7th Sunday of Easter

St. Johannes Lutheran Church
May 24, 2020

Kyrie eleison, on our world and on our way. Kyrie eleison, every day!

from Setting 4 of the Lutheran Liturgy

☩   GATHERING  ☩

The Holy Spirit calls us together as the people of God.

 
THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM
All may make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism.
P:  Alleluia! Christ is risen.
C  Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!
 
P:  Joined to Christ in the waters of baptism,
C: we are raised with him to new life.
 
P:  Let us give thanks for the gift of baptism.
Water may be poured into the bowl as we offer our thanks to God.
 
P:  We give you thanks, O God, for in the beginning you created us in your image and planted us in a well-watered garden. In the desert you promised pools of water for the parched, and you gave us water from the rock. When we did not know the way, you sent the Good Shepherd to lead us to still waters. At the cross, you watered us from Jesus’ wounded side, and on this day, you shower us again with the water of life. 
We praise you for your salvation through water, for the water in this bowl, and for all water everywhere. Bathe us in your forgiveness, grace, and love. Satisfy the thirsty, and give us the life only you can give. To you be given honor and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever.
C: Amen.
 
APOSTOLIC GREETING
P:  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.
   
CANTICLE OF PRAISE Page 149  This Is The Feast Of Victory

PRAYER OF THE DAY
P: The Lord be with you.  
C: And also with you.
 
P: 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.

☩   WORD  ☩
God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching, and song.

FIRST LESSON

Acts 1:6-14
P:   A reading from Acts. ⁶When [the apostles] had come together, they asked [Jesus], “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” ⁹When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. ¹⁰While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. ¹¹They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
  ¹²Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. ¹³When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. ¹⁴All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.
P:  The word of the Lord.
C:  Thanks be to God!

Psalm 68:1-10,32-35  (in unison)
 

 ¹Let God arise, and let God’s enemies be scattered;
  let those who hate God flee.
 ²As smoke is driven away, so you should drive them away;
  as the wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
 ³But let the righteous be glad and rejoice before God;
  let them also be merry and joyful.
 ⁴Sing to God, sing praises to God’s name; exalt the one who | rides the clouds;
  I Am is that name, rejoice before God! R
 ⁵In your holy habitation, O God,
  you are a father to orphans, defender of widows;
 ⁶you give the solitary a home and bring forth prisoners into freedom;
  but the rebels shall live in desert places.
 ⁷O God, when you went forth before your people,
  when you marched through the wilderness,
 ⁸the earth quaked, and the skies poured down rain, at the presence of God, the God of Sinai,
  at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
 ⁹You sent a bountiful rain, O God;
  you restored your inheritance when it languished.
 ¹⁰Your people found their home in it;
  in your goodness, O God, you have made provision for the poor. 
 ³²Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth;
  sing praises to the Lord.
 ³³You ride in the heavens, O God, in the ancient heavens;
  you send forth your voice, your mighty voice.
 ³⁴Ascribe power to God,
  whose majesty is over Israel; whose strength is in the skies.
 ³⁵How wonderful you are in your holy places, O God of Israel,
  giving strength and power to your people! Blessed be God! R



SECOND LESSON 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11
P: A reading from First Peter.

¹²Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. ¹⁴If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you.

 ^5:6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. ⁷Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. ⁸Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. ⁹Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. ¹⁰And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. ¹¹To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.
                      
P:  The word of the Lord.                     C: Thanks be to God!

 
GOSPEL  John 17:1-11

P: The holy gospel according to John the 14^th chapter.

C: Glory to you, O Lord!

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.”P: The Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to you O Christ!
 

SERMON                                                                           by Pastor Rich                             
Silence for reflection follows the sermon.
 

HYMN OF THE DAY: ELW #393   “A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing”

NICENE CREED
P: Using the words of the Nicene Creed, let us declare our faith:
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,*
who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.


PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION    
P:  Uplifted by the promised hope of healing and resurrection, we join the people of God in all times and places in praying for the church, the world, and all who are in need.                                                       A brief silence.
O God, call your people to be one, as you are one. Unite your church in the truth of your gospel, the love of our neighbor, and the call to proclaim your reign to all people. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Breathe life into your creation. Guide your people as we explore the mysteries of the universe. We pray for the work of scientists and mathematicians whose skill enriches our understanding (like Nicholas Copernicus and Leonard Euler, whom the church commemorates today). Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Make your justice known among the nations of the earth. Protect the vulnerable.  We pray for those who suffer in any way.  We pray especially this morning for The family and friends of Betty Budds, Marcy Floyd, Connie Morgan, Charles Long III, Anne Foster, Marie Mood, Barbara Lyerly, John Fowlkes, Mary Sweat, Elmore Marlow, Ted Bowers, Bob Oswald, Bill Cornwell, Marilyn Stehmeier, Harry Klutz, and Pooh Kanapaux and those we now lift up to you in our hearts, or with our lips…. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Come to the aid of your children. We pray for those engulfed in grief, those without supportive families, and for all who are isolated, powerless, or afraid, that all may rest their anxieties in your care. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Give courage to all who embark on new ventures. We especially remember this day those who risked their lives to serve in our armed forces. Grant safety to those serving at home or abroad, and assure them of your never-failing strength. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Here other intercessions may be offered.
Raise all your saints to eternal life. Until that day, we give you thanks for the faithful examples of those who have listened to your voice and now rest in you. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
With bold confidence in your love, almighty God, we place all for whom we pray into your eternal care; through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
                                                                                  
                                                                        
Lord's Prayer                                                                                                       
P: Lord, remember us in your Kingdom and teach us to pray.
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.                   

              

☩ SENDING ☩
God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world.

BLESSING
P: May the One who brought forth Jesus from the dead raise you up to new life.  May He fill you with hope, and turn your mourning into dancing.   Almighty God, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.
C:  Amen
 

SENDING HYMN   ELW #655 "Son of God, Eternal Savior"
 


DISMISSAL
P  Christ is risen, just as he said. Go in peace. Share the good news. Alleluia!
C Thanks be to God. Alleluia!
 
POSTLUDE

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