The Fifth Sunday of the Easter Season – May 07, 2023
known, liturgically, as Cantate Sunday (“Sing”)
Sing to the Lord a New Song
It’s been nearly fifty years since a song hit the airwaves that quickly became a popular hit. That song, sung
by a brother-sister duo called “The Carpenters,” was simply titled “Sing.” Perhaps you’ve heard of it. A few among us might even remember it. The song’s opening lyrics went:
“Sing. Sing a song. Sing out loud. Sing out strong.
Sing of good things, not bad. Sing of happy, not sad.
Sing. Sing a song. Make it simple, to last your whole life long.
Don’t worry that it’s not good enough for anyone else to hear. Just sing. Sing a song!’
It was an easy-to-listen-to, happy, and uplifting piece of music. It was also (obviously) a secular – rather than a Spiritual – song. It didn’t “sing” praises to our God….but we will do that today.
You might be wondering why I would even mention an old, secular, “pop song” as a part of this worship flyer introduction? In part, it’s because the song’s title, “Sing,” coincidentally matches the traditional church theme for this fifth Sunday of the Easter season. You see, according to an old church custom, today has been identified for centuries on the church’s calendar as “Sing” Sunday (actually, its name is “Cantate” Sunday – Cantate being Latin for “sing”). But, more to the point, the concept of “singing a song…..to last your whole life long” – particularly when that “song” worships the LORD – really is an important aspect of every Christian’s calling.
Both through our daily lives that we gratefully live for the God of our salvation, and with our lips – as Christians we’ll want to consistently use our lips and our lives to confess our faith in Jesus Christ crucified, risen and reigning for us. On a daily basis we’ll also want to publicly and privately worship our LORD for His grace to us in Christ. And so, you and I have the opportunity and privilege to “sing” God’s praises our whole life long. No matter what our circumstances in life might be, whether we’re experiencing satisfaction and success or enduring suffering and sadness, we can always praise God for His many blessings to us (even if we can’t always clearly see them or correctly interpret them)……especially His reconciling love, forgiveness, and guarantee of heaven to us for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Savior.
This Sunday on the Church’s “Calendar”: Over the 6 Sundays that follow Easter, the Christian church has traditionally focused its energies during its worship on continuing the celebration of Christ’s resurrection. One of the ways we’ll do that today is by singing as our opening hymn the Easter Hymn “Jesus Lives, the Victory’s Won.” Each Sunday in “Easter” has a particular emphasis (Strengthened Faith in the Risen Savior, Jesus as the Good Shepherd, the Joy we have as Christians, etc.) which serves to reinforce the truths and blessings that we share as believers in the risen Christ. On the calendar of the Church, this Fifth Sunday of the Easter Season is traditionally known as “Cantate Sunday.” This designation is taken from the Latin word for “sing,” which is found throughout our Psalm for this morning, Psalm 98, starting with the first verse. As Christians we want to gratefully ponder the significance of Christ’s resurrection for our salvation. And so we’ll want to follow the good counsel of Psalm 98 and “sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm (i.e., the crucified and risen Christ) have worked salvation for Him.”
Today’s Scripture Readings: On this “Cantate”/Sing Sunday, the concept of worshiping, and the Christian’s responsibility to worship the LORD, are at the center of each of this morning’s Scripture readings. Our English word “Worship” has its origins in the Old English term “worthship.” Both the latter and the former mean the same thing: what someone is “worth” to another – and more specifically, what our God is worth to us. It’s also worth noting that worship encompasses far more than a just being a spectator in a “service” on Sunday morning for an hour or so. It involves sincerely singing His praises, eagerly and earnestly listening to God’s Word (and taking it to heart), praying to Him, as well as bringing generous, willing offerings (of our treasure, time and talents) to the LORD. True worship goes well beyond Sunday …..it is a 24 hour per day/7 day a week/lifelong activity that centers on the Christian’s willingness to live for God in all aspects of his/her life.
