Prelude
The Call Ralph Vaughan Williams setting Engel
A Pleasant thought Florence Price 1887-1953
Welcome & Announcements
*Thanksgiving for Baptism
Blessed be the holy Trinity, the One who was, who is, and who is to come. Amen.
Baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection, and called to live the baptized life, let us give thanks for the gifts of baptism.
Holy God, we give you thanks for the waters of baptism, waters that make a people your own, that restore to wholeness, and empower us to be witnesses in your name.
Baptized into you, O Living One, make us one as you are one.
We give you thanks for the waters of baptism, waters that strengthen believers and give new life to beloved servants of your church; waters that extend your boundless love and cross barriers of our own making.
Baptized into you, O Living One, make us one as you are one.
We give you thanks for the waters of baptism, waters that open the hearts of believers and give a voice in the night to those in captivity; waters that set your people on a new path, rejoicing in the Spirit’s power.
Baptized into you, O Living One, make us one as you are one.
Grant us grace, love, and life, O Living One, that our every day is shaped by these waters that give us our very lives in you. We ask this in the name of Jesus, the Crucified and Risen One. Amen.
Kyrie
In peace let us pray to the Lord.
For the reign of God, and for peace throughout the world,
for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
For your people here who have come to give you praise,
for the strength to live your word, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Help, save, and defend us, O God.
Amen.
Hymn of Praise
*Prayer of the Day
Almighty God, your Son Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. Give us grace to love one another, to follow in the way of his commandments, and to share his risen life with all the world, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
First Reading Acts 7:55-60
55 Filled with the Holy Spirit, Stephen gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 57 But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. 58 Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him, and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died.
Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.
Psalm 31
1 In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge; let me never be | put to shame; deliver me | in your righteousness.
2 Incline your | ear to me;
make haste to de- | liver me.
3 Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe, for you are my crag | and my stronghold;
for the sake of your name, lead | me and guide me.
4 Take me out of the net that they have secretly | set for me,
for you are my tow- | er of strength. R
5 Into your hands I com- | mend my spirit,
for you have redeemed me, O Lord, | God of truth.
15 My times are | in your hand;
rescue me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who | persecute me.
16 Let your face shine up- | on your servant; save me in your | steadfast love.” R
The Epistle Lesson 1 Peter 2:2-10
2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. 4 Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and 5 like living stones let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in scripture: “See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 7 This honor, then, is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the very head of the corner,” 8 and
“A stone that makes them stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.
*Gospel Acclamation
*Gospel John 14:1-14 Glory to you O Lord
Jesus said to the disciples: 1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, but if you do not, then believe because of the works themselves. 12 Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.”
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon Pastor Kurt Christenson
*Hymn of the Day Come My Way, My Truth, My Life
*Prayers of Intercession
Response to each petition: Merciful God, receive our prayer.
*Apostle’s Creed
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.
*Exchange of Peace
The peace of the Lord be with you. And also with you.
Offering
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Offering Music I’d Rather Have Jesus
Words- Rhea F. Miller Music- George Beverly Shea
I'd rather have Jesus than worldly applause | I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause. I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame | Yes, I'd rather be true to His holy name. Than to be the king of a vast domain | And be held in sin's dread sway. I’d rather have Jesus than anything | This world affords today
*Offering Prayer
Merciful God, accept the fruits of our labor, gathered to give you glory. You have set a table before us, a glimpse of that great day when we will hunger and thirst no more. Nourish us with the body and blood of Jesus, that goodness and mercy may follow us and bless the world you love. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
*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.
*Preface
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ;
who on this day overcame death and the grave, and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life. And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
*Sanctus
*Eucharistic Prayer
You are indeed holy, gracious and merciful God; everything is filled with your glory…
…Remembering his command to love one another, his life and death, his glorious resurrection and ascension, we pray for his coming again even as we cry:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Send now, we pray, your Holy Spirit, that all of your promises may come to us and your whole creation. Amen. Come, Holy Spirit. Amen. Come, Holy Spirit.
This we pray through Jesus Christ, our Savior and our friend.
*The Lord’s Prayer
Lord, remember us in your Kingdom and teach us to pray:
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.
Agnus Dei
Communion Distribution
Communion
Communion Hymn His Eye is on the Sparrow Choir
Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home;
when Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is he:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me.
Refrain
I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free;
for his eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me.
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me.
Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
and resting on his goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
though by the path be leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me. Refrain
When ever I am tempted, when ever clouds arise,
when songs give place to sighing when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care he sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me.
Text: Civilla D. Martin, 1860–1948
Music: Charles H. Gabriel, 1865–1932; arr. Horace Clarence Boyer, 1935–2009
*Communion Blessing and Prayer
Holy One, through this meal you have made your home among us
and are making all things new. Send us now to speak peace to anxious hearts, to love our enemies, and to bring your healing to the nations. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
*Sending Hymn Christ Is Alive! Let Christians Sing
*Blessing & Dismissal
God Almighty, who is the beginning and the end, Jesus Christ, the firstborn of the dead, and the Spirit, our advocate and peace, bless you now and forever. Amen.
Go in peace. Praise the Lord. Alleluia!
Thanks be to God. Alleluia!
Postlude
Reprise Christ Is Alive! Let Christians Sing
