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The 5th Sunday in Easter A, May 10, 2020 Virtual Worship on Facebook LivePastor Beverly AurandGood Morning, and Welcome to worship today, May 10, the 5th Sunday in Easter. I’m Pastor Beverly Aurand and I serve the Peak Springhill Lutheran Parish. There are 2 small churches in this parish; Mt Hermon Lutheran Church in Peak and Mt Olivet Lutheran Church in the Spring Hill neighborhood of Chapin—both in the midlands region in SC.Pastor Charles is again providing us with hymns this morning. He is pastor of Abiding Presence Lutheran Church in York, SC.Our service this morning is again the Service of the Word from the Evangelical Lutheran Worship book (ELW). Please put a small bowl with water in your worship area. You may also want to light a candle and place a cross in this area. Feel free to join along the parts of the service. We are starting on page 97, and then move to page 211. We have licensed permission to use this copyrighted material for worship.The announcements and prayer list for today will be included in the document that you will receive by email or snail mail. If you would like to be included on our email or snail mail list, please private message me from the church Facebook page and I will be happy to add you to it. Commemorations this week:On Thursday, May 14: Matthias, Apostle After Christ’s ascension, the apostles met in Jerusalem to choose a replacement for Judas. Matthias was chosen over Joseph Justice by the casting of lots. Little is known about Matthias, and little is reported about him in the account of his election in Acts 1:15-26. Matthias traveled among the disciples from the beginning of Jesus’ ministry until his ascension. His task, after he was enrolled among the eleven remaining disciples, was to bear witness to the resurrection.IntroductionAs we continue to celebrate the 50 days of Easter, today’s gospel includes Jesus’ promise that he goes to prepare a place for his followers in his Father’s house. Our baptism commissions us to share Jesus’ mission in the world. As 1 Peter reminds us, we are a holy people, called to proclaim the one who called us out of darkness into light. In words and deeds we bear witness to the risen Christ—our way, our truth and our life.THE EASTER PROCLAMATIONWe begin our worship with the Easter Proclamation that Christ is risen: Christ is risen indeed. AlleluiaTHANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM?Let us give thanks for our baptism.Blessed be the holy Trinity,???one God,the fountain of living water,the rock who gave us birth,our light and our salvation.Joined to Christ in the waters of baptism,we are clothed with God's mercy and forgiveness.Let us give thanks for the gift of baptism.We give you thanks, O God,for in the beginning your Spirit moved over the watersand by your Word you created the world,calling forth life in which you took delight.Through the waters of the flood you delivered Noah and his family.Through the sea you led your people Israel from slavery into freedom.At the river your Son was baptized by John and anointed with the Holy Spirit.By water and your Word you claim us as daughters and sons,making us heirs of your promise and servants of all.If you are by yourself, please mark the sign on the cross on your forehead by dipping a finger into the dish of water and then tracing a cross on your own forehead. If you are worshipping with others, please take turns marking the cross on each other’s face while you say, “Remember that you are a beloved child of God”We praise you for the gift of water that sustains life,and above all we praise you for the gift of new life in Jesus Christ.Shower us with your Spirit,and renew our lives with your forgiveness, grace, and love.To you be given honor and praisethrough Jesus Christ our Lordin the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.THE GATHERING SONG: Hallelujah Sing to Jesus1. Hallelujah! sing to Jesus,??His the scepter, His the throne;Hallelujah! His the triumph,??His the victory alone.Hark, the songs of His redeemed ones??Thunder like a mighty flood:Jesus out of every nation??Hath redeemed us by His blood.2. Hallelujah! not as orphans??Are we left in sorrow now;Hallelujah! He is near us,??Faith believes, nor questions how.Though the clouds from sight received Him??When the forty days were o’er,Shall our hearts forget His promise,??“I am with you evermore“?3. Hallelujah! Bread of heaven,??Thou on earth our food, our stay;Hallelujah! here the hungry??Come to Thee from day to day.Advocate and Intercessor,??My Redeemer pleads for me,On the throne of the Almighty??Now and to eternity.4. Hallelujah! sing to Jesus,??His the scepter, His the throne;Hallelujah! His the triumph,??His the victory alone.Hark, the songs of His redeemed ones??Thunder like a mighty flood:Jesus out of every nation,??Hath redeemed us by His blood.PRAYER OF THE DAY?Let us pray.Almighty God, your Son Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. Give us grace to love one another, to follow in the way of his commandments, and to share his risen life with all the world, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.FIRST READING acts 7:55-60A reading from Acts, the 7th Chapter.Stephen was one of the seven men chosen by the apostles to serve tables so that the apostles could be free to serve the word (Acts 6:1-6). Stephen does more than distribute food, however. For his preaching of God’s word, he becomes the first martyr of the faith.55Filled with the Holy Spirit,?