Fifth Sunday of Easter May 15, 2022

Today’s Theme for Worship: Selfless love marches victorious over self-glorification. The disciples once argued among themselves about who was “greatest” (Luke 22:24). We are not immune from such hubris. Sinful human beings are entirely self-focused. Easter helps us avoid the trap of self-glorification and opens our eyes to a more excellent way: selfless love.

Hymn: 730 Blest Be the Tie That Binds

1     Blest be the tie that binds
    our hearts in Christian love;
the fellowship of kindred minds
    is like to that above.

2     Before our Father’s throne
    we pour our ardent prayers;
our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,
    our comforts and our cares.

3     We share our mutual woes,
    our mutual burdens bear,
and often for each other flows
    the sympathizing tear.

4     When here our pathways part,
    we suffer bitter pain;
yet, one in Christ and one in heart,
    we hope to meet again.

5     From sorrow, toil, and pain,
    and sin we shall be free
and perfect love and friendship reign
    through all eternity.

Text: John Fawcett, 1740–1817

Text: Public domain

In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Confession

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just
and will forgive us our sins
and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Let us confess our sins to the Lord.

Holy God, gracious Father,
    I am sinful by nature
        and have sinned against you in my thoughts, words, and actions.
    I have not loved you with my whole heart;
    I have not loved others as I should.
        I deserve your punishment both now and forever.
    But Jesus, my Savior, paid for my sins
        with his innocent suffering and death.
    Trusting in him, I pray: God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Our gracious Father in heaven has been merciful to us. He sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, who gave his life as the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. Therefore, as a called servant of Christ and by his authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Lord, Have Mercy

In peace let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For the peace from above and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.

Amen.

Glory to God in the Highest

Refrain: Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Refrain

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. You are seated at the right hand of the Father; receive our prayer. Refrain

For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in the glory of God the Father. Amen. Amen. Refrain

The Word

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Prayer of the Day:

Let us pray.

O God, you form the minds of your faithful people into a single will. Make us love what you command and desire what you promise, that among the many changes of this world, our hearts may ever yearn for the lasting joys of heaven; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

First Reading: Acts 11:1–18

11 The apostles and brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. ²When Peter went up to Jerusalem, those who insisted on circumcision criticized him, ³saying, “You went to visit men who were uncircumcised and ate with them!”

⁴So Peter began to explain everything to them, point by point. He said, ⁵“I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision in which an object like a large sheet was let down from heaven by its four corners. It came right to me. ⁶When I inspected it very carefully, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds of the air. ⁷I also heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter! Kill and eat!’

⁸“But I replied, ‘Certainly not, Lord, for nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’

⁹“A voice spoke from heaven a second time: ‘What God has made clean, you must not continue to call unclean.’ ¹⁰This happened three times, and then everything was pulled up into heaven again.

¹¹“At that very moment, three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea arrived at the house where we were. ¹²The Spirit told me to go with them without any hesitation. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. ¹³He told us how he saw an angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and call for Simon, the one called Peter. ¹⁴He will speak words to you by which you and all your household will be saved.’

¹⁵“As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came down on them, just as he came down on us at the beginning. ¹⁶Then I remembered how the Lord had said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ ¹⁷So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to try to stand in God’s way?”

¹⁸When they heard these things, they had no further objections, and they praised God, saying, “So then, God has granted repentance that results in life also to the Gentiles!”

Psalm of the Day: 145A I Will Exalt My God and King

1     I will exalt my God and King,
    and I will ever praise your name.
I will extol you ev’ry day
    and evermore your praise proclaim.
You, LORD, are greatly to be praised;
    your greatness is beyond all thought.
From age to age your people tell
    the mighty wonders you have wrought.

3     The LORD our God is rich in grace,
    both tender and compassionate.
His anger is most slow to rise;
    his love and kindness are most great.
The LORD is good in all his ways;
    his creatures know his constant care.
To all his works his love extends;
    all creatures in his mercies share.

