St Stephen Lutheran Church Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: May 2021

Wednesday, May 26, 2021

Evening Prayer for the Wednesday after Pentecost, 7 p.m.

The livestream may be found here.

EVENING PRAYER

for Wednesday in the week after Pentecost

Vespers

(Lutheran Book of Worship, page 142)

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Sunday, May 23, 2021

The Holy Communion on the Day of Pentecost, May 23, 2021: 10:30 a.m.

The livestream may be found here.

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Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Evening Prayer for Wednesday in the Seventh Week of Easter, 7 p.m.

The livestream may be found here.

EVENING PRAYER

for Wednesday in 7 Easter (Texts from Vigil of Pentecost)

Vespers

(Lutheran Book of Worship, page 142)

Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

We are illumined by the brightness of his rising.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Death has no more dominion over us.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Joyous light of glory:

of the immortal Father;

heavenly, holy, blessed Jesus Christ.

We have come to the setting of the sun,

and we look to the evening light.

We sing to God, the Father, Son,

and Holy Spirit:

You are worthy of being praised

with pure voices forever.

O Son of God, O Giver of life:

The universe proclaims your glory.

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give him thanks and praise.

We praise and thank you, O God, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom you have enlightened us by revealing the light that never fades.

Night is falling and day’s allotted span draws to a close.

The daylight which you created for our pleasure has fully satisfied us, and yet, of your own free gift, now the evening lights do not fail us.

We praise you and glorify you through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord; through him be glory, honor, and power to you in the Holy Spirit, now and always and forever and ever.

Amen

Let my prayer rise before you as incense;

the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

O Lord, I call to you; come to me quickly;

hear my voice when I cry to you.

Let my prayer rise before you as incense;

the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Set a watch before my mouth, O Lord,

and guard the door of my lips.

Let not my heart incline to any evil thing;

let me not be occupied in wickedness with evildoers.

But my eyes are turned to you, Lord God;

in you I take refuge. Strip me not of my life.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Let my prayer rise before you as incense;

the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Silence for meditation.

Let the incense of our repentant prayer ascend before you, O Lord, and let your lovingkindness descend upon us, that with purified minds we may sing your praises with the Church on earth and the whole heavenly host, and may glorify you forever and ever.

Amen

Psalm 130

There is forgiveness with God.

There is forgiveness with God.

¹ Out of the depths have I called to you, O Lord;

Lord, | hear my voice;*

let your ears consider well the voice of my | supplication.

² If you, Lord, were to note what is | done amiss,*

O Lord, | who could stand?

³ For there is forgive- | ness with you;*

therefore you | shall be feared.

⁴ I wait for the Lord; my soul | waits for him;*

in his word | is my hope.

⁵ My soul waits for the Lord,

more than watchmen | for the morning,*

more than watchmen | for the morning.

⁶ O Israel, wait | for the Lord,*

for with the Lord | there is mercy;

⁷ with him there is plen- | teous redemption,*

and he shall redeem Israel from | all their sins.

There is forgiveness with God.

God of might and compassion, you sent your Word into the world as a watchman to announce the dawn of salvation. Do not leave us in the depths of our sins, but listen to your Church pleading for the fullness of your redeeming grace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Hymn I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say LBW 497

(sung to FOREST GREEN)

1 I heard the voice of Jesus say,

"Come unto me and rest;

lay down, O weary one, lay down

your head upon my breast."

I came to Jesus as I was,

so weary, worn, and sad;

I found in him a resting-place,

and he has made me glad.

2 I heard the voice of Jesus say,

"Behold, I freely give

the living water, thirsty one;

stoop down and drink and live."

I came to Jesus, and I drank

of that life-giving stream;

my thirst was quenched, my soul revived,

and now I live in him.

3 I heard the voice of Jesus say,

"I am this dark world's light;

look unto me, your morn shall rise,

and all your day be bright."

I looked to Jesus, and I found

in him my star, my sun;

and in that light of life I'll walk

till trav'ling days are done.

READINGS Ephesians 5:15-20

¹⁵Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, ²⁰giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ[.]

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

John 7:37-39

³⁷On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. ³⁸Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” ³⁹Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Silence for reflection.

