Day of Pentecost CALL TO WORSHIP P: Come, Holy Spirit! C: Grant us your peace. P: Come, Holy Spirit! C: Give us your power. P: Come, Holy Spirit! C: Grace us with your presence. P: Let us worship God. CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS P: Let us call upon the Lord, confessing our sins. Silence for reflection P: God of new creation, C: we confess that we have failed to trust your bountiful goodness. We dishonor your generosity by withholding our charity to those in need. We betray your kindness by dealing harshly with our enemies. We disregard your compassion by severely judging the sins of others. Forgive us. By the power of your Spirit renew our hearts and free us from sins so that we may enjoy the fullness of your blessing upon all creation. Amen. P: Sisters and brothers, God offers forgiveness of our sins and the grace of repentance. Accept God’s grace, repent of your sin, and be restored to abundant life. C: Amen. HYMN “O Day Full of Grace” Song starts at 15 seconds PRAYER OF THE DAY P: Holy God, send your Spirit upon your church in this time and place, stir up our courage, and rouse us for prophetic witness, that we may join with the first disciples to proclaim to the world your mighty deeds of power in Jesus Christ. C: Amen. READING Acts 2:1-21 1When the day of Pentecost had come, [the apostles] were all together in one place. 2And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. 5Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.” 14But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 16No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 17‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. 18Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. 19And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. 20The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. 21Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ ” SERMON Rev. Lori E.L. Kitzing HYMN “God of Tempest, God of Whirlwind” PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION during each petition… P: Let us unite our hearts and minds in prayer for our world. Brief silence P: For the church throughout the world, Almighty God, C: hear our prayer. [brief pause] P: Inspire the sons and daughters of your church for prophetic witness to your truth, and upon old and young: give clarity of vision to acknowledge your saving power in the world. P: For nations of the world and its leaders, Almighty God, C: hear our prayer. [brief pause] P: Overcome the babble of misunderstanding among the nations, and let all people hear in their own language and recognize in their own culture your unifying message of love. P: For planet Earth, our home, Almighty God, C: hear our prayer. [brief pause] P: By your Spirit, renew the earth, make us good stewards of its resources, and teach us to enjoy its abundance rightly. We also pray for the gift of rain for the seeds that have been planted. P: For those in need of healing, Almighty God, C: hear our prayer. [brief pause] P: Among those known to us, God, we pray for Julie, Karla, Stephanie, Cammie, Nancy, Beverly, Micala, Murlene, Donald, Dale, and Jim Send your healing Spirit upon those who are sick in body or mind, restore them to health, and restore to them the joy of salvation. P: For our neighbors and members of our community, Almighty God, C: hear our prayer. [brief pause] P: Teach us to be good neighbors, to live in peace with one another, and in friendship share the joys and burdens of daily life. P: For our children, Almighty God, C: hear our prayer. [brief pause] P: Bless our children, protect them from danger, and help parents and caregivers nurture them so that they may mature in wisdom and grow in grace. P: For our enemies, Almighty God, C: hear our prayer. [brief pause] P: Bless our enemies and show us how we may do good to them for the sake of Jesus Christ. P: In your mercy, Almighty God, receive our prayers and, according to your wisdom, provide all that we need; through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. OFFERING PRAYER P: With thanksgiving for God’s gifts to us, let us offer ourselves and the fruits of our labor for God’s work in the world. Financial gifts may be sent to the church. P: Glorious God, everything that is given to us comes out of the abundance of your love, even Jesus Christ our Lord. Bless our offerings and bless our lives together that all we are and all we offer would give glory to you; in the name of Christ, who is the way, truth, and life. LORD’S PRAYER Spoken in Italian BENEDICTION P: May the grace of God the Father bless you with peace, may the love of + Christ, God’s son, sustain you in joy, and may the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with courage, this day and forevermore. C: Amen. HYMN “Lord, You Give the Great Commission” CHARGE P: Receive the Holy Spirit. Go forth in peace and share the peace of Christ with all. C: Thanks be to God. Printed by permission oneliscense.net A-717495
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7th Sunday of Easter CALL TO WORSHIP from Psalm 68 P: Sing to God, all peoples of the world. Sing praises to God most high. C: God gives new life. Let us be joyful before God! P: Let the righteous rejoice before God. C: Let us praise God and sing our praises. CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS P: God not only desires our repentance, but longs to offer us forgiveness. Therefore, cast all your anxiety on God, because God cares for you eternally. Silence for reflection P: Loving God, C: we confess that we do not always bring honor and glory to your name. We are rebellious and flee before your goodness. Forgive, restore, and strengthen us by the grace and mercy of Christ, that we may rise up in peace to love and serve your world. Amen. P: Hear the Good News: the Spirit of God is resting on you, to restore, support, and strengthen you. Therefore, be at peace in the One who forgives you + and loves you. Let us give God thanks and praise this morning. C: Amen. HYMN “Rise, O Sun of Righteousness” PRAYER OF THE DAY P: Make us one, O God, as you are one. Show us the gift of eternal life: to know you as you know us. Help us to do the work that you have called us to do, that we may glorify you always; through Jesus Christ our Lord. C: Amen. Gospel: John 17:1-11 1After Jesus had spoken these words [to his disciples], he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, 2since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. 