evangelical lutheran church of geneva english-speaking

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Geneva

English-Speaking Congregation 20, rue Verdaine CH1204 Geneva, Switzerland

Telephone / Fax: 022 310 50 89

Emails: [email protected] [email protected] www.genevalutheran.ch

Pastor: Rev. Andrew Willis Organist: Regine Kummer

Ministers of Music: Terry MacArthur, Koko Taylor

The Third Sunday of Easter + 26 April 2020

Ecumenical Prayer Cycle: Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

In memory of Christian I. Tamaela, Indonesian composer, theological professor,

animateur with the World Council of Churches

Welcome

Prelude Terry MacArthur

Opening Words Luke 24:30-35

When [Jesus] was at the table with [Cleopas and the other disciple], he took bread, blessed and

broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he

vanished from their sight. They said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he

was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?" That same hour they got

up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what

had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Remembering, bread, blessed and broke,

remembering how much it matters to us when we eat together,

remembering our hearts burning within us,

remembering gathering together, encouraging one another,

remembering saying to one another, "The Lord has risen indeed,"

remembering how Jesus is known to us in the breaking of bread,

remembering. . . .

we now come together in a form, unusual for us,

eyes half opened,

aware of what might vanish,

seeking how Jesus might be made known to us in these days,

giving thanks for what has been given,

and for what will yet be,

worshipping the Blessed Trinity,

one God, now and forever.

2

Hymn We who once were dead

Gospel Reading Luke 24:28-29

As [Jesus and the two disciples] came near [Emmaus,] the village to which they were going, [Jesus] walked ahead as if he were going on. But [the two disciples] urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with

us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over." So he went in to stay with them.

Call to Prayer

Prayer

Stay with us, Jesus,

so we are not left alone, or dismayed, but blessed by your presence,

upheld in your embrace.


when we become lost in despair not of our own making,

when we want control against this disarray,

but find ourselves, indeed our world, at the mercy of something so small we cannot see.


drawing us closer to one another,

turning breakfast into the joy of new life,

lunch into a communion that nourishes love,

supper into the assurance that you dwell with us through every evening and face with us the night.


as we sing and pray,

that we might discover anew your rising day where death has no sting and the grave no victory.

Stay with us, Jesus.

3

Hymn Abide with me


Then [Jesus] said to [the two disciples,] "Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe

all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?" Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to

them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

Prayer of the Day

Christ is risen!

Christ is risen indeed!

Let us pray: Risen One,

Suffering One,

Glorious One,

although we be foolish and slow of heart,

interpret for us the times, as well as the scriptures; read to us the wonders of your love,

so we accept your way

leading through death to life,

with faith and hope set on God,

whose enduring word makes us new, in obedience to the truth now and forever. Amen.

4

Invocation of the Holy Spirit Datan lah seg' ra

First Reading Acts 2:14a, 36-41

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: “Therefore let the entire

house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus

whom you crucified." Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?" Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized

every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive

the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away,

everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him." And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." So those who welcomed his

message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.

This is the Word of the Lord

Thanks be to God.

Invocation of the Holy Spirit Datan lah seg' ra

5

Epistle Reading I Peter 1:17-23

If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in

reverent fear during the time of your exile. You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious

blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. He was destined before the foundation

of the world, but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake. Through him you have come to

trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set

on God. Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. You have been born anew, not of

perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.

This is the Word of the Lord

Thanks be to God.

Alleluia Haleluya Puji Tuhan


Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered [Jesus], "Are you the only stranger in

Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?" He asked them,

"What things?" They replied, "The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him

over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem

Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover,

some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they

did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as

the women had said; but they did not see him."

Sermon Rev. Andy Willis

Hymn Day of arising

Apostles’ Creed

6

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

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 Pontius 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 again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen


Anthem Tsmindao Ghmerto Virtual choir Georgian Orthodox Chant

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy and Immortal, have mercy on us.

Prayers of Intercession

The Peace

Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed!

Gathering of Gifts You are holy

7

From Psalm 116

Because God inclined God’s ear to me, therefore I will call on God as long as I live.

The snares of death encompassed me;

the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;

I suffered distress and anguish. Then I called on the name of the Lord:

"O Lord, I pray, save my life!"

What shall I return to the Lord for all this bounty to me?

I will lift up the cup of salvation

and call on the name of the Lord,

I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all the people.

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of faithful ones.

O Lord, I am your servant;

I am your servant, the child of your serving girl.

You have loosed my bonds.

I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice and call on the name of the Lord.

I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all the people,

in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Blessed be God, our mother and father, whose word restores us in truth,

whose presence burns within us an abiding love,

who looses the bonds so that our spirits might be free.


