Sign-Up We re doing a new church directory. LifeTouch will be here to take your individual or family portraits so PLEASE RESERVE A TIME FOR YOUR PHOTO SESSION by calling Yvette Dulohery at East ( ) or Carma Bjornson at West ( ). The church councils made arrangements so if you are not able to have your pictures taken at your church, you can schedule a time with the other church. LifeTouch will be taking pictures on these dates: at East St Olaf on May 8 th and 9 th and at West St Olaf on May 17 th 19 th. You may bring props such as a tool, a toy, a musical instrument, etc. If you have any other questions, please contact Carma Bjornson at or Yvette Dulohery. Stepping On Workshops ~ Meeting One Additional Week Stepping On workshops will meet for one additional session on Wed., May 23. Please add that date to your calendar. It s not to late to join us for the remaining weekly workshops where you ll learn exercises and strategies to help prevent you from falling. Cost is only $10 for the entire program. Held on Wednesdays from 1:30-3:30 pm through May 23 th. To register, contact: Yvette Dulohery, RN, FCN at Offerings & Attendance (04/15) Church cancelled due to snow storm. (04/22) Attendance: 52. Current $ 1,682. In memory of Clayton Severson: $25 Cemetery Fund. Next Week s Readings: Acts 10:44-48, Psalm 98, 1 John 5:1-6, and John 15:9-17 HAPPENING TODAY & THIS WEEK Today 9:00 am East worship 10:00 am West JAM/East SS & TLC East coffee hour (served by Sunday school) 11:00 am West worship/communion Mon. 9:00am-noon Pastor Paul at office Tue. 10:00 am East quilting/sack lunch 6:00 pm East church council meeting Wed. 1:30-3:30 pm Stepping-On workshop at East 7:00 pm BOTH have confirmation class at West Fri.: BOTH Synod Assembly at Mankato, MN Sat.): BOTH Synod Assembly at Mankato, MN 05/06 9:00 am West worship/communion 10:00 am West JAM-last day/east SS & TLC East coffee hour (served by Sarah Circle) East Brunch & Silent Auction a mission trip fundraiser by TLC East WELCA meeting after church 11:00 am East worship/communion with baptism of Braylen Mansfield COMING UP AT EAST & WEST MAY May 8 (Tue.): >>>CHURCH DIRECTORY PHOTOS at EAST 10:00 am East quilting/sack lunch 2:00 pm-9:00 pm Church directory photo day at East church 11 12

7 May 9 (Wed.): >>>CHURCH DIRECTORY PHOTOS at EAST 1:30-3:30 pm Stepping-On workshop at East 2:00 pm-9:00 pm Church directory photo day at East church 7:00 pm BOTH have confirmation class at West, AND ALL students will be fitted for Confirmation gowns May 12 (Sat.) 10:00 am East Mother s Day Family Tea by Sarah Circle May 13 (Sun.) 10:00 am East Recognition Coffee for East 2018 Graduates and Confirmands May 15 (Tue.): 10:00 am East Circle 4 meeting/quilting/sack lunch May 16 (Wed.): 1:30-3:30 pm Stepping-On workshop at East 6:00 pm ALL CONFIRMANDS have a practice session at West church followed by CONFIRMATION PHOTO SESSION at 7:00 pm, then ALL will move over to East church for a photo session there May 17 (Thur.): >>>CHURCH DIRECTORY PHOTOS at WEST 2:00-9:00 pm Church directory photo day at West church May 18 (Fri.): >>>CHURCH DIRECTORY PHOTOS at WEST 2:00-9:00 pm Church directory photo day at West church May 19 (Sat.): >>>CHURCH DIRECTORY PHOTOS at WEST 9:00 am 3:00 pm Church directory photo day at West church May 20 (Sun.): BOTH have communion CONFIRMATION DAY AT BOTH CHURCHES East supplies cookies for Season s Hospice May 22 (Tue.): 10:00 am East quilting/sack lunch May 23 (Wed.): 1:30-3:30 pm Stepping-On workshop at East (last one) 7:00 pm BOTH have confirmation class at West, ONLY 1 st year students will have class (last class until fall) May 28 (Mon.): Memorial Day observed at West - with coffee served from 7:30-11:30 am, and service at 8:15 am by the Hayfield Legion (coffee organized by Wilma Kyllo and Cindy Senjem) 13 May 29 (Tue.): 10:00 am East quilting/sack lunch 14 TO REMEMBER IN PRAYER West Prayers: Christine Krause (sister of Susie Thoe), Jocelyn Sanvick, Boyd Pew, Chuck Brandt (father of Greg Brandt), Bill Tietje (brother of Carma Bjornson), Joanne Larsen (mother of Dan Larsen), Joann Tiegen, Gene Hyland, Robert Beaver, Danny Linbo, Veronica Riniker (mother of Donna Larsen), Philip Senjem, and Matt Miller (nephew of Carma Bjornson and Julie Boyum). East Prayers: Viola Olson, Steve Jensen, Julie Andreason, Kelly Anderson (friend of Peterson s daughter), Maryann Schultz, Heidi Guenius (cousin of Becky Brakke), Sharon Boelter, Cecelia Miller (cousin of Yvette Dulohery), Dale Boelter, Vern Exe (father of Pete), Kevin Kubly (friend of Yvette Dulohery), Bill Fritts, David Distad, Patricia Lee, Sally Iverson, Roland Rivera, Carol Severson, John Heydt (Pat Nelson s brother), and Harris Nelson (cousin of Jerry Nelson). CHURCH CONTACT INFORMATION PASTOR Paul Thompson: (Please call before driving to the office.) Phone: pthomp821@gmail.com Office hours: Monday and Friday (9:00 am Noon OR by appointment) SECRETARY Gina Moser: (Please call before driving to the office.) Office: Cell: s: eastwest@kmtel.com AND certainty@kmtel.com Please send all s for Gina to both of her addresses. Office Hours: Tues. & Thursdays 10:00 am-noon OUR WEBSITES: eaststolaf.org OR weststolaf.org OUR JANITORIAL SERVICE: Becky Wilbourne COUNCIL CONTACT INFORMATION: East St. Olaf President: Mike Senjem - Home: , Cell: Gary Kearns - Home: , Cell: Bryan DeCook - Cell: VISITS FOR OUR MEMBERS If you know of anyone who may like a call or visit from the

8 pastor or another member, please contact an East deacon: Rhonda Leighty: , Sonya Mansfield: or Glenda Mueller: HEALTH NOTE FOR THIS WEEK April is Testicular Cancer Awareness Month. Testicular cancer occurs in about 1 of every 250 males in the US. Testicular cancer will cause about 400 deaths this year, and approximately 9,310 new cases will be diagnosed. Testicular cancer is most often identified as a testicular lump or enlargement of one testicle, with potential other symptoms presenting as early puberty in boys, or breast/chest enlargement and/or tenderness. Testicular cancer most often occurs in young men, but can occur at any age, with an average age at diagnosis of 33, 6% occurs in children and teenagers, and 8% in men over 55. Often due to the location of this cancer, males are hesitant to ask questions of family members or to seek early medical attention. Early diagnosis does make a difference. For more information on performing testicular selfexamination please see: 15