It is a beautiful day for worship! Special thanks to Haleigh Jacocks for leading our vocal music today!
Peace, Pastor Chris Lee
Order of Worship for Sunday, May 2, 2021
Prelude: Come, My Way, My Truth- R.V. Williams. Musician: Pam Edwards.
Meditation
This Sunday’s image of how the risen Christ shares his life with us is the image of the vine. Christ the vine and we the branches are alive in each other, in the mystery of mutual abiding described in the gospel and the first letter of John. Baptism makes us a part of Christ’s living and life-giving self and makes us alive with Christ’s life. As the vine brings food to the branches, Christ feeds us at his table. We are sent out to bear fruit for the life of the world.
Thanksgiving for Baptism
All may make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Refreshed by the resurrection life we share in Christ, let us give thanks for the gift of baptism. We thank you, risen Christ, for these waters where you make us new, leading us from death to life, from tears to joy. We bless you, risen Christ, that your Spirit comes to us in the grace-filled waters of rebirth, like rains to our thirsting earth, like streams that revive our souls, like cups of cool water shared with strangers. Breathe your peace on your church when we hide in fear. Clothe us with your mercy and forgiveness. Send us companions on our journey as we share your life. Make us one, risen Christ. Cleanse our hearts. Shower us with life. To you be given all praise, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God, now and forever.
Amen.
Opening Hymn: -ELW 449- “We Know that Christ is Raised,” verses 1, 2, & 3.
Prayer of the Day
O God, you give us your Son as the vine apart from whom we cannot live. Nourish our life in his resurrection, that we may bear the fruit of love and know the fullness of your joy, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
First Reading: Acts 8:26-40
Led by the Spirit, Philip encounters an Ethiopian official who is returning to his African home after having been to Jerusalem to worship. Philip uses their encounter to proclaim the gospel to him. Upon coming to faith in Jesus, he is baptized by Philip.
26An angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a wilderness road. 27So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it.” 30So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. 32Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this:
“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,
and like a lamb silent before its shearer,
so he does not open his mouth.
33In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”
34The eunuch asked Philip, “About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. 36As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?” 38He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. 39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
Second Reading: 1 John 4:7-21
We love God and others because God first loved us. We cannot say we love God, whom we have not seen, while hating fellow Christians, whom we regularly see. Love toward God is to be matched by love toward others because the essence of God is love.
7Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.
13By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. 15God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. 16So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.
God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. 17Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. 18There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. 19We love because he first loved us. 20Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. 21The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.
Gospel: John 15:1-8
On the night of his arrest, Jesus taught his disciples about the relationship they would have with him. Those who abide in his word and love bear fruit, for apart from him, they can do nothing.
Jesus said: 1“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. 2He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. 3You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. 4Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 6Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”
Sermon: Pastor Chris Lee
Hymn of the Day: ELW 447-“O Blessed Spring.” verses 1 & 5.
Prayers of Intercession
Alive in the risen Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, we bring our prayers before God who promises to hear us and answer in steadfast love.
A brief silence.
God of all fruitfulness, you abide in your church and your church abides in you. Cleanse us by your word and give yourself to the whole church on earth so that it bears fruit and witnesses to your love. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
You have created the heavens and the earth. As we wonder at the beauty of creation, may we seek vital connections among all that depends on the earth for life. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
You rule the nations with justice and love. Give the leaders of the earth assurance of your abiding presence, that they lead not by fear but with love for those they are called to serve. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
You have loved us so that we can love others. We pray for all in need of your love: those who are poor, lowly, outcast, weak, or fearful. Provide for the needs of all especially Art Renfro; Randy McIntyre; Abbey Wehrheim; Creed Kasselman; Karen Bemowski; Mary Florence; Patrick Esping; Mary Guise; Marilyn Hubbard; Rick Sandway; Nancy Johnson; Ryan Holtan; Helen Schubert, and those we name before you now aloud or in our hearts. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
You gather us with all the saints by the power of your Spirit especially with Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria and those we name before you. With them, may our hearts live forever in your keeping. Hear us, O God
Your mercy is great.
In the hope of new life in Christ, we raise our prayers to you, trusting in your never-ending goodness and mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Peace
Great Thanksgiving
The Lord’s Prayer
Prayer
Wellspring of joy, through this meal you have put gladness in our hearts. Satisfy the hunger still around us, and send us as joyful witnesses, that your love may bring joy to the hearts of all people, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Blessing
May our glorious God grant you a spirit of wisdom to know and to love the risen Lord Jesus. The God of life, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.
Amen.
Sending Hymn: ELW 821- “Shout to the Lord.”
Dismissal
Even as we depart and receive the Body and Blood of Christ, given and shed for you, to strengthen us for the days ahead, remember you are the body of Christ raised up for the world.
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Go in peace. Share the good news. Alleluia!
Thanks be to God. Alleluia!
Postlude: ELW 382- “Christ is Risen! Alleluia.”
Link to Facebook video for May 2 Worship Service:
https://www.facebook.com/First-Lutheran-Church-Rock-Island-IL-190629367619921/videos/807114980219264
Image credits: Philip and the Ethiopian, YouTube.com and Flowering Tree at First Lutheran, by Therese Guise.
Music credits:
Guest vocalist: Haleigh Jacocks. Music director and pianist/organist: Pam Edwards.
“The Call” (from Five Mystical Songs), Ralph Vaughan Williams (organ only) and George Herbert (One License #116310). Tune: copyright 1911 Stainer & Bell Ltd. PD in US & Canada All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream and print the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-704843.
“We Know that Christ is Raised.” Text: John B. Geyer, b. 1932. Music: Charles V. Stanford, 1852 – 1924. Text copyright John B. Geyer. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream and print the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-704843.
“O Blessed Spring.” Text: Susan Palo Cherwien, b. 1953. Music: Robert Buckley Farlee, b. 1950. Text copyright 1993 Susan Palo Cherwien, admin. Augsburg Fortress. Music: copyright 1993 Robert Buckley Farlee, admin. Augsburg Fortress.
“Shout to the Lord.” Text: Darlene Zschech, b. 1965. Music: Darlene Zschech. Text and music copyright 1993 Darlene Zschech/Hillsong Publishing, admin. in USA & Canada Integrity’s Hosanna! Music. CCLI song #1406918. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from CCLI with license #11114590.
“Christ is Risen! Alleluia.” Text: John S. B. Monsell, 1811 – 1875, alt.. Music: Frederick C. Maker, 1844 – 1927. Public domain.
Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2021 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Reprinted/ streamed with permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS006904. Duplication in any form is prohibited without permission or valid license from the copyright administrator.