4     All you have made will praise you, LORD;
    your mighty acts your saints will show,
till all the peoples on the earth
    the splendor of your kingdom know.
Eternal is your kingdom, LORD,
    forever strong and ever sure;
while generations rise and die,
    your glorious reign will still endure.

Text: Psalter, 1912, alt. Text: Public domain

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 13

If anything is the defining mark of Christians, it is not the spiritual gifts they possess, it is the love at work as they put those gifts into practice.

13 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ²If I have the gift of prophecy and know all the mysteries and have all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³If I give away everything I own, and if I give up my body that I may be burned but do not have love, I gain nothing.

⁴Love is patient. Love is kind. Love does not envy. It does not brag. It is not arrogant. ⁵It does not behave indecently. It is not selfish. It is not irritable. It does not keep a record of wrongs. ⁶It does not rejoice over unrighteousness but rejoices with the truth. ⁷It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

⁸Love never comes to an end. But if there are prophetic gifts, they will be done away with; if tongues, they will cease; if knowledge, it will be done away with. ⁹For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part, ¹⁰but when that which is complete has come, that which is partial will be done away with. ¹¹When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put away childish things. ¹²Now we see indirectly using a mirror, but then we will see face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I was fully known.

¹³So now these three remain: faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

Gospel Acclamation: Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

We know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love.

Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: John 13:31–35

³¹After Judas left, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in him. ³²If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify the Son in himself and will glorify him at once.”

³³“Dear children, I am going to be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.

³⁴“A new commandment I give you: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, so also you are to love one another. ³⁵By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Hymn of the Day: 469 Welcome, Happy Morning

1     “Welcome, happy morning!”
    age to age shall say;
“Hell today is vanquished;
    heav’n is won today!”
Lo, the dead is living,
    God forevermore!
Him, their true Creator,
    all his works adore. (Refrain)

Ref “Welcome, happy morning!”
age to age shall say;
“Hell today is vanquished;
heav’n is won today!”

2     Maker and Redeemer,
    life and health of all,
God from heav’n beholding
    human nature’s fall,
of the Father’s Godhead
    you, the only Son,
mankind to deliver
    manhood did put on. (Refrain)

3     Source of all things living,
    you came down to die,
plumbed the depths of hell to
    raise us up on high.
Come, then, true and faithful,
    come, fulfill your word;
this is your third morning—
    rise, O buried Lord. (Refrain)

4     Free the souls long prisoned,
    bound with Satan’s chain;
all that now is fallen
    raise to life again.
Show your face in brightness;
    shine in ev’ry land
as in Eden’s garden
    when the world began. (Refrain)

Text: tr. John Ellerton, 1826–1893, alt.; Venantius Fortunatus, c. 530–609, abr. Text: Public domain

Sermon

Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all that is,

seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

of one being with the Father.

Through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven,

was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary,

and became truly human.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate.

He suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures.

He ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,

the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

who in unity with the Father and the Son
is worshiped and glorified,

who has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead

and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Prayer of the Church

Offering

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The Sacrament

Preface

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give him thanks and praise.

It is truly good and right . . . and join their glorious song:

Holy, Holy, Holy

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power, God of might.

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest!

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Lord God, you are worthy to receive thanks and praise from all people. You created the world and all who live in it, and in your mercy you saved us. We give thanks to you for the grace of your Son, Jesus Christ.

Though in very nature God, he took the nature of a servant and became obedient to death, even death on a cross. He offered himself as a sacrifice for sin and redeemed us from its curse and penalty. He rescued us from the terrors of death and restored eternal life with you. He conquered our enemies and gained for us the kingdom of grace and glory.

Bless us as we receive your Son’s body and blood, and lead us to remember his suffering, death, and resurrection. Forgive our sins and fill us with the hope of new life in heaven. Hear our praise and receive our thanks as we worship you—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

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.

Lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

and the glory are yours

now and forever. Amen.

Words of Institution

Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my T body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; this is my T blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

The peace of the Lord be with you always.

Amen.

Jesus, Lamb of God

Jesus, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

Jesus, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; grant us your peace.