Response

In many and various ways

God spoke to his people of old by the prophets.

But now in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.

The GOSPEL CANTICLE is sung.

Antiphon:

Alleluia. Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful people;

Set them on fire with your love. Alleluia.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed.

The Almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his name.

He has mercy on those who fear him

in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm;

he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,

and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel,

for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

the promise he made to our fathers,

to Abraham and his children forever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen

Antiphon:

Alleluia. Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful people;

Set them on fire with your love. Alleluia.

Litany of the Holy Spirit[1]

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

O Christ, hear us. In mercy hear us.

God, the Father in heaven; Have mercy on us.

God the Son, redeemer of the world; Have mercy on us.

God the Holy Spirit, the Promise of the Father and Gift of the Most High; Have mercy on us.

O Spirit of wisdom and understanding; Have mercy on us.

O Spirit of counsel and might; Have mercy on us.

O Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord; Have mercy on us.

O Spirit of joy in God’s presence; Have mercy on us.

O Spirit of love, joy, and peace; Have mercy on us.

O Spirit of patience, gentleness and goodness; Have mercy on us.

O Spirit of truth, meekness, and patience; Have mercy on us.

O Spirit of modesty, temperance, and chastity: Have mercy on us.

O Spirit of grace and supplication: Have mercy on us.

O Spirit of discipline and continence: Have mercy on us.

O Spirit of adoption: Have mercy on us.

O Holy Spirit, the Comforter; Have mercy on us.

O Holy Spirit, the sanctifier: Have mercy on us.

Be gracious to us; Spare us, O Lord.

From all sin, from all error, from all evil,

from the cunning assaults of the devil,

from an unprepared and evil death;

Deliver us, O Holy Spirit.

By your eternal procession from the Father and the Son;

Deliver us, O Holy Spirit.

By your working at creation; Deliver us, O Holy Spirit.

By your inspiration of the prophets; Deliver us, O Holy Spirit.

By your descent upon the Mother of God;

Deliver us, O Holy Spirit.

By your descent upon our Lord at his baptism;

Deliver us, O Holy Spirit.

By your descent upon the apostles at Pentecost;

Deliver us, O Holy Spirit.

By your abiding with the Church; Deliver us, O Holy Spirit.

In the Day of Judgment; Deliver us, O Holy Spirit.

We sinners cry unto you, O Holy Spirit:

Shed abroad your light and love in our hearts;

We implore you to hear us.

Open to us the treasures of your grace;

We implore you to hear us.

Teach us to ask for your grace according to your will;

We implore you to hear us.

Teach us to pray, and yourself pray within us;

We implore you to hear us.

That we may not grieve you nor despise you;

We implore you to hear us.

That remembering that our bodies are your temple, we may take heed not to defile them; We implore you to hear us.

That you would lead us into all truth; We implore you to hear us.

That you would pour your peace upon the whole Church;

We implore you to hear us.

Lamb of God, Pour out upon us the Holy Spirit.

Lamb of God, Send the promised Spirit of the Father.

Lamb of God, Grant us the Spirit of Peace.

O Christ, hear us. In mercy hear us.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Almighty and ever-living God, you fulfilled the promise of Easter by sending your Holy Spirit to unite the races and nations on earth and thus to proclaim your glory. Look upon your people gathered in prayer, open to rec3eive the Spirit’s flame. May it come to rest in our hearts and heal the divisions of word and tongue, that with one voice and one song we may praise your name in joy and thanksgiving, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen

Let us pray for our own needs and the needs of others.

Silent prayer.

Into your hands, Father, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

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

Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Hymn O Trinity, O Blessed Light LBW 275

1 O Trinity, O blessed Light,

O Unity of princely might:

The fiery sun is going down;

Shed light upon us through your Son.

2 To you our morning song of praise,

To you our evening prayer we raise;

We praise your light in every age,

The glory of our pilgrimage.

3 All glory be to God above

And to the Son, the prince of love,

And to the Spirit, One in Three!

We praise you, blessed Trinity.