Blessed be Christ Jesus, who hears our cries,

who goes with us into the encompassing snares of death,

who suffers with us our distress and anguish,

who leads us to life.


Blessed be the Holy Spirit,

who makes each of us precious,

instilling within us the giving that become thanks,

the serving that in its grace, its humility, its gentleness becomes Alleluia.


The Lord's Prayer

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come,

your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

Sending Prayer

Benediction

Announcements

8

Recounting the Story in Song Hamba nathi

Dismissal

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Christ is risen!

Christ is risen indeed!

* * *

Thank you to those assisting with leadership in today’s worship service:

Readers: Ben Le Geyt, Vinita Manchala

Musicians: Terry MacArthur, Natalie Deffenbaugh, Koko Taylor

Videography: Ray Woodcock

Virtual choir members: Judy Davis, Natalie Deffenbaugh, Jonathan Frerichs, Adam Gibson-Even,

Erica Gibson-Even, JoAnne Lam, Kumiko Nishimura, Simon Petitjean, Koko Taylor,

Ester Widiasih, Andy Willis

Birthdays Clarissa Lohmann, Fulata Moyo, Phyllis Brewah, Johanna Ralston Lamb,

Adoracion Want-Tombeux, Erandi Hassink, Ginny Rogers, May Chin Long, Jared Camaddo,

Edwin Hassink.

Anniversaries Gladys Yegon & Isaiah Toroitich; Elizabeth Wabuge & Tim Fieldsend.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Philippians Bible Study An online Bible study of the book of Philippians will be starting shortly. This brief letter of Paul (just

four chapters) is full of hopeful, beautiful language--and it was written while Paul was imprisoned

(under a rather strict form of social distancing). It will be a good focus for conversation and study in the

coming weeks. If you would like to join the study, please contact Andy Willis: [email protected]

9

Save the date: Online Annual Assembly – 7 June

Members, please save the date for our annual assembly, which will be held online using Zoom on

Sunday, 7 June, at 13h00. In addition to receiving the 2019 audit report and voting on new and

returning members of our Congregation Council, we will also hear an update from the personnel

committee regarding the search for a new music director. Members should plan to attend!

Online Centering Prayer – Monday to Friday On several days this week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday) from 12 to 12:30, there will be

group Centering Prayer hosted by our church online on Zoom. The Zoom link to the group Centering Prayer is: https://zoom.us/j/763491947

Centering Prayer is silent prayer for around 20 minutes, often done in a group setting. It can feel very

similar to a silent group meditation. The purpose is to provide a space where we very simply consent to the presence and action of God within each of us: to help us be entered and indeed find the center. It is

way to quietly receive from God as opposed to ask Him for things. Its positive effects are often felt over

a period of time. Anybody can join at any time. It’s not complicated. No prior experience needed.

More details about Centering Prayer here: https://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/centering-prayer-1

Note: To protect the safety of this virtual space, when you join the meeting you will be placed in a virtual “waiting

room” for a few seconds and admitted to the meeting by the meeting organiser. If it is your first time, you may be

asked by the moderator to identify yourself. The silent part of the meeting will start at 12:05 and after that time it won’t be possible to add people to the room.

First Quarter Contribution Statements Giving statements for the first quarter have been mailed this week. If you have made a financial contribution during the first quarter, you should receive your statement in the mail soon.

Directory Update We are preparing a new membership directory over the coming weeks. Members, if your contact information (email, phone, or postal address) has changed recently, please send a message to the

church office so we can update it: [email protected]

An Update from Our Treasurer, Samuel Mungure

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

I hope that you and your loved ones are doing well and staying safe during these difficult times. We continue praying and thinking of you. As we all strive to adjust our ministry to our current situation

the best we can to fit our current circumstances, most of our expenses – staff, ministry and building –

are fixed, and as a result, have remained quite constant. The giving for this quarter as imagined is

lower than anticipated. As of the 31st of March, our income was at 79’000CHF, whereas this time last year, it was at 87’000CHF.

Usually many people in our congregation tend to give through the offering plates passed around on

Sundays at church. However, since this is no longer possible, I would like to ask if you are able,

please consider sending your givings digitally through your bank account or PayPal if you prefer in order to continue help support our ministry.

We understand that the current situation has and will impact everyone differently. This is by no

means an obligatory request and I’d like to emphasize that we are not in crisis. As the weeks and months progress, not knowing when we will all be able to meet again, your giving is and will

continue to play an important role in our ministry. Details on giving electronically can be found on

our website:

https://genevalutheran.church/giving/

Thank you and God bless,

Samuel Mungure, Treasurer

https://genevalutheran.church/giving/

evangelical lutheran church of geneva english-speaking

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