For our Old Testament Lesson this morning we’ll get to listen to the Hymn of Praise that Moses and the people of Israel sang to the LORD immediately after He miraculously delivered the nation from Pharaoh’s menacing army through the parted (for Israel) and then collapsing (for Egypt) waters of the Red Sea. Moses and Israel celebrate God’s saving mercy immediately after that incident, by stopping to worship the LORD in song. We have the privilege of doing the same as we praise God for an even greater, far more miraculous act of deliverance achieved by Christ for our benefit: Jesus’ death and resurrection that secured for us salvation from sin’s curse and guilt, from eternal death in hell, and from Satan’s dominion of our souls.
Today’s Epistle Lesson has us turning to Scripture’s final book: Revelation. In chapter five John introduces one of the book’s many “visions” – the Vision of the Seven Seals. But before the vision is presented and the seals opened (in chapter 6) John describes the activity of the saints and angels in heaven as they worship Jesus. He receives their worship because He is the Lamb of God Who, by virtue of His sinless blood shed to save us, alone is worthy to open the seven seals (that is, to know and to control the future…..since He is truly God).
Today’s Gospel Lesson is the account of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. While asking her for a drink of water, Jesus offers her something far better – the “living water” of the Gospel. He also touches on what makes for proper, versus improper, worship. Lastly, He identifies Himself to her as the Messiah.
A few of the reasons and different ways that we can “Worship The Lord” will be the focus of this morning’s Children’s Lesson. But at the center of our lesson will be the real reason why we come to church, and why we worship God with our lives. It’s because we love Jesus, Who sacrificed Himself for us to earn God’s forgiveness for all our sins, and a guaranteed place in heaven for everyone who believes in Him.
Finally, through today’s Sermon, based on Isaiah 12, we’ll look in more detail at why we can and should worship the Lord…..with our lips and our lives…..since He’s forgiven us all our sins for Jesus’ sake. Not only can we sing His praises by worshiping Him publicly in church, we can sing God’s praises as we share our faith in Him with others.
Pre-Service Prayer Heavenly Father, please guide me in wisdom and truth through Your Holy Spirit, as I spend this hour meditating on Your Word and rejoicing in Your limitless love for me. Assist me in being attentive in heart and mind to Your Word, as well as to the hymns of praise, the various petitions, and the prayers of thanksgiving my voice directs toward You. Use this worship service, O Lord, to deepen my love for You, to strengthen my trust in You, and to renew my commitment to You. All this I ask for the sake of and in the name of Your One and only Son, Jesus Christ, my Savior. Amen.
Pre-service prayer
Let Us Praise The Lord
The Invocation
P We begin this service in the name of the Father
Congregation Who gave us our lives through His almighty power.
P: And of the Son
C: Who redeemed our lives with His precious blood.
P And of the Holy Spirit
C: Who gave us eternal life through faith in Christ Jesus.
P: Amen.
Our Psalm Reading for Today Psalm 98
P: Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have worked salvation for Him.
C: The LORD has made His salvation known; + He has remembered His righteousness to the eyes of the nations.
P: He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel;
C: All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
P: Shout for joy to LORD, all the earth; Break out in joyful song! Make music!
C: Make music to the LORD with the lyre, + With the lyre and the sound of music.
P: With trumpets and the sound of the ram’s horn;
C: Shout for joy before the King, the LORD.
P: Let the sea roar, and everything that fills it + the world and all who live in it;
C: Let the rivers clap their hands; Let the mountains sing for joy together before the LORD,
P: For He comes to judge the earth.
C: He will judge the world in righteousness + and the peoples with fairness.
After which the Congregation will be seated for
The Opening Hymn Hymn 145 “Jesus Lives, the Victory’s Won”
1 Jesus lives! The vict’ry’s won! Death no longer can appall me.
Jesus lives! Death’s reign is done! From the grave Christ will recall me.
Brighter scenes will then commence; This shall be my confidence.
2 Jesus lives! To him the throne High o’er heav’n and earth is given.
I shall go where he is gone, Live and reign with him in heaven.
God is faithful; doubtings, hence! This shall be my confidence.
3 Jesus lives! For me he died; Hence will I, to Jesus living,
Pure in heart and act abide, Praise to him and glory giving.
All I need God will dispense; This shall be my confidence.
4 Jesus lives! I know full well Nothing me from him shall sever,
Life nor death nor pow’rs of hell Part me now from Christ forever.
