OLD ST. PAUL’S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

2035 Old Conover Startown Rd. Newton, North Carolina 28658

828-464-9786 www.oldstpaulslutheran.org

Sunday, May 21, 2017 Sixth Sunday of Easter

Holy Communion

Preach, Teach, and Share God’s Grace

Robert A. Sain, Pastor robsain@gmail.com

Rev. Luther L. Knauff, Pastor Emeritus

Debbie Lineberger, Administrative Assistant

oldstpauloffice@gmail.com

Angela Kanipe, Music Director Carolyn Sosebee, Organist

Sunday, May 21, 2017 Sixth Sunday of Easter

Holy Communion

+ GATHERING +

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CHIMING OF THE HOUR

PRELUDE Serenade to Spring from “The Secret Garden” Rolf Lovland/Setting by Jane Holstein

GATHERING

P: We worship in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy

Spirit.

C: Amen.

P: Christ the light of the world has come to dispel the darkness of our hearts.

In his light let us examine ourselves and confess our sins. Silence

P Jesus Christ, risen Master and triumphant Lord, we come to you in

sorrow for our sins, and confess to you our weakness and unbelief. We

have lived by our own strength, and not by the power of your

resurrection. In your mercy, forgive us.

C: Lord, hear us and help us.

P: We have lived by the light of our own eyes, as faithless and not believing.

In your mercy, forgive us.

C: Lord, hear us and help us.

P: We have lived for this world alone, and doubted our home in heaven. In

your mercy, forgive us.

C: Lord, hear us and help us.

P: May God who loved the world so much that he sent his Son to be our

Savior forgive us our sins and make us holy to serve him in the world,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

C: Amen.

ENTRANCE HYMN Alleluia! Sing to Jesus LBW 158

1 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."

2 Alleluia! Not as orphans are we left in sorrow now;

Alleluia! he is near us; faith believes, nor questions how. Though the cloud from sight received him when the forty days were o'er,

shall our hearts forget his promise: "I am with you evermore"?

3 Alleluia! Bread of heaven, here on earth our food, our stay;

Alleluia! here the sinful flee to you from day to day.

Intercessor, friend of sinners, earth's redeemer, hear our plea

where the songs of all the sinless sweep across the crystal sea.

4 Alleluia! King eternal, Lord omnipotent we own;

Alleluia! born of Mary, earth your footstool, heav'n your throne.

As within the veil you entered, robed in flesh, our great high priest,

here on earth both priest and victim in the eucharistic feast.

5 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."

Text: William C. Dix, 1837-1898, alt. PASTORAL GREETING P: 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.

THE KYRIE

HYMN OF PRAISE

PRAYER OF THE DAY O God, from whom all good things come: Lead us by the inspiration of your

Spirit to think those things which are right, and by your goodness help us to

do them; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with

you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen

CHILDREN’S SERMON

INTRODUCTION TO THE RADIO BROADCAST

+ WORD +

FIRST READING: Acts 17:22-31 22Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, “Athenians, I see how extremely

religious you are in every way. 23For as I went through the city and looked

carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the

inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this

I proclaim to you. 24The God who made the world and everything in it, he who

is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, 25nor

is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself

gives to all mortals life and breath and all things. 26From one ancestor he made

all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence

and the boundaries of the places where they would live, 27so that they would

search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him—though indeed he is

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 too are his offspring.’ 29Since

we are God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver,

or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals. 30While God

has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people

everywhere to repent, 31because he has fixed a day on which he will have the

world judged in ighteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he

has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” L: The Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God.

SECOND READING: 1 Peter 3:13-22 13Who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? 14But even if you

do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear,

and do not be intimidated, 15but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord.

Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you

an accounting for the hope that is in you; 16yet do it with gentleness and

reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned,

those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. 17For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will,

than to suffer for doing evil. 18For Christ also suffered for sins once for all,

the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put

to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, 19in which also he went

and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, 20who in former times did

not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the

building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through

water. 21And baptism, which this prefigured, 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

made subject to him.

L: The Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION P: The Holy Gospel According to John the 14th Chapter

GOSPEL: John 14:15-21

[Jesus said to the disciples:] 15“If you love me, you will keep my

commandments. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another

Advocate, to be with you forever. 17This is the Spirit of truth, whom the

world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know

him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.

18“I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. 19In a little while

the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you

also will live. 20On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you

in me, and I in you. 21They who have my commandments and keep them

are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father,

and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”

P: The Gospel of the Lord.

SERMON Rev. Robert A. Sain

HYMN OF THE DAY Loving Spirit ELW 397

1 Loving Spirit, loving Spirit,

you have chosen me to be

you have drawn me to your wonder,

you have set your sign on me.

2 Like a mother you enfold me,

hold my life within your own,

feed me with your very body,

form me of your flesh and bone.

3 Like a father you protect me,

teach me the discerning eye,

hoist me up upon your shoulder,

let me see the world from high.

4 Friend and lover, in your closeness

I am known and held and blessed:

in your promise is my comfort,

in your presence I may rest.

5 Loving Spirit, loving Spirit,

you have chosen me to be—

you have drawn me to your wonder,

you have set your sign on me.

Text: Shirley Erena Murray, b. 1931 Text © 1987 The Hymn Society, admin. Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL 60188.

