Prelude
Announcements
Call to Worship and Confession and Forgiveness
Across the barriers that divide race from race:
People of God: reconcile us, O Christ, by your cross.
Across the barriers that divide rich from poor:
People of God: reconcile us, O Christ, by your cross.
Across the barriers that divide people of different cultures:
People of God: reconcile us, O Christ, by your cross.
Across the barriers that divide Christians:
People of God: reconcile us, O Christ, by your cross.
Across the barriers that divide men and women, young and old:
People of God: reconcile us, O Christ, by your cross.
As God opened the hearts of Jesus’ followers
People of God: so open our hearts to your Holy Spirit.
Reconcile us, O Christ, by your cross
People of God: no matter what divides us from your love.
Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, by whose hand we are given new birth, by whose speaking we are given new life. People of God: Amen
Reconciled to Christ in the waters of baptism, we are welcomed, restored, and supported as citizens of the new creation.
Let us give thanks for the gift of baptism. Holy God, holy and merciful, holy and mighty, you are the river of life, you are the everlasting wellspring. In mercy and might you have freed us from death and raised us with Jesus, the firstborn of the dead. In baptismal waters our old life is washed away, and in them we are born anew.
Water may be poured into the font as the presiding minister continues.
Glory to you for oceans and lakes, for rivers and streams. Honor to you for waters that wash us clean, quench our thirst, and nurture both crops and creatures. Praise to you for the life-giving water of baptism, the outpouring of the Spirit of the new creation.
People of God: Wash away our sin and all that separates us from you. Empower our witness to your resurrection. Strengthen our resolve in seeking justice for all.
Satisfy the world’s need through this living water. Where drought dries the earth, bring refreshment. Where despair prevails, grant hope. Where chaos reigns, bring peace. We ask this through Christ, who with you and the Spirit reigns forever. People of God: Amen
Gathering Hymn
ELW #482 I Come with Joy
Prayer of the Day
Assisting Minister: Let us pray. God of all nations, you made it clear that all people are invited to partake of the glory of your salvation. Help us to invite all people to your goodness, so that no one might be forgotten in your saving grace. We pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. People of God: Amen
Reading Acts 10:1-17, 34-48
Assisting Minister: 1In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian Cohort, as it was called. 2He was a devout man who feared God with all his household; he gave alms generously to the people and prayed constantly to God. 3One afternoon at about three o’clock he had a vision in which he clearly saw an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius.” 4He stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” He answered, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5Now send men to Joppa for a certain Simon who is called Peter; 6he is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside.” 7When the angel who spoke to him had left, he called two of his slaves and a devout soldier from the ranks of those who served him, 8and after telling them everything, he sent them to Joppa. 9About noon the next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10He became hungry and wanted something to eat; and while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11He saw the heaven opened and something like a large sheet coming down, being lowered to the ground by its four corners. 12In it were all kinds of four-footed creatures and reptiles and birds of the air. 13Then he heard a voice saying, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.” 14But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is profane or unclean.” 15The voice said to him again, a second time, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.” 16This happened three times, and the thing was suddenly taken up to heaven. 17Now while Peter was greatly puzzled about what to make of the vision that he had seen, suddenly the men sent by Cornelius appeared. They were asking for Simon’s house and were standing by the gate.
34Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ — he is Lord of all. 37That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, 41not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” 44While 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, 47Can 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. People of God: Thanks be to God
Sermon Rev. Sarah Wilson
Hymn
Search Me, O God
Prayers of the People
Assisting Minister: Let us pray for the needs of the church and the world to God who raised Jesus to new life.
A brief silence.
Assisting Minister: Use the church to spread the great message of your love to the world, O God, and deepen our faith and trust in your presence. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Assisting Minister: Send your compassionate love upon the earth, O God, and move humanity to better steward and care for the earth. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Assisting Minister: Rain justice down upon the nations, O God, and bring peace where there is conflict and war. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Assisting Minister: Move us out of our comfort zones, O God, and lead us to serve you in serving our neighbors. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Assisting Minister: Bring health and healing to the sick, O God, especially Susan, Grace, Alice, Gus, Faith, Denise, Leslie, Norma, Brian, Scott, Jessica, Alicia, Jeanne, Barb, Cecil (See-sil), Stan, Marlene, Ryleigh, Dylan, Sandy, Hopie (Hope-y), the Bredemus (bread-a-mus) family, Allen, Bunny, the Vogt (vote) family, Patricia, Michael, Nicholas and his family, Beth, Betty, Tom, Kara (car-a), and those we name silently or aloud <pause>. Bless all who suffer in any way with your peace and hope. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Assisting Minister: Bless this assembly with the Holy Spirit, O God, and inspire us to share your amazing grace with our communities. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Please offer your own prayers of joy or concern, ending with “Lord, in your mercy,”
We respond with “hear our prayer.”
Through the resurrection of your son, O God, you destroy the power of death and remove your people’s shame. By the power of the Spirit, raise us from sin and seat us at the paschal feast, that we may rejoice in the gift of salvation Jesus has won for us. People of God: Amen
Children’s Sermon Mike Parmele
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
Let us pray. Generous God, in this meal you offer your very self. We give thanks for these gifts of the earth. In the breaking of this bread, reveal to us the Risen One. In the pouring of this wine, pour us out in service to the world; through Christ our Lord. People of God: Amen
Communion
The Lord be with you.
People of God: And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
People of God: We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People of God: 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.
Invitation to Communion
Assisting Minister: Come and know Christ, broken and poured out for you.
For our at-home worshippers, you may take communion using these words:
The body of Christ, given for you.
The blood of Christ, shed for you.
Communion Songs
ELW #413 Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty
ELW #364 Christ Has Arisen, Alleluia
ELW #379 Now the Green Blade Rises
ELW #481 Come to the Table
Table Blessing
And now may the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ, strengthen you and keep you in his grace. People of God: Amen
Prayer after Communion
Assisting Minister: Let us pray. Gracious God, in you we live and move and have our being. With your word and this meal of grace, you have nourished our life together. Strengthen us to show your love and serve the world in Jesus’ name. People of God: Amen
Blessing
May you go out into the world with your eyes and your ears and your hearts wide open, that you may be astounded by the gifts of the Holy Spirit; gifts poured out abundantly, graciously, recklessly; gifts poured out on those who agree with you and those who disagree with you; gifts poured out on your friends and your enemies; gifts poured out and poured into the deepest places of yourself. People of God: Amen
Sending Hymn
ELW#774 What a Fellowship, What a Joy Divine
Dismissal
Assisting Minister: Go in peace. Serve the Risen One. People of God: Thanks be to God.
Thank you to those serving us today
Pastor: Rev. Sarah Wilson
Worship Assistant: Debbie Ramirez
Acolyte: Michael Parmele
Music: Gloria Peetz ~ Song Leader: Catherine Cox
Altar Guild: Sally Skalany
Usher/Greeter: Danielle Proebsting & Bob Eccker
Sound Board: Jason Brescia
Producer: Mark Gates ~ Graphics: Dawna Gates
Counters: Jeanne Soberg & Nancy Rochford
From sundaysandseasons.com. Copyright © 2023 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved
Call to Worship based on work from https://worship.calvin.edu/resources/resource-library/the-church-bigger-than-all-of-us-acts-2-hcld-21/
Benediction written by Rev. Joanna Harader, from SpaciousFaith.com