Sixth Sunday of Easter – May 17, 2020
Divine Service 4 pg. 203-212
*Announcements
+ Confession and Absolution
Hymn of Invocation – LSB 725 – Children of the Heavenly Father
1 Children of the heav’nly Father
Safely in His bosom gather;
Nestling bird nor star in heaven
Such a refuge e’er was given.
2 God His own doth tend and nourish;
In His holy courts they flourish.
From all evil things He spares them;
In His mighty arms He bears them.
3 Neither life nor death shall ever
From the Lord His children sever;
Unto them His grace He showeth,
And their sorrows all He knoweth.
4 Though He giveth or He taketh,
God His children ne’er forsaketh;
His the loving purpose solely
To preserve them pure and holy.
Text: © Augsburg Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110003661
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 6
P The Lord be with you.
C And also with you.
P Let us pray.
O God, the giver of all that is good, by Your holy inspiration grant that we may think those things that are right and by Your merciful guiding accomplish them; 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 17:16–31
16While Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. 17So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. 18Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. 19And they took hold of him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.” 21Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new. 22So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 26And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, 28for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’ 29Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. 30The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
P This is the Word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
Epistle – 1 Peter 3:13–22
13Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; 16yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. 18For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.
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 14:15–21
P The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the fourteenth chapter.
C Glory to You, O Lord.
15[Jesus said:] “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. 18“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”
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 – LSB 605 – Father Welcomes
ref Father welcomes all His children
To His fam’ly through His Son.
Father giving His salvation,
Life forever has been won.
1 Little children, come to Me,
For My kingdom is of these.
Life and love I have to give,
Mercy for your sin. Refrain
2 In the water, in the Word,
In His promise, be assured:
Those who are baptized and believe
Shall be born again. Refrain
3 Let us daily die to sin;
Let us daily rise with Him,
Walk in the love of Christ our Lord,
Live in the peace of God. Refrain
Text: © 1986 Kevin Mayhew Ltd. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110003661
Sermon – “Circular… Like a Circle…” John 14:18-20
The text for our message this morning is the Gospel Reading from John chapter 14, verses 18-20. 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 14:18-20 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.
Grace, mercy and peace to you, from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Before Going to the Seminary, the family and I lived in the town of Parker, Colorado. Parker is a pretty upscale suburb, south of Denver. As such it always felt like it was trying to be something more than what it was. In fact if you just woke up one day in the middle of town, not knowing where you were, you would probably think you were somewhere more like southern California than Colorado. Lots of stucco, and manicured properties. A Starbuck’s on every other corner, and all the business signs on the buildings conforming to the same color scheme. I must say, moving there from having lived in Northern California for a long time, it was not the Colorado I remembered from when we left a decade before. The most obvious example was all the new intersections in town were turned into roundabouts instead of standard intersections with stop lights. Something you would expect to see in European cities, but not the towns on the plains in Colorado. Not that there is anything wrong with roundabouts, per se, but they just made being in that town feel even more pretentious than it should. Like the town was putting on airs, as if it was better than the other adjoining towns around it. In fact I cringed the other day as I drove down a road in Grand Island that had been closed to through traffic for some time, and discovered to my dismay that the construction was to turn yet another intersection into a roundabout, right here in Hall County. But like I said, there is nothing inherently wrong with roundabouts themselves, but even more frustrating than the image they project, is that people who grew up with traditional intersections, have absolutely NO IDEA how to drive through a roundabout. They go way too fast, or they go way too slow. Some think they need to stop before entering a roundabout, while others, once they get into it, can’t figure out how to properly get back out. I have literally seen, on more than one occasion, disoriented drivers just keep going around and around the circle, when they couldn’t figure it out. For the inexperienced roundabout-er, the process can be intimidating and confusing, not to mention frustrating for anyone else caught in the intersection with them, which is exactly the opposite of the intent of a roundabout. They are intended to be a much more organic process, facilitating the flow of traffic, to keep it moving and yet still allow multiple vehicles to transition into a new direction. Using the car’s forward momentum to gently yet quickly move from one direction to another. Like the words of the “Golf Philosopher,” Gary Potter, when helping a fellow golfer face a transition in his life, encouraged him to “Feel the flow” of the situation. In other words, don’t be too anxious, but rather embrace the new situation, go with it, and let the “good energy” as he called it be your guide through the transition. And not unlike a roundabout, transitions in life don’t have to be anxiety riddled, with starts and stops and agonizing over decisions, waiting to move, or waiting for someone else to move, but we can enter those circumstances with confidence, letting that “good energy”, what we in the church might better call “our conscience” be our guide through the transition, “Feeling the flow, Circular… Like a circle.”
