REV. MELODI HAGEN

Linell Hertenstein

Nancy Myers Bonnie Greve

Karissa Frische Tyler Kysenceder

MAY 21, 2017

Welcome & Announcements

Prelude Blessings Laura Story

Gathering Song Come, Thou Almighty King # 408

Confession & Forgiveness

In the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

God of all mercy and consolation, come to the help of your people, turning

us from our sin to live for you alone. Give us the power of your Holy Spirit

that we may confess our sin, receive your forgiveness, and grow into the

fullness of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

Silence for reflection and self-examination

Most merciful God, we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free

ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by

what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved

you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.

For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us,

renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in

your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.

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. 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.

Kyrie

Canticle of Praise

Prayer of the Day

Let us pray. Almighty and ever-living God, you hold together all things

in heaven and on earth. In your great mercy receive the prayers of all

your children, and give to all the world the Spirit of your truth and

peace, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns

with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Children’s Sermon

First Reading Acts 17:22-31

In Athens, Paul faces the challenge of proclaiming the gospel to Greeks who

know nothing of either Jewish or Christian tradition. He proclaims that the

“unknown god” whom they worship is the true Lord of heaven and earth who

will judge the world with justice through Jesus, whom God has raised from the

dead.

22Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, “Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. 23For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, 25nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things. 26From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, 27so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him—though indeed he is not far from each one of us. 28For ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said,

‘For we too are his offspring.’ 29Since we are God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals. 30While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Responsive Reading Psalm 66:8-20

8Bless our God, you peoples;

let the sound of praise be heard.

9Our God has kept us among the living

and has not allowed our feet to slip. 10For you, O God, have tested us;

you have tried us just as silver is tried.

11You brought us into the net;

you laid heavy burdens upon our backs. 12You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water,

but you brought us out into a place of refreshment.

13I will enter your house with burnt offerings

and will pay you my vows— 14those that I promised with my lips

and spoke with my mouth when I was in trouble.

15I will offer you burnt offerings of fatlings with the smoke of rams;

I will give you oxen and goats. 16Come and listen, all you who believe,

and I will tell you what God has done for me.

17I called out to God with my mouth,

and praised the Lord with my tongue. 18If I had cherished evil in my heart,

the Lord would not have heard me;

19but in truth God has heard me

and has attended to the sound of my prayer. 20Blessed be God, who has not rejected my prayer,

nor withheld unfailing love from me.

Second Reading 1 Peter 3:13-22

Christians have a zeal for doing what is right in God’s eyes no matter what

the circumstances because in baptism we are saved and made alive. Thus our

Christian beliefs and behavior are to be a matter of public record just as our

baptism is.

13Who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? 14But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, 15but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; 16yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. 17For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil. 18For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, 19in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, 20who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. 21And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.

The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation

Announcement of the Gospel

The Gospel according to John the 14th chapter.

Glory to you, O Lord

Gospel Lesson John 14:15-21

In final words to his disciples on the night of his arrest, Jesus encourages

obedience to his commandments and speaks of the Spirit, who will be with

them forever.

[Jesus said to the disciples:] 15“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 17This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. 18“I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. 19In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. 20On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”

The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

Recognition of 2017 High School Graduates

Song Come Down, O Love Divine # 804

Apostle’s Creed

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 into

hell. 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.

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.

Prayers of Intercession

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Peace

The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you.

Tithes and Offerings

Offertory Alleluia! Sing to Jesus! Arr. Lani Smith

Offertory Response Let the Vineyards Be Fruitful

Offering Prayer

Let us pray. Holy God, gracious and merciful, you bring forth food from the

earth and nourish your whole creation. Turn our hearts toward those who

hunger in any way, that all may know your care; and prepare us now to feast

on the bread of life, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

The Great Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and

praise.

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy,

that we should at all times and in all places

give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God,

through our Savior Jesus Christ;

who on this day overcame death and the grave,

and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life.

And so, with all the choirs of angels,

with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven,

we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

In the night in which he was betrayed,

our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;

broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:

Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,

and gave it for all to drink, saying:

This cup is the new covenant in my blood,

shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

Lord’s Prayer

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.

Invitation to Communion

Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Continuous Holy Communion

Song O Lamb of God

Communion Songs during Distribution

Children of the Heavenly Father # 781

Prayer after Communion

Let us pray. We give you thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us

through the healing power of this gift of life. In your mercy, strengthen us

through this gift, in faith toward you and in fervent love toward one another;

for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sending

God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world.

Blessing

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord’s face shine on you with grace

and mercy. The Lord look upon you with favor and ☩ give you peace.

Amen.

Sending Song Now Thank We All Our God # 840

Dismissal

Go in peace. Share the good news. Thanks be to God.

Postlude Christ for the World We Sing! Arr. Lani Smith

From Sundays and Seasons.com Copyright © 2017 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.

Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS006368. 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. Music permission by OneLicense #A-712601. CCLI #11172672

Worship Has Ended…The Service Begins

You are invited to sign the register each week. People in each pew nearest the black book are asked to sign it & pass it down the pew.

