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Ascension Day, May 14, 2015 7th Sunday of Easter May 17, 2015

LIVING THE LECTIONARY A weekly study of the Scriptures for the coming Sunday. An opportunity to make the rhythms of the readings become a part of the rhythms of your life.

Available on line at: www.bethlehemlutheranchurchparma.com/biblestudies

May 14, 2015 (Thursdays at 10:00 AM) Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 7500 State Road, Parma, OH Also presented as a part of the worship service at Puritas Lutheran Church, 13812 Bellaire Road, Cleveland, OH Sundays at 11:30 AM and 5:30 PM. (Also at Lakewood nursing facilities on Tues/Wed. E-mail [email protected] for details.)

http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/62096.htm The icon of The Ascension of Our Lord is a joyous icon. It is painted with bright colors. Christ is shown ascending in His glory in a mandorla 1. A mandorla is a design which is almond-shaped or round. Inside the mandorla is the figure of a holy person. Christ blesses the assembly with His right hand 2. In His left is a scroll. The scroll is a symbol of teaching 3. This icon shows that the Lord in heaven is the source of blessing. In addition, Jesus is the source of knowledge. The icon reminds us that Christ continues to be the source of the teaching and message of the Church, blessing and guiding those to whom He has entrusted his work. Page 2 of 10

Hymn of the Day Ascension Day (LSB) 491 The Lutheran (TLH) Not Listed “Up Through Endless Ranks of Angels” Jaroslav Vajda (April 28, 1919 – May 10, 2008) was an American hymnist.

Vajda was born to a Lutheran pastor of Slovak descent. His father, Rev. John Vajda, was a pastor in East Chicago, at Holy Trinity Slovak Lutheran Church. This is where Jaroslav had his beginning learning from his father and his mother, Maria. Jaroslav had two brothers, Ludovit and Edward, both pastors, now deceased.

Vajda received musical training in childhood and began translating classical Slovak poetry at age eighteen. Vajda did not write his first until age 49. From that time until his death in 2008 at age 89, he wrote over 200 original and translated that appear worldwide in more than 65 . He also published two collections of hymn texts, numerous books, translations, and articles. Vajda served on hymnal commissions for Hymnal Supplement (1969) and (1978). www.wikipedia.org

Hymn of the Day 7th Sunday of Easter Lutheran Service Book (LSB) 539 (TLH) Not Listed “Christ is the world’s Redeemer”

Saint Columba (Irish: Colm Cille, 'church dove'; 7 December 521 – 9 June 597) was an Irish abbot and missionary credited with spreading Christianity in present-day Scotland. He founded the important abbey on Iona, which became a dominant religious and political institution in the region for centuries. He is the Patron Saint of Derry. He was highly regarded by both the Gaels of Dál Riata and the Picts, and is remembered today as a Christian saint and one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. www.hymnary.org

New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. www.biblegateway.com Page 3 of 10

Readings for Ascension Day Acts 1:1-11 Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven

1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with [a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with [b] the Holy Spirit.”

6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Page 4 of 10

Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Psalm 47 Ephesians 1:15-23

Luke 24:44-53 44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”

45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

The Ascension of Jesus 50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. Page 5 of 10

51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

Readings for Sunday, May 17

Acts 1:12-26 (next week – Ezkekiel 37:1-14 ) The first reading for each Sunday, changes back to the Old Testament on the Day of Pentecost, May 24.)

Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas 12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk [a] from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16 and said, “Brothers and sisters, [b] the Scripture Page 6 of 10 had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. 17 He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.”

18 (With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. 19 Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

20 “For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms:

“‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,’ [c]

and,

“‘May another take his place of leadership.’ [d]

21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22 beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”

23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles. Page 7 of 10

Footnotes:

a. Acts 1:12 That is, about 5/8 mile or about 1 kilometer b. Acts 1:16 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi ) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in 6:3; 11:29; 12:17; 16:40; 18:18, 27; 21:7, 17; 28:14, 15. c. Acts 1:20 Psalm 69:25 d. Acts 1:20 Psalm 109:8

Psalm 1 (Psalm 139:1-12 (13-16) )

BOOK I Psalms 1–41

1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the LORD , and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.

4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

6 For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction. Page 8 of 10

1 John 5:9-15 (Acts 2:1-21 ) This reading is the final one from 1 John ) Reread the book of 1 John this week. See how often you recognize the verses selected for Sundays. Hear the “sermon” as a single presentation of the Gospel.

“We come, then, to a document traditionally known as the First Epistle of John. In its pages we read the words of a pastor concerned about congregations of believers for which he has responsibility, but which lie at some geographical distance from him. Absent from them, yet anxious about them, he pens this short epistle out of his urgent pastoral concern and deep love. He is like the missionary on study leave I met recently, who expressed anxiety and concern for "the family" of believers left behind him.” https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/1John/1-John

9 We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Concluding Affirmations 13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

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“The Holy Gospel according to St John, the 17th Chapter”

“Glory to You, O Lord”

John 17:11b-19 (John 15:26-27;16:4b-15 )

11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of [a] your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by [b] that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by [c] the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

Footnotes:

a. John 17:11 Or Father, keep them faithful to b. John 17:12 Or kept them faithful to c. John 17:17 Or them to live in accordance with

“This is the Gospel of the Lord”

“Praise to You, O Christ” Page 10 of 10

“The gospels show us that Jesus – according to His human nature – was a man of continual prayer. He felt it important (essential) to be in frequent contact with His Heavenly Father….

In the gospel reading for today we also see Jesus in conversation with God the Father, this time praying for His disciples and followers. “I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world… Holy Father, protect them by the power of Your name… My prayer is not that You take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.” (John 17: 11, 17)…..Jesus loved His disciples – those early followers and all those who He knew would believe in Him throughout the history of the world….. including you and me! Out of the depth of His love, He prayed for our protection, power and purpose….He prayed that we would be protected by “the shield of faith, with which [we] can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” (Ephesians 6:16) His prayer was that His Father, and ours, would cover us with His care and keep us safe from our enemies of sin, death and the power of the devil. And His prayer covers us still today!.....Jesus also prayed that we would have “the power of God’s name – the name God gave Him – so that we may be one as He and the Father are one.” (Paraphrase of John 17: 11) There is power in the name of Jesus because “salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4: 12…..And finally, Jesus prayed for our purpose – that we would be one (united) as He sends us into the world to share our witness.

Through Jesus’ prayer, we are strengthened and encouraged to pray for ourselves and for all our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world. May God graciously grant us His blessing for our protection, power and purpose, in Jesus!

See you in church THIS weekend!”

Pastor Snow Holy Cross Church and School, Wichita, KS LCMS

http://holycrosslutheran.net/sermons/jesus-prayer-and-ours-john-17-11b-19/