Now I shared that imagery, not to just embrace my inner hippy philosopher, but rather to give you a sense of the intent of Jesus’ words in our reading today. Look at those words again with me as I read them and try to see their natural, organic, even circular flow.
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.
Jesus’ words go around and around, and if read too quickly, can even sound nonsensical, but there is serious intent in these words. Jesus is addressing a very big transition that His disciples are about to face. Jesus’ crucifixion looms just ahead of him, and also his resurrection and then His ascension to the Father. All of which means a huge transition in the lives of the disciples. Soon they would not have Jesus right in front of them, telling them at every turn which way to go. In many ways they would now be on their own in their lives in this world. But that’s where these circuitous words from Jesus make their point. Jesus is saying, that although He was going away, they would not be alone. Though He was returning to the Father, He was not leaving them as orphans, but in their times of need, in their transitions and circumstances, even persecutions and troubles, He would come to them. He would not be visible to the world, or even to them, but they would know that he was there, guiding them, leading them, encouraging them through life through the memory of all he had taught them, and through the gift of the Holy Spirit whom He would send to them. Over and over, Jesus is reinforcing the notion of His eternal presence with them, and encouraging them not to let the confusion of life’s transitions and circumstances bring them to a standstill but instead to keep moving forward with confidence, letting the truth of His Holy Word, and His Holy Spirit guide their consciences to know that everywhere they go, every decision they make, they are not alone, but He is still with them, taking them by the hand and leading in the way they should go.
My friends, we too, like the disciples of John 14, face all kinds of transitions in this world. Few bigger than the challenges presented by our current international health crisis. The reality of a potentially deadly virus spreading across the globe, is a confusing, frightful, even paralyzing reality for many in the world. I would suggest, especially for those who do not know Jesus, and as Jesus’ put it therefore, “Cannot see Him.’ Jesus would remind us that just as he did for the Disciples, He does for you and me. Jesus comes to us, by His Holy Spirit, in His Holy Word, to guide us through ALL of life’s challenges, so that we as His children are not paralyzed with anxiety, even against the possibility of death, but have a confidence, and a hope that the world does not know. A confidence and hope to “feel the flow” of Jesus’ truth working through us, guiding us through all of life’s transitions, to take us in the direction that he would have us go, and promises will be for the good of His people. In this time of transition, all around the world, do not be people of anxiety and despair. We are called into a new life of confidence and hope in a resurrected and eternal Lord, who will never leave us or forsake us. Circular… Like a circle, through His Holy Spirit and the Word, He will guide you, and teach you, and lead you through every transition in this life until the final day of His return to take us to be with him forever.
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 Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Brief silence
For the faithful proclamation of Jesus Christ to those who do not know Him, that through hearing the Word of the Lord many may be brought to faith and to the knowledge of the truth, let us pray to the Lord:
C Lord, have mercy.
P For this parish, for the work of the Kingdom in our community, and for the resources to accomplish all that God desires, that His name may be glorified among us and His purpose fulfilled in our words and works, let us pray to the Lord:
C Lord, have mercy.
P For the agencies and institutions through which we love our neighbor and provide for those in need, for the destitute and homeless, and for everyone who suffers unemployment and underemployment, that we may aid them in their needs and assist them to find honorable labor to supply all their needs, let us pray to the Lord:
C Lord, have mercy.
P For the lonely who suffer the burdens of life without friendship or family, for those depressed or weary of pandemic measures, and for the fellowship of the Church, that we may bear one another’s burdens and live in community with Christ as our head, let us pray to the Lord:
C Lord, have mercy.
