Happy Mother’s Day
Fifth Sunday of Easter – May 10, 2020
Divine Service 4 pg. 203-212
+ Confession and Absolution
Hymn of Invocation – LSB 633 At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing
Please rise for verse 8 in Honor of the Triune God
1 At the Lamb’s high feast we sing
Praise to our victorious King,
Who has washed us in the tide
Flowing from His piercèd side.
Alleluia!
2 Praise we Him, whose love divine
Gives His sacred blood for wine,
Gives His body for the feast—
Christ the victim, Christ the priest.
Alleluia!
3 Where the paschal blood is poured,
Death’s dread angel sheathes the sword;
Israel’s hosts triumphant go
Through the wave that drowns the foe.
Alleluia!
4 Praise we Christ, whose blood was shed,
Paschal victim, paschal bread;
With sincerity and love
Eat we manna from above.
Alleluia!
5 Mighty Victim from the sky,
Hell’s fierce pow’rs beneath You lie;
You have conquered in the fight,
You have brought us life and light.
Alleluia!
6 Now no more can death appall,
Now no more the grave enthrall;
You have opened paradise,
And Your saints in You shall rise.
Alleluia!
7 Easter triumph, Easter joy!
This alone can sin destroy;
From sin’s pow’r, Lord, set us free,
Newborn souls in You to be.
Alleluia!
* 8 Father, who the crown shall give,
Savior, by whose death we live,
Spirit, guide through all our days:
Three in One, Your name we praise.
Alleluia!
Text: Public domain
Stand – The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.
Invocation & Exhortation – LSB 203
P In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
P Our help is in the name of the Lord,
C who made heaven and earth.
P If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?
C But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.
P Since we are gathered to hear God’s Word, call upon Him in prayer and praise, and receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in the fellowship of this altar, let us first consider our unworthiness and confess before God and one another that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, and that we cannot free ourselves from our sinful condition. Together as His people let us take refuge in the infinite mercy of God, our heavenly Father, seeking His grace for the sake of Christ, and saying: God, be merciful to me, a sinner.
Confession of Sins & Prayer for Forgiveness – LSB 203
C Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life. Amen.
P Almighty God, merciful Father, in Holy Baptism You declared us to be Your children and gathered us into Your one, holy Church, in which You daily and richly forgive us our sins and grant us new life through Your Spirit. Be in our midst, enliven our faith, and graciously receive our prayer and praise; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C Amen.
+ Service of the Word
Kyrie – LSB 204
C Lord, have mercy;
Christ, have mercy;
Lord, have mercy.
Gloria in Excelsis – LSB 204
C 1 To God on high be glory
And peace to all the earth;
Goodwill from God in heaven
Proclaimed at Jesus’ birth!
We praise and bless You, Father;
Your holy name, we sing—
Our thanks for Your great glory,
Lord God, our heav’nly King.
2 To You, O sole-begotten,
The Father’s Son, we pray;
O Lamb of God, our Savior,
You take our sins away.
Have mercy on us, Jesus;
Receive our heartfelt cry,
Where You in pow’r are seated
At God’s right hand on high—
3 For You alone are holy;
You only are the Lord.
Forever and forever,
Be worshiped and adored;
You with the Holy Spirit
Alone are Lord Most High,
In God the Father’s glory.
“Amen!” our glad reply.
Salutation and Collect of the Day – Easter 5
P The Lord be with you.
C And also with you.
P Let us pray.
O God, You make the minds of Your faithful to be of one will. Grant that we may love what You have commanded and desire what You promise, that among the many changes of this world our hearts may be fixed where true joys are found; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C Amen.
Sit
First Reading – Acts 6:1–9; 7:2a, 51–60
1Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. 7And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. 8And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 9Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. . . . 2And Stephen said: “Brothers and fathers, hear me. . . . 51You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 52Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, 53you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.” 54Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. 58Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had this, he fell asleep.
P This is the Word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
Epistle – 1 Peter 2:2–10
2Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation— 3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. 4As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” 7So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
P This is the Word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
Stand
Alleluia and Verse – LSB 205
C Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Holy Gospel – John 14:1–14
P The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the fourteenth chapter.
C Glory to You, O Lord.
1[Jesus said:] “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4And you know the way to where I am going.” 5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 8Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. 12“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 13Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”
P This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C Praise to You, O Christ.
Apostles’ Creed
C I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His 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 into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life + everlasting. Amen.
Sit
Children’s Message
Hymn of the Day – 829 Christ the Eternal Lord
1 Christ the eternal Lord,
Whose promise here we claim,
Whose gifts of grace are freely poured
On all who name Your name;
With thankfulness and praise
We stand before Your throne,
Intent to serve You all our days
And make Your glory known.
2 Christ the unchanging Word
To ev’ry passing age,
Whose timeless teachings still are heard
Set forth on Scripture’s page;
Transform our thought and mind,
Enlighten all who read,
Within Your Word by faith to find
The bread of life indeed.