All rights reserved. Used by permission.

CREED C: I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and

earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He 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, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again 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

+ PRAYER + P: Christ has assured us that his Spirit will be with us always. Therefore,

in confidence, we bring our needs to the Father.

A: That the leaders of the Church will be living examples of the Spirit in

our midst, we pray to the Lord.

C: Lord, send us your Spirit.

A: That the elderly, the sick and everyone who is in need, may come to

see the work of the Spirit through our loving concern, we pray to the

Lord.

C: Lord, send us your Spirit.

A: That those who have lost loved ones may experience healing and

peace through the work of the Spirit, we pray to the Lord.

C: Lord, send us your Spirit.

A: That all those who have been affected by natural disasters will be

strengthened in their efforts to rebuild their lives and not give in to

despair, we pray to the Lord.

C: Lord, send us your Spirit.

A: For all of the intentions we hold in our hearts and which we now

recall in silence. (Pause) For all of these intentions, we pray to the

Lord.

P: Loving Father, you sent your Spirit to renew the face of the earth and

to strengthen and comfort us in our times of need. Hear these prayers

that we offer to you today and grant them as will be good for us,

through the intercession of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

C: Amen.

PEACE The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you. OFFERING OFFERTORY Holy, Holy Jimmy Owens

OFFERTORY HYMN

OFFERTORY PRAYER P: Be known to us, O Lord, in the breaking of the bread, as you

were made known to the disciples. Receive these gifts, and the offering of our lives, that we may be your risen body in the world.

C: Amen.

+THE GREAT THANKSGIVING +

DIALOGUE

THE PROPER PREFACE SANCTUS

The Thanksgiving

P: Blessed are you, Lord of heaven and earth, for you have had mercy

on us and given your only begotten Son that whoever believes in him

should not perish but have eternal life. We give you thanks for the

redemption you have prepared for us through Jesus Christ. Send your

Holy Spirit into our hearts to establish in us a living faith and prepare

us joyfully to receive our Redeemer who comes to us in his body and

blood.

P: In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and

gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and

eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of

me.

P: Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all

to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for

you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the

remembrance of me.

P: Lord, remember us in your kingdom, and teach us to pray.

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.

Invitation to Receive Communion P: Now let us feast this Easter day on Christ, the bread of heaven.

Hallelujah!

Today, Holy Communion will be administered by intinction on both sides of the

nave at the front. After receiving the bread, you may dip it into the cup.

The sacrament is fully complete should you choose only to receive the bread.

The altar rail is available for prayer after receiving communion.

COMMUNION HYMNS

Just As I Am, without One Plea LBW 296

1 Just as I am, without one plea,

but that thy blood was shed for me,

and that thou bidd’st me come to thee,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

2 Just as I am, and waiting not

to rid my soul of one dark blot,

to thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

3 Just as I am, though tossed about

with many a conflict, many a doubt,

fightings and fears within, without,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

4 Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;

sight, riches, healing of the mind,

yea, all I need in thee to find,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

5 Just as I am, thou wilt receive,

wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;

because thy promise I believe,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come,

6 Just as I am; thy love unknown

has broken ev’ry barrier down;

now to be thine, yea, thine alone,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come. Text: Charlotte Elliott, 1789-1871

Children of the Heavenly Father LBW 474

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: Carolina Sandell Berg, 1832-1903; tr. Ernst W. Olson, 1870-1958

Text © 1925 Board of Publication, Lutheran Church in America, admin. Augsburg Fortress.

POST COMMUNION PRAYER P: Life-giving God, in the mystery of Christ’s resurrection you

send light to conquer darkness, water to give new life, and the bread of life to nourish your people. Send us forth as witnesses to your Son’s resurrection, that we may show your glory to the entire world, through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord.

C: Amen.

+ SENDING +

BLESSING P: May God who has brought us from death to life fill you with

great joy. Almighty God, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.

C: Amen. SENDING HYMN Go, My Children, with My Blessing WOV 721

1 “Go, my children, with my blessing, never alone.

Waking, sleeping, I am with you, you are my own.

In my love’s baptismal river

I have made you mine forever.

Go, my children, with my blessing, you are my own.

2 “Go, my children, sins forgiven, at peace and pure.

Here you learned how much I love you, what I can cure.

Here you heard my dear Son’s story,

here you touched him, saw his glory.

Go, my children, sins forgiven, at peace and pure.

3 “Go, my children, fed and nourished, closer to me.

Grow in love and love by serving, joyful and free.

Here my Spirit’s power filled you,

here his tender comfort stilled you.

Go, my children, fed and nourished, joyful and free.

4 “I the Lord will bless and keep you, and give you peace.

I the Lord will smile upon you, and give you peace.

I the Lord will be your Father,

Savior, Comforter and Brother.

Go, my children, I will keep you, and give you peace.” Text: Jaroslav J. Vajda, b. 1919

© 1983 Jaroslav J. Vajda

DISMISSAL Sending A: Go in peace, serve the Lord! C: Thanks be to God! POSTLUDE I Am Thine, O Lord Hebrews 10:22

Words, Fanny J. Crosby, 1875/Tune William H. Doane, 1875

From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2015 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #40240. New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.