Lord, have mercy,
Pastor Chris Lee
Commemoration: Sunday, May 29, 2022
Jiri Tranovský, hymnwriter, died 1637
Tranovský is considered to be the father of Slovak hymnody as well as an important reformer of the Slavic church. He translated the Augsburg Confession (the basis of Lutheran teachings) and published a collection of Slovak hymns.
Order of Worship for Sunday, May 29, 2022
Prelude: “They’ll Know we are Christians,” Scholtes (One Lic.#81199). Vocalists: Brittany Anderson & Micah Bernas.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Meditation
It is possible to hear in Jesus’ high priestly prayer, a prayer he offered shortly before his death, the petitions of the ascended Christ for his own throughout history—to our day—and beyond. Jesus prays for us. In holy baptism we become believers in God, have our robes washed in the flood of Christ’s forgiveness, and receive the gift of life forever with all the saints.
Thanksgiving for Baptism
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!
In the waters of baptism, we have passed over from death to life with Jesus Christ, and we are a new creation. For this saving mystery, and for this water, let us bless God, who was, who is, and who is to come.
We thank you, God, for your river of life, flowing freely from your throne: through the earth, through the city, through every living thing. You rescued Noah and his family from the flood; You opened wide the sea for the Israelites. Now in these waters you flood us with mercy, and our sin is drowned forever. You open the gate of righteousness and we pass safely through. In Jesus Christ, you calm and trouble the waters. You nourish us and enclose us in safety. You call us forth and send us out. In lush and barren places, you are with us. You have become our salvation. Now breathe upon this water and awaken your church once more. Claim us again as your beloved and holy people. Quench our thirst; cleanse our hearts; wipe away every tear. To you, our Beginning and our End, our Shepherd and Lamb, be honor, glory, praise, and thanksgiving, now and forever.
Amen.
Opening Hymn: ELW 657- “Rise, O Sun of Righteousness.” All verses.
Prayer of the Day
O God, form the minds of your faithful people into your one will. Make us love what you command and desire what you promise, that, amid all the changes of this world, our hearts may be fixed where true joy is found, your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
First Reading: Acts 16:16-34
Those who had enslaved a girl and used her powers to tell fortunes threw Paul and Silas into jail for ordering the spirit to come out of her and consequently ruining their business. In prison, Paul and Silas bring the good news of the gospel to the jailer and his family.
16One day, as we were going to the place of prayer, we met a slave-girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners a great deal of money by fortune-telling. 17While she followed Paul and us, she would cry out, “These men are slaves of the Most High God, who proclaim to you a way of salvation.” 18She kept doing this for many days. But Paul, very much annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I order you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.
19But when her owners saw that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities. 20When they had brought them before the magistrates, they said, “These men are disturbing our city; they are Jews 21and are advocating customs that are not lawful for us as Romans to adopt or observe.” 22The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates had them stripped of their clothing and ordered them to be beaten with rods. 23After they had given them a severe flogging, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them securely. 24Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. 27When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul shouted in a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” 29The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30Then he brought them outside and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31They answered, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay. 34He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God.
Psalm: Psalm 97
Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous. (Ps. 97:12)
1The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice;
let the multitude of the isles be glad.
2Clouds and darkness surround the Lord,
righteousness and justice are the foundations of God’s throne.
3Fire goes before the Lord,
burning up enemies on every side.
4Lightnings light up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
5The mountains melt like wax
before the Lord of all the earth.
6The heavens declare your righteousness, O Lord,
and all the peoples see your glory.
7Confounded be all who worship carved images and delight in false gods!
Bow down before the Lord, all you gods.
8Zion hears and is glad, and the cities of Judah rejoice,
because of your judgments, O Lord.
9For you are the Lord, most high over all the earth;
you are exalted far above all gods.
10You who love the Lord, hate evil!
God guards the lives of the saints and rescues them from the hand of the wicked.
11Light dawns for the righteous,
and joy for the honest of heart.
12Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous,
and give thanks to God’s holy name.
Second Reading: Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21
The ascended Christ, hidden from our sight, promises to come again. We eagerly pray, “Come, Lord Jesus,” with all who respond to this invitation.
12“See, I am coming soon; my reward is with me, to repay according to everyone’s work. 13I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
14Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates.
16“It is I, Jesus, who sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
17The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.”
And let everyone who hears say, “Come.”
And let everyone who is thirsty come.
Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift.
20The one who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
21The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints. Amen.
Gospel: John 17:20-26
Jesus prays that the life of his followers will be characterized by an intimate unity of identity with God. To be so identified with God means also to share in God’s mission: to proclaim the word that will bring others into this same unity.
Jesus prayed: 20“I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, 21that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, 23I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
25“Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. 26I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
Sermon: Pastor Chris Lee
Hymn of the Day and Prayer with Lighting of Candles: ELW 826- “Thine the Amen.” All verses.
