ORDER OF WORSHIP
Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 10, 2026
Jesus does not abandon his followers. Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus comes to abide with his disciples of every generation. As Pentecost draws near, we are reminded that the risen Christ dwells in us as the Spirit of truth. We receive this Spirit in baptism and pray that in our gathering around the Lord’s table the Spirit will transform us to be the body of the risen Christ in the world.
+ GATHERING +
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE
Children of the Heavenly Father
arr. David H. Hegarty
GATHERING
THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM
All may make the sign of the cross, the sign that is marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.
Alleluia! + Christ is risen.
Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne and to the Lamb!
Amen.
Let us give thanks for the gift of baptism.
Water may be poured into the font as the presiding minister continues.
Merciful God, you are the one who was, who is, and who is to come.
You lead us beside still waters.
We thank you for the waters of creation: morning dew, gentle rain, roaring waves.
We thank you for the waters that nourish us, including our beautiful local lakes.
Blessed are you.
You guide us to springs of the water of life.
Jesus Christ, you are the faithful witness who accompanies us on our journeys.
We give you thanks for your life-giving death and resurrection.
We praise you for joining us in joy and sorrow.
Blessed are you.
You guide us to springs of the water of life.
Holy Spirit, you anoint our head with oil and our cup overflows.
Break down barriers that divide us. Fill us with the breath of peace.
Blessed are you.
You guide us to springs of the water of life.
Holy One, we thank you for the gifts and grace of baptism, and for making us a new creation. We join with saints and angels, giving you honor and praise, now and forever. Amen.
GATHERING HYMN
Come, Thou Almighty King
ELW 408
Come, thou almighty King,
help us thy name to sing;
help us to praise;
Father all-glorious,
o'er all victorious,
come and reign over us,
Ancient of Days.
Come, thou incarnate Word,
merciful, mighty Lord;
our prayer attend.
Come and thy people bless,
and give thy word success,
and let thy righteousness
on us descend.
Come, holy Comforter,
thy sacred witness bear
in this glad hour!
Thou who almighty art,
rule now in ev'ry heart,
never from us depart,
Spirit of pow'r.
To thee, great One in Three,
eternal praises be
hence evermore!
Thy sov'reign majesty
may we in glory see,
and to eternity
love and adore.
APOSTOLIC GREETING
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.
KYRIE (page 98)
In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the peace from above,
and for our salvation,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the peace of the whole world,
for the well-being of the Church of God,
and for the unity of all,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For this holy house,
and for all who offer here their worship and praise,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
Amen.
CANTICLE OF PRAISE (page 101)
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain,
whose blood set us free to be people of God.
Power and riches, wisdom and strength,
and honor and blessing and glory are his.
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Sing with all the people of God,
and join in the hymn of all creation:
Blessing and honor, glory and might
be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen.
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
For the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign.
Alleluia.
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray.
Almighty and ever-living God, you hold together all things in heaven and on earth. In your great mercy receive the prayers of all your children, and give to all the world the Spirit of your truth and peace, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
+ WORD +
FIRST READING: Acts 17:22-31
22 Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, “Athenians, I see how extremely spiritual you are in every way. 23 For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things. 26 From one ancestor he made all peoples to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, 27 so that they would search for God and perhaps fumble about for him and find him—though indeed he is not far from each one of us. 28 For ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said,
‘For we, too, are his offspring.’
29 “Since we are God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals. 30 While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
PSALM 66:8-20 (We will read the Psalm responsively by whole verse.)
8 Bless our God, you peoples;
let the sound of praise be heard.
9 Our God has kept us among the living
and has not allowed our feet to slip.
10 For you, O God, have tested us;
you have tried us just as silver is tried.
11 You brought us into the net;
you laid heavy burdens upon our backs.
12 You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water,
but you brought us out into a place of refreshment.
13 I will enter your house with burnt offerings
and will pay you my vows—
14 those that I promised with my lips
and spoke with my mouth when I was in trouble.
15 I will offer you burnt offerings of fatlings with the smoke of rams;
I will give you oxen and goats.
16 Come and listen, all you who believe,
and I will tell you what God has done for me.
17 I called out to God with my mouth,
and praised the Lord with my tongue.
18 If I had cherished evil in my heart,
the Lord would not have heard me;
19 but in truth God has heard me
and has attended to the sound of my prayer.
20 Blessed be God, who has not rejected my prayer,
nor withheld unfailing love from me.
SECOND READING: 1 Peter 3:13-22
13 Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? 14 But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, 15 but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you, 16 yet do it with gentleness and respect. Maintain a good conscience so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, 20 who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight lives, were saved through water. 21 And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Alleluia, Alleluia.
GOSPEL: John 14:15-21, 25-27
The Holy Gospel according to John, the 10th chapter:
Glory to you, O Lord.
[Jesus said to the disciples:] 15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him because he abides with you, and he will be in you.
18 “I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. 19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me, and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”
25 “I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
The gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON The Rev. Dr. Olga-Maria Cruz
Silence is kept for reflection.
