GATHERING
WELCOME
Now the Green Blade Rises ELW 379
1 Now the green blade rises from the buried grain,
wheat that in dark earth many days has lain;
love lives again, that with the dead has been;
love is come again like wheat arising green.
2 In the grave they laid him, love by hatred slain,
thinking that he would never wake again;
laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen;
love is come again like wheat arising green.
3 Forth he came at Easter, like the risen grain,
he that for three days in the grave had lain;
raised from the dead, my living Lord is seen;
love is come again like wheat arising green.
4 When our hearts are wintry, grieving, or in pain,
your touch can call us back to life again,
fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been;
love is come again like wheat arising green.
Text: John MacLeod Campbell Crum, 1872-1958
Text from Oxford Book of Carols © Oxford University Press 1928. All rights reserved
Duplication in any form prohibited without permission or valid license from copyright administrator.
PROMISE OF FORGIVENESS
Blessed be the holy Trinity,☩ one God,
whose compassion endures forever. Amen.
Jesus says, “Come to me,
all you who are weary
and are carrying heavy burdens,
and I will give you rest.”
In the name of God;
Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit,
Creator, ☩ Christ, and Charism Giver,
Source, ☩ Savior, and Sustainer,
our sins are forgiven.
Rest in God’s love.
Receiving this blessing, we dare to confess our sin to God, who loves us.
Silence is kept for reflection.
We pray… Compassionate God,
we confess to you all our sins.
Our burden is heavy, and we cannot free ourselves.
In your mercy, call us back to you.
Your yoke is easy and your burden is light.
Restore us to dwell in peace in you,
having received the forgiveness only you can give.
In the name and hope of Christ we pray,
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.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
We pray together:
Prayer of the Day
Faithful God, most merciful judge, you care for your children with firmness and compassion. By your Spirit nurture us as we live in your kingdom and in this world, that we may be rooted in the way of your Son, Jesus, the Christ, our Savior; the way of love. Amen.
WORD
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
Thy Strong Word ELW 511 vss 1, 2, 3
1 Thy strong word did cleave the darkness;
at thy speaking it was done.
For created light we thank thee,
while thine ordered seasons run.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise to thee who light dost send!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia without end!
2 Lo, on those who dwelt in darkness,
dark as night and deep as death,
broke the light of thy salvation,
breathed thine own life-breathing breath.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise to thee who light dost send!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia without end!
3 Thy strong Word bespeaks us righteous;
bright with thine own holiness,
glorious now, we press toward glory,
and our lives our hopes confess.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise to thee who light dost send!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia without end!
Text: Martin H. Franzmann, 1907-1976
Text © 1969 Concordia Publishing House
Duplication in any form prohibited without permission or valid license from copyright administrator
1 CORINTHIANS 15:26-58
St Paul reflects on the power of the resurrection and what it means for living where hope is challenged by the powers of this world.
SERMON Pastor Karla
Thy Strong Word ELW 511 vss 4, 5, 6
4 From the cross thy wisdom shining
breaketh forth in conqu’ring might;
from the cross forever beameth
all thy bright redeeming light.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise to thee who light dost send!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia without end!
5 Give us lips to sing thy glory,
tongues thy mercy to proclaim,
throats that shout the hope that fills us,
mouths to speak thy holy name.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
May the light which thou dost send
fill our songs with alleluias,
alleluias without end!
6 God the Father, light-creator,
to thee laud and honor be.
To thee, Light of Light begotten,
praise be sung eternally.
Holy Spirit, light-revealer,
glory, glory be to thee.
Mortals, angels, now and ever
praise the holy Trinity!
Text: Martin H. Franzmann, 1907-1976
Text © 1969 Concordia Publishing House
Duplication in any form prohibited without permission or valid license from copyright administrator
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Teach us your way, O Lord,
and we will walk in your truth; (Psalm 86:11)
MEAL
OFFERING OUR GIFTS FOR THE MISSION
AND MINISTRY OF GOD’S CHURCH
We have prayed. We have sung. We have heard the Word. Now, being thankful for the ministry we are called to do, we are invited to offer ourselves; our time, talents and treasure in faithful witness of the good things God has done for us and in confidence that our worship extends beyond this place and time. Your financial contributions are gratefully accepted to further the life and ministry of Gethsemane Lutheran. Thank you.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
AND WORDS OF INSTITUTION
LORD’S PRAYER
And now, join me in praying 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 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.
DISTRIBUTION
POST COMMUNION BLESSING
SENDING
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
BLESSING
Go, Make Disciples ELW 540
“Go, make disciples,
baptizing them, teaching them.
Go, make disciples,
for I am with you till the end of time.
Go, be the salt of the earth.
Go, be the light for the world.
Go, be a city on a hill,
so all can see that you’re serving me.
Go, make disciples.”
Text: Handt Hanson, b. 1950
Text © 1996 Prince of Peace Publishing, Changing Church, Inc., admin. Augsburg Fortress.
Duplication in any form prohibited without permission or valid license from copyright administrator.
OUR DECLARATION OF MISSION
You are the body of Christ.
We are the body of Christ in the world!
So go in peace
To explore the faith
Live in peace
To express our faith to others
Share the peace
By inviting others to join us on this journey.
WE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST IN THE WORLD, SO LET’S TELL EVERYBODY: WE HAVE GOOD NEWS! HEAVEN HAS COME NEAR! THANKS BE TO GOD.
Confession and Forgiveness, Reading synopsis, Prayer of the Day, and cover art from Sundays and Seasons. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Please visit their Web site at www.augsburgfortress.org. All music is used with permission under CCLI #3225965.
LECTIONARY READINGS FOR TODAY
Much of Matthew’s Gospel describes Christians as living in righteousness. Yet the parable of the wheat and the weeds warns against our tendency to identify who is evil and who is good. Christ, the Son of Man, is the judge.
The poem from Isaiah is chosen to parallel Matthew’s word that God, not the community, is the judge. As if in self-defense during a court trial, God claims to be the ultimate authority.
The reading from Romans expands this Sunday’s picture of God, who is not only the righteous judge, but also the welcoming father. Believers are not only part wheat, part weeds, but also adopted children, who await both divine judgment and glorious freedom.
Prayer is important to us. We are a people of prayer, and our prayer leads us to know God more completely. Knowing God reassures us that God’s love is sufficient for all we need. Knowing God leads us to action, to working for justice and peace. We dedicate ourselves to making our little corner of the world a better place. We dedicate ourselves to welcoming all of God’s people. We dedicate ourselves to trusting God in all phases of life.
