Zion Lutheran Church‘Hearing, Sharing and Living the Gospel.’

Fifth Sunday of Easter/Baptism of Avaleigh Sierra

May 10, 2020 10:30 a.m. Service

Zion Lutheran Church ‘Hearing, Sharing and Living the Gospel’

Rev. Thomas A. Rhodes, Pastor PO Box 5 • 600 East Aldrich Road • Bolivar, MO 65613

Phone: 417-326-5506 • www.zionlutheranbolivar.org zionbolivar@windstream.net

Administrative Assistant – Sonya Gorman

You are invited to use the yellow Prayer Cards located in the pew for prayer requests. Please hand this card to an usher or place it in the offering plate.

* Please turn off cellphones*

FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER/BAPTISM OF AVALEIGH SIERRA

Divine Service – Setting ThreeMay 10, 2020 10:30 a.m.

Welcome & Announcements

+ INVOCATION + LSB 184The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.P We begin in the name into which we are baptized; In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19b; [18:20]C Amen.

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Opening CollectP Gracious God and Father, though Your Son, Jesus Christ, came to bring us Your heavenly peace, turmoil and destruction still erupt among Your children on earth. We thank You that in Your mercy and goodness You have caused our recent need for separation to diminish to the point we may again gather in Your house of worship. Bring a restoration of calm and security, heal the wounds that have been inflicted and comfort the grieving. Enlarge the peace that has again begun to grow so that what has been devastated and weakened can again be planted and built up. Open Your fatherly heart and bountiful hand to help all in need. Grant that we all may live together in unity and peace, and let all hatred and ill-will be remembered no more. Give us that peace which the world cannot give, and grant us grace that we may live here, with our neighbors, in harmony and safety, and that when we have, finally, gained

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the eternal rest of the saints in glory, we may there praise and bless, worship and glorify You forever; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.C Amen.Opening Hymn (requested) LSB 345 sts. 1-5

“Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding”

Public domain

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+ HOLY BAPTISM +(This rite occurs in the place of Confession and Absolution reminding us all that our sin is washed away in the cleansing flood of Baptism as promised in God's Holy Word) (1 Peter 3:21, Acts 22:16, Rom 6:1-11) 

When candidates are unable to speak for themselves, the sponsors and parents answer the questions on their behalf.

Matthew 28:18b-19; Mark 16:16a; 1 Peter 3:21P Dearly beloved, Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Matthew, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." In the last chapter of Mark our Lord promises, "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved." And the apostle Peter has written, "Baptism now saves you."

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The Word of God also teaches that we are all conceived and born sinful and are under the power of the devil until Christ claims us as His own. We would be lost forever unless delivered from sin, death, and everlasting condemnation. But the Father of all mercy and grace has sent His Son Jesus Christ, who atoned for the sin of the whole world, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

The pastor addresses the candidate:P How are you named?R Avaleigh Sierra Burris.

The pastor makes the sign of the holy cross upon the forehead and heart of the candidate while saying:P Avaleigh, receive the sign of the holy cross both upon your forehead and upon your heart to mark you as one redeemed by Christ the crucified.

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P Let us pray. Almighty and eternal God, according to Your strict judgment You condemned the unbelieving world through the flood, yet according to Your great mercy You preserved believing Noah and his family, eight souls in all. You drowned hard-hearted Pharaoh and all his host in the Red Sea, yet led Your people Israel through the water on dry ground, foreshadowing this washing of Your Holy Baptism. Through the Baptism in the Jordan of Your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, You sanctified and instituted all waters to be a blessed flood and a lavish washing away of sin.

We pray that You would behold Avaleigh according to Your boundless mercy and bless her with true faith by the Holy Spirit, that through this saving flood all sin in her which has been inherited from Adam, or has been committed, would be

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drowned and die. Grant that she be kept safe and secure in the holy ark of the Christian Church and serving Your name at all times with a fervent spirit and a joyful hope, so that, with all believers in Your promise, she will be declared worthy of eternal life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.C Amen.

Stand Mark 10:13-16P Hear the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark.13 People were bringing little children to Jesus to have Him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And

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he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

P This is the Word of the Lord.C Thanks be to God.

The pastor places his hand on the head of the candidate, as the congregation joins in praying:P 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

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forever and ever. Amen.P The Lord preserve your coming in and your going out from this time forth and even forevermore.C Amen.

Speaking for Avaleigh the congregation answers the following three Creedal questions: P Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty?C Yes, I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

P Do you believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son?C Yes, I believe in Jesus Christ, His 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. The third day He rose again from the dead.

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He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From thence He will come to judge the quick and the dead.

