May 15, 2016 Friends in Christ Lutheran Church This Week in Our Parish Tuesday, 5/17 9:15 Bible Study-FE Wednesday, 5/18 9:00 Quilting 9:30 Men s Coffee- FE 5:15 LYO Meeting- Bethany Ministers: Every Disciple Pastors: Steven A. Bruer James M. Hallaway Parish Website: www.firstenglishbethany.org Friday, 5/20 9:00 Coffee & Goodies at Hub 71 1:30 Service at Rose Haven in Menahga Saturday, 5/21 Ruby s Pantry 9:00 Registration at FE 10:00 Distribution at Catholic Church Sunday, 5/22 9:30 Worship Service Coffee Fellowship Bible Study 6:30 MHS Baccalaureate at MHS Band Room Worship Assistant Reader: Joann Olson Mission Statement Friends In Christ Lutheran Church is a caring inclusive Christian Community, Dedicated to Word and Sacrament ministry; Growing in Christ; Sharing the faith; Serving neighbors; and Supporting each WELCOME/ANNOUNCEMENTS
Prayer for Meditation Before Worship: God our Father, on this day open us to the power of your Spirit, that we might be filled with that Spirit to go out and be Your disciples this day and always. AMEN WELCOME/ANNOUNCEMENTS OPENING WORDS FOR PENTECOST We are all on a spiritual journey; therefore we do not learn everything that our Lord wants to teach us in a short period of time. Even someone who claims to have a conversion experience and points to the time and place can only grasp a small measure of what it means to be a committed, mature Christian. Growth in the Christian faith is a life-long experience where at times we fail to be faithful and at other times, we rejoice in obedience. It is through the Holy Spirit that the words of the Bible become God s truth for us. It is the Spirit that illumines, teaches, counsels, guides, and helps us on the journey. INVOCATION & OPENING PRAYER Pastor: Everlasting Father, this is a day to celebrate the coming of Your Spirit among us and the birth of Your church! Empower us now as we begin this worship service. Fill this place as well as our hearts and lives with the Pentecost Spirit that we may grasp in a deeper way, the truth of Your Word. All: Amen! Pastor: Mighty God, Your Spirit was there at the dawn of the very first day when You spoke the world into being. Your Spirit was there for Moses, Abraham, and all the great prophets -- leading and sustaining them. Your Spirit acknowledged Jesus, the Christ, as Your beloved Son and You expressed Your pleasure. Your Spirit was there when the mighty winds filled the room and made it possible for each person there to hear the truth of the Gospel in His own language. Your Spirit has been there since and gives Your church power and relevance today. Give us a special measure of that Holy Spirit power today as we worship! All: In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen. * OPENING HYMN LBW # 161 O Day Full of Grace * CONFESSION OF OUR SIN Pastor: Spirit of Truth, we cannot hide from You or hide the sins that lurk deep within us. It is comforting to know that we can be honest and give them over to You and You will cleanse us and give us a new start. Hear us now as we make confession:
(silence for personal confession) Pastor: With humility and heavy hearts, we confess; All: We confess that we have not loved You or our neighbors as Your Word has taught us. We are quick to find fault and rush to judgment, uttering words and displaying actions that do not build up the body Christ, but rather undermines the fellowship of believers. We have not always been as diligent as we should be in our growth so that we can live lives in accordance with the truth of Jesus Christ and His example of living. We have not used the gifts of love and service which You gave the church at Pentecost. We are guilty of dwelling on our own self interests while neglecting strangers and seekers among us. Forgive us, Lord, for these sins and many others which we have not named. Renew a right spirit within us. Pastor: Know that your sins are all forgiven and that you have been washed clean. Know that the advocate is with you at all times to be your teacher and remind you of this gift of grace through our Lord Jesus. Amen FIRST LESSON Genesis 11:1-9 Pew Bible page 10 SECOND LESSON Acts 2:1-21 Pew Bible page 1157 * GOSPEL John 14:23-31 Pew Bible page 1147 SERMON Colors of the Wind SERMON HYMN LBW # 486 Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart * APOSTLES CREED LBW Page 65 OFFERING * WORDS OF INSTITUTION * LORD S PRAYER DISTRIBUTION OF THE ELEMENTS