God will be a sure defense; This shall be my confidence.
5 Jesus lives! And now is death But the gate to life immortal;
This shall calm my trembling breath When I pass its gloomy portal.
Faith shall cry, as fails each sense: “Jesus is my confidence!”
After which, the Congregation will be asked to rise as
We Confess our Sins to the Lord
Pastor God, our Heavenly Father, invites us to come into His presence and to worship Him with humble and penitent hearts. Therefore, let us now turn to Him, acknowledging our sinfulness and seeking His forgiveness for all our sins.
Congregation Holy and merciful Father, + I confess that I am by nature sinful + and that I have disobeyed
You in my thoughts, words, and actions; + I have done what is evil in Your sight + and have
failed to do what is good. + For this I know that I deserve Your punishment, + both now and for eternity. + But I am truly sorry for all my sins, + and trusting in the perfect life + and innocent death of my Savior, Jesus Christ, + I plead: + God have mercy on me, a sinner.
Pastor Our gracious Lord and Master has shown us His mercy: He has given His one and only Son to save us from all our sins. And now, under His command and authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. May the peace of God rest upon all of you.
Congregation Amen.
Lord Have Mercy
P: For all that we need in life, and for the wisdom to use all Your gifts with gratitude and joy, hear our prayer, O Lord.
C: (sung) Lord have mercy
P: For the steadfast assurance that nothing can separate us from Your love and for the courage to stand firm against the assaults of Satan and every evil, hear our prayer, O Christ:
C: (Sung) Christ have mercy.
P: For the well-being of Your holy Church in all the world and for those who offer here their worship and praise, hear our prayer, O Lord
C: (Sung) Lord have mercy.
p: Merciful God, Maker and Preserver of life, uphold us by Your power, and keep us in Your tender care:
C: (sung) Amen.
P: The works of the Lord are great and glorious; His name is worthy of praise.
(Sung) O Lord, our Lord, How glorious is Your name in all the earth.
Almighty God, merciful Father, Your crown our life with Your love.
You take away our sin; You comfort our spirit;
You make us pure and holy in Your sight.
You did not spare Your only Son, but gave Him up for us all.
O Lord, our Lord, How glorious is Your name in all the earth.
O Son of God, eternal Word of the Father,
You came to live with us; You made Your Father known;
You washed us from our sins in Your own blood.
You are the King of glory; You are the Lord!
O Lord, our Lord, How glorious is Your name in all the earth
The Prayer for “Cantate” Sunday
Almighty and merciful God, + You have filled us with the new light of the Word, + Who became flesh and lived among us. + Let the light of faith in You as the one, true God + shine forth in all that we say, think, and do. + And mercifully grant that we might continue to grow + in our faith, knowledge and service to You all our days, + until – by Your grace, through faith, + we inherit everlasting life in heaven ….. there to sing Your praises eternally. + All this we pray in the name and for the sake of Jesus Christ, + Your Son our Savior and Lord, + Who lives and rules with You and the Holy Spirit + as the one true God, now and forever. + Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
The First Lesson Exodus 15:1-19
1 Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD, and spoke, saying: “I will sing to the LORD, For He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea! 2 The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will exalt Him. 3 The LORD is a man of war; The LORD is His name.
4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his army He has cast into the sea; His chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea. 5 The depths have covered them; They sank to the bottom like a stone. 6 “Your right hand, O LORD, has become glorious in power; Your right hand, O LORD, has dashed the enemy in pieces. 7 And in the greatness of Your excellence You have overthrown those who rose against You; You sent forth Your wrath; It consumed them like stubble. 8 And with the blast of Your nostrils The waters were gathered together; The floods stood upright like a heap; The depths congealed in the heart of the sea. 9 The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; My desire shall be satisfied on them. I will draw my sword, My hand shall destroy them.’
10 You blew with Your wind, The sea covered them; They sank like lead in the mighty waters. 11 “Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders? 12 You stretched out Your right hand; The earth swallowed them. 13 You in Your mercy have led forth The people whom You have redeemed; You have guided them in Your strength To Your holy habitation.