Welcome and Thank you to Melodi Hagen for leading our Worship this morning.

Today we are celebrating Holy Communion. We invite all baptized Christians who believe that Christ is truly present in this meal to join us. We offer both wheat or gluten free wafers and red wine or white grape juice. If you prefer gluten free wafers or grape juice, simply ask. All children who do not receive Holy Communion in their own churches are invited to come forward for a blessing.

Today we are honoring our high school graduates: Karissa Frische, Cayla Harter, Kori Lochard, Vanessa Vining, & Heidi Vining. We wish them the best as they begin this new chapter in their lives. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

The Altar Flowers this morning are given to the Glory of God by the congregation.

The rosebud on the altar is honor of the birth of Wyatt Thomas Nale on Mother’s Day to Brad & Leslie Nale. Wyatt is the grandson of Doretta Nale and great-grandson of Richard & Dorothy Krites. He is welcomed home by sisters Reagan and Lynix.

Prayer Concerns: Mike Schlenker, Happy Becher, Joann Feldwisch, Shery Miller, Karen Dietz, Diane Thede, Meghan & Elizabeth Martin, Derron Hollenbacher, Dale Stolzenburg, Anna Kay Nuesmeyer, Jim Sawmiller, Lucas Regula, Ned Hobler, Jean Shugert, Rose Casazza, Dorothy Krites, Doris Dillon, Jerry Harshbarger, Bill Nuesmeyer, Tasha Withrow, Ron Williams, Charles Burklo, Evelyn Wagner, Dottie Hobler, Kelly Ward, Linda Hoedt, Lauren Cunningham, Richard Krites, Marilyn Blackburn, Hannah Vanover, Jane Noveen, Kelly Ward, Marcia Perez, Dru Martin, Jean Sheaks, Andrea Martin & our shut-ins.

Hospoitalized: Joann Feldwisch at St. Marys; Mike Schlenker at Ft. Wayne

Christian Sympathy and prayers for God’s comfort are extended to the entire family of Joyce Schlenker.

Today was the last day of Sunday School for the year. Thank you to the Sunday School Staff for all their work in making this a successful year: Ellen Schultz, Dianne Logan, Kyle Frische, Bonnie Greve, Jackie Williams, Doretta Nale, Kathy Moellenkamp, Tammy Frische, & Jeff Hertenstein.

Thank you to the Sunday School students for the gifts that they distributed to the congregation last week.

There are DVDs available of our weekly Worship service. If you would like a copy, please let Kyle or Tracey know, and it will be available by Wednesday after work. We also have portable DVD players to loan out if you are taking the DVD to share with a shut-in. Just let us know.

We will be publishing an updated Directory of Members this Summer. Please, if you have changed your phone number or address or dropped your land line in the last year, let us know. Thank you.

Pentecost is Sunday, June 4. You are invited to wear red and to bring a live red geranium to Worship. The geraniums will then be planted around our church.

Youth Activity Bags are located in the cry room. These bags include activities for the youth to be used during worship and a snack. Please return the bags at the end of the service.

Vacation Bible School will be July 16-20, 5:30-8:00 pm. Preschoolers will be dismissed at 7:30. Please pick up a registration flyer in the Narthex.

Birthdays this week: Doretta Nale, Jared Weeks, Deb Casazza, Brynn Egbert, Delani Harter, Jimmy Benoit, Jessica Tietje, Sarah Sawmiller

Anniversaries this week: Kevin & Malinda Bubp, Jeff & Linell Hertenstein

May 14, 2017 Attendance 73

Current Offering received: $2,296.50 Budget Needed: $3,213.00

Balance in Current: $39,970.17

Parsonage Fund Balance: $5,025.00 Net Payoff: $18,971.18

This Week’s Schedule

Today 6:00 pm Moulton 4H

Tuesday 10:30 am Funeral

Next Sunday 10:15 am Worship

Next Sunday

Haley Payne, Acolyte

Happy Becher, Altar Flower Care

Kathy Moellenkamp, Lay Reader

Deadline for information for the weekly bulletin is Thursday at 11 am.

The deadline for the newsletter is the 15th of each month.

Many have asked what might be done for the Schlenker Family as they remain by Mike’s side in Fort Wayne. The family could use gift cards for meals. HIs daughters and his son are staying at a hotel near the hospital and if they could catch a meal other than the hospital cafeteria, it would be much appreciated. Visa gift cards to pay for the hotel and gas would also be of great benefit.

Close by them: Starbucks Bob Evans Outback Steakhouse Applebees McDonald’s Tim Horton’s

If anyone would purchase a card, just drop it off at the church office or contact me, Tracey Wright, and we will see that the family gets them.

Response Form Information

1. We are seeking people to help in the garden again this year. Please let us know

how to reach you and when you are available.

2. Kids Against Hunger packaging has been scheduled for June 17 at First English in Wapak. The packaging starts at 9:00 am with setup at 8:00 am. Please sign up if you can come help.

3. The Prayer Shawl Group will be meeting to work on Fidget Mats for area nursing homes. Please let us know if you are interested in helping, and provide the best way for us to contact you.