3 Christ the redeeming Son,
Who shares our human birth,
And by His death salvation won
For ev’ry child of earth;
Inspire our hearts, we pray,
To tell Your love abroad,
That all may honor Christ today
And follow Him as Lord.
4 Christ the unfading Light
Of everlasting day,
Our Morning Star in splendor bright,
The Life, the Truth, the Way;
That light of truth You give
To servants as to friends,
Your way to walk, Your life to live,
Till earth’s brief journey ends.
5 Christ the ascended King
Exalted high above,
Whose praise unending ages sing,
Whom yet unseen we love;
When mortal life is past
Your voice from heaven’s throne
Shall call Your children home at last
To know as we are known.
Text: © 1999 Hope Publishing Co. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110003661
Sermon Message – “You Know the Way” – John 14:4
The text for our message this morning is the Gospel Reading from John chapter 14, verses 1-4. I encourage you to open up your Bibles to that reading, or to follow along where the readings are printed in your worship folder. John 14:1–4 (ESV)
I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life
14 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”
Grace, mercy and peace to you, from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
The title of today’s message is, “You Know the Way,” but might be better called, “The Waiting Room.”
Remember Highlights Magazine while sitting in a Doctor’s office waiting room…
- Remember the genius of the “Hidden Pictures” page…
- Helping an anxious child to pass the time
- Even diminishing anxiety by challenging the child’s mind to engage on a task
- Easing tension, and maybe even building confidence to face what lay ahead
- Once the hidden images are found, they obscure the bigger picture (can’t unsee)
Reminds me of what’s going on in our text today with the disciples as Jesus is teaching them:
- The disciples “Can’t see the forest through the trees…”
- Focused on the details, they miss the bigger picture
- The disciple see what they expect or want to see, but miss the bigger picture
- For generations their image of a Messiah was of an earthly king
- For generations, worthiness for that kingdom was determined by a man’s works
Often times we do something very similar, where we get so caught up in the details of how we do church, as if those were good works that in and of themselves are what would bring us to salvation, that we fail to see, or fail to recognize the bigger picture of Jesus, as the fulfillment of God’s promised Savior. That that fulfilled promise, and our subsequent redemption solely by the grace of God, (not by our good works) becomes the motivation for our doing church in the first place. It is important for us to remember, that like a child in the doctor’s office waiting room, waiting for our Lord to return to transform us for life in eternity, that the churchly things we do in the meantime are not the things that save, but are the things that keep us focused on the bigger picture of God’s grace in Jesus that saves, not our works. And therefore pointing us back to Jesus’ saving work, our anxiety over our sins is removed because we are reminded of our forgiveness through Jesus alone, and our confidence is renewed by the hope we now have in Jesus’ saving work for us.
If you remember your Confirmation/Reformation history, Martin Luther was compared to a previous reformer, John Hus, who was burned at the stake for holding to the truths taught by scripture alone, rather than the manmade doctrines of Popes and Councils. Likewise, Luther held to a similar rejection of the church’s teaching that salvation was in any way, the result of the good works of man instead of the gracious work of God in Jesus alone. Hus reflected on today’s reading in his argument to that effect, proclaiming Christ was not merely A way, but rather the only way to God, saying, Hus: “Let the humble pilgrim look at Christ.… Behold he who wants to go, has the way, for Christ is the way, and whither he wants to go, for Christ is the truth, and where he wants to abide, for Christ is the life” (The Church, p 90).
Jesus Christ, “The Way, the Truth and the Life,” In His life, death and resurrection, and by the power of His Holy Spirit, through your baptism, He has made himself known to you. You KNOW the WAY. There can be no confusion. There can be no excuse. In Jesus Christ, you KNOW the WAY.
AMEN!
May the PEACE of God, which passes all worldly understanding guard and protect your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen!
Stand
Prayer of the Church
P As newborn infants who long for the pure spiritual milk, so let us come before the Lord seeking His mercy with confidence that His grace will be sufficient for all our needs.
Brief silence
Almighty Father, everlasting God, Your Son has revealed You to us as a merciful Lord. Give to us Your Holy Spirit, that we may believe in Him whom You have sent and do the greater works He has told us we will do in His name. Lord, in Your mercy,
C hear our prayer.
P Lord God, You have promised to build up Your Church to be a holy priesthood, that Your people might offer the spiritual sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving acceptable to You. Bless Your Church and bring all congregations back together again. Bless all pastors who proclaim Christ to us. Bless all church workers and those preparing for full-time church vocations, that Your Church may be supplied with faithful leaders and servants of Your Word. Lord, in Your mercy,
C hear our prayer.
P Holy God, Your power brought all things into being and still You preserve what You have made. Bless our president, the Congress of these United States, our governor, and all elected and appointed civil servants so that they may honor You and Your purpose, establishing order and justice, encouraging virtue and protecting all life. Give wisdom and moderation to them in their leadership for the well-being of the nation. Lord, in Your mercy,
C hear our prayer.