Distribution

Take and eat; this is the true body of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, given into death for your sins.

Take and drink; this is the true blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, poured out for the forgiveness of your sins.

The true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen and preserve you to life everlasting. Go T in peace.

Amen.

Distribution Hymn: 557 Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice

1     Dear Christians, one and all, rejoice,
    with exultation springing,
and, with united heart and voice
    and holy rapture singing,
proclaim the wonders God has done,
how his right arm the vict’ry won.
    How dearly it has cost him!

2     Fast bound in Satan’s chains I lay;
    death brooded darkly o’er me.
Sin was my torment night and day;
    in sin my mother bore me.
Yet deep and deeper still I fell;
life had become a living hell,
    so firmly sin possessed me.

3     My own good works availed me naught,
    no merit they attaining;
my will against God’s judgment fought,
    no hope for me remaining.
My fears increased till sheer despair
left only death to be my share
    and hell to be my sentence.

4     But God beheld my wretched state
    before the world’s foundation,
and, mindful of his mercies great,
    he planned for my salvation.
A father’s heart he turned to me,
sought my redemption fervently;
    he gave his dearest treasure.

5     He spoke to his belovèd Son:
    “It’s time to have compassion.
Then go, bright jewel of my crown,
    and bring to all salvation.
From sin and sorrow set them free;
slay bitter death for them that they
    may live with you forever.”

6     The Son obeyed his Father’s will,
    was born of virgin mother,
and, God’s good pleasure to fulfill,
    he came to be my brother.
No garb of pomp or pow’r he wore;
a servant’s form like mine he bore
    to lead the devil captive.

7     To me he spoke, “Hold fast to me,
    I am your rock and castle.
Your ransom I myself will be;
    for you I strive and wrestle.
For I am yours, your friend divine,
and evermore you shall be mine;
    the foe shall not divide us.

8     “The foe will shed my precious blood,
    me of my life bereaving;
all this I suffer for your good;
    be steadfast and believing.
Life will from death the vict’ry win;
my innocence shall bear your sin,
    and you are blest forever.

9     “Now to my Father I depart,
    the Holy Spirit sending
and, heav’nly wisdom to impart,
    my help to you extending.
He will a source of comfort be,
teach you to know and follow me,
    and in all truth will guide you.

10   “What I on earth have lived and taught
    be all your life and teaching;
so shall my kingdom’s work be wrought
    and honored in your preaching.
Take care that no one’s man-made laws
should e’er destroy the gospel’s cause;
    this final word I leave you.”

Text: tr. Richard Massie, 1800–1887, alt.; Martin Luther, 1483–1546

Text: Public domain

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

his mercy endures forever.

Whenever we eat this bread and drink this cup,

we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

We give you thanks, O Lord, for the foretaste of the heavenly banquet you have given us in this Sacrament. Through this gift you have fed our faith, nourished our hope, and strengthened our love. By your Spirit, help us to live as your holy people until that day when you will receive us as your guests at the wedding supper of the Lamb, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

Blessing

The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look on you with favor and T give you peace.

Amen.

Hymn: 727 Where Charity and Love Prevail

1     Where charity and love prevail,
    there God is ever found;
brought here together by Christ’s love,
    by love are we thus bound.

2     With grateful joy and holy fear
    God’s charity we learn;
let us with heart and mind and soul
    now love God in return.

3     Forgive we now each other’s faults
    as we our faults confess;
and let us love each other well
    in Christian holiness.

4     Let strife among us be unknown,
    let all contention cease;
be God’s the glory that we seek,
    be ours his holy peace.

5     Let us recall that in our midst
    dwells Christ, his only Son;
as members of his body joined,
    we are in him made one.

6     For love excludes no race or clan
    that names the Savior’s name;
his family embraces all
    whose Father is the same.

Text: tr. Omer E. Westendorf, 1916–1997, alt.; Latin, c. 9th cent.

Acknowledgments

Setting Two from Christian Worship

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, New International Version^®, NIV^®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.^TM Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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