May 24, 2020

Saint John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church 48 Greene Avenue

Sayville, New York 11782

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Welcome to Saint John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church The family of Saint John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church is called, gathered, and empowered by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacrament to confess and proclaim the gospel and love of Jesus Christ to our congregation, community, and world.

A Guide to the Symbols in the Service

P = Pastor; C = Congregation

Anywhere the symbol T appears, the sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.

As We Gather

Today we hear the beginning of what is known as the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus. He is interceding to the Father on our behalf, asking that we may be kept in the life he gives and to be united to one another, and united to God. This is a prayer that, at least for now, has gone unfulfilled, for we see the fractures of the Church all around. But the promise that Jesus makes is that on the Last Day, when he comes to raise us all up, we shall be perfectly united to him and to one another. It is in eternity that Jesus’ prayer will come to pass, that we may be one eternally.

Today in the Church Year

This is what we are all about as Christians. The season of Easter is the time where we recall that all the promises of what the Messiah would do find their fulfillment. Sin is gone. Death is defeated. Satan is crushed under foot. New and everlasting life is given to us and all creation. For the next 50 days, we will bask in the glory of Easter morning, singing our Alleluias, rejoicing in the resurrection of our bodies, and remembering our baptism into Christ. The color for the season is white and gold as a symbol of the new life, of the purity of Christ, and of the riches of heaven. This is indeed a sacred, holy, and blessed season. Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

A Prayer upon Entering Church Visit this place, O Lord, and drive far from it all snares of the enemy; let your holy angels dwell with us to preserve us in peace; and let your blessing be upon us always; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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T IN NOMINE JESU – IN THE NAME OF JESUS T

Today’s opening voluntary is based on our first hymn for the Ascension of our Lord, with the settings

referencing the indicated stanzas

Opening Voluntary: Partita on ASCENDED TRIUMPH Henry V. Gerike settings: William Braun, Mark Steffens & Cindy Holden

1. Up Through endless ranks of angels 2. Death destroying, life restoring 3. To our lives of wanton wandr’ing 4. Alleluia, alleluia!

T Service of Preparation T

Litany for the Ascension of our Lord

The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.

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

C Amen.

P Alleluia! God has gone up with a shout!

C The Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Alleluia!

P Sing praises to God, sing praises!

C Sing praises to our King, sing praises!

P The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand."

C The Lord is high above all nations; his glory above the heavens!

P He came forth from the Father, and has come into the world.

C Again he leaves the world and goes to the Father.

P Alleluia! He ascends to the Father, to my God and your God.

C He will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven. Alleluia!

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Ascension Reading Luke 24:44-53

P A Reading from the Gospel according to St. Luke, the twenty-fourth chapter.

44Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was

still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the

Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45Then he opened their minds to

understand the Scriptures, 46and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ

should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47and that repentance and

forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning

from Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things. 49And behold, I am sending

the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with

power from on high.” 50Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed

them. 51While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into

heaven. 52And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53and

were continually in the temple blessing God.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Salutation and Collect for the Ascension (2 Timothy 4:22)

P The Lord be with you.

C And also with you.

P Let us pray…Almighty God, as Your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus

Christ, ascended into the heavens, so may we also ascend in heart and mind

and continually dwell there with Him, who lives and reigns with You and the

Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

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(During the hymn, the Paschal Candle next to the Baptismal font will be extinguished,

symbolizing Jesus’ return to the Father. As it was for the disciples in the Gospel text above, Jesus

is no longer visible among us as he once was. Yet by his Spirit, and in the gifts of the Church,

Christ is with us always in an even grander way. Our Lord is not absent from his people, but he

ascends to fill all creation with his very presence.)

Opening Hymn: Up Through Endless Ranks of Angels LSB 491

Tune: ASCENDED TRIUMPH

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Confession and Absolution (Matt. 28:19b) P If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

C But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our

sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8-9) Silence for reflection on God's Word and for self-examination.

P Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

C Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean.

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. We justly

deserve Your present and eternal punishment. 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.

P In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for

His sake God forgives us all our sins. To those who believe in Jesus Christ

He gives the power to become the children of God and bestows on them the

Holy Spirit. May the Lord, who has begun this good work in us, bring it to

completion in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

C Amen.

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T Service of the Word T

*Hymn of Praise: This Is the Feast (Revelation 5:12-13; 19:5-9)

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Salutation and Collect of the Day (2 Timothy 4:22)

P The Lord be with you.

C And also with you.

P Let us pray…O King of glory, Lord of hosts, uplifted in triumph far above

all heavens, leave us not without consolation but send us the Spirit of truth

whom You promised from the Father; for You live and reign with Him and

the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

First Reading Acts 1:12-26

P The First Reading for The Seventh Sunday of Easter is taken from Acts, the

first chapter.

12Then [the apostles] returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which

is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were

staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas,

Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and

Judas the son of James. 14All these with one accord were devoting themselves to

prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. 15In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was

in all about 120) and said, 16“Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the

Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who

became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17For he was numbered among us

and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18(Now this man bought a field with

the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle

and all his bowels gushed out. 19And it became known to all the inhabitants of

Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is,

Field of Blood.) 20“For it is written in the Book of Psalms,

“‘May his camp become desolate,

and let there be no one to dwell in it’;

and

“‘Let another take his office.’