14 “The people will hear and be afraid; Sorrow will take hold of the inhabitants of Philistia. 15 Then the chiefs of Edom will be dismayed; The mighty men of Moab, Trembling will take hold of them; All the inhabitants of Canaan will melt away. 16 Fear and dread will fall on them; By the greatness of Your arm They will be as still as a stone, Till Your people pass over, O LORD, Till the people pass over Whom You have purchased. 17 You will bring them in and plant them In the mountain of Your inheritance, In the place, O LORD, which You have made For Your own dwelling, The sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established. 18 “The LORD shall reign forever and ever.” 19 For the horses of Pharaoh went with his chariots and his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought back the waters of the sea upon them. But the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.
The Epistle Lesson Revelation 5:8-14
8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and
the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying: “ You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice: “ Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “ Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”
14 Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.
after which the Congregation will rise for the reading of
This Morning’s Gospel Lesson John 4:1-24
1 Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples), 3 He left Judea and departed again to Galilee. 4 But He needed to go through Samaria. 5 So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that
Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.
7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” 8 For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. 9 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.
10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”
11 The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? 12 Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?”
13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”
15 The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17 The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.”
19 The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jewssay that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.” 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”
The Congregation will then be seated as we offer – set to song –
The Nicene Creed
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light. Very God of Very God. Begotten, not made. Being of one substance with the Father, By Whom all things were made; Who for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary And was made man; And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried; And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures; And ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of the Father; And He shall come again with glory, to judge both the quick and the dead; Whose Kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Ghost, The Lord and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, Who spake by the Prophets. And I believe one holy Christian and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, And I look for the resurrection of the dead, And the life of the world to come. Amen.
The Children’s Lesson Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7
1 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. ….. 6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. 7 For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture. And the sheep of His hand.
Let’s Worship the LORD
The Hymn of the Day Hymn 241 “Alleluia, Let Praises Ring”
1 Alleluia! Let praises ring! To God the Father let us bring
Our songs of adoration. To him through everlasting days
Be worship, honor, pow’r, and praise Whose hand sustains creation.
Singing, Ringing: Holy, holy, God is holy. Spread the story Of our God, the Lord of glory.
2 Alleluia! Let praises ring! Unto the Lamb of God we sing,
In whom we are elected. He bought the Church with his own blood;
He cleansed her in that blessed flood And as his bride selected.
Holy, Holy Is our union And communion. His befriending Gives us joy and peace unending.
3 Alleluia! Let praises ring! Unto the Holy Ghost we sing
For our regeneration. The saving faith in us he wrought
And us unto the Bridegroom brought, Made us his chosen nation.
Glory! Glory! Joy eternal, Bliss supernal; There is manna And an endless, glad hosanna.
4 Alleluia! Let praises ring! Unto our triune God we sing;
Blest be his name forever! With angel hosts let us adore
And sing his praises more and more For all his grace and favor.
Singing, Ringing: Holy, holy, God is holy. Spread the story Of our God the Lord of glory!
after which the Congregation will rise for
The Greeting
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge
of God, and of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Sermon Text Isaiah 12:1-6
In that day you will say: I will give thanks to you, Lord, for though You were angry with me, Your anger has turned away, and You comfort me. 2 Surely God is my salvation. I will trust Him and will not be afraid, because the Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation. 3 Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4 In that day you will say: Give thanks to the Lord! Proclaim His name. Declare among the peoples what He has done. Proclaim that His name is exalted! 5 Sing to the Lord, for He has done amazing things! Let this be known in all the earth! 6 Shout aloud and sing for joy, daughter of Zion, for the Holy One of Israel is great among you!
Today is always “The Day!”
Pastor To Him Who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy — to the only God our Savior, be glory, majesty, power, and authority now and forever. Amen.
We Present our Prayers and Offerings to the Lord
Offerings will be received this morning through offering plates passed among those who have gathered here for worship. However, for those viewing this service online, we offer you the following suggestions for providing God with Your thank-offerings through our ministry:
1) You can mail a check (no cash, please) to our church address (415 N. 6th Place, Lowell, AR 72745); or
2) You can donate through our website: www.gracelutherannwa.com
Our Offerings of Love to our Lord
As the offerings are brought to the altar, the Congregation will rise for
The Prayers of the Church
P: We give thanks to You, Lord and Father, for the rest and peace of the night which You have given us, and for the blessing of sharing another day of worship with Your saints and study of Your precious Word.
