Weekly Bulletin

Sixth Sunday of Easter

May 5, 2024 + 10:00 am

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE

We stand.

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord + Jesus Christ, by whose Spirit we have been reborn to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Amen.

Rejoicing in Christ's victory over sin and death, let us come before God who calls us to repentance.

In Humbleness you may stand, sit, or kneel.

Faithful and just God, we confess that we are captive to doubt and fear and bound by the ways that lead to death. We have sinned against you. We have not believed your good news. We have not loved our sisters and brothers as you have first loved us. Forgive us, God of mercy. Let your Holy Spirit work in us to change our lives and make us new, that we may know the abundant life given in Jesus Christ, our risen Lord. Amen.

People of God: Christ is alive, and death has lost its power. Through the waters of baptism you have been born anew by the living word of God. Know that your sins are forgiven in + Jesus' name and that the Spirit of the risen Christ is alive in you, now and forever. Amen.

We stand.

SHARING OF THE PEACE

The peace of the Lord be with you always. And also with you.

We share a sign of Christ’s peace with one another.

GATHERING HYMN # 449 We Know That Christ Is Raised

GREETING

The grace of our risen Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you. And also with you.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

O God, you have prepared for those who love you joys beyond understanding. Pour into our hearts such love for you that, loving you above all things, we may obtain your promises, which exceed all we can desire; through Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

We sit.

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

Preschool and elementary aged children are invited forward to the chancel steps for a special message. Following the Children’s Message, children are invited to Children’s Church - a special time of learning led by adult teachers. Children will return before Holy Communion.

FIRST READING Acts 10:44-48

While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, 46for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, 47“Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.

The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God

PSALM 98 sung

Sing a new song to the Lord, who has done | marvelous things,
whose right hand and holy arm have | won the victory.
2O Lord, you have made | known your victory,
you have revealed your righteousness in the sight | of the nations.
3You remember your steadfast love and faithfulness to the | house of Israel;
all the ends of the earth have seen the victory | of our God.
4Shout with joy to the Lord, | all you lands;
lift up your voice, re- | joice, and sing.
5Sing to the Lord | with the harp,
with the harp and the | voice of song.
6With trumpets and the sound | of the horn
shout with joy before the | king, the Lord.
7Let the sea roar, and | all that fills it,
the world and those who | dwell therein.
8Let the rivers | clap their hands,
and let the hills ring out with joy before the Lord,

who comes to | judge the earth.
9The Lord will judge the | world with righteousness
and the peo- | ples with equity.

SECOND READING 1 John 6:1-6

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. 2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, 4for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. 5Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

6This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth.

The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

We stand.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

GOSPEL READING John 15:9-17

The Holy Gospel according to John. Glory to you, O Lord.

Jesus said: “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.
12“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. 16You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. 17I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.”

The Word of God for the people of God. Praise to you, O Christ.

We sit.

HOMILY Pastor Kathleen Miko

HYMN OF THE DAY # 595 Jesus Loves Me!

NICENE CREED

Living together in trust and hope, let us confess our faith.

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 with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic 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

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

Each petition ends: Set our minds on heavenly things, Fill us with your joy.

We sit.

TITHES AND OFFERINGS

We share our gifts for those in need and for the church’s mission.

For more information on giving go to zionlexsc.com/giving.

SPECIAL MUSIC

We stand.

OFFERTORY HYMN # 481 Come to the Table

OFFERTORY PRAYER

Let us pray. Risen One, you call us to believe and bear fruit. May the gifts that we offer here be signs of your abiding love. Form us to be your witnesses in the world, through Jesus Christ, our true vine. Amen.

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.

PREFACE

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy . . . we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

HOLY, HOLY, HOLY

THE TABLE

In the night…

Lord’s Prayer

O Lord, remember us in your kingdom, and teach us to pray:

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

The risen Christ is made known to us in the breaking of the bread.

Come and eat at God’s table. Amen.

We sit.

LAMB OF GOD

DISTRIBUTION OF COMMUNION

Christ welcomes you to this feast of the baptized!

We receive communion at the front of the center aisle. You may come forward in two lines

to receive the bread from the minister. After receiving bread, move to the left or right and

dip your bread into the wine which an assisting minister will be holding.

Grape Juice and gluten free wafers are available upon request.

MUSIC DURING COMMUNION

We stand.

COMMUNION BLESSING

May the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace. Amen.

Prayer after Communion

Shepherding God, you have prepared a table before us and nourished us with your love. Send us forth from this banquet to proclaim your goodness and share the abundant mercy of Jesus, our redeemer and friend. Amen.

SENDING OF HOME COMMUNION

BLESSING

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!

The God of resurrection power, the Christ of unending joy, and the Spirit of Easter hope + bless you now and always. Amen.

SENDING HYMN # 836 Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

DISMISSAL

Alleluia! Go in peace. Rejoice and be glad.

Thanks be to God. Alleluia!

POSTLUDE

Following worship all are invited to a time of Fellowship in the narthex/lobby.

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Sixth Sunday of Easter

May 5, 2024 + 10:00 am

Zion Lutheran Church
Lexington, South Carolina

You can find today's Bulletin at www.zionlexsc.com/bulletin

Go to ZionLexsc.com for updates and ministry opportunities.

Go to zionlexsc.com/giving for ways to give to support the ministry of Zion Lutheran Church.

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.

Weekly Bulletin

GOSPEL READING John 15:9-17

The Holy Gospel according to John. Glory to you, O Lord.

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SENDING OF HOME COMMUNION

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BLESSING