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PRELUDE
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
RINGING OF THE BELL
Please rise as you are able.
THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM
Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, the fountain of living water,
the rock who gave us birth, our light and our salvation. Amen.
Joined to Christ in the waters of baptism, we are clothed with God's mercy and forgiveness. Let us give thanks for the gift of baptism.
Water may be poured into the font as the presiding minister gives thanks.
We give you thanks, O God, for in the beginning your Spirit moved over the waters and by your Word you created the world, calling forth life in which you took delight.
Through the waters of the flood you delivered Noah and his family.
Through the sea you led your people Israel from slavery into freedom. At the river your Son was baptized by John and anointed with the Holy Spirit. By water and your Word you claim us as daughters and sons, making us heirs of your promise and servants of all.
We praise you for the gift of water that sustains life, and above all we praise you for the gift of new life in Jesus Christ. Shower us with your Spirit, and renew our lives with your forgiveness, grace, and love.
To you be given honor and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
GATHERING HYMN “By Grace We Have Been Saved” Next Pg.
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
Let us pray. O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, you are the city that shelters us, the mother who comforts us. With your Spirit accompany us on our life’s journey, that we may spread your peace in all the world, through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Please be seated.
WORD
FIRST READING Acts 9:1-19
1Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the syna-gogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" 5He asked, "Who are you, Lord?" The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do." 7The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. 8Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Da-mascus. 9For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 10Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." He answered, "Here I am, Lord." 11The Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Ju-das look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is pray-ing, 12and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight." 13But Ananias an-swered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; 14and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name." 15But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; 16I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." 17So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was re-stored. Then he got up and was baptized, 19and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
Word of God, word of Life. Thanks be to God.
PSALM Psalm 66: 1-9
REFRAIN
1 Be joyful in God, all you lands; be joyful, all the earth. 2 Sing the glory of God’s name; sing the glory of God’s praise. 3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! Because of your great
strength your enemies cringe before you. 4 All the earth bows down before you, sings to you, sings out your name.”
REFRAIN
5 Come now and see the works of God, how awesome are God’s deeds
toward all people. 6 God turned the sea into dry land, so that they went through the water on
foot, and there we rejoiced in God. 7 Ruling forever in might, God keeps watch over the nations; let no rebels
exalt themselves. 8 Bless our God, you peoples; let the sound of praise be heard. 9 Our God has kept us among the living and has not allowed our feet to slip.
REFRAIN
SECOND READING Acts 10: 1-16
1In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian Cohort, as it was called. 2He was a devout man who feared God with all his household; he gave alms generously to the people and prayed constantly to God. 3One afternoon at about three o'clock he had a vision in which he clearly saw an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius.”
4He stared at him in terror and said, "What is it, Lord?" He answered, "Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5Now send men to Joppa for a certain Simon who is called Peter; 6he is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside." 7When the angel who spoke to him had left, he called two of his slaves and a devout soldier from the ranks of those who served him, 8and after telling them everything, he sent them to Joppa. 9About noon the next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10He became hungry and wanted something to eat; and while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11He saw the heaven opened and something like a large sheet coming down, being lowered to the ground by its four corners. 12In it were all kinds of four-footed creatures and reptiles and birds of the air. 13Then he heard a voice saying, "Get up, Peter; kill and eat." 14But Peter said, "By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is profane or un-clean." 15The voice said to him again, a second time, "What God has made clean, you must not call profane." 16This happened three times, and the thing was suddenly taken up to heaven.
Word of God. Word of Life Thanks be to God.
CHILDREN’S SERMON Pastor Chris Steubing
SERMON Pastor Chris Steubing
HYMN OF THE DAY Hymn #729
“The Church of Christ, in Every Age” VS. 1-3, 5
Please rise as you are able
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
Together with the whole church, we confess our faith:
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 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.
THE PRAYERS
. . . God of grace Hear our prayers.
THE PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you always.
And also with you.
Let us share the peace with one another.
OFFERING
OFFERING MUSIC “Baptized and Set Free” Hymn #453
Please rise as you are able as the offering is brought forward.
OFFERING PRAYER
Let us pray.
Creator God, in your wisdom you bring forth all that is good and the harvest is plentiful. Strengthen us at your table with these gifts of the earth and our labor, that we may work for the good of all; through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.
MEAL
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 him 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. . . We praise your name and join their un-ending 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, 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.
With this bread and cup we remember our Lord’s Passover from death to life as we proclaim the mystery of faith;
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray 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.
INVITATION TO COMMUNION
Come to the banquet, for all is now ready.
Communion Distribution---All are welcome to receive Holy Communion at the Lord's table. If you'd like to receive a blessing instead, you may simply come forward and cross your arms over your chest. If you are unable to come forward, please notify an usher and we will bring the sacrament to you. The communion cups contain wine (red) or grape juice (white). Gluten-free wafers are available upon request.
Communion Hymns
Hymn #614 “There Is a Balm in Gilead”
Hymn #592 “Just As I Am”
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Let us pray. Living One, in this feast you have made yourself known to us. Send us now to tell of your wonders, sing of your glory, and pro-claim your risen life to a wounded and weary world. Amen.
BENEDICTION
The love of God abound in you; the grace of our Savior Jesus Christ fill your hearts; and the life of the Spirit bless you and give you peace.
SENDING HYMN “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less” Hymn # 596
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Live by the Spirit!
Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE
Our thanks to those who serve as our worship leaders today:
Our Reader—Kathy Pearson
Our Liturgist—Claire Roberts
Organist—Jimmy Cheung
Choir and Hand Bell Director—Wendy Kuenemann
Pastor—Rev. Christopher Steubing