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4.21.2018               Inaugural Worship

4th week in the season of Easter

Title Text

Subtitle

Come,

Holy Spirit

Serapion of Thmuis (4th century Egypt) composed the earliest known "Prayer for Illumination."

A Prayer for Illumination comes before scripture readings and

     calls on God

     to send the Spirit

     to illumine Jesus Christ.

This song is based on a 3rd century Greek hymn.

Veni,

Sancte Spiritus

This sung Prayer for Illumination

comes from the Taize Community,

an ecumenical monastic community in France.

A reading from the book of Acts (4:5-12)

Word of God; Word of Life. Thanks be to God.

The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. This Jesus is ‘the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.’ There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.”

Please join in reading the Bold print.
 

The Lord says: I myself will search and find my sheep. I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock.

The Lord is my shepherd;

I have all that I need.

Psalm 23 & Ezekiel 34

I will feed them on the mountains of Israel and by the rivers

     and in all the places where people live.

Yes, I will give them good pastureland.

They will lie down in pleasant places and feed in the lush

     pastures of the hills.

The Lord lets me rest in green meadows;

The Lord leads me beside peaceful streams.

The Lord renews my strength.

The Lord guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.

The Lord does all these thing for me, because I am beloved.

I myself will tend my sheep and give them a place to lie

     down in peace, says the Lord.

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, where

     death surrounds on all sides, I will not be afraid,

     for you are close beside me.

Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.

You honor me by anointing my head with oil.

My cup overflows with blessings.

I will search for my lost ones who strayed away,

     who have been injured, harmed, lost or forgotten,

     and I will bring them safely home again.

I will bandage the injured and strengthen the weak.

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue

     me all the days of my life, and I will live in the

     house of the Lord forever.

A reading from 1 John (3:16-24)

Cornel West

Word of God; Word of Life.

Thanks be to God.

John 10:11-18

John 10:11-18

Were there words or phrases that touched you?

Word of God; Word of Life.

Thanks be to God.

Juan Gris (Spanish, Madrid 1887–1927 Boulogne-sur-Seine),

Woman Reading, ca. 1927, oil and pencil on canvas.

We continue the sermon together.

Where do you see or experience valleys in the world and in your life?

Where do you see glimpses of hope?

 Shepherd Me, O God

Shepherd me, O God, beyond my wants,
beyond my fears,

from death into life.

Nicene Creed

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,
                       was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary
                       and became truly human.
                  


           We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.
           We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
           We look for the resurrection of the dead,
                  and the life of the world to come. Amen.

       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,
           who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
           who 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 resurrection of the dead,
                  and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Prayers of Intercession

• For the Church throughout the World
  • Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
• For all of God's creation
  • Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
• For the nations/world
  • Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
• For those in need
  • Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
• For this community
  • Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
    

Amen

The Peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you.

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directly toward doing good

Eucharist

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

...we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Holy, holy, holy Lord,

God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your praises.

Syria, 3rd century--oldest, extant sanctus in a Eucharistic prayer

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.
 

Gluten-free &

dairy-free  bread

at metal table

Bread at

wooden tables

White

grape juice

Red wine

When you give someone bread,  say,

“The body of Christ, given for you.”

When you give someone the cup, say,

“The blood of Christ, shed for you.”

Song: Lamb of God

Christ Is Alive!

Let Christians Sing!

Go in peace

to know Jesus and

to do Justice.

Thanks be to God.

Acknowledgements 

• Liturgical texts, hymns, and prayers reprinted from SundaysandSeasons.com, ©2014 Augsburg Fortress.  All rights reserved.
• Reprinted with permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #23534 and  OneLicense.net License #A-703442.
  
• Eucharistic Welcome, Liturgical texts; St. John's Lutheran Church; Atlanta, GA
• Eucharistic Prayer, Liturgical texts; St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church; San Francisco, CA
• Biblical texts from New Revised Standard Version Bible. All rights reserved. 

Worship leads to the world.

• Meet a new friend.
• Greet someone who differs from you.
• Deepen a connection.
• Help finish the wine and bread.
• Enter the world, belly and spirit nourished, to boldly do justice in the name of Jesus.

• Every Saturday @5 @MERGE: Worship
• Starting the week of May 6 (check out the "gathering" webpage of JustChurch.com):
  • Pints of Grace
  • Breathing Space
  • Ancient Spiritual Practices
  • Justice Seminar
• In late July/early August: Group discernment regarding JustActions