P Do you believe in the Holy Spirit?C Yes, I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Sit The pastor addresses the sponsors:P From ancient times the Church has observed the custom of appointing sponsors for baptismal candidates. In the Evangelical Lutheran Church sponsors confess the faith expressed in the Apostles' Creed and taught in the Small

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Catechism. They are to pray for them, support them in their ongoing instruction and nurture in the Christian faith, and encourage them toward the faithful reception of the Lord's Supper. They are at all times to be examples to them of the holy life of faith in Christ and love for the neighbor.

P Is it your intention to serve Avaleigh as sponsors in the Christian faith?R Yes, with the help of God.

P God enable you both to will and to do this faithful and loving work and with His grace fulfill what we are unable to do.C Amen.

The pastor addresses the candidate and asks the following questions that the parents & sponsors reply to:P Avaleigh, do you renounce the devil?R Yes, I renounce him.P Do you renounce all his works and all his ways?

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R Yes, I renounce them.P Avaleigh, do you desire to be baptized?R Yes, I do.

The pastor pours water three times on the head of the candidate while saying:P Avaleigh Sierra Burris, I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.C Amen.

The pastor places his hand on the head of the newly baptized while saying:P The almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given you the new birth of water and of the Spirit and has forgiven you all your sins, strengthen you with His grace to life everlasting.C Amen.

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The pastor places a white cloth on the newly baptized while saying:P Receive this white cloth to show that you have been clothed with the robe of Christ's righteousness that covers all your sin. So shall you stand without fear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive the inheritance prepared for you before the foundation of the world.

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The pastor lights the baptismal candle and gives it to the newly baptized while saying:P Receive this burning light to show that you have received Christ who is the Light of the world. Live always in the light of Christ, and be ever watchful for His coming, that you may meet Him with joy and enter with Him into the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which shall have no end.

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A In Holy Baptism God the Father has made you both a member of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and an heir with us of all the treasures of heaven in the one holy Christian and apostolic Church. We receive you in Jesus' name as our sister in Christ, that together we might hear His Word, receive His gifts, and proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.C Amen. We welcome you in the name of the Lord.

Stand

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P Let us pray. Almighty and most merciful God and Father, we thank and praise You that You graciously preserve and enlarge Your family and have granted Avaleigh the new birth in Holy Baptism. We humbly implore You that, as she has now become Your child, You would keep her in her baptismal grace, that according to Your good pleasure she may faithfully grow to lead a godly life to the praise and honor of Your holy name and finally, with all Your saints, obtain the promised inheritance in heaven; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.C Amen.

P Peace be with you.C Amen.

All return to their places.

SitSong (requested) On Screen

“King of Kings”17

Verse 1In the darkness we were waitingWithout hope, without lightTill from heaven You came runningThere was mercy in Your eyesTo fulfill the law and prophetsTo a virgin came the WordFrom a throne of endless gloryTo a cradle in the dirt

ChorusPraise the Father, Praise the Son,Praise the Spirit, three in oneGod of glory, majesty,Praise forever to the King of Kings

Verse 2To reveal the kingdom comingAnd to reconcile the lost

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To redeem the whole creationYou did not despise the crossFor even in Your sufferingYou saw to the other sideKnowing this was our salvationJesus for our sake You died

ChorusPraise the Father, Praise the Son,Praise the Spirit, three in oneGod of glory, majesty,Praise forever to the King of Kings

Verse 3And the morning that You roseAll of heaven held its breathTill that stone was moved for goodFor the Lamb had conquered deathAnd the dead rose from their tombsAnd the angels stood in awe

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For the souls of all who’d comeTo the Father are restored

Verse 4And the Church of Christ was bornThen the Spirit lit the flameNow this gospel truth of oldShall not kneel, shall not faintBy His blood and in His nameIn His freedom I am freeFor the love of Jesus ChristWho has resurrected me

ChorusPraise the Father, Praise the Son,Praise the Spirit, three in oneGod of glory, majesty,Praise forever to the King of KingsPraise forever to the King of Kings

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Stand+ SERVICE OF THE WORD + LSB 186Introit Ps. 30:1-5; antiphon: Ps. 149:1P Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly!C I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me.P O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.C O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.P Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, And give thanks to his holy name.C For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.P C Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

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P Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly!

Gloria Patri LSB 186

Kyrie Mark 10:47, LSB 186

Hymn of Praise/Gloria in Excelsis LSB 187

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Salutation and Collect of the Day LSB 189P The Lord be with you.C And with thy spirit.P Let us pray. O God, You make the minds of Your faithful to be of one will. Grant that we may love what You have commanded and desire what You promise, that among the many changes of this world our hearts may be fixed where true joys are found; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.C Amen.

SitFirst Reading Acts 6:1-7 1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them

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complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word." 5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

A This is the Word of the Lord.

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C Thanks be to God.

