ASCENSION LUTHERAN CHURCH

Transcription

1 ASCENSION LUTHERAN CHURCH THE LUTHERAN CHURCH MISSOURI SYNOD LITTLETON, COLORADO May 6, :00 am SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER Loving God by Loving Others by the power of the Holy Spirit in us! AS WE GATHER Jesus said if you love me you will love one another! It s the hallmark of being a true Christian as the old song says, They ll know we are Christians by our love. But the corrupt systems of this world, fueled by greed, lust, and power enforced by violence, threaten to overwhelm us. Jesus is preeminent because, empowered by the love of God, He alone has overcome the corrupt systems of this world through His incarnation, life, death, and resurrection. He overcame, and we overcome in Him by faith, empowered by the Holy Spirit! This faith is what opens people to receive God s love, keep His commandments, and overcome the corrupt systems of this world ourselves. Jesus is victorious, and in Him, we overcome by faith and life in the Holy Spirit! Alleluia!

2 PREPARATION PRELUDE This Joyful Eastertide arr. Michael Burkhardt

3 GREETING TOLLING OF THE BELL Congregation, please stand during the tolling of the bell OPENING HYMN This Joyful Eastertide LSB 482 INVOCATION In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION God, who overcomes violence by Your love: We confess that we are born immersed in the corruption of this world. As we grow and develop, we cannot help but be willingly infected by this world s greed, lust, and pride. Violence is all around us and within us, and it threatens to overwhelm us. We ask You to heal us for Jesus sake with Your love and forgiveness. And help us to love one another as You have loved us! God hears your confession and speaks to each of you His healing Word of forgiveness for Jesus sake. Therefore, as a called and ordained servant of Jesus and by His authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. WORD KYRIE O Lord, who poured out Your love upon the Gentiles through Peter s preaching, have mercy on us. O Christ, who was born of God to overcome the world and all that threatens to overwhelm us, have mercy on us. O Lord, who has loved us and gave us His Holy Spirit that we might love one another. have mercy on us, and grant us Your peace. Amen.

4 HYMN OF PRAISE SALUTATION The Lord be with you. And also with you. PRAYER OF THE DAY Let us pray. Father of all, You have poured out Your love upon all people through Your Son, Jesus and commanded us to love one another. Lead us through faith in Him by the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome the corrupt systems of this world, which constantly threaten to overwhelm us and lead us into hatred instead of love; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns in communion and love with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

5 First Reading: Acts 10:34-48 (Peter preaches the Gospel of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit is poured out on the Gentile hearers.) Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached-- how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. "We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen--by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days. Lector: This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Epistle: 1 John 5:1-8 (We are born of God and overcome the world through faith in Jesus.) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. This is the one who came by water and blood--jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.

6 Lector: This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Holy Gospel: John 15:9-17 (Loving one another, we abide in God s love and experience the fullness of joy.) The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the fifteenth chapter. Glory to You, O Lord. "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other. This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to You, O Christ. HYMN OF THE DAY Love Divine, All Loves Excelling LSB 700 SERMON What About the Ascension? Pastor Larson TEXT: Acts 1:1-11 NICENE CREED Found in the back cover of your hymnal PRAYER OF THE CHURCH Let us pray together in Christ Jesus for all people according to their needs. Alpha and Omega, we acknowledge that You hold us and all things in Your good hands. When we become overwhelmed, help us to trust that You are always good and You are at work to accomplish Your purposes in our lives. Grant us faith in Jesus, who has overcome the corrupt systems of this world and fullness of joy that comes from abiding in Your love. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

7 God who makes all things new, as our risen Lord Jesus has overcome the corrupt systems of this world, we ask You to renew what has been broken by greed, lust, and pride. In both the public and private sectors, rejuvenate systems of government, commerce, health care, industry, and service that people may become valued more than profit or power. By Your grace and Spirit, please continue healing the brokenness of individual people at every level of our societies in this world. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer. Lord who is trustworthy and true, You give us your Holy Spirit that we may obey your command to love one another. Help us to show our love this week to [especially...], and all who suffer in body, mind, or spirit, with Your love and tender mercies. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer. Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. PAX DOMINI The peace of the Lord be with you always. Amen. We greet one another with a word of reconciliation, such as Peace be with you. OFFERING How Deep the Father s Love For Us arr. Schockley Ascension Chorale HOLY COMMUNION AT ASCENSION The Lord, our Host, invites to his Supper those who are baptized into the Christian faith, confess him as Savior, have been instructed and have examined themselves, truly repent of sins, believe the Risen Lord is present in the sacrament with his true body and blood, and resolve to live faithfully and obediently. For those with an intolerance to alcohol, the center ring of the tray contains grape juice. Gluten free wafers are available to those with wheat allergies. Children who have not been instructed, yet desire a blessing, are invited to come forward with arms crossed. When receiving the bread and wine, the communicant may respond with Amen!, a word of affirmation and belief.

8 SACRAMENT PREFACE The Lord be with you. 2 Timothy 4:22 And also with you. Lift up your hearts. Colossians 3:1 We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. Psalm 136 It is right to give Him thanks and praise.

9 PROPER PREFACE It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who by His life, death, and glorious resurrection has overcome the corrupt systems of this world and all that would threaten to overwhelm us and taught us to love one another. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying: SANCTUS THE WORDS OF OUR LORD Matthew 26:26 28; Mark 14:22 24; Luke 22:19 20; 1 Corinthians 11:23 25 Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me. In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me. LORD S PRAYER Text found in back of Hymnal

10 AGNUS DEI Agnus Dei II LSB 963, Brian Wilson, assisting DISTRIBUTION MUSIC Nothing but the Blood of Jesus arr. Mark Hayes Diana Gaide, pianist Precious Lord Solo What Wondrous Love LSB 543 You Satisfy the Hungry Heart LSB 641 GENERAL COMMUNION BLESSING BENEDICTION The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. Numbers 6:24 26 Amen. CHORAL BENEDICTION God of Peace Benediction Ed Geisler Ascension Chorale

11 CLOSING HYMN They ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love CONGREGATIONAL CONCERNS POSTLUDE They ll Know We Are Christians By our Love arr. Lani Smith

12 Serving in Worship OFFICIANT and CELEBRANT DIRECTOR OF MUSIC MINISTRIES CHOIR ACCOMPANIST Pastor John Larson Michael Zehnder Diana Gaide ELDER 8:00 Arvin Michel 10:30 Roger Gaide LECTOR 8:00 Clyde Wiggins 10:30 Ted Lemke ACOLYTE 8:00 Ian Avedissian 10:30 Holly Schmitt USHERS 8:00 Barry Kratzer, Members of the Congregation 10:30 Jason Dierking, Members of the Congregation SERVER 10:30 Denise Lucero ALTAR GUILD Rita Kratzer, Heather Levrant, Laurel Shurtleff, Cathy Utecht FLOWERS Angie Glavach, in loving memory of her mother, Marilyn Saylor and Carol Haeffele, in loving memory of her husband, Harold. CCLI License #