Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church Affiliation: Church of the Lutheran Confession 132 Hurricane Shoals Road - Suite E Lawrenceville, GA 30046 On the Web at: www.zionlutheranlawrenceville.com WELCOME! Greetings to everyone in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ! It is our prayer that your faith will be built up by the Word of God which you will hear in our Bible-based liturgy, singing and preaching. We are glad that you have joined us this morning and hope that you will return and join us again. If you are visiting us this morning, please sign the guest register at the back of the church. Would you like to know more about our church and its confession? Are you interested in membership here at Zion? If so, please speak with Pastor Mayhew following our service or give him a call during the week. He will be eager to meet with you and answer your questions! Zion s Upcoming Church Calendar Today, 4/22-10:00 A.M. Sunday School (The Death of Jesus) 10:00 A.M. Bible Class (Spirituality - Two Kingdoms) 11:00 A.M. Family Worship Service Mon. 4/23-10:15 A.M. Bible Study at Life Care Center of L ville Tues. 4/24-7:30 P.M. Online Bible Study (Mark 8 - part 2) Thus - Sat. 4/26-4/28 - Out of state member visitation Sunday, 4/29-9:00 A.M. Catechism (Confession) 10:00 A.M. Sunday School (The Resurrection of Jesus) 10:00 A.M. Bible Class (Spirituality - Two Kingdoms) 11:00 A.M. Family Worship Service The Second Sunday after Easter April 22, 2012 Pastor Nathanael Mayhew Office: 770-962-9034 Cell: 404-729-4602 E-mail: ndmayhew@juno.com Congregation President - Mr. Wade Knowlton
The Second Sunday after Easter April 22, 2012 Pre-Service Devotion: Psalm 118:22-24 (NKJV) The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD'S doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. The Order of Service Opening Prayer Opening Hymn: 235: 1,2,6 - O Holy Spirit, Enter In Invocation (We call upon the Triune God to bless us as we gather to worship) P: We gather together in the name of the Father who created us; in the name of the Son who redeemed us; and in the name of the Holy Spirit who sanctifies us. C: Thanks be to God. Amen. Response The response here and throughout the service is taken from hymn 742 in the Worship Supplement. Praise, my soul, the King of heaven; To His feet your tribute bring; Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, Evermore His praises sing: Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise the everlasting King. Confession of Sins and Absolution (We confess our sinfulness and hear God s pronouncement of forgiveness) P: Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; C: But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 P: He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. C: The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. P: Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; C: For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. (Psalm 1 - ESV) All: Heavenly Father, we come to you confessing that we have sinned against You in many and various ways. By our thoughts, words, and actions we have walked in the counsel of the wicked, stood in the way of sinners, and sat in the seat of scoffers. We ask You to forgive us on account of the perfect life and the suffering, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. May Your Holy Spirit lead us to delight in Your Word of salvation so that we may be like trees planted by streams of water which yield their fruit in season. P: In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight. (Ephesians 1:7-8 - ESV) Praise Him for His grace and favor To His people in distress; Praise Him still the same as ever, Slow to chide and swift to bless: Alleluia! Alleluia! Glorious in His faithfulness. Kyrie (We ask our Lord to have mercy upon us) P: O Lord, as You have had mercy on us in our spiritual need, look upon us also in our bodily distress. C: Have mercy upon us, O Lord. 4
P: As You healed the blind man who called out to you for mercy, reach down with Your powerful hand to restore us and preserve us while we live our lives in this fallen world. C: Have mercy upon us, O Christ. P: Strengthen us each hour that we might serve You all our days. C: Have mercy upon us, O Lord. Fatherlike He tends and spares us; Well our feeble frame He knows; In His hand He gently bears us, Rescues us from all our foes. Alleluia! Alleluia! Widely yet His mercy flows. Gloria in Excelsis (We sing the praises of our glorious God in heaven for His compassion) P: We praise You, O God; we acknowledge You to be the Lord. C: Heaven and earth are full of the majesty of your glory. P: You are the King of Glory, O Christ. C: When you had overcome the sharpness of death, you opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. P: But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. C: To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18 - NKJV) Glory in the highest glory! Shout the angels in the skies, Bringing earth the wondrous story: God is come He meets our eyes. Alleluia! Alleluia! "Peace to you," the Lamb now cries! Prayer of the Day (We come before our Savior-God in prayer) P: Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank You, that through Your indescribable grace You have given to us Your Word of truth 5 and have instituted the holy sacraments. Through these instruments You offer your grace to all people, lost in sin. Through Your precious Word and Sacrament You comfort hearts burdened by guilt and provide forgiveness for sins. We ask that You would grant us hearts which readily hear and faithfully accept Your Word in all things, and continually strengthen our faith through Your holy Sacraments, until we finally obtain eternal salvation; through our risen Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Sprit, one true God, now and forever. Amen. The Lessons (We hear and learn from God s Word to us) Epistle Reading: 1 John 1:1-2:2 (NKJV) 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life - 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us - 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. 5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. 1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And 6