[Stephen]?gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.?56“Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”?57But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him.?58Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.?59While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”?60Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died.This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.PSALM:??31:1-5, 15-16?1In you, O?Lord, have I taken refuge; let me never be?put to shame;??deliver me?in your righteousness.?2Incline your?ear to me;??make haste to deliver me.?3Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe, for you are my crag?and my stronghold;??for the sake of your name, lead?me and guide me.?4Take me out of the net that they have secretly?set for me,??for you are my tower of strength.??5Into your hands I commend my spirit,??for you have redeemed me, O?Lord,?God of truth.?15My times are?in your hand;??rescue me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who?persecute me.?16Let your face shine upon your servant;??save me in your?steadfast love.”?SECOND READING:?1 Peter 2:2-10A reading from 1 Peter beginning in Chapter 2.Christ is the cornerstone of God’s saving work and the foundation of our lives. We are God’s chosen, holy people who continuously celebrate and declare the mercy of God we experience through Jesus Christ.2Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation—3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.4Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and?5like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.?6For it stands in scripture:?“See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious;?and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”7To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe,?“The stone that the builders rejected has become the very head of the corner,”8and “A stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that makes them fall.”They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.?10Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people;?once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.GOSPEL ACCLAMATION?Alleluia.?I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.?Alleluia.GOSPEL:?John 14:1-14The holy gospel according to John, the 14th chapter.Glory to you, O Lord.On the night that he is to be arrested, Jesus shares final words with his disciples. As the one through whom God is known, he promises to go before them and act on their behalf.[Jesus said to the disciples:]?1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.?2In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you??3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.?4And you know the way to the place where I am going.”?5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”?6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.?7If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”?8Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”?9Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’??10Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works.?11Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves.?12Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.?13I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.?14If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.”The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.CHILDREN’S MESSAGEJesus is the one who is strongestmessage for 5 Easter A: 5/10/20Rev. Beverly AurandSermon - Pastor Beverly AurandThis morning I’d like to share a letter that I’m sending to my Mom for Mother’s Day.Dear Mom,I want to tell you how much you mean to me from when I was growing up until I moved out and started a family of my own and even now, when my girls have families of their own. You have had a lot of practice at mothering, starting with me 65 years ago. Now you have 4 children, 9 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild, and you have been there for us all. I remember that you stayed with me after each of my girls was born and helped to get them back to sleep during the night after I fed them. Some years later, you told me that you were determined not to tell me what to do as a new mother and to not criticize the way I was caring for and worrying about my new baby. You said, “Sometimes I really had to bite my tongue to keep from saying something” but you let me figure out how to be a wife and mother, by trial and error. You would only make suggestions if I asked you for advice. There were a lot of things that I thought were supposed to happen automatically just because I had a baby. I learned that was so untrue.You were the older sister growing up and had a lot of responsibilities at home while your parents were out working. But together you and your family made it through the Great Depression without losing your home.When you met Dad, he would take you out to nice places to eat and to Broadway shows, but he only did that once a month or so because he had to save up to do it. He didn’t know you were quite a few years younger than he was because you were both working in New York City—and you didn’t tell him until he had fallen in love and those years didn’t matter to him anymore.When I was born you were living several hours away from home. That was the pattern set for the rest of our lives. Charles and I moved several states away when we married and had our children. But you made sure that we visited your parents, sister and cousins, no matter how far away we were. And you and dad made sure to come and visit my little family a couple of times a year in addition to the once a year trip to MN we made to come home.Your patience always amazes me- first with your kids, and your grandkids and ultimately with your husband when he required so much attention and care during the years his abilities and personality changed him into a different person because of Alzheimer’s. My