THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORDMay 10, 2018

7:00 p.m.

MESSIAH LUTHERAN CHURCH21485 Lorain Road

Fairview Park, OH 44126

440-331-2405 (church)440-331-6553 (school)

WORSHIP NOTES

Today is the 40th day after Easter. St. Luke tells us that it was on this 40th day when Jesus took final leave of his disciples. We will hear about this in the first reading tonight. In the course of the reading the Paschal candle by the font will be extinguished, a reminder that our living Lord is indeed hidden from our sight. To encourage our faith he gives us other things to see, chiefly each other—faithful saints who live their lives from day to day on the assumption that Christ who gave his life for the world is ultimately in charge of God’s creation and will come again in glory to complete his saving work.

In these post-Ascension days our Lord makes his gracious presence known in the world especially through the public preaching of the Gospel and the administration of the sacraments. We make a special point tonight of thanking God for that ministry, and for the men and women who carry it out. Among them is the Rev. Ronald K. Morgan, who stepped down at the end of March from a post-retirement call as Messiah’s visitation pastor. He had served in that capacity since the beginning of 2010. He began his full-time ministry in a congregational setting. When he drew it to a close, he was the director of chaplaincy services at the main campus of the Cleveland Clinic. He has served throughout as both a channel and a model of the patient, determined grace we find in Christ Jesus.

The deacons of Messiah invite one and all to a wine and cheese reception immediately after tonight’s service. It will be served in the open area near the church offices. Do join us as we continue to thank the Lord and honor his servants.

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MESSIAH LUTHERAN CHURCH AND SCHOOL

Drawing in to Christ…Building up in Christ...

Sending Out for Christ...To the glory of God, through the strength of the Spirit.

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+ THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD +May 10, 2018, in the Sixth Week of Easter

7:00 p.m.

PRELUDE..................“O Christ, Our Hope,” Johann Walther“A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing!” Bernard Wayne Sanders

+ + CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS + +StandP In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the

Holy Spirit.C AmenP Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires

known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

C AmenP If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the

truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Silence for reflection and self-examination.

P Most merciful God,C we confess that we are in bondage to sin and

cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.

P Almighty God, in his mercy, has given his Son to die for us and, for his sake, forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the Church of Christ, and by

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his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Stand

+ + ENTRANCE + +Please turn to face the cross as it is carried into the

church.

HYMN.....................................“At the Name of Jesus,” #416

GREETINGP 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.

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HYMN OF PRAISE

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PRAYER OF THE DAY Choral Setting:

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O God the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son, Jesus Christ, with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven. Do not leave us comfortless, but send to us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us; and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting.Amen.

SitFIRST LESSON.....................................................Acts 1:1-11

In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning 2until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. "This," he said, "is what you have heard from me; 5for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." 6So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 9When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."

The Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God.

PSALM 47: Cantor sings refrain; all sing refrain.

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Cantor sings verses in regular print; all sing verses and refrain in bold print

1Clap your hands, | all you peoples;  shout to God with a | joyful sound.2For the LORD Most High is | to be feared:  a great king over | all the earth,3who subdues the | peoples under us,  and the nations un- | der our feet;4who chooses our inheri- | tance for us,  the pride of Jacob, | whom God loves. Refrain

5God has gone up | with a shout,  the LORD with the sound | of the ram’s horn.6Sing praises to | God, sing praises;  sing praises to our | king, sing praises.7For God is king of | all the earth;  sing praises | with a song.8God reigns o- | ver the nations;  God is en- | throned on high.9The nobles of the peoples have gathered as the people of the | God of Abraham.  The rulers of the earth belong to God,

who is high- | ly exalted. Refrain

SECOND LESSON......................................Ephesians 1:15-23

I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason 16I do not cease to

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give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17I 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, 18so 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, 19and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. 20God 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, 21far 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. 22And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

The Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God.

Stand

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION.....................“Christ Is Alive,” #389Stanzas 1 & 5

HOLY GOSPELP The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the 24th

chapter.

44 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." 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 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, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have

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been clothed with power from on high." 50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven.52 And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; 53 and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

The Gospel of the Lord.

