Bells
Welcome, Announcements and Sharing
á Hymn Open The Eyes Of My Heart
Paul Baloche
Refrain: Open the eyes of my heart Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You
To see You high and lifted up
Shining in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy holy holy
Holy holy holy
Holy holy holy
Holy holy holy
I want to see You
á Confession and Forgiveness
P Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, who forgives all our sin,
whose mercy endures forever.
C Amen.
P In the presence of God, who sees our hearts and our minds,
let us confess our sin.
Silence is kept for reflection.
P God our strength,
C we confess that we are captive to the power of sin that dwells within us.
We put ourselves first and others last. What we think will make us happy
leaves us longing for more. Even when we want to do what is good, we find ourselves doing the opposite. Rescue us from death’s grip on our lives,
and raise us up day by day, that we may be alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Amen.
P Sisters and brothers, all have fallen short of the glory of God; therefore we are justified by God’s grace as a gift. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in ☩ Christ Jesus, in whom we have forgiveness of sin, life, and salvation.
C Amen
Hymn All Are Welcome (ELW #641)
Let us build a house where love can dwell
and all can safely live,
a place where saints and children tell
how hearts learn to forgive.
Built of hopes and dreams and visions,
rock of faith and vault of grace;
here the love of Christ shall end divisions:
Refrain:
All are welcome, all are welcome,
all are welcome in this place.
Let us build a house where prophets speak,
and words are strong and true,
where all God’s children dare to seek
to dream God’s reign anew.
Here the cross shall stand as witness
and as symbol of God’s grace;
here as one we claim the faith of Jesus: Refrain
Let us build a house where hands will reach
beyond the wood and stone
to heal and strengthen, serve and teach,
and live the Word they’ve known.
Here the outcast and the stranger
bear the image of God’s face;
let us bring an end to fear and danger: Refrain
Greeting
P Beloved of God, called to be saints:
Grace, mercy, and peace be with you all.
C And also with you.
P Let us pray…
C God who calls us into service,
Transform us as you transformed Paul. Shape us into children who rejoice in
knowing and proclaiming you to the world. Amen.
Gospel Matthew 25:37–40
L The Holy Gospel from Matthew 25th Chapter
C Glory to you, O Lord
37 Then the righteous will answer the king saying, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ 40 And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’
L This is the Gospel of our Lord
C Praise to You O Christ
Kids in the Kingdom
Reading Acts 19:1-19
Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. 8 Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10 Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; 16 I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
L This is the Word of the Lord
C Thanks be to God
Sermon Brendan Johnston
á Hymn We are Called (ELW #720)
1 Come! Live in the light!
Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord!
We are called to be light for the kingdom,
to live in the freedom of the city of God.
Refrain: We are called to act with justice,
we are called to love tenderly;
we are called to serve one another,
to walk humbly with God.
2 Come! Open your heart!
Show your mercy to all those in fear!
We are called to be hope for the hopeless
so hatred and blindness will be no more. Refrain
3 Sing! Sing a new song!
Sing of that great day when all will be one!
God will reign, and we’ll walk with each other
as sisters and brothers united in love. Refrain
WE RESPOND TO THE WORD OF GOD
á Apostles Creed (Back of hymnal)
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 … Lord in your mercy …
C … Hear our prayer.
Offering Prayer
P Let us pray…
C Gracious God,
in the abundance of your steadfast love, you call us from death to life, from silence to speech, from idleness to action. With these gifts we offer ourselves to you, and with the Church through all the ages we give thanks for your saving love in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
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 Let us pray…
C We thank you. Lord of heaven and earth, that you have fed us with the saving body and blood of Jesus Christ. Enliven us by your presence in this meal, that we may be your presence in the world, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen
LEAVE TO LIVE THE WORD
á Blessing
P May God the sower make you good and fertile soil.
May Christ the seed bloom and grow in your words and actions.
May the fruitful Spirit bring forth a bountiful yield in your lives.
God the Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit bless you now and forever.
á Sending Song Alleluia! Jesus Is Risen (#377)
Herbert F. Brokering
Alleluia! Jesus is risen!
Trumpets resounding in glorious light!
Splendor, the Lamb, heaven forever!
Oh, what a miracle God has in sight!
Refrain: Jesus is risen and we shall arise.
Give God the glory! Alleluia!
Jesus the vine, we are the branches;
life in the Spirit the fruit of the tree;
heaven to earth, Christ to the people,
gift of the future now flowing to me. Refrain
Weeping, be gone; sorrow, be silent:
death put asunder, and Easter is bright.
Cherubim sing: O grave, be open!
Clothe us in wonder, adorn us in light. Refrain
City of God, Easter forever,
golden Jerusalem, Jesus the Lamb,
river of life, saints and archangels,
sing with creation to God the I AM! Refrain
Dismissal
P Go in peace. Christ is with you.
C Thanks be to God!