youngest sister once described you as a rubber band—sometimes stretched to the limits but then coming back to a state of no tension. You always want to help us, if you can and even now when you are frail and bent over, you ask what you can do to help. When I was diagnosed with cancer you told me you’d be on the first plane out to help. I asked for your prayers and knew that you would pray frequently and fervently.You rarely face something that you admit is beyond your abilities. Even now, when you are basically restricted to your suite in a nursing care unit, you regularly leave to walk up and down the hallway of your floor until one of the staff escorts you back to your room. Mom- you almost always have a smile on your face and are always ready to hug and kiss us. You said that you feel like you are in prison during this quarantine, and part of that is not getting any hugs from your children in something like 9 weeks. You are always optimistic and try to act like nothing is wrong, even when you have severe pain in your neck and back. If one of my sisters is not available to go with you to your doctor’s appointments either in person or virtually, you will tell the doctor who’s been seeing you for many years that “I’m fine, nothing is wrong, nothing hurts.” Then one of my sisters will tell the doctor that you had been complaining of pain in your neck and back.I remember from years ago when you were making toast for a meal that if some pieces came out mostly burnt, you would swear up and down that you liked the burnt toast best. The rest of us silently scraped the burned parts off.The kids knew that Dad snored very loudly, which was a problem when we were camping and all went to bed around the same time, or when he came in and we hadn’t yet fallen asleep. We knew we were done for if he fell asleep before us!I remember asking you at some point how you could fall asleep when he was so loud. You had a very effective way to solve the problem. You took out your hearing aids and then put the best ear on the pillow and the other one on top. Not having your hearing aids in made all of the difference for you!You and Dad made sure that we always went to church and Sunday School while we were growing up. Dad sang in the choir and taught a confirmation class some years, and adult classes until he became too confused to attend. You taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School classes and got us enlisted in teaching both once we were old enough.You made sure to ask Dad for his opinion on any changes that had to be made, even after he no longer was able to make an informed opinion.When dad became confused, he was afraid to be left alone, and would follow you around the house. As long as he was with you, he knew he would be ok. When he had to move to a memory care unit and you couldn’t stay with him, he was upset, but became resigned to it. He only lived a short time after that due to a head injury from a fall in his room.You have always been generous to all of your kids and found ways to help my family when I was unexpectedly laid off from my job or when a car broke down. You helped to drive several cars down to us from MN—passed on by my sibs or by you, when they got newer ones. I hope that you have a nice Mother’s Day in spite of having to stay in your own space. I know that one of these months we’ll come and visit and you won’t be restricted in your suite. In John 14 there is a passage that is often read at funerals: 2?In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you??3?And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.Mom, it is so comforting to know for certain, that when it is your time to leave your mortal body we know where to find you and all of our family and friends who have gone ahead of us. Jesus promised to prepare a place for you and for all who call upon his name. There are dwelling places for all who have gone before us and for all who are still living on earth. Jesus promised to come and bring us home to him at the end, and we can trust that promise.On Mother’s Day, most of us know where our mothers are, but many of us are unable to see them in person due to the pandemic. Many others of us can no longer be with them in person because they have passed on. Sometimes it is someone other than our birth mother that we think of on this day, and we give thanks to those who stepped in and helped us as we grew up.Whether or not you can reach out and call your mother or send her a card, know that the bonds of love do not just end at death. We know where those special people in our lives have gone and we know we will join them again in God’s time.AMENHYMN OF THE DAY- God’s Tomorrow1. God’s tomorrow is a day of gladness, And its joys shall never fade,No more weeping, no more sense of sadness, No more foes to make afraid.Refrain-God’s tomorrow, God’s tomorrow, Ev’ry cloud will pass awayAt the dawning of that day; God’s tomorrow, No more sorrowFor I know that God’s tomorrow Will be better than today!2. God’s tomorrow is a day of greeting: We shall see the Savior’ faceAnd our longing hearts await the meeting In the holy happy place.Refrain3. God’s tomorrow is a day of glory: We share wear the crown of life’;Sing thro’ countless years love’s old, old story, Free forever from all strife.RefrainNicene CREEDLet us together as one body in Christ, proclaim our faith using the words of the 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 salvationhe came down from heaven,was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Maryand became truly human.For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;he suffered death and was buried.On the third day he rose againin accordance with the scriptures;he ascended into