C: Enable us to grow in Your grace + and build each of us up in our faith + since we have meditated upon Your Word, + and are now about to receive the blessed assurance that our sins are forgiven + and that new life and salvation are ours + through the Sacrament of our Savior’s body and blood.
P: Fill us with that true wisdom which can only come from Your Word. And give every one of us an unquenchable love for those Scriptures.
C: Bless everyone in our church family, + from the youngest to the oldest + by giving us all a burning desire to conform our faith and lives to the teachings of Your Word.
P: Each day overcome our human faults, frailties, and sins, so that they will not hinder the work which You have entrusted to us as Your servants in ths world. In fact, grant that all our words, actions, and intentions reflect our love for the Lamb of God who has taken away the sin of the whole world.
C: Make the crucified and risen Christ + the very center of all our worship, faith, and lives. + We also ask that You would bless all who serve You and us + through the various ministries of our congregation + from our pastor to the elected officers and leaders of our church, + to the many other persons + who give of their time, abilities and energy to carry out Your Work in this church family.
P: Be with all those in our church family and extended family who are contending with physical, emotional, material and spiritual problems. Strengthen them through Your Word to successfully face the challenging circumstances into which You have placed them, and – according to Your mercy and in Your own, perfect time – grant them relief, recovery and restoration as You, alone know best.
C: Give us all genuine enthusiasm and true wisdom + for the tasks You have given us to do in this life. + Keep us from becoming worldly. + Never let us forget that we are men, women and children which You have called + to be the “salt” and “light” of Your grace to this sinful world. + Keep us from becoming discouraged + and enable us to be pillars of strength and sources of encouragement + for both our brothers and sisters in this congregation + along with our extended families and friends, + as well as for all those whose lives touch ours.
P: In addition, we pray for our brothers-and-sisters-in-Christ, Casey Schroeder (University of Arkansas), Kelvin Johannes(Martin Luther College, New Ulm, MN), and Ella Quinlan (Har-Ber High) …..each of which is graduating from college or high school in the week ahead. Thank You, Lord, for giving to each of these young adults the blessing of achieving these milestones in their education. Continue to bless them in the years to come with additional educational opportunities, with satisfying working careers, and with success throughout their lives. Keep them always in Your gracious care, enabling them to continue to recognize You as the Giver of all good gifts, the Source of every blessing, and the God of their salvation. Keep them strong and growing in their faith in You all the days of their lives on this earth, and – one day, when their lives’ labors end – mercifully grant them faith’s goal: everlasting life in heaven with You.
Finally, Lord God, accept our thanks for the privilege of being part of Your Church, not only for today and for all eternity, through Your grace to us in Christ, our Savior. Please receive and bless this prayer for Jesus’ sake, Who lives and rules with You and the Holy Spirit, as the one, true God, forever and ever. It is in His name that we also join now in praying:
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.
We Celebrate the Lord’s Supper
Pastor – The Lord be with you.
Congregation (Sung) And also with You
Pastor – Lift up your hearts.
Congregation (Sung) We lift them up to the Lord
Pastor – Let us give thanks unto the Lord, our God.
Congregation (Sung) It is right to give Him thanks and praise.
Pastor – It is truly good and right that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, O Lord, holy
Father, almighty, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. He raised Christ from the dead and
seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, and placed all things under His feet for the benefit of the Church. Now have come the salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ., To Him Who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, be praise and thanks and glory and honor for ever and ever.
Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of Your glory.
You are my God and I will exalt You. I will lift You up for You have become my salvation.
Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of Your glory.
Consecration of the Communion Elements
Pastor The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Congregation (Sung) Amen.
O Christ, Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; Have mercy on us.
O Christ, Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; Have mercy on us.
O Christ, Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; Grant us Your peace. Amen.
The Exhortation Regarding the Lord’s Supper
The Distribution of the Lord’s Supper
(Please read the following if you have not spoken with
our Pastor about taking communion. Thank you.)