P For the sick and those who suffer, [especially _____________,] that God would grant healing to their bodies, peace for their minds, and consolation in their grief and sorrows, let us pray to the Lord:
C Lord, have mercy.
P For love of godly things, that we may delight in God’s Word and walk in His ways; and for the Spirit, that we may be led into all truth and kept from error and false doctrine, let us pray to the Lord:
C Lord, have mercy.
P For the nation, for those who lead our nation, for the end of the pandemic, for peace among nations, and for an end to terror and violence, that we may work for the common good so that justice may prevail, life be protected and truth abound, let us pray to the Lord:
C Lord, have mercy.
P O Lord, our God, as we recall the obedient life and life-giving death of Your Son for our salvation, we pray You to strengthen our faith and to make our hearts bold, that we may not fear but address our prayers to You in all humility. Hear us on behalf of Jesus Christ, our great High Priest, who even now stands before You on our behalf, pleading our cause with His own blood, until that day when we are delivered from the changes and chances of this mortal life and stand before You in heaven; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
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 – 739 Precious Lord, Take My Hand
1 Precious Lord, take my hand,
Lead me on, let me stand;
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn.
Through the storm, through the night,
Lead me on to the light.
Take my hand, precious Lord; lead me home.
2 When my way grows drear,
Precious Lord, linger near,
When my life is almost gone,
Hear my cry, hear my call;
Hold my hand lest I fall.
Take my hand, precious Lord; lead me home.
3 When the darkness appears
And the night draws near
And the day is almost gone,
At the river I stand;
Guide my feet, hold my hand,
Take my hand, precious Lord; lead me home.
Text: © 1938 (renewed) Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., admin. Alfred Music. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110003661
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.
Christ Lutheran Church
Cairo, NE
This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24
WEEKLY CALENDARSunday, May 17 – 6th Sun of Easter
Acts 17:16–31, Psalm 66:8–20
1 Peter 3:13–22, John 14:15–21
No worship or Activities at Church
Watch your email for more information regarding Worship
and the COVID-19 Virus updates.
Monday May 18
Tuesday May 19
Wednesday May 20
Thursday May 21
Friday May 22
Saturday May 23
Sunday, May 24 – 7th Sun of Easter
Acts 1:12–26, Psalm 68:1–10
1 Peter 4:12–19; 5:6–11, John 17:1–11
SAVE the DATE
Moses Basket Auction POSTPONED
Vacation Bible School – POSTPONED
GO BIG GIVE – POSTPONED until July 7
Project Hunger Easter Basket Extravaganza – July 11
Our 100th Anniversary Celebration July 10 & 11, 2021
ANNIVERSARIES THIS WEEK
BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK
Tiffany Bloomquist – May 17
Brianna Deines – May 19
Vickie Lemburg – May 19
Jessica Marsh – May 19
Adam Bierhaus – May 23
Liona Kenney – May 23
PRAYERS THIS WEEK
Prayers for the family and friends of Jeremy Leth, Peg Hadenfeldt’s nephew, Jeremy, age 39, was found at rest in his apartment early Sunday May 10, Memorial services will be held at a later date. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.soltwagnerfuneral.com.
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.
HLHS – Red/Blue Updates
Heartland Lutheran High School’s Red and Blue annual fundraiser has been moved online!
Items have been posted and are currently available for bidding at https://qtego.net/qlink/heartlandlutheranhs.
On May 23 at 7:00 p.m. the live auction and raffle drawing will be held with the opportunity to make a donation at the end. On May 24 at 3:00 p.m. the silent auction will end.
We ask for your generous support in bidding on these items that have been graciously donated by individual and business supporters of HLHS. Thank you!
The Red & Blue website is now live and accepting bids.
We are adding additional items every day.
Attached is a letter from Mr. Leech explaining the process of moving to an online format this year and how to register. Please email him at principal@heartlandlutheran.org with any questions.
Christ Lutheran Church
Cairo, NE
This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24