P O merciful Father, You have compassion upon the sick and those in need and have promised not to ignore them in their afflictions. Turn back the pandemic across the globe, and give us relief. Bless the sick with healing, those who suffer with strength and patience, and the dying with peace. Hear us on behalf of those who have requested our prayers [especially _____________]. Lord, in Your mercy,
C hear our prayer.
P Gracious God, You have established the home and blessed those who show us Your love. Bless all mothers and the children in their care. Bless all families and make their homes places of blessing and love, where Your Word is spoken, forgiveness reigns and love is displayed. Give us good examples to inspire youth to all that is good and pure, and to seek after these things. Lord, in Your mercy,
C hear our prayer.
P Heavenly Father, You have given us the wisdom of faith that through the Spirit we might know Your Son to be the way, the truth and the life. Bless all those who teach and all who learn, that the goal of our knowledge may be to know Christ and to make Him known. Do not let Your Word be bound, but let it have free course among us. Preserve those in isolation from idleness, and instead let our minds be renewed in Scripture and prayer. Lord, in Your mercy,
C hear our prayer.
P Compassionate Father, You are not aloof from the needs of this body and life, and You have called us to love our neighbor in need and give aid to the poor. Give us courage and faith, that we may not fear sharing the resources You have supplied with those who live in want, especially the widow, the orphan and the unemployed. Let love be perfected among us to drive out selfish fears. Lord, in Your mercy,
C hear our prayer.
P Eternal Father of an eternal mercy, You have raised up witnesses in every age and blessed us with those who endured suffering and even death in faithfulness to Christ. We give You thanks for these faithful saints and martyrs, and we pray You to make us strong when we face the day of test, that at length we may be brought with them into the joy of Your presence and the glory of everlasting life. Lord, in Your mercy,
C hear our prayer.
P We praise You, God, for Your goodness in hearing the prayers of Your people and granting us confidence to approach Your throne of mercy. Hear us now in the name of and for the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, through whom, with whom and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honor and glory is Yours, almighty Father, both now and forevermore.
C Amen.
Lord’s Prayer
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.
Sit
Offering
Stand
Benedicamus & Benediction – LSB 212
P Let us bless the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
P The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and T give you peace.
C Amen.
Sit
Hymn to Depart – LSB 660 Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus
1 Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
Ye soldiers of the cross.
Lift high His royal banner;
It must not suffer loss.
From vict’ry unto vict’ry
His army He shall lead
Till ev’ry foe is vanquished,
And Christ is Lord indeed.
2 Stand up, stand up for Jesus;
The trumpet call obey;
Stand forth in mighty conflict
In this His glorious day.
Let all His faithful serve Him
Against unnumbered foes;
Let courage rise with danger
And strength to strength oppose.
3 Stand up, stand up for Jesus;
Stand in His strength alone.
The arm of flesh will fail you,
Ye dare not trust your own.
Put on the Gospel armor;
Each piece put on with prayer.
Where duty calls or danger,
Be never wanting there.
4 Stand up, stand up for Jesus;
The strife will not be long;
This day the din of battle,
The next the victor’s song.
The soldiers, overcoming,
Their crown of life shall see
And with the King of Glory
Shall reign eternally.
Text: Public domain
Acknowledgments
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2018 Concordia Publishing House.
WEEKLY CALENDAR
Sunday, May 10 – 5th Sun of Easter
Acts 6:1–9; 7:2a, 51–60, Psalm 146
1 Peter 2:2–10, John 14:1–14
No worship or Activities at Church
Watch your email for more information regarding Worship and the COVID-19 Virus updates.
Monday May 11
Tuesday May 12
Wednesday May 13
Thursday May 14
Friday May 15
Saturday May 16
Sunday, May 17 – 6th Sun of Easter
Acts 17:16–31, Psalm 66:8–20
1 Peter 3:13–22, John 14:15–21
SAVE the DATE
Moses Basket Auction POSTPONED
Vacation Bible School – POSTPONED
Project Hunger Easter Basket Extravaganza – June 6
GO BIG GIVE – POSTPONED until July 7
Our 100th Anniversary Celebration July 10 & 11, 2021
ANNIVERSARIES THIS WEEK
BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK
Stephanie Frankforter – May 10
Olivia Harders – May 11
Deb Lemburg – May 12
Marilyn Wilhelm – May 12
Tylor Dibbern – May 13
Tyler Hadenfeldt – May 13
Gavin Rasmussen – May 13
PRAYERS THIS WEEK
Prayers for Charles Kemptar, Kristin Schultz’s father, in Lincoln hospital.
Prayers for Pastor Brian’s father, Norman continued healing at home.
Prayers for Kay Budde, continued healing at home.
Suffering from Cancer
Flora Meester, friend of Catherine Garrett
Cheryl Klock, Julie Whitefoot’s Sister
Barb Meyer
Jeff Bexten, Former member of CLC
Pat Hughes, Barb Teichmeier’s Sister
Judy Kemptar, Kristin Schultz mother
Deb Homolka, Rick Gilbert’s Sister
Lorie Stahl, Ravenna NE.
Christ Lutheran Church
Cairo, NE
This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24
