Prelude
Bells, Welcome, Announcements and Sharing
Hymn Rise Up O Saints of God (#669 vs. 1, 2, 3, 4)
Forness
1 Rise up, O saints of God!
From vain ambitions turn;
Christ rose triumphant that your hearts
with nobler zeal might burn.
2 Speak out, O saints of God!
Despair engulfs earth’s frame;
as heirs of God’s baptismal grace,
the word of hope proclaim.
3 Rise up, O saints of God!
The kingdom’s task embrace;
redress sin’s cruel consequence;
give justice larger place.
4 Give heed, O saints of God!
Creation cries in pain;
stretch forth your hand of healing now,
with love the weak sustain.
á Confession and Forgiveness
P In the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
P As God’s beloved children, let us call to mind our sin and our need for reconciliation with God and one another.
Silence is kept for reflection.
P Strong and faithful God,
C we confess that we have not lived as your holy people in the world. We have closed our hearts to your love. We have resisted your light. We have failed to proclaim your mercy. Forgive what we have done and what we have left undone, heal us with your abundant grace, and help us walk as children of the light. Amen
P In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
Hymn Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ (ELW #674)
1 Let us talents and tongues employ,
reaching out with a shout of joy:
bread is broken, the wine is poured,
Christ is spoken and seen and heard.
Refrain Jesus lives again, earth can breathe again,
pass the Word around: loaves abound!
Jesus lives again, earth can breathe again,
pass the Word around: loaves abound!
2 Christ is able to make us one,
at the table he sets the tone,
teaching people to live to bless,
love in word and in deed express. Refrain
3 Jesus calls us in, sends us out
bearing fruit in a world of doubt,
gives us love to tell, bread to share:
God (Immanuel) ev’rywhere! Refrain
Prayer of the Day
P Arise, shine; for your light has come. 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.
P Let us pray…
C Patient God, Your son, Jesus, expressed anger at abuses and injustice. Help us to show concern, not apathy, for injustice in our world, and teach us to make right all that may be wrong. Amen.
Kids in the Kingdom
Responsive Reading Psalm 127
1Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord guards the city,
the guard keeps watch in vain.
2It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives sleep to his beloved.
Gospel John 2:13-25
L The Holy Gospel from John in the 2nd Chapter
C Glory to you, O Lord
13The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. 15Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” 17His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” 18The Jews then said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” 19Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20The Jews then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21But he was speaking of the temple of his body. 22After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
23When he was in Jerusalem during the Passover festival, many believed in his name because they saw the signs that he was doing. 24But Jesus on his part would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25and needed no one to testify about anyone; for he himself knew what was in everyone.
L This is the Gospel of our Lord
C Praise to You O Christ
Sermon Brendan Johnston
á Hymn The Church’s One Foundation (ELW #654)
1 The church’s one foundation
is Jesus Christ, her Lord;
she is his new creation
by water and the word.
From heav’n he came and sought her
to be his holy bride;
with his own blood he bought her,
and for her life he died.
4 Through toil and tribulation
and tumult of her war,
she waits the consummation
of peace forevermore;
till with the vision glorious
her longing eyes are blest,
and the great church victorious
shall be the church at rest.
5 Yet she on earth has union
with God, the Three in One,
and mystic sweet communion
with those whose rest is won.
Oh, blessed heav’nly chorus!
Lord, save us by your grace,
that we, like saints before us,
may see you face to face.
WE RESPOND TO THE WORD OF GOD
Creed: Martin Luther on the God the Son
Martin Luther, the reformer of the Church and founder of the Lutheran witness to Jesus, crafted explanations of the basics of faith, called the Catechism. For decades, Lutherans were known for memorizing these Lutheran confessions of faith. For our confession of faith today, we are using Martin Luther’s explanation of the Holy Spirit.
P Do You believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
C Yes, I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontus Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
P What does that mean?
C I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father in eternity, and also a true human being, born of the virgin Mary, is my Lord. He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, delivered me and freed me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with silver and gold but with his holy and precious blood and with his innocent sufferings and death, in order that I may be his, live under him in his kingdom, and serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as he is risen from the dead and lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true.
Offering Prayer
P Merciful God,
C we offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us—our selves, our time, and our possessions, signs of your gracious love. Receive them for the sake of him who offered himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Prayers of Bethlehem
During the prayers, there will be an opportunity for you to lift up a thanksgiving, a prayer concern, the name of someone on your mind today. All are encouraged to join in this time of public prayer.
L … God of grace …
C … Hear our prayer.
Meal
God feeds us with the presence of Jesus Christ
Words of Institution
á Lord’s Prayer
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.
L These are the gifts of God for the people of God
C Thanks be to God
Distribution of Holy Communion
We believe that Jesus is truly present in the elements of communion – and all are welcome to receive Jesus in this food and drink.
Communion in the Pews
Prepackaged communion will be available in pews and as you enter worship. Please open and receive this sacrament after the Words of Institution.
Communion at the Table
Those who wish to receive Holy Communion at the tables in front of the sanctuary will be invited to come forward using the pulpit side aisle, and return to their seat using the piano side aisle.
As you come forward, one at a time, there will be two tables prepared for you. Wafers will be placed on plates on the first table for you to pick up and receive the Body of Christ. Cups of wine or grape juice will be placed on the second table for you to receive the Blood of Christ. Cups can then be placed in a bin.
Children not communing may come forward for a blessing.
Communion Music
á Post Communion Prayer
P O God, the host at every meal,
C at this table you spread out a feast for all peoples,
the bread of life and the cup of salvation.
Send us from this banquet
to invite others into these good things,
to let justice roll down like waters,
and to care for the least of our sisters and brothers;
through Jesus Christ, our Sovereign and our Savior.
Amen
LEAVE TO LIVE THE WORD
á Blessing
P The blessing of almighty God,
The father of Glory
+Jesus Christ our peace
And the spirit of truth
Be upon you and remain with you always.
á Sending Song I’m So Glad Jesus Lifted Me (#860)
African American spiritual
I’m so glad Jesus lifted me.
I’m so glad Jesus lifted me.
I’m so glad Jesus lifted me,
singing glory, hallelujah! Jesus lifted me.
Satan had me bound, Jesus lifted me.
Satan had me bound, Jesus lifted me.
Satan had me bound, Jesus lifted me,
singing glory, hallelujah! Jesus lifted me.
When I was in trouble, Jesus lifted me.
When I was in trouble, Jesus lifted me.
When I was in trouble, Jesus lifted me,
singing glory, hallelujah! Jesus lifted me.
Dismissal
P Go in peace. Christ is with you.
C Thanks be to God!