21So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord

Jesus went in and out among us, 22beginning from the baptism of John until the

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day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a

witness to his resurrection.” 23And they put forward two, Joseph called

Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24And they prayed and

said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you

have chosen 25to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas

turned aside to go to his own place.” 26And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell

on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Psalm 68:1-10 (The Congregation speaks the bolded verses)

1God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered;

and those who hate him shall flee before him!

2As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away;

as wax melts before fire,

so the wicked shall perish before God!

3But the righteous shall be glad;

they shall exult before God;

they shall be jubilant with joy!

4Sing to God, sing praises to his name;

lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;

his name is the LORD;

exult before him!

5Father of the fatherless and protector of widows

is God in his holy habitation.

6God settles the solitary in a home;

he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,

but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

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7O God, when you went out before your people,

when you marched through the wilderness, 8the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain,

before God, the One of Sinai,

before God, the God of Israel.

9Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad;

you restored your inheritance as it languished; 10your flock found a dwelling in it;

in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.

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.

Epistle 1 Peter 4:12-19; 5:6-11

P The Epistle is from First Peter, the fourth and fifth chapters.

12Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test

you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice insofar as

you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his

glory is revealed. 14If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed,

because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15But let none of you suffer

as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16Yet if anyone suffers as

a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 17For it

is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us,

what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18And

“If the righteous is scarcely saved,

what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

19Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a

faithful Creator while doing good.

6Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the

proper time he may exalt you, 7casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares

for you. 8Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around

like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9Resist him, firm in your faith,

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knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your

brotherhood throughout the world. 10And after you have suffered a little while, the

God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself

restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11To him be the dominion forever

and ever. Amen.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Stand

Alleluia and Verse (John 6:68)

Holy Gospel John 17:1-10

P The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the seventeenth chapter.

1When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said,

“Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2since

you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you

have given him. 3And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God,

and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4I glorified you on earth, having

accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5And now, Father, glorify me in

your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. 6“I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the

world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8For I have

given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have

come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent

me. 9I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom

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you have given me, for they are yours. 10All mine are yours, and yours are mine,

and I am glorified in them. 11And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the

world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you

have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Sermon: This is eternal life Hymn of the Day: Blest Be the Tie That Binds LSB 649

Tune: BOYLSTON

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Apostles’ Creed

C I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth.

And 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.

He ascended into heaven

and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

From thence 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 T everlasting. Amen.

*The term “catholic” means the whole Church as it confesses the wholeness of Christian doctrine. Prayer of the Church (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

P Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people

according to their needs.

(after each petition)

P Lord, in your mercy...

C Hear our prayer.

P …one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

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Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4)

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.

Collect for Pardon, Growth in Grace, and Divine Protection

P O Lord, our God, we acknowledge Your great goodness toward us and

praise You for the mercy and grace that our eyes have seen, our ears have

heard, and our hearts have known. We sincerely repent of the sins of this

day and those in the past. Pardon our offenses, correct and reform what is

lacking in us, and help us to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord

and Savior, Jesus Christ. Inscribe Your law upon our hearts, and equip us to

serve You with holy and blameless lives. May each day remind us of the

coming of the night when no one can work. In the emptiness of this present

age keep us united by a living faith through the power of Your Holy Spirit

with Him who is the resurrection and the life, that we may escape the eternal

bitter pains of condemnation. By Your Holy Spirit bless the preaching of

Your Word and the administration of Your Sacraments. Preserve these gifts

to us and to all Christians. Guard and protect us from all dangers to body

and soul. Grant that we may with faithful perseverance receive from You

our sorrows as well as our joys, knowing that health and sickness, riches and

poverty, and all things come by permission of Your fatherly hand. Keep us

this day under Your protective care and preserve us, securely trusting in

Your everlasting goodness and love, for the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ,

our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now

and forever.

C Amen.

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Benediction ( Numbers 6:24-26) P 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 T give you peace.

C Amen.

Closing Hymn: Holy God, We Praise Thy Name LSB 940

Tune: GROSSER GOTT

5 Holy Father, holy Son,

Holy Spirit, three we name Thee;

Though in essence only one,

Undivided God we claim Thee

And, adoring, bend the knee

While we own the mystery.

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Closing Voluntary: Fugue (IV. Finale Holy God, We Praise Your name) Jeffrey Blersch Today’s voluntaries by William Braun, Mark Steffens & Jeffrey Blersch are copyrighted by Concordia Publishing House and recorded by permission. One Licesnse #A-700644

Prayer for Departure Thanks be unto You, Lord Jesus, for Your bitter sufferings, Your shameful death, and Your joyous

resurrection. Enlighten our eyes to see in You the way unto life. Uphold us by Your truth, so we

may not fall into idolatry and false worship, and preserve us in the true faith unto eternal life.

Amen.

T SOLI DEO GLORIA – TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY T

† Look Ahead for next week:

The Day of Pentecost: Numbers 11:24-30; Acts 2:1-21; John 7:37-39

Daily Devotions for Home and Family are available on the website

Saint John’s Ev. Lutheran Church

Phone: (631) 589-3202 Fax: (631) 589-1419

Email: stjohns11782@aol.com Website: www.stjohnsayville.org

Facebook: Saint John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church – Sayville NY

Rev. Brian Noack, Pastor – ext. 104 Cell Phone: (631) 806-7119 E-mail: stbnoack@aol.com

Cindy Holden, Director of Music – ext. 105

E-mail: raholden@aol.com

A congregation of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod