Flowers of the Fields, by Awjay The Season of Easter Mother s Day May 13, 2018 8:30 am St. John s Lutheran Church Salisbury NC
Welcome to St. John s! For more information about today s worship, please refer to the pew card found in the hymnal. Gathering Welcome Please sign the Friendship Pad and pass it to your neighbor in the pew. Prelude Pour Light Upon Us From Above, O God George Oldroyd Prayers of Confession. As we gather for worship, we make the sign of the cross as a reminder of our baptism. In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Let us pray. Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Silence for reflection and self-examination. Most merciful God, we confess that we are in bondage 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. Amen. God s Promise of Forgiveness In the Word who has come to dwell with us, God has given us grace upon grace: forgiveness that is stronger than our sins, love that can heal every broken heart. Hear this word of God s pardon and peace: in the name of + Jesus our Savior, you are free from all your sins. Rise, shine, for your light has come. Amen. Sharing the Peace of Christ Entrance Hymn 556 The peace of the Lord be with you always. And also with you. Morning Has Broken BUNESSAN 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. 2
Kyrie. A centering prayer asking for God s mercy and peace. 3
Hymn of Praise This Is the Feast from Revelation 5 4
Let us pray. Gracious God, as a mother hen gathers her chicks, you have chosen us as your own, and by the powerful name of Christ you protect us from evil. By your Spirit, renew and transform us, that we may find our joy in your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Please be seated Comments about a new community initiative Bill Graham Word First Reading Romans 15:22-29 Paul s plan to visit Rome Paul writes his letter to the Romans nearly 3 years before his journey to Rome. In this portion of the letter, he longs to visit the Christian community there, never imagining that it would be as a prisoner. Paul writes: 22 This is the reason that I have so often been hindered from coming to you. 23 But now, with no further place for me in these regions, I desire, as I have for many years, to come to you 24 when I go to Spain. For I do hope to see you on my journey and to be sent on by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a little while. 25 At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem in a ministry to the saints; 26 for Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to share their resources with the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. 27 They were pleased to do this, and indeed they owe it to them; for if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material things. 28 So, when I have completed this, and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will set out by way of you to Spain; 29 and I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ. The Word of the Lord. The Light of Christ. Thanks be to God! Second Reading Acts 28:11,14-19,30-31 Paul s journey to Rome Part II For two weeks we will follow Paul on his journey to Rome, the pinnacle of his missionary career. The journey begins with Paul as a prisoner, traveling by ship to make his appeal to the Roman emperor. Acts 27 describes the harrowing journey in great detail, including a significant storm and frightening shipwreck. We pick up after the prisoners and crew have spent 3 months on the island of Malta. 11 Three months later we set sail on a ship that had wintered at the island, an Alexandrian ship with the Twin Brothers as its figurehead. 5
14 And so we came to Rome. 15 The believers from there, when they heard of us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage. 16 When we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him. 17 Three days later he called together the local leaders of the Jews. When they had assembled, he said to them, "Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, yet I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. 18 When they had examined me, the Romans wanted to release me, because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case. 19 But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to the emperor even though I had no charge to bring against my nation. 30 He lived there two whole years at his own expense and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. The Word of the Lord. The Light of Christ. Thanks be to God! Please stand for the reading of the Gospel. Alleluia is an ancient Jewish acclamation that means God be praised. In the Christian tradition, Alleluia means He is risen! The Holy Gospel Matthew 28:10,16-20 The commissioning of the disciples Following his resurrection on Easter morning, Jesus said to Mary Magdalene and the other witness, 10 "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." 16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And 6
remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." The Gospel of the Lord. Thanks be to God! Sermon Please stand Pastor Rhodes Woolly Hymn 638 Blessed Assurance ASSURANCE Apostle s Creed. The three paragraphs of the Creed express our belief in the three-fold nature of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 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; 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. Amen. Prayers of Intercession. Each petition ends: Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer. Please be seated Meal Collection of our Tithes and Offerings, and Preparation of the Lord s Table Offering Voluntary O God, We All Praise You Setting by J. S. Bach OLD HUNDREDTH As the gifts are presented the congregation stands and sings the Doxology, ELW 884 Let us pray. Merciful Father, we offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us our selves, our time and our possessions, signs of your gracious love. Receive them for the sake of him who offered himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 7
The Great Thanksgiving The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise. It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise.... And join their unending hymn: Holy, holy, holy Lord, Lord God of pow r and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who come in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Eucharistic Prayer The 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. Amen. Please be seated Distribution of Holy Communion, see pew card for instructions. Hymn Prayer Lamb of God, p. 154, front of red ELW Benediction Sending Sending Hymn 840 Now Thank We All Our God NUN DANKET ALLE GOTT Dismissal Go in peace to love and serve the Lord! Thanks be to God! Postlude Now Thank We All Our God Michael Burkhardt NUN DANKET ALLE GOTT Unless otherwise indicated, today s service is from Evangelical Lutheran Worship and is reproduced by permission of Augsburg Fortress Liturgies annual license #26999. 8