SERMON

Stand

HYMN OF THE DAY....“A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing!, #393Choir sings stanza 4

NICENE CREEDC We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the

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resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

PRAYERS & PEACEAfter each portion of the prayers:A Christ Jesus, risen and ascendedC renew our faith, increase our joy.

The prayers conclude:P Into your hands, O Christ, we commend all for whom

we pray, trusting in your mercy and might; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen

PEACEP The peace of the Lord be with you always. C And also with you.

Please greet each other using these or similar words:

SitOFFERING........“Crown Him with Many Crowns,” George J. Elvey

StandOFFERTORY..........................”Let the Vineyards Be Fruitful”

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A Let us pray. God of blessing and glory,C with people of every language and nation we bring

the first fruits of our labor. Let the sharing of these gifts proclaim our joyful hope in Jesus Christ, the first fruits of the resurrection. Thanksgiving and honor be to you, O God, forever and ever. Amen.

GREAT THANKSGIVING P The Lord be with you.C And also with you.P Lift up your hearts.C We lift them to the Lord.P Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.C It is right to give him thanks and praise.P Holy, mighty, and merciful Lord, heaven and earth are

full of your glory….now and forever. C Amen.

P It is indeed right and salutary…we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

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P Holy God, mighty Lord, gracious Father: endless is your mercy and eternal reign. . . For as often as we eat of this bread and drink of this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

C Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.P Therefore, gracious Father . . . to share with us the

great and promised feast.C Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.P Send now, we pray, your Holy Spirit . . . with all your

saints in light.C Amen. Come, Holy Spirit.P Join our prayers with those of your servants . . . until

he comes as victorious Lord of all.

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LORD’S PRAYER

C Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen

SitAGNUS DEI

Concerning the sacrament—We confess in this congregation that Holy Communion is Christ’s gift to his Church, his true body and blood given with bread and wine for us to eat and drink. Here Christ confirms in us the benefits of his death and resurrection. He forgives our sins, refreshes our lives, and promises our salvation. We welcome to the Lord’s table all baptized and communing Christians who share this faith.

In receiving, please follow the lead of the people around you. There are two cups, one for drinking, the other for receiving by intinction, the host dipped in the cup. If you are coming forward not to

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commune but to receive a blessing, approach the pastor with your arms crossed.

Distribution Hymn............“Alleluia! Sing to Jesus,” #392

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Stand

POST COMMUNION BLESSING AND PRAYER

BENEDICTION

RECESSIONAL HYMN.................“O Christ, Our Hope,” #604

A Go in peace. Serve the Lord.C Thanks be to God.

POSTLUDE. “Now Thank We All Our God,” Sigfrid Karg-ElertLiturgy setting reproduced under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License SB131019SB131019.

A reception follows in the Gathering Area

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SERVING THIS EVENING

Preaching Minister......................Pastor Jerome Burce

Presiding Minister........................Pastor Seth Bridger

Assisting Minister..............................Christa Turnbull

Lector.........................James Quayle, Christa Turnbull

Acolyte.........................Gavin Waugaman, Jasper Wolf

Communion Assistants.............James Quayle, Christa Turnbull

Organist...............................................Connie Triplett

Trumpet................................................Robert Connor

Messiah Choir...................Directed by Connie Triplett

Altar Guild.........Diane Paton, Debbie Luekens; Laura Schwartz-Gaydos

Deacons..........................Terrie Leske, Steve Turnbull

Ushers...........Carolyn Flanagan, Joe King, Brad Paton

Trustees................................................Wayne Fronius

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Messiah Lutheran Church21485 Lorain Road, Fairview Park, OH 44126

(440) 331-2405www.messiahchurchfairview.orgE-mail – church@messiahfp.org

Messiah Lutheran School4401 W. 215th St., Fairview Park, OH 44126

(440) 331-6553Messiahschoolfairview.org

Email – school@messiahfp.org

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Servants and Missionaries – All MLC membersSenior Pastor– Jerome Burce

Associate Pastor – Seth BridgerMusic Director – Connie Triplett

Youth Director – Kate IlgMessiah School Principal – Helen Casselberry

Administrator – Darlene WaughPierstorf Memorial Fund Director – Martin Uhle

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Drawing in to Christ…Building up in Christ...

Sending out for Christ...

To the glory of God, through the strength of the Spirit.

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