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Sunday after Pentecost
Welcome to long-time Lutherans, Christians from every tradition, and people new to the faith.
Welcome to all who have no church home, want to follow Jesus, have doubts, or do not believe.
Welcome to new visitors and old friends.
Welcome especially to all who have ever felt unwelcome in the church.
Welcome to believers, questioners, and questioning believers. This is a place where you are welcome to celebrate and grieve, to rejoice and recover.
No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here. This is a place where lives are made new.
PRELUDE
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
RINGING OF THE BELL
Please rise as you are able.
THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM
Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, the fountain of living water,
the rock who gave us birth, our light and our salvation. Amen.
Joined to Christ in the waters of baptism, we are clothed with God's mercy and forgiveness. Let us give thanks for the gift of baptism.
Water may be poured into the font as the presiding minister gives thanks.
We give you thanks, O God, for in the beginning your Spirit moved over the waters and by your Word you created the world, calling forth life in which you took delight.
Through the waters of the flood you delivered Noah and his family.
Through the sea you led your people Israel from slavery into freedom. At the river your Son was baptized by John and anointed with the Holy Spirit. By water and your Word you claim us as daughters and sons, making us heirs of your promise and servants of all.
We praise you for the gift of water that sustains life, and above all we praise you for the gift of new life in Jesus Christ. Shower us with your Spirit, and renew our lives with your forgiveness, grace, and love.
To you be given honor and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
GATHERING HYMN “Holy Spirit, Ever Dwelling” Hymn #582
GREETING
The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the
communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
And also with you.
HYMN OF PRAISE
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray. O Lord God, we bring before you the cries of a sorrowing world. In your mercy set us free from the chains that bind us, and de-fend us from everything that is evil, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Please be seated.
WORD
FIRST READING Acts 5: 12-21, 27-32
12Now many signs and wonders were done among the people through the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. 13None of the rest dared to join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14Yet more than ever believers were added to the Lord, great numbers of both men and women, 15so that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mats, in order that Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he came by. 16A great number of people would also gather from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all cured. 17Then the high priest took action; he and all who were with him (that is, the sect of the Sadducees), being filled with jealousy, 18arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. 19But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, brought them out, and said, 20Go, stand in the temple and tell the people the whole message about this life. 21When they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and went on with their teaching. When the high priest and those with him arrived, they called to-gether the council and the whole body of the elders of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.
27When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, 28saying, "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man's blood on us." 29But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than any human author-ity. 30The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
32And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him."
Word of God, word of Life. Thanks be to God.
PSALM Psalm 22: 19-28
REFRAIN
19 But you, O Lord, be not far away; O my help, hasten to my aid. 20 Deliver me from the sword, my life from the power of the dog. 21 Save me from the lion’s mouth! From the horns of wild bulls you
have rescued me. 22 I will declare your name to my people; in the midst of the assembly I will praise you.
REFRAIN
23 You who fear the Lord, give praise! All you of Jacob’s line, give
glory. Stand in awe of the Lord, all you offspring of Israel. 24 For the Lord does not despise nor abhor the poor in their poverty;
neither is the Lord’s face hidden from them; but when they cry out,
the Lord hears them.
25 From you comes my praise in the great assembly; I will perform my
vows in the sight of those who fear the Lord.
26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied, Let those who seek the Lord
give praise! May your hearts live forever!
REFRAIN
27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord; all
the families of nations shall bow before God. 28 For dominion belongs to the Lord, who rules over the nations.
REFRAIN
SECOND READING Acts 5: 40-6:9, 13-15
40When they had called in the apostles, they had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41As they left the council, they rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dis-honor for the sake of the name. 42And every day in the temple and at home they did not cease to teach and proclaim Jesus as the Messiah.
1Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were be-ing neglected in the daily distribution of food. 2And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on ta-bles. 3Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, 4while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word." 5What they said pleased the whole com-munity, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, to-gether with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. 7The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. 8Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. 9Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. 13They set up false witnesses who said, "This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law; 14for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed on to us." 15And all who sat in the council looked intently at him, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Word of God. Word of Life Thanks be to God.
CHILDREN’S SERMON Pastor Chris Steubing
SERMON Pastor Chris Steubing
HYMN OF THE DAY “Will You Come and Follow Me” Hymn #798
BLESSING OF THE GRADUATES
Let us pray, God of creation, pour out your Spirit on Ameya and Laura as each of them enters this new period of their life and faith. Remind them of your constant presence in their lives. Surround each of them with people and situations that will help them live full of joy and gratitude as your beloved children. Encourage them in all things. Keep them always in your grace and love and mercy. Bless their days, from this day forward, that everything they do may be to your glory. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, who loves each of them very much. Amen.
Please rise as you are able
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
Together with the whole church, we confess our faith:
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s 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 to the dead.*
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
He is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and 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.
THE PRAYERS
. . . God of grace Hear our prayers.
THE PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you always.
And also with you.
Let us share the peace with one another.
OFFERING
OFFERING MUSIC “I Love to Tell the Story” Hymn # 661
Please rise on the last verse as the offering is brought forward.
OFFERING PRAYER
Let us pray. Blessed are you, O God, ruler of heaven and earth. Day by day you shower us with blessings. As you have raised us to new life in Christ, give us glad and generous hearts, ready to praise you and to respond to those in need, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer (Sung)
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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen
BENEDICTION
The love of God abound in you; the grace of our Savior Jesus Christ fill your hearts; and the life of the Spirit bless you and give you peace.
SENDING HYMN “This Little Light of Mine” Hymn #677
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Live by the Spirit!
Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE
Our thanks to those who serve as our worship leaders today:
Our Reader—Marv Dettloff
Our Liturgist—Ken Kleid
Organist—Jimmy Cheung
Choir and Hand Bell Director—Wendy Kuenemann
Pastor—Rev. Christopher Steubing