heavenand 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 INTERCESSIONUplifted by the promised hope of healing and resurrection, we join the people of God in all times and places in praying for the church, the world, and all who are in need.Build us up, mothering God, as living stones united in your spiritual house. Continually strengthen your church as it is sent forth to proclaim your love. We pray especially for new congregations and those in redevelopment. Lord, in your mercy,hear our prayer.Humble us, creator God, as part of your creation. Fill us with respect and awe for the world you have made, including volcanoes, ocean currents, tropical rainstorms, glaciers, and other forces that both destroy and create. Lord, in your mercy,hear our prayer.Align our ways to your love, O God. We pray for countries, leaders, and other organizations as they prepare places for those seeking refuge and safety such as the Lutheran International Refugee Services and Lutheran World Reflief. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.God of healing and rest, help those whose hearts are heavy and weighed down by many troubles. Comfort their suffering, ease their distress, and carry their burdens (especially). Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.Nurturing God, we pray for those who tend and teach young children, for the safe pregnancies of expectant parents, and for families who struggle with infertility and miscarriage. We give thanks for all who have shown mothering care, and we remember all for whom this day is difficult. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.Holy Lord God we pray for all who are caring for those with Covid 19, for all who are researching for a vaccine and for treatment, for all who are now suffering from it as well as those who have returned to full health. We pray for all who are on the front lines for our protection and for the government officials who seek to reopen our businesses and turn the economy around. May they not sacrifice the lives that they are charged to guard. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.We pray for our bishops Herman and Elizabeth and our companion synods of Colombia, Japan and Tanzania. We pray for our prayer partner today, the Rev. Edward Woodward, pastor of Cedar Grove Lutheran Church in Leesville, SC. We pray as well for our parish partners in the Dutch Fork Cluster. May your Spirit be present and continue to guide all of their ministries. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.Generous God, you call into your brilliant light all who have died. Give us faith to take hold of the promise of your eternal life. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.With bold confidence in your love, almighty God, we place all for whom we pray into your eternal care; through Christ our Lord.Amen.PEACE?May the peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you. Please share the gift of Christ’s peace with those you are worshiping with today, and if you are by yourself, please name out loud some of those people that you would like to give a measure of God’s peace.THE OFFERINGWe give back to God what the Lord has first given to us, our time, our resources and our talents, that God will continue to provide us what we need to live out the promise of our baptism. Let us also remember that as we are asked to stay at home or stay at work and are not worshipping in our churches at this time, the work of the church is ongoing and we have financial obligations to meet. I ask that those of you who are members of the Peak Springhill Parish continue to send your offerings in, either to Bob Ariail at Mt Hermon or to Linda Branham at Mt Olivet.Those of you who are active in other churches or communities are invited to send your contributions to your home church or to an organization that helps the members of your community or the wider world.Let us pray:O God of justice and love, we give thanks to you that you illumine our way through of others, and at the end bring all the world to your feast; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory forever.Amen.LORD’S PRAYER?Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.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 thosewho 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?May the God of steadfastness and encouragementgrant you to live in harmony with one another,in accordance with Christ Jesus. Amen.The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.The God of all grace???bless you now and forever. Amen.SENDING HYMN: Softly and Tenderly Jesus is CallingSoftly and tenderly Jesus is callingCalling for you and for meSee on the portals He's waiting and watchingWatching for you and for meCome home, come homeYe who are weary come homeEarnestly, tenderly Jesus is callingCalling, "O sinner come home"O for the wonderful love He has promisedPromised for you and for meThough we have sinned He has mercy and pardonPardon for you and for meCome home, come homeYe who are weary come homeEarnestly, tenderly Jesus is callingCalling, "O sinner come home"Come home, come home (come home)Ye who are weary come homeEarnestly, tenderly Jesus is callingCalling, "O sinner come home"DISMISSALChrist is risen: Christ is risen indeed. AlleluiaNow our service is ended.Go in peace. Share the good news.Thanks be to God. Alleluia, Amen___________________________________________________________________From Sundays and . Copyright 2020 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS004189. 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. Portions reprinted under OneLicense #A-707858. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ................
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