Concordia Lutheran Church 255 West Douglas St. South St. Paul, MN 55075 651-451-0309 Vision Creating a Christ-Centered Community, one family at a time, beginning in South St. Paul and continuing through the world Mission Creating a Christ-Centered community gathered together To joyfully worship our God To grow in faith and knowledge To love one another And to share the Good News of Jesus Christ
FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER April 29, 2018 AS WE GATHER There are and have been many great people, places, things, and events in this world. Some are just great. Some are greater than others. Some may even be considered the greatest. Yet, greater than all is Christ Jesus, our Lord who lived, was dead, and has been raised to live and reign forever throughout the ages of ages. John shores our trust in our great Savior when He leads us to confess, He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4). Therefore, all the people of God join together with one voice and praise Him according to His excellent greatness! (Psalm 150:2b). PRE-SERVICE MUSIC THE WELCOME THE RITE OF FRIENDSHIP PREPARATION OPENING SONG/HYMN How Majestic is Your Name O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth. O Lord, we praise your name. O Lord, we magnify Your name, Prince of Peace, mighty God, O Lord God Almighty. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth. O Lord, we praise your name. O Lord, we magnify Your name, Prince of Peace, mighty God, O Lord God Almighty. O Lord, we praise your name. O Lord, we magnify Your name, Prince of Peace, mighty God, O Lord God Almighty. 2
INVOCATION P: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION P: God who is gracious and merciful: C: We confess that we are sinful by nature and have turned away from abiding in Your love. We have been enticed by our own desires and lured away from Your love by the spirits of this age. Yet, greater is Jesus who dwells in us by faith than the spirit of the Antichrist who is in the world. For Jesus sake, forgive our sins and bring us again to abide in Your love. P: God hears you and God loves you. Therefore, as a called and ordained servant of Jesus and by His authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. WORD INTROIT Psalm 145:1 2, 8, 10, 21; antiphon: John 16:16 P: A little while, and you will see me no longer; C: and again a little while, and you will see me. P: I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. C: Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. P: The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. C: All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you! P: My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever. C: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. P: A little while, and you will see me no longer; C: and again a little while, and you will see me. 3
KYRIE P: O Lord, who sent Philip with Good News about You for the Ethiopian eunuch, C: have mercy on us. P: O Christ, who are Yourself the full manifestation of the love of God for all people, C: have mercy on us. P: O Lord, who tenderly invites us to abide in You as You promise to abide in us, C: have mercy on us and grant us Your peace. Amen. HYMN OF PRAISE Thine the Amen, Thine the Praise LSB 680 Thine the amen Thine the praise Alleluias angels raise Thine the everlasting head Thine the breaking of the bread Thine the glory Thine the story Thine the harvest then the cup Thine the vineyard then the cup is lifted up lifted up. Thine the kingdom Thine the prize Thine the wonder full surprise Thine the banquet then the praise Then the justice of Thy ways Thine the glory Thine the story Then the welcome to the least Then the wonder all increasing at Thy feast at Thy feast. Thine the glory in the night No more dying only light Thine the river Thine the tree Then the Lamb eternally Then the holy holy holy Celebration jubilee Thine the splendor Thine the brightness only Thee only Thee. 1983 Augsburg Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License.NET, no. 100012771. 4
SALUTATION P: The Lord be with you. C: And also with you. PRAYER OF THE DAY P: Let us pray, O God, You call Your people away from the spirits of this age, which are not from You and do not confess that Jesus is Lord. Grant us faith to trust that Your indwelling presence in us is greater than any happiness we may try to find apart from abiding in You, in whom alone true joys are found; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns in communion and love with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. FIRST READING Acts 8:26-40 26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desert place. 27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, Go over and join this chariot. 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, Do you understand what you are reading? 31 And he said, How can I, unless someone guides me? And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this: Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth. 34 And the eunuch said to Philip, About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else? 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized? 5
38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea. P: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God. GRADUAL adapt. from Matthew 28:7; Hebrews 2:7; Psalm 8:6 ALL: Christ has risen from the dead. [God the Father] has crowned Him with glory and honor, He has given Him dominion over the works of His hands; He has put all things under His feet. EPISTLE 1 John 4:1 11 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. P: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God. 6
VERSE Romans 6:9; John 14:23 ALL: Alleluia. We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over Him. Alleluia. If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. Alleluia. THE HOLY GOSPEL John 15:1 8 P: The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the fifteenth chapter. C: Glory to You, O Lord. I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. P: This is the Gospel of the Lord. C: Praise to You, O Christ. THE APOSTLES CREED C 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 Spirit, Born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven And sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. 7
