The THIRD SUNDAY of EASTER
April 23, 2023
The Rev. Joshua Heimbuck, Pastor
WELCOME
Welcome to all who have gathered to worship in the Name of our risen and victorious Lord. On this Third Sunday of Easter, we joyfully affirm Christ’s resurrected presence among us in Word and Sacrament. We celebrate His presence among us in breaking bread and the cup of salvation in The Eucharist to assure our forgiveness, nurture our faith, and strengthen our lives for service in Christ’s Name. Guests and visitors, please honor us by signing our Guest Book in the church's entrance hall as you leave this morning’s worship. If you have no church home, we invite you to make Grace Lutheran Church the center of your worship, learning, fellowship, and service. After this morning’s worship, join us for a cup of coffee, 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 Were Not Our Hearts Burning?
Jesus Christ is the key that unlocks Scripture. That’s how It was on the road to Emmaus. The risen Lord, Jesus Christ, opened their eyes and minds to understand God's Word. He who is the Word made flesh caused them to see the Word with such clarity that their hearts burned within them.
Lord, send your blessing on us today that when we take leave of this place, we might say, with the two Emmaus disciples, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he opened the Scriptures to us?”
PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP
O almighty and eternal God, now that you have assured us of the completion of our redemption through the resurrection of our Lord Jesus, give us the will to show forth in our lives what we profess with our lips; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
+ THE ORDER of CELEBRATING THE 50 DAYS of EASTER +
Now the Feast and Celebration— Marty Haugen
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
CHIMES
WELCOME
+ GATHERING +
[Remembering our baptism, we gather in the Name of the Triune God to confess our sins and receive the assurance of our forgiveness as his people.]
ORDER OF 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 the Father.
As we approach the mystery of God, let us confess our sins to God Almighty, trusting the love of Christ, crucified and risen.
+ A Brief Silence for Reflection & Self-examination +
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in our thinking, speaking, and doing. We deserve your wrath and punishment. For the sake of Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our redemption, we beg your forgiveness and seek the power to become more faithful servants of our Savior and Lord. Amen
You have been raised to life with Christ. Now set your minds on what is in heaven, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Rejoice in the Lord. Your sins are forgiven in the Name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Christ is risen. Risen indeed. Alleluia!
Forgiven and reconciled by God, let us be reconciled with one another and share the peace of the Lord as we greet each other.
THE PASSING OF PEACE
APOSTOLIC GREETING
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also, with you.
KYRIE
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
PRAYER OF THE DAY
O God, your Son makes himself know to all his disciples in the breaking of bread. Open the eyes of our faith, that we may see him in his redeeming work, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
+ WORD +
[Whenever we worship, God speaks, and we listen. We hear the Word of God read aloud in our midst, bringing us both God’s judgment and grace.]
FIRST LESSON Acts 2:14a, 36-41
[Today’s reading is the conclusion of Peter’s sermon preached following the giving of the Holy Spirit to the apostles on the day of Pentecost. The center of his preaching is the bold declaration that God has made the crucified Jesus both Lord and Christ.]
Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed the people: “Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
SECOND LESSON 1 Peter 1:17-23
[The imagery of exile is used to help the readers of this letter understand that they are strangers in a strange land. Christians no longer belong to this age. Through the death of Christ, we belong to God, so that our focus, faith, and hope are no longer on such things as silver or gold.)
If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile. You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the ages- for your sake. Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God. Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL VERSE
Alleluia, alleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life.
Alleluia!
HOLY GOSPEL Luke 24:13-35
The gospel according to Luke, the 24th chapter. Glory to you, O Lord.
[The colorful story of Jesus’ appearance to two disciples on the road to Emmaus answers the question of how Jesus is to be recognized among us. Here, he is revealed through the scriptures and in the breaking of bread.]
Now on that same day when Jesus had appeared to Mary Magdalene, two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find the body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.” Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer- these things and then enter into his glory? Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.
As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead of them as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So, he went in to stay with them. When he was a table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished from their sight. Then they- said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road?” That same hour, they got up and returned to Jerusalem, and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” Then they told them what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON Through Word and Sacrament — Pr. Josh Text: The Gospel Lesson
NICENE CREED
I believe in one God,
the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth
and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
begotten of His Father before all worlds,
God of God, Light of Light,
very God of very God,
begotten, not made,
being of one substance with the Father,
by whom all things were made;
who for us and for our salvation came down from heaven
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary
and was made man;
and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.
