HOLY COMMUNION Exploring the promise of God for all Christ, the friend and lover Sixth Sunday in Easter May 6, 2018 10:30 a.m. Choral Eucharist Christ is the faithful friend who will never leave us This Sunday s image of the life the risen Christ shares with us is the image of friendship. We are called to serve others as Jesus came to serve; but for John s gospel, the image of servanthood is too hierarchical, too distant, to capture the essence of life with Christ. Friendship captures the love, the joy, the deep mutuality of the relationship into which Christ invites us. The Greeks believed that true friends are willing to die for each other. This is the mutual love of Christian community commanded by Christ and enabled by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit gathers us in unity on the first day of the week. PRELUDE Sonata in F Movement I GATHERING Carl Philipp Emmanuel Bach At the sound of the bell the assembly stands to face the worship leaders at the back of the church. EASTER PROCLAMATION repeated three times: P Alleluia! Christ is risen! a Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia! PROCESSIONAL HYMN (hymn) 383 Christ Is Risen! Shout Hosanna GREETING AND PRAYER OF THE DAY P The grace of our risen Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. a And also with you. P Let us pray. O God, you have prepared for those who love you joys beyond understanding. Pour into our hearts such love for you that, loving you above all things, we may obtain your promises, which exceed all we can desire; through Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. a Amen. - 1 -
EASTER WORD CHILDREN S WORD Children are invited to come forward; parents are welcome to come with their children. God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching, and song. While Peter shares the good news of Jesus with a Gentile soldier and his family, the Holy Spirit comes upon them. Recognizing that the Spirit works inclusively in the lives of both Jews and Gentiles, Peter commands that these Gentiles also be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. READING FROM THE EARLY CHURCH Acts 10:44-48 The Spirit poured out on the Gentiles a Luke writes: While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, 46 for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, 47 Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have? 48 So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days. Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God. SECOND READING The victory of faith 1 John 5:1 6 God s children believe that Jesus is the Messiah and love God by keeping God s commandments. Thus the world is conquered not through military might but through love and faith. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, 4 for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. 5 Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth. Word of God, word of life. a Thanks be to God. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION John 14:23 The assembly welcomes the gospel singing the ALLELUIA before and after the verse: a c a c a Christ being raised from the dead will die no more; death has no more dominion over him. repeat Alleluia Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. repeat Alleluia GOSPEL Christ, the friend and lover John 15:9-17 The carillon rings out the Easter gospel. The holy gospel according to John. a Glory to you, O Lord. - 2 -
On the night of his arrest, Jesus delivers a final testimony to his disciples to help them in the days ahead. Here, he repeats the most important of all his commands, that they love one another. Jesus says: As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father s commandments and abide in his love. 11 I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. 12 This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one s life for one s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. 16 You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. 17 I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another. The gospel of the Lord. a Praise to you, O Christ. SERMON P Alleluia! Christ is risen! a Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia! silence for reflection follows the sermon HYMN OF THE DAY (hymn) 358 Great God, Your Love Has Called Us stanzas 1, 3 & 5 NICENE CREED A With the whole church, let us proclaim our Easter faith. a We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. - 3 -
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION each petition concludes: hear us, O God a your mercy is great. MEAL God feeds us with the presence of Jesus Christ. PEACE P The peace of the risen Christ be with you always. a And also with you. The assembly is invited to share God s peace with one another. GATHERING OF GIFTS The offering is gathered for the mission of the church, including the care of those in need. During this time, the table is set. After the offering is gathered, bread, wine, money, and other gifts are brought forward. The assembly stands as the procession reaches the chancel. Te Deum laudamus We praise thee, Oh, God, we acknowledge thee to be the Lord. All the earth doth worship thee the Father everlasting. To thee all Angels cry aloud the Heavens, and all the Powers therein. To thee Cherubim and Seraphim continually do cry, Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of Sabaoth; Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty of thy glory. Houston Bright Offertory Prayer A Let us pray together. a Risen Christ, receive these gifts, with our hopes, dreams, and prayers. Reveal yourself to us in the breaking of the bread, that our eyes may be opened to see your presence among us, and our lives filled with the new life of your resurrection. Amen. GREAT THANKSGIVING P The Lord be with you. a And also with you. P Lift up your hearts. a We lift them up to the Lord. The assisting minister pours out the wine. P Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. a It is right to give our thanks and praise. P...we praise your name and join their unending hymn: - 4 -