He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. Gospel Reading: Luke 24:36-48 (ESV) 36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, "Peace to you!" 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate before them. 44 Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. God's Word is our great heritage And shall be ours forever; To spread its light from age to age Shall be our chief endeavor. Through life it guides our way, In death it is our stay. Lord, grant, while worlds endure, We keep its teachings pure. Throughout all generations. (Hymn 283) 7 The Apostles Creed (The Church of the Lutheran Confession has, with all her Lutheran forbears, made this primary Christian confession of faith the first of her confessions.) I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; The holy Christian Church, the communion of Saints; The forgiveness of sins; The resurrection of the body; And the life everlasting. Amen. Hymn: 207 - Like the Golden Sun Ascending The Sermon Sermon Text: Acts 4:8-13 (ESV) 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 1 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead-by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus is the stone that was 8
rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." 13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. Introduction Theme: The Stone which the builders rejected Our Resurrection confidence is founded upon the Scripture Part 1 - What is the Bible? It is the living Word of the living God The Bible itself declares it; history proves it Confirmation confession/promise The truth will be preserved... Part 2 - What is the Bible s purpose? Conclusion The Bible serves in many capacities - Ultimate purpose: To point us our Savior When the purpose is changed, disaster results Why is this so important? ~~~~~~~~~~~~ 9 Hymn: 294 - O Word of God Incarnate All: The Offering (We give our Thank-offerings to the Lord in response to His love for us) The General Prayer (We bring our prayers before our Almighty God) 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. The Benediction (God pronounces His blessing upon His people) P: The LORD bless you and keep you. The LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The LORD lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. C: Amen (spoken). Closing Hymn: 477:1,4 - Lord Jesus, Thou the Church s Head Silent Prayer ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10
Announcements Voters Meeting Report - Last week the voters of Zion met to review the first quarter of the year. Pastor s Report: Pastor Mayhew reported on ongoing educational programs which are continuing at Zion. There has been an increase in attendance at special services and in the use of the Lord s Supper over previous years. Treasurer s Report: Brian Radichel reported that we are on track with our budget - we have spent less than what we budgeted in the first quarter, and have received more in offerings than our budgeted need. Building Committee Report: Lance Schoon reported that we have several projects which need to be completed at church in the coming months. Project leaders have been designated and will be looking for help on these projects. The project lists have been posted on the bulletin board. If you would like to help, please speak to the project leader. Projects at the parsonage will come later in the year. Outreach Committee Report: Lee Klammer reported on several outreach projects and ideas. We have incorporated QR codes into our summer VBS flyers which will be distributed June 25-27. We are looking into ways to get people familiar with Zion and where we are located. New Business: There was discussion about renting the vacant land West of our building for a playground for our children. The voters decided to gather more information from the owner of the land in order to make a decision about renting or possibly buying the land for a future building site. Old Business: President Knowlton reported that Zion has the privilege of sending two laymember delegates to represent our congregation at the CLC Convention this summer. One voter has volunteered to serve as a delegate for our congregation, but we can send one more. If any of our voters would like to serve in this capacity, we still have about one month before we have to send in our registration for convention. Any questions may be directed to Pastor Mayhew. 11 Pastor s Schedule - Pastor Mayhew will be making his monthly visitation to our out-of-state members this week. He will be leaving on Thursday morning and returning on Saturday night. He will be making visits to Marcia Knowlton in North Carolina, the Levandoski family and Judy Low in Kentucky, Mike Klintworth and Donna Wright in Tennessee, and the Goodman family in Indiana. If you need to get in touch with him while he is gone, you can reach him on his cell - 404-729-4602. Zion News - Our congregation s bi-monthly newsletter, the Zion News, was printed and distributed in your mailboxes last weekend. If you would like to offer anything for the next issue, please have your submission to Pastor Mayhew by Monday, May st 21. Past issues of the Zion News can be picked up from the tract rack at the entry of the church or found online on our website at: http://www.clclutheran.org/atlanta/zionnews.html. CLC News - Pastor Bruce Naumann (Messiah - Eau Claire, Wisconsin) has received the call from the CLC Mission Board to serve as full-time foreign missionary to fill the position currently held by Missionary David Koenig who has announced his retirement. This call will be primarily for work in India but also includes work in East Africa. Miss Ann Sprengeler, Markesan, Wisconsin, has returned the call to Holy Trinity Lutheran School, West Columbia, South Carolina. Through the Assignment Committee, Trinity Lutheran, Watertown, South Dakota has called Sherman Carstensen to teach th grades K thru 8. Rock of Ages Lutheran, Grand Rapids, Michigan, has called Pastor Mark Bernthal, Middleton, Wisconsin. Responding to God s Grace at Zion: April 15, 2012 Bible Class: - 14 Weekly Needed: $ 1,047.47 Sunday School: - 9 Sunday Received: $ 835.00 Church Attend: - 27 YTD Needed: $ 16,759.52 YTD Received: $ 17,878.00 12