He suffered and was buried.
And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and
ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father.
And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead,
whose kingdom will have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord and giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,
who spoke by the prophets.
And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church,
I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,
and I look for the resurrection of the dead
and the life ☩ of the world to come. Amen.
PRAYERS of THE CHURCH
+ MEAL +
[As the first-fruit offerings of all that we are and have gathered, The Lord’s Table is prepared to celebrate “The Feast that knows no end” instituted by Christ our Lord for the strengthening of our faith and the assurance of our forgiveness.]
OFFERING PRAYER
God of our salvation, all that we have comes from your hand. We bring what you have already given us bread and wine for your table, and the gifts of all that we are and have for the work of your Kingdom. Most of all we give you thanks for your greatest gift to us in Jesus Christ, our Lord. 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 him thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, O holy God: You are the life and light of all. By your powerful word you created all things. Through the prophets you call your people to be a light to the nations.
Blessed are you for Jesus, your Son, he is your light shining in our darkness and revealing to us your mercy and might.
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, therefore, his preaching and healing, his dying and rising, and his promise to come again, we await the day when all the universe will rejoice in his life-giving light.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
By your Holy Spirit, bless us and this meal, that refreshed by it we might be light for the world.
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’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
PAX DOMINI
The peace of the ☩ Lord be with you always. And also, with you.
[We come to The Sacrament sincerely believing in the real presence of Christ and that in the eating and drinking of the bread and wine of The Sacrament we receive the true body and bloodof our Lord for our forgiveness, salvation, and strength for Christian life and witness.]
DISTRIBUTION
DISMISSAL
May the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen and preserve you steadfast in the true faith to life ☩ everlasting. Amen
+ SENDING +
[Strengthened in faith and empowered for service, we leave with thanksgiving and the Lord’s blessing.]
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
We thank you, O God, that you have strengthened our hearts through this feast of life and salvation. Be the light for our path, that we may do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with you, now and forever. Amen
BLESSING
+ With Great Joy … Tell Everyone What He Has Done! +
Grace Notes
THE PRESENCE of CHRIST is celebrated in The Lord’s Supper. He comes to us in a real and present way with his life-giving body and blood in the bread and wine of The Sacrament to assure us of our forgiveness and to strengthen us in faith and service. All who trust and believe the words “given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins” are welcome. Come, receive Christ’s presence in the meal prepared for you. Enjoy his presence. Children are encouraged to come forward with their parents and/or grandparents and receive a blessing.
PASSING OF EUNICE “MIM” PEDERSEN — It is with sadness that we’ve learned of former member Eunice “Mim” Pedersen’s passing on Tuesday, April 11th, 2023. Mim and her husband Floyd were long time members of Grace prior to moving away a couple of years ago. A Memorial Service is tentatively being planned for Saturday, May 13th at Grace. More information about the Memorial Service will be shared when details are finalized.
THE COFFEE CONNECTION NEEDS YOU! — Volunteers are needed for our Coffee Connections held on Sundays right after our Worship service. Volunteers bring in the goodies and set up the coffee for all to enjoy. Please consider signing up. The signup sheet can be found on the refrigerator in the kitchen.
LADIES, MARK YOUR CALENDARS! — You are cordially invited to attend the Sweet Sisters’ Tea on Saturday, May 6th at 1:30 PM in the Fireside Room. Sien Lemke, fellow Sister in Christ, will talk about her father’s mission work in Indonesia. Currently, Sien edits the monthly bulletin for the mission schools and orphanage. The menu for the Sweet Sisters’ Tea will include tea sandwiches, scones with Devonshire cream and berry jam, desserts and delightful teas and coffee. Please RSVP at (541)482-1661 or, by emailing us at gracelutheranashland@gmail.com.
This Week at Grace
April 24th – April 30th , 2023
Tuesday, April 25th |
Women’s Bible Study Mariners Baseball @Ashland Little League Field 1 |
10:00 AM
5:30 PM
Wednesday, April 26th
Choir
7:00 PM
Thursday, April 27th
Mariners Baseball @ Ashland Little League Field 1
5:30 PM
Sunday, April 30th
Bible Study & Sunday School
Worship Service
Coffee Connection Hour
9:00 AM
10:00 AM
11:00 AM