Prayers of Intercession
Set free from captivity to sin and death, we pray to the God of resurrection for the church, people in need, and all of creation.
A brief silence.
Holy God, make your people one as you and your Son are one. Extend the gifts we have been given by your Spirit to all people, especially those experiencing division or questioning your love. God, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Make worthy the work of scientists who look to the stars and planets, as well as scientists who look to atoms and molecules. Bring innovation and well-being to humanity through their discoveries. God, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Keep in our minds those who have died in war, both military and civilians and tragedies throughout the United States and throughout the world. May we honor them by seeking peaceful solutions to the conflicts that arise among nations and peoples. God, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Grant freedom to all who are overwhelmed by chronic illness, depression, or constant worry especially Ken Bobb; Andrea Bobb; Velma Bingaman; the Family of Lisa Miers Lange; Chris Schaffter; Ruth Mortland; Richard Mowery; Melvin Neu; Gary Berg; Jeanna LaRue; Bruce and Sandy Wright; Betty Lee; Julie Prenatt; David Neu; Sheri Stoutt; Nan Hibbs; Richard Hotchkiss; Charysse and Adean Heritage and Family; Randy McIntyre; Karen Bemowski; Marilyn Hubbard; Helen Schubert, and all those we name before you now, aloud or in our hearts…
Open them to receive health and salvation in Christ Jesus through the Spirit’s gift of faith. God, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Stir imagination and understanding throughout the church in the work of poets, theologians, and hymnwriters like Jiřī Tranovský, whom we commemorate today. Lead us into new visions and fresh expressions of your presence. God, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Unite us with the saints who have died and been raised in Jesus, especially Janice Neu. Train us to wait with eager longing for Christ to come again, even as we sense his presence with us now. God, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
In your mercy, O God, respond to these prayers, and renew us by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Amen.
Peace
Great Thanksgiving
The Lord’s Prayer
Communion Hymns:
ELW 496- “One Bread, One Body.”
ELW 482- “I Come with Joy.”
Prayer after Communion
We give you thanks, generous God, for in this bread and cup we have tasted the new heaven and earth where hunger and thirst are no more. Send us from this table as witnesses to the resurrection, that through our lives, all may know life in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Blessing
God, the Author of life, Christ, the living Cornerstone, and the life-giving Spirit of adoption, ☩ bless you now and forever.
Amen.
Sending Hymn: ELW 855- “Crown Him with Many Crowns.”
Dismissal
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Go in peace. Tell what God has done.
Thanks be to God.
Postlude: TFF 217 “Bind Us Together.”
Vocalists: Brittany Anderson & Micah Bernas
Facebook video link to worship service, Sunday, May 29, 2022:
https://www.facebook.com/190629367619921/videos/1046632556288643
Image credits: Charcoal drawing of Jesus and Purple Iris at the Parish House: photos by Therese Guise
Music credits:
Miriam Anderson: Assisting Minister
Brittany Anderson and Micah Bernas: Vocalists
Pam Edwards: Music Director/ Piano/ Organ
“They’ll Know we are Christians.” Words and Music by Peter Scholtes. Arr. Dennis Fitzpatrick. Text and music copyright 1966 by F.E.L. Publications, Ltd.. (One Lic.#81199). All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream and print the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-704843.
“Rise, O Sun of Righteousness.” Text: Christian David, et al.; tr. Frank W. Stoldt, b. 1958. Music: Bohemian Brethren, Kirchengeseng, 1566. Text copyright 2003 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream and print the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-704843.
“Thine the Amen.” Text: Herbert F. Brokering, b. 1926. Music: Carl F. Schalk, b. 1929.. Text and music copyright 1983 Augsburg Publishing House. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream and print the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-704843.
“One Bread, One Body.” Text: John Foley, SJ, b. 1939. Music: John Foley, SJ. Text and music copyright 1978 John B. Foley, SJ, and OCP Publications. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream and print the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-704843.
“I Come with Joy.” Text: Brian A. Wren, b. 1936. Music: W. Walker, Southern Harmony, 1835. Text copyright 1971, rev. 12995 Hope Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream and print the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-704843.
“Crown Him with Many Crowns.” Text: Matthew Bridges, 1800 – 1894, sts. 1-3, 5; Godfrey Thring, 1823 – 1903, st. 4. Music: George J. Elvey, 1816 – 1893. Public domain.
“Bind Us Together, Lord.” Text: Bob Gillman, b. 1946. Music: BIND US TOGETHER, Bob Gillman, b. 1946. Copyright 1977 Kingsway Thankyou Music, admin. Integrity’s Hosanna! Music in N., S., and C. America. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from CCLI with license #11114590.
Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2022 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.