Prayer and Benediction

Accept, O Lord, our praises and supplications, and look graciously on our households and our faith family, that we may abide this night in peace and safety under the shadow of your wings, and so assist us by your grace that we may be made fit for that kingdom where there shall be no more sin, nor sorrow, nor pain, but all shall be joy and peace in the Holy Spirit, to whom, with you, O Father, and you, O blessed Jesus, be all glory, both now and evermore.

Amen

The almighty and merciful Lord,

the Father, + the Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless and preserve us.

Amen

Herbert Lindemann, The Daily Office.

Tuesday, May 18, 2021

Sermon, Ascension Day (Transferred) - Sunday, May 16, 2021

SERMON

Ascension Sunday

May 16, 2021

The Rev. Maurice C. Frontz III

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Jesus is not with us in the same way that he once was with humanity – born as a child, growing up in Nazareth, then beginning his ministry. Calling disciples, teaching and healing, casting out demons, raising the dead. His feet covered with dust, his eyes filling with tears, his knees upon the floor, his calloused hands tenderly washing the disciples’ feet. Eating and drinking and laughing with sinners, beaten and spit upon.

He is not with us in that way anymore.

He is not with us even in the way that he was after three days had passed and the disciples, beyond hope, saw him risen from the dead. He ate and drank with them, and yet he came to them while the doors were locked. He showed them his scarred hands and opened side and Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ The voice, his voice; the face, his face. He is not with us in that way anymore.

Nor is he with us the way he will be – revealed as the ruler of the universe and the one who comes to judge the living and the dead. In that day he will gather his people and remove all sources of suffering from the cosmos. As Revelation says, ‘Death shall be no more; mourning and crying and pain shall be no more, for the former things have passed away.’

He is not with us in the way that he was, and he is not with us in the way he will be. But he is with us. He is with us because he is ascended into heaven and seated at the right hand of the Father. To be seated at the Father’s right hand is not to be confined to one physical place, somewhere else. Rather, it means that Christ is invested with all Godly authority. He is ruler both of angels and of humans.

What does it mean to be a ‘ruler?’ One does not see his rule evident in the world. Perhaps it might be better to understand the word ‘ruler’ in both a passive and an active sense. He is the ruler because he is the measure of all things just as a ruler measures an object. He is the measure of our thoughts, words and deeds. All religion is measured by him – which should make pastors and priests quake in their shoes. All politics is measured by him – and that means that all of our politics fall short. If we believe we are measured by him, we believe that he is our ruler, and we fall at his feet, asking for nothing but a crumb of his mercy.

And he is ruler in an active sense, because he calls his people still. Through the Church he forgives sins, he delivers from the evil one and his servants, and he raises the dead. Again, he is not with us as he was with Lazarus, calling, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ and, summoned, the dead man comes out from the tomb. Nor is he with us as he will be when those who have died and those still living come before him and his people gather around him. But he is with us as he is now, and therefore at the grave we may have confidence, remembering Lazarus and his own empty tomb and the promise he gave to Martha, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, even though he die, will live; and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die.’

He is not with us as he was then, and he is not with us as he will be. But he is with us. And here’s the amazing part. I can see him.

You may think, ‘Pastor, you just said that he isn’t with us as he was, visible, audible, tangible.’ You’re right. ‘You just said he isn’t as he will be, revealed to all as ruler of heaven and earth.’ You’re right again. Nevertheless, I can see him.

For you are here, and I am here, and we are here together. If we take the Bible seriously, we take the words in Ephesians seriously: ‘He is the head of all things for the Church, which is his body, the fulness of him who fills all in all.’

We heard that we are the sheep and he the shepherd; we are the branches and he is the vine; we are the friends he has called and empowered to know his mind and carry his work forward. But to be his body, to be the extension of his presence in the world, a people hearing and speaking his Word and being washed in his bath and sharing his meal, that is perhaps a greater thing than all of these other metaphors. For it means that Christ who has come and Christ who will come still has a visible, audible, tangible presence. Not that we by our merits have earned this, nor can it be discerned by anything but faith. If we are his body, we bear wounds and sicknesses, but he takes them to himself, and through us still he acts.

He is not with us now as he was, and he is not with us as he will be. But I am here, and you are here, and therefore he is here – visible, audible, tangible – he who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Sunday, May 16, 2021

The Ascension of Our Lord (transferred) - Sunday, May 16, 10:30 a.m.