HYMN OF THE DAY
Come Down, O Love Divine
ELW 804
Come down, O Love divine;
seek thou this soul of mine
and visit it with thine own ardor glowing;
O Comforter, draw near;
within my heart appear
and kindle it, thy holy flame bestowing.
Oh, let it freely burn,
till worldly passions turn
to dust and ashes in its heat consuming;
and let thy glorious light
shine ever on my sight,
and clothe me round, the while my path illuming.
Let holy charity
mine outward vesture be,
and lowliness become mine inner clothing--
true lowliness of heart,
which takes the humbler part,
and o'er its own shortcomings weeps with loathing.
And so the yearning strong,
with which the soul will long,
shall far outpass the pow'r of human telling;
no soul can guess Love's grace
till it become the place
wherein the Holy Spirit makes a dwelling.
NICENE CREED
We now profess the faith we share using the words of the Nicene Creed:
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
Trusting in the power of Christ’s resurrection to heal and redeem our broken world, let us pray for the needs of all creation.
A brief silence.
God of new life, you call us through the waters of baptism to be in relationship with you and one another. Guide the church and its leaders to proclaim Christ’s righteousness throughout the world. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
God of all creation, shelter budding plants and young animals. Motivate us to provide unpolluted habitats and clean water, and raise up stewards for the environment. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
God of justice, instill truth and equity among judges and lawyers, gentleness and courage among first responders, and peace among leaders of towns and nations. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
God of compassion, you provide comfort in times of trouble. Heal those who are sick; accompany and console all who are lonely, bereaved, anxious, or ill, including Mary, Barbara, Mabel, Doris, June, Willah, Ann, Julie, Christen, Carol, Judy, Jeff, Gloria, Brian, James & Gray, Wil, Amy, Bob & Jane, Scott, Lynda, Ron & Flo, Mac, Monica, Avery, Dean, John, Abby, Tim, Arleen & Richard, Betty, Linda, Sue, Henry, Glenn, Gary, Connie, Greg, Beverly & Ray, Helen & Ron, and Max. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
Here other intercessions may be offered.
God of new life, your steadfast love endures forever. Inspire us by the example of the faithful departed, who clung to your promises of life, forgiveness of sins, and salvation. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
God of resurrection power, use us and these prayers to proclaim the good news of new life to all the world, through Jesus Christ, our risen Savior.
Amen.
GREETINGS OF PEACE
Peace of Christ be with you always.
And also with you.
GRATITUDE
+ MEAL +
OFFERING
You may place your offerings in the offering plate as it is passed during the service. Alternatively, some are using Tithe.ly for online giving or are using their bank’s online banking option. Whichever way you choose to give, we are grateful for your stewardship and generosity.
OFFERTORY
Adagio from Sonata III
G.F. Händel
Gene Hodges, Organ Art Pranno, Violin
OFFERING SONG
Let the Vineyards Be Fruitful
ELW 181
Let the vineyards be fruitful, Lord,
and fill to the brim our cup of blessing.
Gather a harvest from the seeds that were sown,
that we may be fed with the bread of life.
Gather the hopes and dreams of all;
unite them with the prayers we offer.
Grace our table with your presence,
and give us a foretaste of the feast to com.
OFFERING PRAYER
Merciful God,
accept the fruits of our labor, gathered to give you glory.
You have set a table before us, a glimpse of that great day
when we will hunger and thirst no more.
Nourish us with the body and blood of Jesus,
that goodness and mercy may follow us
and bless the world you love.
In the name of Jesus,
Amen.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
DIALOGUE (page 107)
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, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, for the glorious resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ, the true Paschal Lamb who gave himself to take away our sin; who in dying has destroyed death, and in rising has brought us to eternal life. And so, with Mary Magdalene and Peter and all the witnesses of the resurrection, with earth and sea and all their creatures, and with angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY (page 108)
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord
Hosanna in the highest.
THANKSGIVING AT THE TABLE
In the night in which he was handed over,
our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
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.
For as often as we eat of this bread and drink from this cup,
we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
LORD'S PRAYER
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.
All baptized children of God are invited to the Lord’s Table, where we receive Jesus’ very body and blood in, with, and under the bread and wine. We partake at the communion rail; gluten free bread and grape juice are available. If you wish to commune, but cannot come forward, let an usher know and we will come to you. If you do not wish to commune, you are welcome to come forward to receive a blessing. Anyone may remain at the rail for a time of personal prayer, following which you may return to your pew down the side aisle.
INVITATION TO COMMUNION
Come to the table of new life.
Receive the risen Lord.
Thanks be to God.
DISTRIBUTION OF COMMUNION
LAMB OF GOD
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
grant us peace, grant us peace.
COMMUNION HYMNS
Children of the Heavenly Father
ELW 781
Children of the heav'nly Father
safely in his bosom gather;
nestling bird nor star in heaven
such a refuge e'er was given.
God his own doth tend and nourish,
in his holy courts they flourish.
From all evil things he spares them,
in his mighty arms he bears them.
