Sixth Sunday in Easter May 09, 2021 8:30AM

Pastor Wesley Menke

Accompanist: Tatiana Thibodeaux

Producer: Brian Vianzon

Director : Sergio Porto

[ * Denotes Standing as you are able]

Prelude:Franz Liszt, Consolation no. III

Greeting

In the name of the Father, and of the +Son, and of the Holy Spirit,

Amen.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And also with you.

Gathe

Kyrie & Now the Feast

In peace, in peace, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

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.

Refrain: Now the feast and celebration, all of creation sings for joy to the God of life and love and freedom: praise and glory forever more!

Now is the feast of the Lamb once slain, whose blood has freed and united us to be one great people of God. To refrain

Power and riches, wisdom and might, all honor and glory to Christ forever. To refrain

For God has come to dwell with us, to make us people orf God; to make all things new. To refrain

Prayer of the Day*

O God, you have prepared for those who love you joys beyond understanding. Pour into our hearts such love for you that, loving you above all things, we may obtain your promises, which exceed all we can desire; through Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

First Reading:      Acts 10:44-48

44While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, 46for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, 47“Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.

The word of the Lord.

 Thanks be to God.

Psalm: Psalm 98

1Sing a new song to the Lord, who has done | marvelous things,

 whose right hand and holy arm have | won the victory.

 2O Lord, you have made | known your victory,

 you have revealed your righteousness in the sight | of the nations.

 3You remember your steadfast love and faithfulness to the | house of Israel;

 all the ends of the earth have seen the victory | of our God.

 4Shout with joy to the Lord, | all you lands;

  lift up your voice, re- | joice, and sing. R

 5Sing to the Lord| with the harp,

  with the harp and the | voice of song.

 6With trumpets and the sound | of the horn

  shout with joy before the | king, the Lord.

 7Let the sea roar, and | all that fills it,

  the world and those who | dwell therein.

 8Let the rivers | clap their hands,

 and let the hills ring out with joy before the Lord, who comes to | judge the earth.

 9The Lord will judge the | world with righteousness

  and the peo- | ples with equity. R

Second Reading:   1 John 5:1-6

1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. 2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, 4for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. 5Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

  6This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth.

The word of the Lord. 

Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation*

Gospel:    Saint John 15:9-17

Glory to you Oh Lord.

[Jesus said:] 9“As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

  12“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. 16You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. 17I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you Oh Christ.

Sermon –  Wesley Menke

Hymn of the Day        My Song is Love Unknown   V1-4 & 6 ELW 343

1 My song is love unknown,

my Savior’s love to me,

love to the loveless shown

that they might lovely be.

Oh, who am I that for my sake

my Lord should take frail flesh and die?

2 He came from his blest throne

salvation to bestow;

the world that was his own 

would not its Savior know.

But, oh, my friend, my friend indeed,

who at my need his life did spend!

3 Sometimes we strew his way

and his sweet praises sing;

resounding all the day

hosannas to our king.

Then “Crucify!” is all our breath,

and for his death we thirst and cry.

4 We cry out; we will have

our dear Lord made away,

a murderer to save,

the prince of life to slay.

Yet cheerful he to suff’ring goes

that he his foes from thence might free.

6 Here might I stay and sing—

no story so divine!

Never was love, dear King,

never was grief like thine.

This is my friend, in whose sweet praise

I all my days could gladly spend!

Holy Baptism of Benjamin Max Giacchetti

Passing of the Peace* Pastor

The peace of Christ be with you all. And also with you.

**You may make your offering or donation through our website HERE.

Offering Hymn  Now the Green Blade Rises ELW 379

1 Now the green blade rises from the buried grain,

     wheat that in dark earth many days has lain;

     love lives again, that with the dead has been;

     love is come again like wheat arising green.

 2 In the grave they laid him, love by hatred slain,

     thinking that he would never wake again;

     laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen;

     love is come again like wheat arising green.

3 Forth he came at Easter, like the risen grain,

     he that for three days in the grave had lain;

     raised from the dead, my living Lord is seen;

     love is come again like wheat arising green.

 4 When our hearts are wintry, grieving, or in pain,

     your touch can call us back to life again,

     fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been;

     love is come again like wheat arising green.

Offering Prayer* Pastor

God of love,

you call us beloved children and welcome us to your table.

Receive our lives and the gifts we offer.

Abide with us and send us in service to a suffering world;

for the sake of your beloved Child, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Prayers of Intercession*

[Prayer Cards received in worship]

Hear us, O God.

Your mercy is great.

Into your hands, gracious God, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy; through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

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 God thanks and praise.

Holy, holy, holy are you, God of power and might; Heaven and earth are filled with your glory. Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is the One who comes in your name. Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest!

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. 

Invitation to Communion*

Taste and see that the Lord is good! The body and blood of Christ given for you.

Prayer* 

Blessing*

Amen.

Announcements

• Grocery Store Gift Cards Available today
• Christian Education 6:30pm Tuesday via Zoom
• Verbo de Dios Spanish Bible Study Wednesday 1:00pm YouTube live
• Theology Thursday Bible Study 10:30am via Zoom (available to watch later)
• Central City Lutheran Mission monthly volunteer opportunity
• Please Check Friday Email

Sending Hymn     Christ is Alive ELW 389

1  Christ is alive! Let Christians sing.

     The cross stands empty to the sky.

     Let streets and homes with praises ring.

     Love, drowned in death, shall never die.

2  Christ is alive! No longer bound

     to distant years in Palestine,

     but saving, healing, here and now,

     and touching ev’ry place and time.

3  In ev’ry insult, rift, and war,

     where color, scorn, or wealth divide,

     Christ suffers still, yet loves the more,

     and lives, where even hope has died.

4  Women and men, in age and youth,

     can feel the Spirit, hear the call,

     and find the way, the life, the truth,

     revealed in Jesus, freed for all.

5  Christ is alive, and comes to bring

     good news to this and every age,

     till earth and sky and ocean ring

     with joy, with justice, love, and praise.

Dismissal

Alleluia! Christ is risen.

Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Go in peace. Share the good news. Alleluia!

Thanks be to God. Alleluia!

Postlude: Franz Liszt, Liebestraum in A-flat major.