5So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed. 6“I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; 8for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. 10All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. 11And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.” SERMON Rev. Lori E.L. Kitzing HYMN “Lord, Enthroned in Heavenly Splendor” PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION after each petition… P: United in the hope and joy of the resurrection, let us pray for the church, the world, and all in need. A brief silence. P: God of harmony, as you drew your Son to your side, you draw us to you and unite us with one another. Weave your church together in a web of mutual love for the sake of the world. Hear us, O God. C: Your mercy is great. P: As your Spirit hovered over the waters of creation, so your Spirit hovers over all that you have made. Bless the water that sustains the planet and grant us wisdom to use it wisely. Hear us, O God. C: Your mercy is great. P: You empower your people with the fire of your Spirit. Guide all in leadership to speak a message of peace and justice. Hear us, O God. C: Your mercy is great. P: You care for all your children. Show your steadfast love to those suffering isolation, especially exiles, refugees, or prisoners. Break the chains of all held fast by systemic oppression of any kind. Comfort all who are afraid or suffering from illness (especially Julie, Karla, Stephanie, Cammie, Nancy, Beverly, Micala, Murlene, Donald, Dale, and Jim.). Hear us, O God. C: Your mercy is great. P: We give thanks that humankind serves as your body in the world, stewarding your abundant gifts. Guide this congregation’s leaders as they seek your will. Hear us, O God. C: Your mercy is great. P: You raise your saints to new life in Christ. We give you thanks for all your saints who have given us glimpses of your redeeming love. Hear us, O God. C: Your mercy is great. P: Rejoicing in the victory of Christ’s resurrection, we lift our prayers and praise to you, almighty and eternal God; through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord. C: Amen. OFFERING PRAYER Financial gifts may be sent to the church. P: Glorious God, everything that is given to us comes out of the abundance of your love, even Jesus Christ our Lord. Bless our offerings and bless our lives together that all we are and all we offer would give glory to you; in the name of Christ, who is the way, truth, and life. LORD’S PRAYER Japanese BENEDICTION P: May the abundance of God bless you, the strength of Christ + keep you, and the Spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, shine upon you forever. C: Amen. HYMN “A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing!" Singing starts at 1:44 CHARGE P: Go in peace. Serve the Risen One. C: Thanks be to God. Printed by permission oneliscense.net A-717495 Fifth Sunday of Easter CALL TO WORSHIP Psalm 81:1 P: Sing aloud to God our strength. Shout for joy to the Lord of Life. Blessed be the one, holy and living God. C: Glory to God forever. CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS P: God not only asks us to repent, but also assures us of forgiveness. Therefore, let us confess our sins to the one who is steadfast love. P: Loving God, C: we do not always keep your commandments; we fail to love you above all else; our conscience is not clear. Forgive us and help us to live fully in the grace and mercy of Jesus, our resurrected Savior. Amen. P: God forgives, restores, and strengthens us through the risen Christ. Know that you are forgiven and be at peace. C: Amen. HYMN “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” PRAYER OF THE DAY P: Loving God, in whom we live and move and have our being, help us to choose life in you, that we may keep the commands of Jesus, follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and witness to the hope that is within us, sharing Christ’s love in the world. C: Amen. Gospel: John 14:15-21 [Jesus said to the disciples:] 15“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 17This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. 18“I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. 19In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. 20On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.” SERMON HYMN “Now We Join in Celebration” PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION P: Holy God, you promise to hear us when we pray, When we face challenges that threaten to overcome us, you give us strength. With grateful hearts, we entrust our cares and concerns to you. P: For an end to violence, between countries, within nations, on our streets, and in our homes. Gracious God, C: hear our prayer. P: For those who offer aid to refugees and victims of natural disasters, and all who suffer from forces beyond their control. Gracious God, C: hear our prayer. P: For those who seek shelter on the streets of our nation, even in our own communities. Gracious God, C: hear our prayer. P: For all those who have lost their way. Gracious God, C: hear our prayer. P: For our neighbors of other faith, and for peace between all people. Gracious God, C: hear our prayer. P: For our secret burdens. Gracious God, C: hear our prayer. P: On this day, Mother’s Day, we pray for the women who raised us, inspired us, and helped us grow in faith. Gracious God, C: hear our prayer. P: Gather up our prayers, O God, and those we did not know to pray, and make us ever more faithful as we lean into your coming reign of justice, peace, and love; through Jesus Christ, our light and our hope. C: Amen. OFFERING PRAYER Financial gifts may be sent to the church. P: Loving God, we give you thanks that you have placed in the hearts of