CHILDREN S MESSAGE THE HYMN OF THE DAY Alleluia! Jesus is Risen LSB 474 Alleluia! Jesus is risen! Trumpets resounding in glorious light! Splendor, the Lamb, Heaven forever! Oh, what a miracle God has in sight! Jesus is risen and we shall arise: Give God the glory! Alleluia! Walking the way, Christ in the center Telling the story to open our eyes; Breaking our bread, Giving us glory: Jesus our blessing, our constant surprise. Jesus is risen and we shall arise: Give God the glory! Alleluia! Jesus the vine, We are the branches; Life in the Spirit the fruit of the tree; Heaven to earth, Christ to the people, Gift of the future now flowing to me. Jesus is risen and we shall arise: Give God the glory! Alleluia! Weeping, be gone; Sorrow, be silent: Death put asunder, and Easter is bright. Cherubim sing: O grave, be open! Clothe us in wonder, adorn us in light. Jesus is risen and we shall arise: Give God the glory! Alleluia! 8
City of God, Easter forever, Golden Jerusalem, Jesus the Lamb, River of life, Saints and archangels, Sing with creation to God the I AM! Jesus is risen and we shall arise: Give God the glory! Alleluia! 1995 Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License.NET, no. 100012771. SERMON OFFERING SONG/HYMN Make Me a Servant Make me a servant, humble and meek, Lord, let me lift up those who are weak. And may the prayer of my heart always be: Make me a servant, make me a servant, make me a servant today. (2 times) PRAYER OF THE CHURCH P: Let us pray together in Christ Jesus for all people according to their needs. Lord Jesus Christ, You are greater than all and have been given the name that is above every name. Grant us discernment to test all spirits. Tune our hearts to listen to Your voice, and draw us away from the voices that clamor to deceive us according to the spirits of this age. Lord, in Your mercy, C: hear our prayer. P: Good Shepherd, Your Word is true and Your love is greater than any power on earth. Fill with Your love Matthew, our Synod president; Dean, our District President; Tom, our Circuit Visitor, and all those who speak in Your name to others. Lord, in Your mercy, C: hear our prayer. 9
P: Gracious King, Your kingdom is greater than all, and Your rule is limitless and unbounded. Grant that the rulers of the kingdoms of this world would bow their knees to Your gracious reign, seeking only the knowledge of Your will and the power to carry it out. Lord, in Your mercy, C: hear our prayer. P: Great Physician, Your healing power is greater than all the technology of human invention. Be at work for good through the vocations of all healthcare professionals, workers, and caregivers that those who suffer any affliction of body, mind, or spirit, [including...], would know the nearness of Your presence and experience the joy that comes from abiding in Your love. Lord, in Your mercy, C: hear our prayer. P: Hope of all the saints, You have purposed and prepared a future greater than we can imagine in Your creation of a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells. Bring us together with all Your saints to experience Your love together gathered around the throne of the Lamb, who loves all people and gave Himself for us. Lord, in Your mercy, C: hear our prayer. P: Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy, through Christ Jesus, our Lord. C: Amen. SILENT PRAYER The congregation is encouraged to take a few moments to pray silently for anything that weighs heavily on our hearts. We are also encouraged to pray for those in our lives who do not know Christ that the Holy Spirit may work powerfully to bring them to saving faith. LORD S PRAYER (Matthew 6:9 13) C: 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. 10
BENEDICTION P: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. Numbers 6:24 26 C: Amen. CLOSING SONG/HYMN Behold What Manner of Love Behold what manner of love The Father has given unto us Behold what manner of love The Father has given unto us That we should be called the sons of God That we should be called the sons of God (3 times) Acknowledgments Creative Worship for the Lutheran Parish, Series B, Quarter 2. Copyright 2017 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 11
Concordia Lutheran Church s Covenant with One Another How Do We Love One Another at Concordia Lutheran Church? 1. We will behave in a spirit of forgiveness always speaking well of others with love and kindness knowing that God created every human being in His image and we will always show respect for others despite our mutual failures, acknowledging shortfalls and willing to forget prior harms. 2. We will promote and practice honest conversations following the 8 th Commandment to speak well of each other, avoiding gossip by redirecting people to the appropriate person and avoiding anything that would cause divisions in the Body of Christ. 3. We will lift up each other in prayer in all that we do by turning to God for guidance and support, showing our gratitude and thanksgiving, and realizing we depend on Him for our entire existence. 4. We will offer a hand of hospitality welcoming all people by acknowledging the presence of others, greeting everyone with concern for them and openly sharing our biblical faith with everyone in word and deed. 5. We will be positive and joyful sharing openly our happiness in the Lord with fun, positive humor and inclusive fellowship always defending each other, speaking well of each other, and putting the best construction on everything. Serving In God s House Pastor: Reverend William L. Keller II Organ/Piano: Beth Ekblad Usher Captain: Vince Johnston Lay Reader: Cathy Johnston Altar Guild: Muriel Rose & Kris Westad Greeters: Muriel Rose 12