St. Matthew Lutheran Church

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Sixth Sunday after Easter

Welcome and Announcements

Gathering Song “Crown Him with Many Crowns” – LBW # 170, vs 1- 4

Confession & Forgiveness

Greeting & Kyrie

Canticle of Praise “Glory to God…”

Prayer of the Day

First Reading, Acts 1:12-26

Psalm # 68

Second Reading, 1 Peter 4:12-19; 5:6-11

Holy Gospel, John 17:1-11

Sermon

Hymn of the Day “When Peace, Like a River” – LBW # 346, vs 1 - 4

Nicene Creed

Prayers of the Church

The Lord’s Prayer

Blessing & Response

Dismissal

Sending Song “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” - LBW # 328, vs 1 - 4

Service Supplement

(Congregational responses are in bold print)

Welcome and Announcements Pastor John

Gathering Song “Crown Him…” LBW # 170, vs 1 - 4

Crown him with many crowns, The Lamb upon his throne; Hark, how the heav'nly anthem drowns All music but its own. Awake, my soul, and sing Of him who died for thee, And hail him as thy matchless king Through all eternity.

Crown him the virgin's Son, The God incarnate born, Whose arm those crimson trophies won Which now his brow adorn; Fruit of the mystic rose, Yet of that rose the stem, The root whence mercy ever flows, The babe of Bethlehem.

Crown him the Lord of love Behold his hands and side, Rich wounds, yet visible above, In beauty glorified. No angels in the sky Can fully bear that sight, But downward bend their burning eyes At mysteries so bright.

Crown him the Lord of life, Who triumphed o'er the grave And rose victorious in the strife For those he came to save. His glories now we sing, Who died and rose on high, Who died, eternal life to bring, And lives that death may die.

Confession & Forgiveness

Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, who forgives all our sin, whose mercy endures forever. Amen.

God of all mercy and consolation, come to the help of your people, turning us from our sin to live for you alone. Give us the power of your Holy Spirit that we may confess our sin, receive your forgiveness, and grow into the fullness of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another. Gracious God, have mercy on us. We confess that we have turned from you and given ourselves into the power of sin. We are truly sorry and humbly repent. In your compassion forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things we have done and things we have failed to do. Turn us again to you, and uphold us by your Spirit, so that we may live and serve you in newness of life through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

God, who is rich in mercy, loved us even when we were dead in sin, and made us alive together with Christ. By grace you have been saved. In the name of Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. Almighty God strengthen you with power through the Holy Spirit, that Christ may live in your hearts through faith. Amen.

Greeting

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

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.

Canticle of Praise “Glory to God…”

Glory to God in the highest, and peace to God’s people on earth. 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

Let us pray…O King of Glory and Lord of countless angels, in triumph you ascended to the highest heaven. Abandon us not to be orphans, but keep your Father's promise to send your Spirit of truth. You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

First Reading: Acts 1:12-26

As the disciples gather after Jesus’ ascension, they have the task of choosing a replacement for Judas who was now dead. It must be one who was with them from Jesus’ baptism to his resurrection. Two names are put forward: Justus and Matthias, with the lot falling to Matthias to be numbered among the original disciples.

¹²Then the disciples returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. ¹³And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. ¹⁴All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. ¹⁵In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, ¹⁶“Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. ¹⁷For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” ¹⁸(Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. ¹⁹And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) ²⁰“For it is written in the Book of Psalms, ‘May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and ‘Let another take his office.’ ²¹So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, ²²beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us — one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” ²³And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. ²⁴And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen ²⁵to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” ²⁶And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. This is the word of the Lord, thanks be to God.

Psalm: Psalm # 68

The psalmist cries out that God will put an end to his enemies, but he will protect and lead those who praise his name. The God of Israel is the God who sojourns with his people through the desert, marching ahead of them in the wilderness, bringing them home.

Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee before him.

Let them vanish like smoke when the wind drives it away; as the wax melts at the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

But let the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; let them also be merry and joyful.

Sing to God, sing praises to his Name; exalt him who rides upon the heavens; Yahweh is his name, rejoice before him!

Father of orphans, defender of widows, God in his holy habitation!