your faithful people the gift of generosity and the desire to keep your commands. Bless our gifts and use them to reveal to all people your love in Jesus Christ. C: Amen. LORD’S PRAYER Chanted in Vietnamese BENEDICTION P: May the blessing of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. C: Amen. HYMN “Now Thank We All Our God” CHARGE P: Go in peace. Serve the Risen One. C: Thanks be to God. Printed by permission oneliscense.net A-717495 CALL TO WORSHIP L: God is mighty in word and deed. C: God’s mercy is everlasting. L: Blessed be the one holy and living God. C: Glory to God forever. HYMN “Christ Is Alive! Let Christians Sing” GREETING L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. C: And also with you. L: The word is near you, C: on your lips and in your heart. L: If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord, C: and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. L: Faith comes from what is heard, C: and what is heard comes through the word of Christ. PRAYER OF THE DAY L: 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. C: Amen. GOSPEL: John 14:1-14 [Jesus said to the disciples:] 1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. 2In 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? 3And 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. 4And you know the way to the place where I am going.” 5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 8Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” 9Jesus 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’? 10Do 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. 11Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. 12Very 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. 13I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.” SERMON Rev. Kristen Van Stee We have a guest preacher this week and their sermon will not be recorded. So here is a sermon by Assistant to the Bishop Kristen Van Stee. I hope you will hear the Good News in her words. CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK TO HEAR SERMON HYMN “Hallelujah! Jesus Lives!” CREED AND CONFESSION L: In Christ, you have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. C: We believe in him and are marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit. L: Living together in trust and hope, we confess our faith. C: 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. L: Build yourselves up on your most holy faith; C: pray in the Holy Spirit. L: Keep yourselves in the love of God; C: look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. L: If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: C: Everything old has passed away; behold, everything has become new! L: God has given us the ministry of reconciliation. Therefore, let us be reconciled to God and to one another. Silence for reflection and self examination. L: Gracious God, C: have mercy on us. In your compassion forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things done and left undone. Uphold us by your Spirit so that we may live and serve you in newness of life, to the honor and glory of your holy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen L: The almighty and merciful Lord grant us pardon, forgiveness, and remission of all our sins. C: Amen OFFERING PRAYER C: Gracious God, in the abundance of your steadfast love, you call us from death to life, from silence to speech, from idleness to action. With these gifts we offer ourselves to you, and with the Church through all the ages we give thanks for your saving love in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION L: United in the hope and joy of the resurrection, let us pray for the church, the world, and all in need. L: God of life, strengthen your church to proclaim your gospel even in times of trouble. As we remember Stephen, we give thanks for diaconal ministry. Bless all deacons and strengthen them for their bridge-building ministry between church and world. Hear us, O God. C: Your mercy is great. L: Creating God, you show your steadfast love through mighty waters, towering mountains, verdant fields, and arid deserts. Protect the earth’s diverse habitats from the forces of pollution, erosion, extinction, and global warming. Hear us, O God. C: Your mercy is great. L: Mighty God, your Spirit guides us into all truth. Give wisdom to world and local leaders and organizations as they begin, build, or renew relationships. Strengthen leaders and aid organizations in areas needing to be rebuilt following conflict, unrest, or natural disaster. Hear us, O God. C: Your mercy is great. L: Loving God, you make your home among us. Abide with refugees, those experiencing homelessness, those fleeing war and poverty, and all who question if there is a home in your heart. We pray for all who are sick. Hear us, O God. C: Your mercy is great. L: Assuring God, you accompany your people amid uncertainty and change. Uphold people in this community who have recently moved, changed jobs or schools, retired, or are going through transitions of any kind. Lead us in your ways. Hear us, O God. C: Your mercy is great. L: Renewing God, you gather the saints at your heavenly banquet. We give you thanks for the care shown us by those who have gone before us. Grant confidence and comfort for all awaiting the place you have prepared. Hear us, O God. C: Your mercy is great. L: Rejoicing in the victory of Christ’s resurrection, we lift our prayers and praise to you, almighty and eternal God; through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord. C: Amen. LORD’S PRAYER Spoken in Dutch BLESSING L: May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ fill you with every spiritual blessing. C: Amen L: May the God of faithfulness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus. C; Amen L: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen HYMN “The Church’s One Foundation” CHARGE L: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. C: Amen. Printed by permission oneliscense.net A-717495 |
AuthorRev. Lori E.L. Kitzing Archives
April 2024
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