* POST COMMUNION PRAYER Let us pray...almighty God, we thank you for all your gifts to us. For the gift of salvation and eternal life through Jesus Christ; For the giving of your Holy Spirit; For the meal we have just shared; For the light you shine upon our path; and for the love you place upon our hearts, we thank you. Lord, help us be your faithful people. Grant that we may be those who do the works of righteousness all our days and joyfully spread the good news of Jesus Christ to all the world. Amen * BENEDICTION Go in peace; and may the Spirit of God be above you and below you; may the Spirit be to the right of you and to the left, to the front and to the rear; may the Spirit inhabit your hearts and your mind, and move through your hands and your feet. May the Spirit fill your eyes and grace your lips - to the glory of God our Father and Jesus Christ, our Risen Savior both now and forever. *THREEFOLD AMEN * CLOSING HYMN insert Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness BELLS * DISMISSSAL Pastor: Renewed, refreshed, and filled with God s Word and Spirit, go now with a smile on your face and God s peace in your heart and serve the Lord. People: Thanks be to God! Today, we celebrate Pentecost, the day of the sending of the promised Holy Spirit. The liturgical color is red which signifies the tongues of fire and the Holy Spirit descending out of heaven to touch the hearts of all of God s people. We pray that each of you will feel the very real presence of the Spirit in our worship this morning. Happy Pentecost in the name of Jesus!! Next Sunday is Trinity Sunday. On this day we will confess God as the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Please come and join us as we acknowledge and confess the Trinity!!!
Today s Announcements Sebeka High School is sponsoring A DAY OF CARING. One afternoon in early May, Sebeka High School Students will be out and about in the community to help with yardwork, simple home projects, city and park clean-up and road and ditch clean-up as well. Please contact Sebeka School if you would like to have some extra help and extra care on this day. 837-5101 The Menahga High School Baccalaureate Service will be held on Sunday, May 22 nd at 6:00 P.M. in the Menahga High School Band Room. The Sebeka High School Baccalaureate Service will be held on Wednesday, May 25 th at Our Savior s Lutheran Church in Sebeka. CHI St. Joseph s Health Hospice Care is accepting applications for new volunteers. Please contact CHI St. Joseph s Health Volunteer Services at 616-3197 for more information. The Sons of Norway of Park Rapids is sponsoring a tour and banquet at the Norwegian Language Village on Thursday, May 26 th. Cost is $20.00. Transportation is provided from Park Rapids, leaving at 2:00 P.M. and returning at 8:00 P.M. For reservations or more information call 218-732- 8330 or 218-573-2414. There will be a plant sale at Sebeka United Methodist Church on Saturday, May 21 st from 9 to noon. LYO NOTES May 18 th will be helping at Bethany with the expansion of the cemetery. Will be leaving FE at 5:15, back by 7:45 supper will be provided. May 25 th last night of LYO for the year. A party is being planned. o Students & Parents, please watch your email or LYO Facebook page for more information or if you have questions, please contact Pastor Jim. Remember in Prayer Connie Torvinen Steve Thompson Pastor Jim Tammy Yrjo MaryAnn Lusti Jane Bruer Verllien Augst Mabel Ehnert Tammy Evans Brian Charmoli Carol Alm Paula Wevley Brittany Munger Daunten Veit Reid Anderson Pastor Jim s foster daughter Naomi Charlie Blixt Joan Bruer Norma Dissmore Carol Mortenson Sharon Berg John Rader Thomas Merchlewicz Vickie Hinchley Jim Johnson Ashley Anderson Lynnette Yliniemi Tracey Skroski Ramona Olson Joann Koskela Bruce Blanchard Elvin Yrjo Susan Gullekson Our Country & Military Luke Hallaway Kyle Soppeland Jason Wilker Our Churches, Pastors, Leaders, and Staff Our Shut-ins
Pastor Jim left yesterday for a mission trip to Kenya, please be in prayer for him and those who are working with him and the people in the regions he is working in. These are some specific prayer points that he would like us to include in our prayers: He will be visiting prison(s) under CLIMB Bible Institute and serving however asked. The team (Pastor Dawn, Pastor Marcy and Pastor Jim) will be conducting a two-day seminar in Kabiria hosted by Pastor Emmanuel Kisemei and Life Changing Sanctuary Church. Pastor Jim will be preaching two morning services and possibly the evening youth service at Life Changing Sanctuary. Safe Travel and health for Pastor Jim and his family. God's protection over all!