The livestream may be found here.

May 16, 2021, 10:30 a.m.

The Ascension of Our Lord

Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem

THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD

The Ascension of Our Lord was celebrated on Thursday, May 13, forty days after Easter. We have transferred our observance of the feast to today to in order to mark this principal festival of the Church.

FIRST READING: The book of Acts tells us that the appearances of the risen Jesus to his apostles continued for forty days after Easter. During that time, he instructed them to wait for ‘the promise of the Father,’ the sending of the Holy Spirit upon them so that they might be his witnesses to the ends of the earth. Jesus’ withdrawal of his visible presence will make possible his spiritual presence with, in, and among his people, the Church.

SECOND READING: The power of God is shown in the resurrection and the ascension of Christ. For Paul in Ephesians, the resurrection and ascension are not two discrete events, but part of one movement of Jesus’ victory over death. Christ is ‘at the right hand of the Father,’ which is not a physical place but is an expression of the Son’s being invested with the Father’s authority. He is ‘head of all things’ in both heaven and earth – the rule for angelic and human conduct and with power to save and unite the Church in his name.

GOSPEL: Having fulfilled the Law on behalf of God’s people, made good the promises of the prophets, and made plain the meaning of the Psalms, Jesus has completed his mission on earth. But his mission is not ended, but rather is continued through the apostles. They are to preach repentance and forgiveness of sins in his name to all peoples. We are here because of that Spirit-empowered message, drawn into the mission of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church to make Christ known.

OPENING MUSIC Variations on Bryn Calfaria

Look, the Sight is Glorious

I. David Lasky

II. George lachenauer

Please meditate on the text of the hymn as it is played:

1 Look, oh, look, the sight is glorious,

see the man of sorrows now;

from the fight returned victorious,

ev’ry knee to him shall bow.

Crown him! Crown him!

Crowns become the victor’s brow.

2 Crown the Savior! Angels crown him!

Rich the trophies Jesus brings;

on the seat of pow’r enthrone him

while the vault of heaven rings.

Crown him! Crown him!

Crown the Savior, King of kings.

3 Sinners in derision crowned him,

mocking thus the Savior’s claim;

saints and angels crowd around him,

own his title, praise his name.

Crown him! Crown him!

Spread abroad the victor’s fame!

4 Hark! Those bursts of acclamation!

Hark! Those loud triumphant chords!

Jesus takes the highest station;

oh, what joy the sight affords!

Crown him! Crown him!

King of kings and Lord of lords!

Text: Thomas Kelly, 1769-1855, alt.

THE HOLY COMMUNION

Stand

INVOCATION

In the name of the Father, and of the X Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen

APOSTOLIC GREETING

Alleluia! Christ our Lord ascends into heaven.

O come, let us worship him. Alleluia!

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,

and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And also with you.

KYRIE ELEISON

In peace, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

For the peace from above,

and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

For the peace of the whole world,

for the well-being of the Church of God,

and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

For this holy house,

and for all who offer here their worship and praise,

let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

Help, save, comfort and defend us, gracious Lord. Amen

HYMN OF PRAISE Gloria in excelsis Deo

Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Luke 2:14

Lord God, heavenly king, almighty God and Father:

We worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,

Lord God, Lamb of God:

You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

You are seated at the right hand of the Father;

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High,

Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God the Father. Amen

PRAYER OF THE DAY

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Almighty God, your only Son was taken up into heaven

and in power intercedes for us.

May we also come into your presence

and live forever in your glory;

through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen

CALL TO THE WORD

Jesus appeared to the apostles for forty days

and spoke to them about the kingdom of God. Acts 1:3b

Let us hear the Word of the Lord.

Sit

First READING Acts 1:1-11

[Luke writes:] ¹In 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.

Thanks be to God.

PSALM 47

Read responsively between pastor and congregation.

God has gone up with a shout. (vs. 5)

God has gone up with a shout.

¹ Clap your hands, | all you peoples;*

shout to God with a | cry of joy.

² For the Lord Most High is | to be feared;*

he is the great king over | all the earth.

³ He subdues the | peoples under us,*

and the nations un- | der our feet.

