CONFESSION
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.
Water may be poured into the font as the presiding minister gives thanks.
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.
Processional
ELW 532- Gather Us In (vs. 1 & 2)
Verse 1
Here in this place the new light is streaming,
now is the darkness vanished away;
see in this space our fears and our dreamings
brought here to you in the light of this day.
Gather us in, the lost and forsaken,
gather us in, the blind and the lame;
call to us now, and we shall awaken,
we shall arise at the sound of our name.
Verse 2
We are the young, our lives are a myst'ry,
we are the old who yearn for your face;
we have been sung throughout all of hist'ry,
called to be light to the whole human race.
Gather us in, the rich and the haughty,
gather us in, the proud and the strong;
give us a heart, so meek and so lowly,
give us the courage to enter the song.
APOSTOLIC GREETING
P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God, and the Communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C: And also with you.
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.
WORD
God speaks to us in reading, preaching and song.
Scripture Reading Acts 16:16-34
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.
P: The Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God.
PSALM: Psalm 97
let the multitude of the | isles be glad.
2Clouds and darkness sur- | round the Lord,
righteousness and justice are the foundations | of God’s throne.
3Fire goes be- | fore 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 righteous- | ness, O Lord,
and all the peoples | see your glory. R
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 Ju- | dah rejoice,
because of your judg- | ments, O Lord.
9For you are the Lord, most high over | all the earth;
you are exalted far a- | bove 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 hon- | est of heart.
12Rejoice in the | Lord, you righteous,
and give thanks to God’s | holy name. R
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.
P: The Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia
Gospel Reading John 17:20-26
The gospel is introduced:.
P: The holy gospel according to John the 17th Chapter.
C: Glory to you, O Lord
[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.”
P: The gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to you, O Christ.
P: Alleluia. Christ is risen.
C: Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia.
Please be seated.
The Sermon
The Hymn of the Day
ELW 826- Thine the Amen (vs. 1 -3)
Verse 1
Thine the amen thine the praise
alleluias angels raise
thine the everlasting head
thine the breaking of the bread
thine the glory thine the story
thine the harvest then the cup
thine the vineyard then the cup
is lifted up lifted up.
Verse 2
Thine the life eternally
thine the promise let there be
thine the vision thine the tree
all the earth on bended knee
gone the nailing gone the railing
gone the pleading gone the cry
gone the sighing gone the dying
what was loss lifted high.
Verse 3
Thine the truly thine the yes
thine the table we the guest
thine the mercy all from thee
thine the glory yet to be
then the ringing and the singing
then the end of all the war
thine the living thine the loving
evermore evermore.
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.
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 (especially). 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). 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.
Here other intercessions may be offered.
Unite us with the saints who have died and been raised in Jesus. 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.
P: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C: And also with you.
Presentation of the Gifts
OFFERTORY
ELW 374- Day of Arising (vs. 3)
MEAL
God feeds us with the presence of Jesus Christ.
Offertory Prayer
you gather the wolf and the lamb to feed together
in your peaceable reign,
and you welcome us all at your table.
Reach out to us through this meal,
and show us your wounded and risen body,
that we may be nourished and believe
in Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.
Proper Preface
P:
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ. You call your people to cleanse their hearts and prepare with joy for the paschal feast, that, renewed in the gift of baptism, we may come to the fullness of your grace.
And so, with all the choirs of angels,
with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven,
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
SANCTUS AND BENEDICTUS
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Thanksgiving at the Table and Words of Institution
Holy God, our living Water and our merciful Guide, together with rivers and seas, wells and springs we bless and magnify you.
You led your people Israel through the desert, and provided them water from the rock.
We praise you for Christ, our Rock and our Water, who joined us in our desert, pouring out his life for the world.
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, given for you.
Do this for the 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 for the remembrance of me.
Remembering, therefore, his life, death, and resurrection,
we await your salvation for all this thirsty world.
Pour out your Spirit on this holy food and on all the baptized gathered for this feast: wash away our sin, that we may be revived for our journey by the love of Christ.
Through him all glory and honor is yours, Almighty Father,
with the Holy Spirit, in your holy Church, both now and forever.
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
P: Lord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray.
C: 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
P:
Here at St. John’s all who believe in the love of God and in Jesus are welcome to the table.
Communion Song
ELW 496 - One Bread, One Body
ELW 483 - Here Is Bread
Post-Communion Blessing
P: The body and blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, strengthen you and keep you in God’s grace.
C: Amen.
Post Communion Canticle
Thankful Hearts
Prayer after Communion
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.
The Blessing
Christ, the living Cornerstone,
and the life-giving Spirit of adoption,
☩ bless you now and forever.
Amen.
Closing Hymn
ELW 855 - Crown Him with Many Crowns (vs. 1, 3 &4)
Verse 1
Crown him with many crowns,
the Lamb upon his throne;
hark, how the heav'nly anthem drowns
all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing
of him who died for thee,
and hail him as thy matchless king
through all eternity.
Verse 3
Crown him the Lord of love--
behold his hands and side,
rich wounds, yet visible above,
in beauty glorified.
No angels in the sky
can fully bear that sight,
but downward bend their burning eyes
at mysteries so bright.
Verse 4
Crown him the Lord of life,
who triumphed o'er the grave
and rose victorious in the strife
for those he came to save.
His glories now we sing,
who died and rose on high,
who died, eternal life to bring,
and lives that death may die.
The Dismissal
Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Go in peace. Tell what God has done.
Thanks be to God.
Photo by Erika Giraud on Unsplash
