HOLY COMMUNION Blessing of graduates Doing the work of God on the sabbath Sunday, June 3, 2018 10:30 am Eucharist Exploring the promise of God for all The Holy Spirit gathers us in unity on the first day of the week. We gather on the Lord s day, God s gift to us in Christ Deuteronomy makes clear that sabbath-keeping is meant for the welfare of all. God delivered the Israelites out of slavery, so they should not ever work anyone else seven days a week. Even slaves should be able to rest; even resident aliens. Yet human beings can turn even the most liberating religious practice into a life-destroying rule. Jesus does not reject sabbath-keeping, but defends its original life-enhancing meaning. Our worship and our religious way of life are to lead to the hungry being fed and the sick being healed. GATHERING PRELUDE Aria on a Chaconne Joel Martinson The carillon calls the assembly to worship. At the sound of the bell the assembly stands to face the worship leaders at the back of the church. THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM P We bless you, almighty God, for the gift of water for the oceans, for the rivers, for Mississippi and Missouri, for Minnehaha and Bde Maka Ska, and for Superior and Saint Croix that you provide for our community. a We bless you, O God, for the waters of the earth. P We honor you, merciful God, for showering us with water for the rain that nourishes the plants and trees. a We honor you, O God, for the waters you send. P We glorify you, gracious God, for the waters of baptism For the water of the Jordan that washed our Lord Jesus, for the water that bathes the church universal. a We glorify you, O God, for the waters of baptism. P We worship you, O God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, Well of forgiveness, you revive us, Cup of cold water, you refresh us. Pool of rebirth, you renew us. a To you comes the worship of all your people, now and forever. Amen. PROCESSIONAL HYMN (hymn) 524 What Is This Place stanza 2 in harmony - 1 -
GREETING AND PRAYER OF THE DAY P The grace of our 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. Almighty and ever-living God, throughout time you free the oppressed, heal the sick, and make whole all that you have made. Look with compassion on the world wounded by sin, and by your power restore us to wholeness of life, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. a Amen. The presider continues with words of welcome. WORD God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching, and song. Part of the Ten Commandments, these verses instruct the Israelites to keep the Sabbath. The Israelites are to rest and they are to allow their slaves, their livestock, and the foreigners living among them to do the same. They were once slaves, and so they are to treat their own slaves justly. CHILDREN S WORD Children are invited to come forward; parents are welcome to come with their children. READING Deuteronomy 5:12-15 The commandment regarding the sabbath a Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. 13 Six days you shall labor and do all your work. 14 But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work you, or your son or your daughter, or your male or female slave, or your ox or your donkey, or any of your livestock, or the resident alien in your towns, so that your male and female slave may rest as well as you. 15 Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the sabbath day. Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God. PSALM Psalm 81:1-10 Raise a loud shout to the God of Jacob. (81:1) L Refrain a Refrain L Sing with joy to God our strength and raise a loud shout to the God of Jacob. 2 Raise a song and sound the timbrel, the merry harp, and the lyre. a Refrain L 3 Blow the ram s horn at the new moon, and at the full moon, the day of our feast; 4 for this is a statute for Israel, a law of the God of Jacob. - 2 -
5 God laid it as a solemn charge upon Joseph, going out over the land of Egypt, where I heard a voice I did not know: 6 I eased your shoulder from the burden; your hands were set free from the gravedigger s basket. a Refrain L 7 You called on me in trouble, and I delivered you; I answered you from the secret place of thunder and tested you at the waters of Meribah. 8 Hear, O my people, and I will admonish you: O Israel, if you would but listen to me! 9 There shall be no strange god among you; you shall not worship a foreign god. 10 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. a Refrain SECOND READING Treasure in clay jars 2 Corinthians 4:5-12 When we carry out God s ministry we do so not for our glory but for the sake of Jesus Christ whom we proclaim as Lord. The power for ministry comes from God, not us, so that we persevere no matter what, trusting in God s power and promises at work through us. Paul writes to the church in Corinth: We do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus sake. 6 For it is the God who said, Let light shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. 11 For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh. 12 So death is at work in us, but life in you. Word of God, word of life. a Thanks be to God. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION The assembly sands and welcomes the gospel, singing: GOSPEL Doing the work of God on the sabbath Mark 2:23 3:6 The holy gospel according to Mark. a Glory to you, O Lord. 23 One sabbath [Jesus] was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees said to him, Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath? 25 And he said to them, Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of - 3 -