⁴ He chooses our inheri- | tance for us,*

the pride of Jacob | whom he loves.

⁵ God has gone up | with a shout,*

the Lord with the sound | of the ram's horn.

⁶ Sing praises to | God, sing praises;*

sing praises to our | king, sing praises.

⁷ For God is King of | all the earth;*

sing praises with | all your skill.

⁸ God reigns o- | ver the nations;*

God sits upon his | holy throne.

⁹ The nobles of the peoples have gath- | ered together*

with the people of the | God of Abraham.

¹⁰ The rulers of the earth be- | long to God,*

and he is high- | ly exalted.

God has gone up with a shout.

SECOND READING Ephesians 1:15-23

¹⁵I 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 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.

Thanks be to God.

Stand

VERSE Romans 6:9; Matthew 28:20

Spoken in unison by the congregation.

Alleluia. Christ being raised from the dead will die no more; death has no more dominion over him. Alleluia. I am with you always, even to the close of the age. Alleluia.

Gospel Luke 24:44-53

The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke.

Glory to you, O Lord.

⁴⁴[Jesus said to the eleven and those with 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.”⁴⁵Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, ⁴⁶and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
⁵⁰Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. ⁵¹While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. ⁵²And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; ⁵³and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Sit

SERMON

Stand

HYMN OF THE DAY The Head That Once Was Crowned

Stanza 1 – Cantors; Stanza 2 – Pastor;

Stanza 3- Cantors; Stanza 4 – ALL

1 The head that once was crowned with thorns

is crowned with glory now;

a royal diadem adorns

the mighty victor's brow.

2 The highest place that heav'n affords

is his by sov'reign right,

the King of kings, and Lord of lords,

and heav'n's eternal light.

3 The joy of all who dwell above,

the joy of all below

to whom he manifests his love,

and grants his name to know;

4 To them the cross, with all its shame,

with all its grace, is giv'n;

their name, an everlasting name,

their joy, the joy of heav'n.

Text: Thomas Kelly, 1769-1855

CONFESSION OF FAITH

The pastor and people confess the faith of the Church in the words of the Nicene Creed.

X At the words ‘For us and for our salvation,’ and continuing through ‘and was made man,’ a solemn bow is appropriate to praise the incarnation of our Lord.

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.

X 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. X

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 resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come. Amen

PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH

Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.

Silence is kept.

Father, receive our praise for the ascension of our Lord Jesus into heaven, for his taking of the seat of power, and for the promise of his coming again:

Lord, hear our prayer.

Father, hear our prayer of supplication and stir up the Holy Spirit among us, that the whole Church and our faith family may be re-dedicated to you and empowered for mission and service:

Lord, hear our prayer.

Father, hear our prayer of entreaty for the peoples of the world, for the well-being and concord of our nation and its leaders, for your Son is ruler of all things and victorious over the powers of evil.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Father, hear our prayer of intercession for those in any need of body, mind, and spirit, especially those we name before you:

The pastor reads the names submitted for prayer.

The people may offer spoken or silent intercessions.

Let our cries come before you:

Lord, hear our prayer.

Father, hear our prayer of thanksgiving for those who have died in your peace, and give us faith on our journey, that we may join with them around your throne on the day of restoration.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Into your hands, Father, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Peace

Jesus said to the apostles:

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you.

Rejoice, because I go to the Father.

John 14:27, 28

The peace of the Lord be with you always.

And also with you.

The people exchange a sign of peace with the simple words, Peace be with you.

Sit

The Lord’s Table is prepared.

Stand

OFFERTORY Daniel 7:13-14

Spoken in unison by the congregation.

Alleluia. I saw one come with the clouds of heaven like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. Alleluia.

PRAYER OF PREPARATION

Blessed be God, by whose grace creation is renewed,

by whose love heaven is opened,

by whose mercy we offer our sacrifice of praise.

Amen

GREAT THANKSGIVING

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 him thanks and praise.

It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, through Christ our Lord, who, after his resurrection, appeared openly to his disciples and, in their sight, was taken up to heaven, that he might make us partakers of his divine nature. And so, with the Church on earth and the hosts of heaven, 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 glory.

Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!

Hosanna in the highest!

You are indeed holy, O God, the fountain of all holiness;

you bring light from darkness, life from death,

speech from silence.

We worship you for our lives and for the world you give us.

We thank you for the new world to come

and for the love that will rule all in all.

We praise you for the grace shown to Israel, your chosen,

the people of your promise:

the rescue from Egypt, the gift of the promised land,

the memory of the fathers, the homecoming from exile,

and the prophets' words that will not be in vain.

In all this we bless you for your only-begotten Son,

who fulfilled and will fulfill all your promises.

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.

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.

For as often as we eat of this bread and drink from this cup,

we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

Therefore, O God, with this bread and cup

we remember the incarnation of your Son:

his human birth and the covenant he made with us.

We remember the sacrifice of his life:

his eating with outcasts and sinners,

and his acceptance of death.

But chiefly on this day we remember his rising from the tomb,

his ascension to the seat of power,

and his sending of the holy and life-giving Spirit.

We cry out for the resurrection of our lives,

when Christ will come again in beauty and power

to share with us the great and promised feast.

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Send now, we pray, your Holy Spirit,

that we and all who share in this bread and cup

may be united in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,

may enter the fullness of the kingdom of heaven,

and may receive our inheritance with all your saints in

light.

Amen. Come, Holy Spirit.

Join our prayers with those of your servants

of every time and every place,

and unite them with the ceaseless petitions

of our great high priest

until he comes as victorious Lord of all.

Through him, with him, in him,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

all honor and glory is yours,

almighty Father, now and forever. Amen

Christ is in our midst.

By the power of the Spirit,

we pray to his Father, saying:

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

Lord, we died with you on the cross.

Now we are raised to new life.

We were buried in your tomb.

Now we share in your resurrection.

AGNUS DEI (Lamb of God) Sung by the cantors

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; grant us peace.

Sit

DISTRIBUTION

Admission to the Sacrament is by invitation of the Lord, presented through the Church to those who are baptized.

They may receive the Lord’s Body and Blood who are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, who commune in their home churches, and who believe that Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, is truly present in, with, and under the forms of bread and wine for the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.

The communicants will be invited forward one family unit at a time. Please do not come forward until the pastor directs you to come forward, do not approach all the way to the table until the pastor has retreated, and please do not remove your mask until you have reached the table with the elements on it.

When the pastor says ‘The body of Christ, given for you,’ eat the bread. When the pastor says, ‘The blood of Christ, shed for you,’ drink the wine. Please take the plate and the glass(es) and place them on the table that is indicated. Please put your mask on before returning to your seat.

Please meditate on the text of the hymn as it is played.

Beautiful Savior

1 Beautiful Savior,

King of creation,

Son of God and Son of Man!

Truly I'd love thee,

truly I'd serve thee,

light of my soul, my joy, my crown.

2 Fair are the meadows,

fair are the woodlands,

robed in flow'rs of blooming spring;

Jesus is fairer,

Jesus is purer,

he makes our sorrowing spirit sing.

3 Fair is the sunshine,

fair is the moonlight,

bright the sparkling stars on high;

Jesus shines brighter,

Jesus shines purer

than all the angels in the sky.

4 Beautiful Savior,

Lord of the nations,

Son of God and Son of Man!

Glory and honor,

praise, adoration,

now and forevermore be thine!

Text: Gesangbuch, Münster, 1677; tr. Joseph A. Seiss, 1823-1904

After all have returned to their places, the congregation stands at the direction of the pastor.

The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.

Amen

Lord, now you let your servant go in peace;

your word has been fulfilled.

My own eyes have seen the salvation

which you have prepared in the sight of every people:

A light to reveal you to the nations

and the glory of your people Israel.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning, is now,

and will be forever. Amen Song of Simeon (Luke 2:29-32)

God our Father,

you have raised our humanity in Christ

and have fed us with the bread of heaven.

mercifully grant that, nourished with such spiritual blessings,

we may set our hearts in the heavenly places;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

SENDING

A reading from Acts.

¹²Then [the disciples] returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day's journey away. ¹³When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. ¹⁴All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

Responsory

As we wait in silence,