To our Guests this morning, we appreciate your presence among us. It is an honor to have you join with us as we worship our Lord and listen to His Word. We truly consider it a privilege to spend this time with you! It is our hope that you will both return in the future to worship with us again, and – perhaps – that You will even choose to become part of our congregation’s membership and our Synodical (WELS) fellowship, so that you might become even more involved in worship, study of God’s Word, and in Christian ministry and fellowship with us.
In connection with our worship as Christians, we regularly celebrate the Lord’s Supper, or Holy Communion. But, as a key part of our church’s Biblically-based communion practice, before we can ask anyone to commune with us, we are compelled to first sit down with that individual and establish (upon a comprehensive study of the teachings of Scripture) that we are united in full doctrinal/ teaching fellowship…….which Scripture requires of any and all Christians before they can commune together.
Accordingly, we can offer the Lord’s Supper this morning only to those individuals who have completed that course of study, and who have chosen to become confirmed, communicant members of Grace Lutheran congregation or from one of our Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) or Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) congregations.
For some guests, this Biblical practice of “Close Communion“ is both unfamiliar and (quite possibly) uncomfortable. We realize that, unfortunately, few churches today continue to follow this approach to communion…..though, in the past (when many churches were more concerned about following all of God’s Word than is the case today) nearly all did. We understand that it is not necessarily easy to watch others receiving the Lord’s Supper, while being asked – respectfully — to refrain from receiving it. Many of us who are communing today once also watched others receive the Lord’s Supper, as you are asked to do this morning, while waiting for the privilege of one day being an active partner in this “Close Communion.” We want to assure you that we are not judging your faith in Christ today. Nor it is our desire to offend you. But it also is not our desire to offend or disobey our Lord’s expectations for the proper use of His Supper. Indeed, we must all obey Him above all others, and we want to obey Him. Consequently, if you have any questions or concerns about our use/practice of the Lord’s Supper (and we invite you to ask or express them — if you do), please feel free to speak with our Pastor after the service, or at your convenience. He considers it a privilege to share with you and others the Biblical reasons for our approach to receiving and offering the Lord’s Supper. In addition, you can also find a brochure in our tract/brochure rack in the entryway; it is entitled “Our Communion Practice.” This brochure also provides our guests and friends with the Scripture-based explanation for our understanding of and use of the Lord’s Supper.
Finally, please know that we truly are grateful for your participation – as a fellow Christian – in this morning’s worship service. We also thank you for your patience and understanding, and for respecting this Biblical approach we must take as we endeavor to faithful make us of our Lord’s Supper. We hope and pray that you will come back to worship with us again — often. And that one day you might become a part of this Christian fellowship, not only as we worship and hear God’s Word from these pews, but as we receive the Lord’s Supper together. May God bless and keep you always!
The Distribution Hymn “Your Table I Approach”
1 Your Table I approach; Dear Savior, hear my prayer;
Oh, let no unrepented sin Prove hurtful to me there!
2 Lord, I confess my sins And mourn their wretched bands;
A contrite heart is sure to find Forgiveness at Your hands.
3 Your body and Your blood, Once slain and shed for me,
Are taken here with mouth and soul, In blest reality.
4 Search not how this takes place, This wondrous mystery;
God can accomplish vastly more Than what we think could be.
5 O grant, most blessed Lord, That earth and hell combined
May not about this sacrament Raise doubt within my mind.
6 Oh, may I never fail To thank You day and night
For Your true body and true blood, O God, my Peace and Light.
The Second Communion Hymn Hymn 309 Draw Near and Take the Body of the Lord”
1 Draw near and take the body of the Lord, And drink the holy blood for you outpoured.
Offered was he for greatest and for least, Himself the victim and himself the priest.
2 He that his saints in this world rules and shields To all believers life eternal yields,
With heav’nly bread makes them that hunger whole, Gives living waters to the thirsty soul.
3 Come forward, then, with faithful hearts sincere, And take the pledges of salvation here.
Before your altar, Lord, your servants bow; In this your feast of love be with us now.
We Leave With The Lord’s Blessing
The Closing Prayer
The Benediction
The LORD bless you and keep you.