Gradual adapt. from Matt. 28:7; Heb. 2:7; Ps. 8:6A C Christ has risen from the dead. [God the Father] has crowned him with glory and honor, He has given him dominion over the works of his hands; he has put all things under his feet.

Second Reading 1 Peter 2:2-102 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.4 As you come to him, the living Stone - rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him - 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says:“See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”

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7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”8 and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

A This is the Word of the Lord.C Thanks be to God.

StandAlleluia and Verse Rom. 6:9; John 14:23P C Alleluia. We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. Alleluia. If

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anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Alleluia.

Holy Gospel John 14:1-14P The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the fourteenth chapter. LSB 190

14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

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6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater

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things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

LSB 191

SitHymn of the Day LSB 526 sts. 1-4

“You Are the Way; through You Alone”

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Public domain

Sermon “Exactly Right” Pastor Tom Rhodes

OfferingIn quiet devotion and responding in personal stewardship of God’s abundant provision to you, please use the offering plates in the back as you enter or exit. This is just as it says: An offering to God through His church. As a reassurance to those in worship today, especially our guests - this is not an obligation - the good news of Jesus is free to all!

StandStewardship PrayerP C Compassionate Father, You are not aloof from the needs of this body and life, and You have called us to love our neighbor in need and give aid to the poor. Give us courage and faith, that we may not fear sharing the resources You

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have supplied with those who live in want, especially the widow, the orphan and the unemployed. Let love be perfected among us to drive out selfish fears. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Offertory LSB 192

Prayer of the Church LSB 193P As newborn infants who long for the pure spiritual milk, so let us come before the Lord seeking

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His mercy with confidence that His grace will be sufficient for all our needs.

Brief silence

P Almighty Father, everlasting God, at the exact right time Your Son has revealed You to us as a merciful Lord. Continue to give us Your Holy Spirit, that we may believe in Him whom You have sent and do the greater works He has told us we will do in His name. Lord, in Your mercy, C hear our prayer.

P Lord God, You have promised to build up Your Church to be a holy priesthood, that Your people might offer the spiritual sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving acceptable to You. Bless Your Church and bring all congregations back together again. Bless all pastors who proclaim Christ to us. Bless all church goers to share Your mighty Word in love for our neighbors. Lord, in Your mercy,

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C hear our prayer.

P Holy God, Your power brought all things into being and still You rule over and preserve all that You have made. Bless our president, the Congress of these United States, our governor, and all elected and appointed civil servants so that they may honor You and Your purpose, establishing order and justice, encouraging virtue and protecting all life. Give wisdom and moderation to them in their leadership for the well-being of the nation. Lord, in Your mercy, C hear our prayer.

P O merciful Father, You have compassion upon the sick and those in need and have promised not to ignore them in their afflictions. Turn back the pandemic across the globe, and give us relief. Bless the sick with healing, those who suffer with strength and patience, and the dying with peace. Hear us on behalf of those who have requested our prayers

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especially those on our prayer list and cards. Lord, in Your mercy, C hear our prayer.

P Gracious God, You have established the home and blessed those who show us Your love. Bless all mothers and the children in their care. Bless all families and make their homes places of blessing and love, where Your Word is spoken, forgiveness reigns and love is displayed. Give us good examples to inspire youth to all that is good and pure, and to seek after these things. Lord, in Your mercy, C hear our prayer.

P Heavenly Father, You have given us the wisdom of faith that through the Spirit we might know Your Son to be the way, the truth and the life. Do not let Your Word be bound, but let it have free course among us. Preserve those in isolation from idleness, and instead let our minds be renewed in Scripture and prayer. Lord, in Your mercy,

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C hear our prayer.

P Eternal Father of an eternal mercy, You have raised up witnesses in every age and blessed us with those who endured suffering and even death in faithfulness to Christ. We give You thanks for these faithful saints and martyrs, and we pray You to make us strong, that at length we may be brought with them into the joy of Your presence and the glory of everlasting life. Lord, in Your mercy, C hear our prayer.

P We praise You, God, for Your goodness in hearing the prayers of Your people and granting us confidence to approach Your throne of mercy. Hear us now in the name of and for the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, through whom, with whom and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honor and glory is Yours, almighty Father, both now and forevermore. C Amen.

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Lord's Prayer Matthew 6:9-13, LSB 196P Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray: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.

Salutation and Benedicamus LSB 201P The Lord be with you. 2 Timothy 4:22

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C And with thy spirit.P Bless we the Lord. Psalm 103:1C Thanks be to God.

Benediction Numbers 6:24-26, LSB 202P The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.C Amen.SitClosing Hymn LSB 722 sts. 1-3

“Lord, Take My Hand and Lead Me”

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© 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License .NET, no. 100011462.

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