Virtual Worship for May 16, 2021
Ascension Sunday/Seventh Sunday of Easter
The congregation reads the boldface responses.
PRELUDE
GATHERING
ANNOUNCEMENTS
INTRODUCTION
In today’s reading, the risen Christ ascends into heaven and his followers are assured that the Spirit will empower them to be witnesses throughout the earth. We are assured that we find God’s presence among us as we proclaim the Word and share the Easter feast. We too long for the Spirit to enliven our faith and invigorate our mission.
The congregation stands.
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.
Water may be poured into the font as the presiding minister gives thanks.
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.
The congregation is seated.
GATHERING HYMN
A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing! (LBW 157) (Vs. 1, 2, 7)
Vocal: Diane Kollmorgen and Instrumental: Nanette Lutz.
1 A hymn of glory let us sing! New hymns throughout the world shall ring:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Christ, by a road before untrod, ascends unto the throne of God.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
2. The holy apostolic band upon the Mount of Olives stand,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
And with His faithful followers see their Lord ascend in majesty.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
7. O risen Christ, ascended Lord, all praise to you let earth accord:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
You are, while endless ages run, with Father and with Spirit, one.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Text: © The Venerable Bede, 673-735; tr. Hymnal version 1978.
Text © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship. Setting: from the English Hymnal by permission of Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. Duplication in any form prohibited without permission or valid license from copyright administrator.
The congregation stands.
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.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray. Gracious and glorious God, you have chosen us as your own, and by the powerful name of Christ you protect us from evil. By your Spirit transform us and your beloved world, that we may find our joy in your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
The congregation is seated.
WORD
FIRST READING
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
A reading from Acts:
In the days between Jesus’ ascension and Pentecost, Peter oversees the process whereby one of the members of the community of believers is chosen to be the twelfth apostle, in order to fill the vacancy created by Judas’s treachery and death.
In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons) and said, “Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus—for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.”
So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.” So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed and said, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
PSALMODY
Psalm 1
Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked,
nor lingered in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seats of the scornful!
Their delight is in the law of the Lord,
and they meditate on God’s teaching day and night.
They are like trees planted by streams of water, bearing fruit in due season, with leaves
that do not wither;
everything they do shall prosper.
It is not so with the wicked;
they are like chaff which the wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked shall not stand upright when judgment comes,
nor the sinner in the council of the righteous.
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked shall be destroyed.
SECOND READING
Ephesians 1:15-23
A reading from Ephesians.
The risen and exalted Christ reigns over the entire universe. The author of Ephesians prays that we are given the wisdom to know the power of the risen Christ and the empowering hope that the knowledge of this inheritance provides.
I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The congregation stands.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATON
Alleluia! Sing to Jesus (LBW 158) v. 1
Vocal: Linda Dillinger and Instrumental: Nanette Lutz
Alleluia! Sing to Jesus;
his the scepter, his the throne;
Alleluia! his the triumph,
his the victory alone.
Hark! The songs of peaceful Zion
thunder like a mighty flood:
"Jesus out of ev'ry nation
has redeemed us by his blood."
GOSPEL
Luke 24:44-53
The holy gospel according to Luke
Glory to you, O Lord.
On the day of his ascension, Jesus leaves his disciples with a commission, a blessing, and a promise of the Holy Spirit.
Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.
The gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
The congregation is seated.
SERMON
A Commission, A Blessing, and A Promise
Pastor Brown
HYMN OF THE DAY
Rise, O Sun of Righteousness (ELW 657)
Vocal: Diane Kollmorgen and Instrumental: Nanette Lutz.
1. Rise, O Sun of righteousness;
with your might creation bless.
Shine upon your church today,
showing all your gentle way.
Have mercy, Lord.
2. Rouse our hearts from slumber deep;
may your word within us leap.
Give us voices to proclaim
praises to your holy name.
Have mercy, Lord.
3. Gather in your scattered flock;
give us water from the rock.
Bless the unity we share
in our shepherd's loving care.
Have mercy, Lord.
4. Burst the bars of stubborn pride;
make the heav'nly pathway wide.
Raise us up from sin and death
with your Spirit's living breath.
Have mercy, Lord.
Text: Christian David, et al.; tr. Frank W. Stoldt, b. 1958
Text © 2003 Augsburg Fortress.
Duplication in any form prohibited without permission or valid license from copyright administrator.\
The congregation stands.
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
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.
* Or, “he descended into hell,” another translation of this text in widespread use.
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
Alive in the risen Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, we bring our prayers before Gpd who promises to hear us and answer in steadfast love.
A brief silence.
The response to “Lord, in your mercy,” is “hear our prayer.”
The prayers conclude:
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.
The congregation is seated.
OFFFERING
OFFERTORY
Amazing Grace, Newton, arr. Wissinger
Bell Tree: Ruthann Germann and Piano: Nanette Lutz
The congregation stands.
OFFERING PRAYER
Let us pray. God of love,
you call us beloved children and welcome us to your table.
Receive our lives and the gifts we offer.
Abide with us and send us in service to a suffering world;
for the sake of your beloved Child, Jesus Christ.
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.
SENDING
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.
The congregation is seated.
You will be dismissed by the ushers after the dismissal.
SENDING HYMN
Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness (ELW 843)
Vocal: Diane Kollmorgen and Instrumental: Nanette Lutz
1. Praise the One who breaks the darkness with a liberating light;
Praise the One who frees the prisoners, turning blindness into sight.
Praise the One who preached the Gospel, healing every dread disease,
Calming storms and feeding thousands with the very bread of peace.
2. Praise the One who blessed the children with a strong yet gentle word;
Praise the One who drove out demons with a piercing two-edged sword.
Praise the One who brings cool water to the desert’s burning sand;
From this well comes living water quenching thirst in every land.
3. Praise the One true love incarnate: Christ who suffered in our place;
Jesus died and rose for many that we may know God by grace.
Let us sing for joy and gladness seeing what our God has done.
Praise the One redeeming glory; praise the One who makes us one.
Text: Rusty Edwards, b. 1955
Text © 1987 Hope Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
DISMISSAL
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Go in peace. Share the good news. Alleluia!
Thanks be to God. Alleluia!
From sundaysandseasons.com. Copyright © 2021 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SB125183.
Permission to reprint, podcast, and / or stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #A-738200. All rights reserved.
Permission to reprint, podcast, and / or stream the music in this service obtained from CCLI with licenses #2332347and #20946066 . All rights reserved.”