All who come seeking Jesus are invited to receive these gifts of God. Communion at this service is served standing. Please follow the directions of the ushers to a communion station. Grape juice and gluten-free bread are available upon request. The benefits of the sacrament are fully present in either the bread or the wine, should health reasons prevent you from receiving one of the elements. Children are welcome to receive communion or a blessing. The presider continues with the Great Thanksgiving, concluding: Lord s Prayer (1975) a Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen. Breaking of the Bread and Invitation to Communion Communion Bogoroditse Devo from the Vespers Sergei Rachmaninoff (sung in Russian) Holy Godbearer, rejoice; Holy Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb; for you have gave birth to the savior of our souls. Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) composed his setting of the Orthodox All Night Vigil or Vespers during January and February 1915. It is largely based on unison chant melodies from the service as it would have been sung in Russia during medieval times. Bogoroditse is a devotional text that has origins in the Visitation account in the Gospel of Saint Luke. Prayer after Communion A Let us pray. God of abundance, with this bread of life and cup of salvation you have united us with Christ, making us one with all your people. Now send us forth in the power of your Spirit, that we may proclaim your redeeming love to the world and continue forever in the risen life of Jesus Christ, our Lord. a Amen. God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world. BLESSING OF QUILTING MINISTRY SENDING - 5 -
BLESSING P May the risen Christ bring you all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope. Almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. a Amen. The hymn is a paraphrase of Psalm 98, appointed for this day.. SENDING HYMN (hymn) 822 O Sing to the Lord (sung in English) stanza 1 all; 2 higher voices; 3 all; 4 lower voices; 5 all DISMISSAL Please face the cross for the dismissal. A Alleluia! Christ is risen! a Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia! A Go in peace. Share the good news. a Thanks be to God. The carillon sends the assembly into mission.. POSTLUDE Now Thank We All Our God Prayer and anointing for healing are offered after worship today. Meet a prayer minister at the chancel kneelers following the postlude. J. S. Bach Portions of the liturgy are from Sundays and Seasons.com 2018 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress liturgies license #26515. This service is being streamed live on the internet at www.centralmpls.org. Following worship coffee is served. Brief sanctuary tours will be offered after this service. Meet a docent at the pulpit. Your assistance in helping to prepare the sanctuary for our weekday ministries is welcomed. Please meet a staff member near the front of the sanctuary following the postlude to assist in clearing the pew chairs. - 6 -
.. SERVING TODAY Pastor Melissa Pohlman Pastor Peter Nycklemoe Julie Anderson Diane Nimmer, Steven Langmo Deacon Mark Sedio Jane Lien Central Choir Joan Hilden Oscar Peter Ann Oyen, Bonnie Weisenburger Pastor Stephanie Friesen Pastor D. Foy Christopherson Mark Kieffer, Marc Wilson Sue & Tom Jorgensen Pat Forse presiding preaching assisting minister readers cantor/organist associate cantor choir crucifer butterfly banner bearer healing prayers communion minister liturgy director sound operators lead ushers for May docent Chancel flowers for this weekend are given by the floral guild. If you wish to donate flowers contact Judy Korogi 10 days in advance at 612-788-1288. Large print service folders, assisted listening devices, and access seating are available to aid your participation in worship. Please inquire with an usher. - 7 -
WELCOME TO CENTRAL Everyone is welcome. As a community of the people of God, the members of Central Lutheran Church are called to welcome all people regardless of age, economic status, ethnic background, gender, physical or mental ability, race or sexual orientation. We affirm that in Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male or female (Galatians 3:28). Christ has made us one. Guests are welcome. We are pleased you are worshiping with us today. We invite guests to complete the Welcome to Central card found in the pew racks and leave it with an usher or place it in the offering plate. If you would like more information about Central, please contact us at 612-870-4416, or email info@centralmpls.org. Children are welcome at all services. Worship bulletins for children and activity bags are available at sanctuary entrances. Welcome to the Lord s Table. All who come seeking Jesus are welcome at Holy Communion. Please follow the guidance of the ushers and instructions in the order of service. During communion, ministers will bring bread and wine to persons in designated access seating areas. Communion may be received in one kind (only bread or only wine) from any station if wheat bread or alcohol presents a health concern. Gluten-free breads and alcohol-free wine are available by request at most liturgies from most communion stations. Welcome to the Holy Baptism. All who come seeking Jesus are welcome to receive Holy Baptism. Please visit with any worship leader, staff member, hospitality volunteer, contact the church office, or complete an information card, indicating that you wish to be baptized. A pastor will contact you. Friends of Central Stay connected Across the country and beyond there are many people who have a soft spot in their heart for Central Lutheran Church people who feel a connection both to the history and the ongoing mission of this congregation. If you re one of them, we invite you to join a network of Friends of Central. Pick up a brochure or visit our website for more information or to join. Text to Give! Members and guests can make one-time contributions by text. Text 73256 Enter the code word centralmpls (all lowercase) Enter a numerical amount Press send and enter your payment details on the next screen Member contributions will appear on your contribution history. Electronic giving is available at Central. You can go online through Central s website at www.centralmpls.org and click on Give Today. If you give electronically, use the green pew card to drop in the offering plate instead of an envelope. Central Lutheran is supported by givers like you. Questions? Contact the church office at 612-870-4416. - 8 -