Neither life nor death shall ever
from the Lord his children sever;
unto them his grace he showeth,
and their sorrows all he knoweth.
Though he giveth or he taketh,
God his children ne'er forsaketh;
his the loving purpose solely
to preserve them pure and holy.
Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus
ELW 802
Let us ever walk with Jesus,
follow his example pure,
through a world that would deceive us
and to sin our spirits lure.
Onward in his footsteps treading,
trav'lers here, our home above,
full of faith and hope and love,
let us do our Savior's bidding.
Faithful Lord, with me abide;
I shall follow where you guide.
Let us suffer here with Jesus,
and with patience bear our cross.
Joy will follow all our sadness;
where he is there is no loss.
Though today we sow no laughter,
we shall reap celestial joy:
all discomforts that annoy
shall give way to mirth hereafter.
Jesus, here I share your woe;
help me there your joy to know.
Let us gladly die with Jesus.
Since by death he conquered death,
he will free us from destruction,
give to us immortal breath.
Let us mortify all passion
that would lead us into sin;
and the grave that shuts us in
shall but prove the gate of heaven.
Jesus, here with you I die,
there to live with you on high.
Let us also live with Jesus.
He has risen from the dead
that to life we may awaken.
Jesus, you are now our head,
we are your own living members;
where you live, there we shall be
in your presence constantly,
living there with you forever.
Jesus, let me faithful be;
life eternal grant to me.
POST COMMUNION BLESSING
The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in His grace.
Amen.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Let us pray.
Holy One, through this meal you have made your home among us
and are making all things new.
Send us now to speak peace to anxious hearts, to love our enemies,
and to bring your healing to the nations.
In the name of Jesus our crucified and risen Lord.
Amen.
+ SENDING +
SENDING HYMN
The Day of Resurrection!
HFW 1180
The day of resurrection!
Earth, tell it out abroad,
the passover of gladness,
the passover of God.
From death to life eternal,
from sin’s dominion free,
our Christ has brought us over
with hymns of victory.
Let hearts be purged of evil
that we may see aright
the Lord in rays eternal
of resurrection light,
and list’ning to his accents,
may hear, so calm and plain,
his own “All hail!” and hearing,
may raise the victor strain.
Now let the heav’ns be joyful,
let earth its song begin,
let all the world keep triumph
and all that is therein.
Let all things, seen and unseen,
their notes of gladness blend;
for Christ the Lord has risen,
our joy that has no end!
Then praise we God the Father,
and praise we Christ his Son,
with them the Holy Spirit,
eternal Three in One;
till all the ransomed number
fall down before the throne,
and honor, pow’r, and glory
ascribe to God alone!
BENEDICTION
God the Creator, the beginning and the end,
Jesus Christ, the firstborn from the dead,
and the Spirit, our advocate and guide,
+ bless you now and forever.
Amen.
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Praise the Lord. Alleluia!
Thanks be to God. Alleluia!
POSTLUDE
Oh, Rejoice Ye Christians Loudly
Ernst Pepping
Liturgical Text and Music from Evangelical Lutheran Worship and All Creation Sings and sundaysandseasons.com, © 2006, 2020, 2022 Augsburg Fortress. Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies License #SAS016761. All rights reserved.
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Children of the Heavenly Father, Tune: SANDELL, Swedish Folk Melody, arr. David H. Hegarty, b. 1945. Arr. © 1987 Lorenz Publishing Co. Streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274. All rights reserved.
Come, Thou Almighty King, Text: source unknown, c. 1757, alt. Music: Felice de Giardini, 1716–1796. Public domain.
Come Down, O Love Divine, Text: Bianco da Siena, d. 1434; tr. Richard F. Littledale, 1833-1890. Music: Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1872-1958. Public domain.
Sonata III, (F major), Music: George Frideric Handel, 1685-1759, ed. Carl Friedberg, 1872-1955 and Leopold Auer, 1845-1930. Public domain.
Let the Vineyards Be Fruitful, Music: Marty Haugen, b. 1950. Text © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, admin. Augsburg Fortress, Music © 2004 Augsburg Fortress, Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274. All rights reserved.
Children of the Heavenly Father, Text: Carolina Sandell Berg, 1832-1903; tr. Ernst W. Olson, 1870-1958. Text © 1925 Board of Publication. Lutheran Church in America. Text reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274. All rights reserved. Music: Swedish folk tune. Public domain.
Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus, Text: Sigismund von Birken, 1626-1681; tr. Lutheran Book of Worship, alt. Text © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, admin. Augsburg Fortress. Music: Georg G. Boltze, 18th cent. Public domain.
The Day of Resurrection, Text: St. John of Damascus, c. 675-754, tr. J. M. Neale, 1818-1866. Music: Henry Thomas Smart, 1813-1879. Public domain.
Oh, Rejoice Ye Christians Loudly, Tune: Andreas Hammerschmidt,1911-1675, arr Earnest Pepping, 1901-1981. Arr. © 1941 B. Schott Söhne. All rights reserved.