food? 26 He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions. 27 Then he said to them, The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; 28 so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath. Jesus challenges the prevailing interpretation of what is lawful on the sabbath and tells his critics that the sabbath was made for humankind, not the other way around. Healing the man with the withered hand is work that cannot wait until the next day. 3:1 Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. 2 They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3 And he said to the man who had the withered hand, Come forward. 4 Then he said to them, Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill? But they were silent. 5 He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, Stretch out your hand. He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6 The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him. The gospel of the Lord. a Praise to you, O Christ. SERMON silence for reflection follows the sermon HYMN OF THE DAY (hymn) 521 O Day of Rest and Gladness stanzas 2 & 3 in harmony APOSTLES CREED A We have been made God s people through our Baptism into Christ. Living together in trust and hope, we proclaim our faith. a 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, All 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. BLESSING OF GRADUATES P Lord our God, in your wisdom and love you surround us with the mysteries of the universe. You teach us by word and example and the true wisdom that comes from you alone. Send your Spirit upon our graduates and bless them in their new endeavors. Grant this through Christ our Lord, and by the power of your Holy Spirit. a Amen. - 4 -
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION The prayers conclude with confession through the summer. Each petition concludes: hear our prayer a your mercy endures forever. MEAL God feeds us with the presence of Jesus Christ. PEACE P The peace of 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. All Things Bright and Beautiful All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, All things wise and wonderful, the Lord god made them all. Each little flower that opens, each little bird that sings, he made their glowing colors, he made their tiny wings. The purple headed mountains, the rivers running by, the sunset and the morning, that brightens up the sky. The cold wind in the winter, the pleasant summer sun, the ripe fruits in the garden, he made them every one. He gave us eyes to see them, and lips that we might tell, how great is God Almighty, who has made all things well. Offertory Prayer A Let us pray together. a God of all creation, you open wide your hand and satisfy the need of every living thing. You have set this feast before us. Open our hands to receive it. Open our hearts to embrace it. Open our lives to live it. We pray this through Christ our Lord. Amen. The assisting minister pours out the wine. GREAT THANKSGIVING P The Lord be with you. a And also with you. P Lift up your hearts. a We lift them to the Lord. 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: John Rutter - 5 -
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 them. Children are welcome to receive communion or a blessing. Prayer after communion at the chancel kneelers is always welcomed. God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world. 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 Lamb of God (ELW front) p. 154 a Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; grant us peace. There Is a Balm in Gilead For the text see ELW 614. silence for reflection concludes the Communion William Dawson Prayer after Communion A Let us pray. Gracious provider, you nourish us with holy food and drink, and you open us up to the needs of others. Refresh us with your Spirit, that our words and deeds may proclaim your creative and life-giving Word, Jesus Christ our Lord. a Amen. SENDING BLESSING P God almighty, God most powerful bless you, keep you, and grant your peace. - 6 -
Almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. a Amen. SENDING HYMN (hymn) 534 Savior, Again to Your Dear Name stanzas 1, 2 in harmony, & 4 DISMISSAL Please face the processional cross for the dismissal. A Go now to love and serve the Lord. a Thanks be to God. The carillon sends the assembly into mission. POSTLUDE Passacaglia Gordon Young 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. 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. SERVING TODAY Pastor D. Foy Christopherson Pastor Stephanie Friesen Brad Boogren Jane Lien Robin Helgen Karl Starr Rick Johnston Pastor Peter Nycklemoe, Pastor Melissa Pohlman Mark Kieffer, Marc Wilson Varney Kiazolu Judy Hedman Patti Brestrup, Sara Gunsch Mark Erickson, Megan Bowman, Matt Bowman, Rexanne Spicer presiding preaching assisting minister associate cantor/organist alto reader crucifer communion ministers sound operators lead usher for June docent hosts & greeters seasonal planning team Chancel flowers this weekend are given by a husband in loving memory of his wife. If you wish to donate flowers, contact Judy Korogi 10 days in advance at 612-788-1288. This service is being streamed live on the internet at www.centralmpls.org. 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 new network of Friends of Central. Pick up a brochure or visit our website for more information or to join. Electronic Giving Opportunities: Online at www.centralmpls.org click on Give Today; or text 73256, enter code word centralmpls (lower case), and a numerical amount. Press send and fill in the details. All contributions from members and guests will appear in a contribution statement. Wi-Fi is available as Central Lutheran (password clcguest). 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 -