The Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 22, 2022
The Rev. James A. Kabel, Pastor
+ SIXTH SUNDAY of EASTER +
22 May 2022
WELCOME
A warm welcome to all who worship here this morning, especially to our guests and visitors. May this hour of worship make us eager to share in the proclamation of the Good News of God’s love in Christ as we enter another week of witness and service. Guests and visitors, if you are worshiping with us for the first time, please honor us by signing our Guest Book in the entrance hall of the church as you leave. Do join us for a cup of coffee after this morning’s worship and let us become better acquainted with you as you get to know us better. Come to worship with us again and often!
AS WE GATHER A Life of Witness
People of God around the world gather together to worship each week. God is praised in Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Yet the great question that all Christians must ask about their lives outside of the gathering of believers is: “Do I give glory and credit to God every day of my life? Do I give credit to him in what I do and who I am?” Today’s lessons speak to those questions. Visions abound in the readings for today. Paul has a vision about what to do. John has a vision of what will be. Jesus provides visions of peace that surpass human understanding and power beyond human imagination.
Do we wish to be seen as people who are his tools and instruments? Through the action of the Holy Spirit to sustain us in faith, we are ordinary people chosen by our King for extraordinary service… to be instruments of his peace.
PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP
O God, you see how busy we are with many things. In this hour of worship and prayer, give us rest from all that would cause us to be anxious. Turn us to listen to you as you come to us in Word and Sacrament, assuring us of that peace which passes all understanding; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
+ THE ORDER of CELEBRATING +
Haugen Setting
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
CHIMES
WELCOME
PRELUDE I Feel My Savior’s Love — by K. Newell Dayley, arr. Marshall McDonald
Tatsiana Asheichyk, piano
SONG The Trumpets Sound (See back of worship folder)
INVOCATION & CONFESSION
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
When we were baptized, we died and were buried with Christ.
We were baptized so that we might have a new life, as Christ was raised to life by the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, let us confess our sins to God so that we may be prepared to greet our ever-living King when he comes with clouds in great glory.
+ A Brief Silence for Reflection +
Almighty and most merciful God, we are dead in trespasses and sin; we have no power to rise. We have offended your majesty and defied your divinity; we have brought death and darkness where you once said, “Let there be light.” We deserve the doom that you have decreed. For Jesus’ sake, we implore you: forgive our sins, so that we may receive, and share, the promised peace our Lord has promised. Let us be raised with Christ to newness of life.
Thus, it is written, that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins must be proclaimed in his Name. That word is now proclaimed to you. For his sake and by his authority, I declare to you the full forgiveness of all your sins in the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Forgiven and reconciled by God, let us be reconciled with one another and share the peace of our Lord as we greet one another.
PASSING of PEACE
[The congregation is encouraged to share the peace of Christ and greet one another with the words: “The Lord’s peace be with you.” The response: “And also with you.”]
EASTER ACCLAMATION
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
We are risen to new life!
In Christ, we are risen indeed!
KYRIE (See insert)
NOW THE FEAST (See insert)
PRAYER of THE DAY
O God, you gather your people into your kingdom, and you promise us food from your tree of life. Nourish us with your word, that empowered by your Spirit we may love one another and the world you have made; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
FIRST LESSON Acts 16:9-15
[A vision compels Paul to move his ministry into Greece. There he meets Lydia, an important person in the business community, whose heart has been opened by God to receive the gospel. Her conversion and baptism provide the impetus for the founding of the church at Philippi.]
A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately he sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days. And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us saying, “If you have judged me faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
SECOND LESSON Revelation 21:10, 22-25
[John’s vision of a new Jerusalem coming out of heaven provides continuity with God’s past actions. Yet in this new city, God’s presence replaces the temple, and the glory of God and Lamb supplant sun and moon.]
And in the spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God.
And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
SPECIAL MUSIC Teach Me to Walk In the Light — Clara W. McMaster, arr. Marshall
McDonald , Tatsiana Asheichyk, piano
GOSPEL John 14:23-29 [The alternate appointed Gospel reading.]
After announcement of the Gospel lesson: “Glory to You, O Lord”
[As Jesus talks of returning to the Father, he promises to send the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who will teach Jesus’ followers and remind them of all that Jesus taught. Even more, those in whom God makes a home will experience a peace that overcomes fear.]
[Jesus said:] “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine but is from the Father who sent me.
“I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You have heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to You, O Christ.
SONG of THE DAY My Life Flows On in Endless Song (See back of worship folder)
HOMILY The Gift of Peace — Pr. Jim Text: The Gospel Lesson
APOSTOLIC CREED
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 catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life + everlasting. Amen.
PRAYERS of THE CHURCH
The Offerings Are Brought Forward
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Gracious God, we praise you for your wonderful creation and your all-sustaining love. Calm our anxiety over the needs of this life, that what we have freely received, we may freely give to the service of your Kingdom and the care of others in Jesus’ Name. 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 him thanks and praise.
Holy God, mighty Lord, gracious Father, endless is your mercy and
eternal is your reign. You have filled all creation with light and life;
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
When sin scarred the world, you sent your Son to heal our ills and
to form us again as one.
In the night in which he was betrayed,
our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
broke it, and gave it to his disciples saying:
Take and eat; this is my + body which is given
for you. Do this in remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,
And gave it for all to drink, saying:
This cup is the new covenant in my + blood
shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness
of sin. Do this in remembrance of me.
Remembering his life and death, his resurrection and ascension, and his
command to love one another, we pray for his coming again.
Come, Lord Jesus, live in us that we may live in you.
Send now, we pray, your Spirit, that all your promises may come to us
and your whole creation.
Amen. Come, Holy Spirit.
Through him all glory and honor are yours, Almighty Father, with the Holy
Spirit, in your holy Church, both now and forever. Amen.
Lord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray:
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.
PAX DOMINI
The peace of the Lord be with you always. And also with you.
DISTRIBUTION
Distribution Music As the Grains of Wheat (See insert)
PRAYER of THANKSGIVING
O God of love, you bind us to yourself in this sacrament, and strengthen us through this meal for service to the world. Guide us by your Spirit that we may forever give witness to the Name of Jesus Christ, the Lord of Life. We ask this in his Name. Amen.
BLESSING
SONG Thanks Be to You (See Insert)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
+ With Great Joy… Tell Everyone What He Has Done! +
Grace Notes
COFFEE CONNECTION (a time for fellowship and catching up with one another) follows this morning’s worship. We encourage everyone to participate in this very welcome hospitality ministry. A number of Sundays are open to either host, assist with serving, or provide treats. For further details, please speak with either Pearl, Nan, or Mary.
ROOKIES-ANGELS GAME SCHEDULE — Week of May 22nd through 28th — No games are scheduled this week.
ASHLAND EMERGENCY FOODBANK — More volunteers are still needed for the Ashland Emergency Food Bank on Saturday, June 11 from about 9:00 am – 1:00 pm to help unload food during the Ashland Food Project bi-monthly drive. A sign-up sheet is provided in the back of the sanctuary.
THE UKRAINE — Please keep the people of the Ukraine in your prayers.
THIS WEEK AT GRACE
TUESDAY the 24th: Women’s Bible Study 10:00 am
THURSDAY the 26th: Ascension Day Church League Golf 5:30 pm
SUNDAY, May 29th: Bible Study 8:45 am
Worship 10:00 am
MONDAY, May 30th: Memorial Day
Grace Lutheran Church
660 Frances Lane
Ashland, OR 97520
541-482-1661
Pastor Joshua Heimbuck — heimbuck@me.com