God gives the solitary a home and brings forth prisoners into freedom; but the rebels shall live in dry places.

O God, when you went forth before your people, when you marched through the wilderness,

The earth shook, and the skies poured down rain, at the presence of God, the God of Sinai, at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

You sent a gracious rain, O God, upon your inheritance; you refreshed the land when it was weary.

Your people found their home in it; in your goodness, O God, you have made provision for the poor.

Second Reading: 1 Peter 4:12-19; 5:6-11

Peter reminds the Christians that they will surely share in the sufferings that Christ suffered. It is to be expected, so we should not at all be surprised when the tests and trials come like fire. Blessed are those who are insulted in the name of the Savior of the world; this degradation brings God’s Spirit and glory to rest upon us.

¹²Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. ¹⁴If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. ¹⁵But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. ¹⁶Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. ¹⁷For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? ¹⁸And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” ¹⁹Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

⁶Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, ⁷casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. ⁸Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. ⁹Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. ¹⁰And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. ¹¹To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. This is the Word of God, word of life, thanks be to God.

Holy Gospel: The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the 17^th Chapter. Glory to you, O Lord. John 17:1-11: Jesus prays what is known as his “high priestly prayer” in today’s gospel lesson. He and the Father are one, and so he asks that all believers would also be one. Jesus prays for all those whom God has given him, those who have kept his holy word. The unity he prays for is the unity of a shared, common faith that binds us together.

¹When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, ²since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. ³And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. ⁴I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. ⁵And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. ⁶I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. ⁷Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. ⁸For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. ⁹I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. ¹⁰All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. ¹¹And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.” This is the gospel of the Lord, praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon Pastor John

Hymn of the Day “When Peace…” ELW # 346, vs 1 - 4

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll, Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say:

"It is well, it is well with my soul."

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed his own blood for my soul.

My sin - oh the bliss of this glorious thought; My sin, not in part, but the whole, Is nailed to his cross, and I bear it no more; Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

And Lord, haste the day, when the faith shall be sight, The clouds be rolled back as a scroll, The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, "Even so," it is well with my soul.

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

Prayers of the Church:

(P): Made alive in Christ and filled with his Spirit, let us pray for the church, the world, and all of God’s creation. A brief silence.

(W): Lord God, your disciples trusted in you when they had to replace Judas among the twelve. Help us to hear your voice and trust your Word in our lives when we have important decisions to make, and when we are uncertain of what to do. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

(W): Holy One, around the world there are faithful followers of Christ who are being persecuted daily for their faith. We know you are with them; encouraging them, loving them, and guiding them. May we do the same and may their courage and hope inspire us to greater service in your name. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

(W): Healing Lord, grant your mercy and healing Spirit upon all those who are battling illness, disease, loneliness, or heart break. Give them your comfort and fill them with all hope that Jesus has won the day, that he has overcome the world and so overcomes death and the devil. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

(W): Almighty God, in the wake of difficult times around the globe, we pray for our leaders, both near and far. May they lead with wisdom and judge with equity. Grant them all they need to care for the people you have entrusted to them. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

(P): Receive our prayers, merciful God, and dwell in us richly, through Jesus Christ, our life and our redeemer. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray…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.

Blessing:

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. Amen.

Dismissal: (WA)

Go in peace. Christ is with you. Thanks be to God.

Sending Song “All Hail the Power…” LBW # 328, vs 1 - 4

All hail the power of Jesus' name! Let angles prostrate fall; Bring forth the royal diadem, And crown him Lord of all; Bring forth the royal diadem, And crown him Lord of all.

Crown him, ye martyrs of your God, Who from his altar call; Extol the Stem of Jesse's rod, And crown him Lord of all; Extol the Stem of Jesse's rod, And crown him Lord of all.

O seed of Israel's chosen race, Now ransomed of the fall, Hail him who saves you by his grace, And crown him Lord of all; Hail him who saves you by his grace, And crown him Lord of all.

Hail Him, ye heirs of David's line, Whom David Lord did call, The God incarnate, Man divine, and crown Him Lord of all, The God incarnate, Man divine, and crown Him Lord of all.