The LORD make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
The LORD look with favor upon you, and give you His peace. Amen.
The Closing Hymn Hymn 323 “Almighty Father, Bless the Word”
1 Almighty Father, bless the word Which through your grace we now have heard.
Oh, may the precious seed take root, Spring up, and bear abundant fruit.
2 We praise you for the means of grace As homeward now our steps we trace.
Grant, Lord, that we who worshiped here May all at last in heav’n appear.
Silent Prayer, Announcements, Post-service music
Announcements
Recently At Grace Last Sunday’s Worship: 60 Online: 17 Sunday Bible Class: 26 Online views: 4
Sunday School: 5 Budgetary Offerings: $1590 Online Budgetary Offerings: $763.23
Tuesday Bible Class: 14 Wednesday Bible Class: 4 men (plus 2 online views); 4 women
Serving Next Sunday Elders: Vic Walker, Steve Stone Ushers: James Boatright, Jim Taylor, Jim Winnat
Fellowship: Harriet and John Johnson Altar Guild: Christine Quinlan, Linda Winnat Video: Tim Huebner
Looking Ahead For our Church-Family This Week
Today Cantate (Sing) Sunday Worship , 9:30 a.m. with Communion Fellowship Period, 10:45 a.m.
Bible Class/Sunday School time, 11:05 a.m. Youth Confirmation Class, 12:15 to 1:30 p.m.
May 09 (Tues) Morning Bible Class, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Church Council Meeting, 6 p.m.
May 10 (Wed) Midweek Bible Class, 6-7 p.m.
May 13 (Sat) Outreach Visits, 10 a.m
May 14 (Sun) 6th Sunday of the Easter Season 9:30 a.m. Fellowship, 10:40 Bible Class/Sunday School 11:05
Youth Confirmation Class, 12:15 to 1:30 p.m.
Rummage Sale Announcement…..It’s hard to believe that only two weeks away, on May 19-20, our women’s group will be holding their annual rummage sale. Items are currently being accepted here at church, but we can certainly use many more donated goods. We hope you’ll provide some of those items in your closets, cupboards, attics and garages that you aren’t using anymore, but which still work (and which you haven’t wanted to throw out…but which you also don’t need).
We would also welcome help from anyone who is available both to mark and set out the rummage items before the sale, and any help from anyone who is willing to work on either of the rummage sale days.
This Week’s Bible Classes:
Today: More of Jesus’ Parables (The Two Sons, The Tenants, and the Wedding Banquet)
Tuesday (10:30-11:30am) Ecclesiastes…..Growing Older and Death
Wednesday (6-7pm) Women…Bad Girls of the Bible (Eve) Men….Christian Freedom/Adiaphora
Outreach Calling SATURDAY ….Please join us this coming Saturday at 10:00 a.m. to make visits to non-churched families nearby our church, or if you could help at another time or day, please speak with Pastor.
Ascension Day Special Worship Service Reminder – It’s only a week and a half away. Please remember that on Thursday evening, May 18th we’ll be holding a special Ascension Day worship service, beginning at 7:00 p.m. We hope you’ll join us in being part of this often-overlooked, but spiritually significant celebration on the Christian church’s calendar.
Daily Devotions for Your Smart Phone, Computer or Tablet – “What About Jesus” (www.whataboutJesus.com) is a web site operated by our Synod. It provides short, morning devotions sent straight to our smart phones each day via an email address. Each devotion is Biblically faithful and takes about a minute to read. They arrive around 4 a.m, so you can start your day with it. Just go to the web address, and click “Subscriptions” on the top line. Simply follow the directions from there. After providing some information to identify you, you’ll be sent an email with directions to complete the sign up process. It takes a few minutes to sign up, but you’ll be blessed each day by these devotions.
Fellowship Volunteers Needed Would you be willing to volunteer to prepare after-worship coffee, drinks, and light snacks? A sign-up poster is on the gymnasium/fellowship hall bulletin board. We are still in need of additional volunteers to manage our morning fellowship over the next few months. Reimbursement of $25 per week for expenses is available to help defray costs. (It comes through our “donation jar.”)
Church Council Meeting THIS TUESDAY evening, starting at 6 p.m.