Worship Bulletin April 18, 2021

April 18, 2021, Worship

St. Barnabas Lutheran Church, Cary, IL

Prelude

Announcements

Thanksgiving for Baptism Alleluia! Christ is risen. People of God: Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia! Refreshed by the resurrection life we share in Christ, let us give thanks for the gift of baptism.

Silence is kept for reflection and self-examination.

We thank you, risen Christ, for these waters where you make us new, leading us from death to life, from tears to joy. We bless you, risen Christ, that your Spirit comes to us in the grace-filled waters of rebirth, like rains to our thirsting earth, like streams that revive our souls, like cups of cool water shared with strangers. Breathe your peace on your church when we hide in fear. Clothe us with your mercy and forgiveness. Send us companions on our journey as we share your life. Make us one, risen Christ. Cleanse our hearts. Shower us with life. To you be given all praise, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God, now and forever. People of God: Amen.

Prayer of the Day Let us pray, God, sometimes the work you call us to feels overwhelming and too much to bear. Help us remember that you send others to share the work. Help us remember that others have the gifts we do not have, the gifts we need. And help us remember that sometimes you need us to serve others when they are overwhelmed. People of God: Amen

Reading Acts 6:1-7 Forty days after his resurrection, Jesus promised the disciples that the Holy Spirit would come to them and help them spread the Gospel throughout the world. Then he was lifted up into heaven, and the disciples were left to figure out what to do next. They went around the region preaching about Jesus and performing miracles. Thousands of people asked to be baptized, and the Christian church began to be formed. Without a guide book--the first Gospel wouldn’t be written for at least another 40 years--this new community experienced many growing pains, including the controversy we read about today in Acts 6, a conflict over who would care for God’s people. 1

Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word." What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. The word of the Lord. People of God: Thanks be to God. Sermon

Song ELW #479 We Come to the Hungry Feast Kurt Kreutzmann

Prayers of the People Holy God, you have called us to follow in the way of your risen Son, and to care for those who are our companions, not only with words of comfort, but with acts of love. Seeking to be true friends of all, we offer our prayers on behalf of the church and the world.

A brief silence.

God of glory, grant vision to your church that we might boldly proclaim your presence and work in the world. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.

Most High, heaven is your throne and the earth is your footstool, make all of creation show forth your glory that we might cherish all that you have given us and work to preserve and care for it. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.

God of all languages and people, bring the proclamation of your Good News to all the world that your love, peace, and justice may prevail over all else. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.

God of the prophets and martyrs, make us bold in our witness to your love that your grace be known in the hearts of all. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.

2 Lord Jesus, be with all who suffer in any fashion especially Jeanne’s family, Robert, the Hyde family, Dolly’s family, John, the Vogt family, John, Zuleika, Kent, Pastor Sarah, Charlie, Sandy, Pastor Kara, and Carol. May your comforting presence be known to them. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.

Guide us in the path of discipleship, so that, as you have blessed us, we may be a blessing for others, bringing the promise of the kingdom near by our words and deeds. People of God: Amen.

The Peace ( Please share peace by waving or showing the peace sign.) The peace of Christ be with you always. People of God: And also with you.

Offering (Please place your offerings in the plates as you leave the sanctuary.) God of love, you call us beloved children and welcome us to your table. Receive our lives and the gifts we offer. Abide with us and send us in service to a suffering world; for the sake of your beloved Child, Jesus Christ. People of God: Amen.

Welcome of First Communicants Today is a special day for Wyatt, Sophia, and Noah. In baptism they become part of God’s family. We call this family the Church. As they grow, they learn about God and what it means to be part of God’s family. They learn to love others from Jesus, who loved everyone so much that he gave his life for them on the cross. They have learned how in sharing the bread and wine of Holy Communion, we remember Jesus’ death and his rising to life again on that first Easter Day. They also learned how eating the bread and drinking the wine makes us one with him and brings us closer to each other.

They have expressed their desire to join us as we gather around the Lord’s table, and so they are invited to participate for the first time. We welcome you to the Lord’s table. We thank God for you and rejoice in your being among us. And we pray that you will remain faithful to Christ and to his holy Church, finding joy and strength in his body and blood, the signs of his love for the world.

First Communion Prayer Nourishing God, we thank you for Noah, Sophia, and Wyatt who come to their first communion, and for their parents, sponsors, and friends who have loved them, cared for them, taught them, and set them a good example. Bless them as they come to the table of your Son by showing them your love and by giving them joy in your salvation. Keep them faithful to the covenant of their baptisms, and bring them to that great feast which today we are privileged to taste. People of God: Amen

3 Communion The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. Lift up your hearts. People: We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying: 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.

And now let us pray with confidence in the words that Jesus taught us: People of God: 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.

Communion will be served to you as you exit the building. Please sanitize your hands before you take the elements. The bread will be handed to you, and you may take the wine or juice, being careful not to touch the other cups. For those worshiping at home, you may share communion with each other with these words:

The body of Christ, given for you. The blood of Christ, shed for you.

Blessing and Dismissal May our glorious God grant you a spirit of wisdom to know and to love the risen Lord Jesus. The God of life, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. People of God: Amen.

Alleluia! Christ is risen. People of God: Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia! Go in peace. Share the good news. Alleluia! People of God: Thanks be to God. Alleluia!

Postlude

4 Thank you to those serving us today Pastor: Rev. Sarah Wilson Worship Assistant: Zach Neifing Music: Kurt Kreutzmann Usher: Denise Ulaszek and Adeline Zimmer Greeter: Phyllis Blumke Altar Guild: Karen Barkley SoundBoard: Phyllis Blumke AV Tech: Mark Gates Altar Flowers: Sponsored by The Sherwood Family In celebration of Walsh turning 1.