Worship Service for The Fifth Sunday of Easter
Rev. Gregory Mech | May 2, 2021 | Rite of Confirmation in the 10:30 Service | Immanuel Lutheran Church – Joplin, Missouri | 8:00 or 10:30 am
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Special thanks to all who helped to make this Confirmation Day broadcast possible today:
Rev. Gregory Mech, DCE Jason Glaskey, organist Betty Lingenfelter, the COVID Committee, Board of Elders, the Altar Guild and all of our volunteers!
Through the Rite of Confirmation, Immanuel welcomes Genevieve Billings, Amy Kessler, Kaydence Killebrew, Kailee Miller and Katie Murdock today!
Fifth Sunday of Easter — The Rite of Confirmation
May 2, 2020 — Divine Service, Setting One with Holy Communion
INVOCATION, CONFESSION and ABSOLUTION 151
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination.
Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.
Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbor as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.
Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
INTROIT Containing the Confirmation Verses and portions of the Epistle
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4
Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not!
Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God.
He will come and save you.” Isaiah 35:4
The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord accepts my prayer. Psalm 6:9
By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us.
God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 1 John 4:13-15
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. Deuteronomy 6:5-6
In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.
In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:9-11
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.1 Corinthians 13:13
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.1 John 4:7-8
By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment,
because as he is, so also are we in this world.
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:17-19
KYRIE 152
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.
HYMN OF PRAISE “This Is the Feast” 155
Refrain
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain,
whose blood set us free to be people of God.
Refrain
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Power, riches, wisdom, and strength,
and honor, blessing and glory are His.
Refrain
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Sing with all the people of God and join in the hymn of all creation:
“Blessing, honor, glory, and might be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen.”
Refrain
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
For the Lamb who was slain has begun His reign. Alleluia.
Refrain
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
SALUTATION and COLLECT OF THE DAY
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray: Almighty God, whom to know is eternal life, grant us to know Your Son, Jesus, to be the way, the truth, and the life that we may boldly confess Him to be the Christ and steadfastly walk in the way that leads to life eternal; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
KIDS TALK with help from Genevieve, Amy, Kaydence, Kailee, and Katie
FIRST READING Acts 8:26-40
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:
“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter
and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opens not his mouth.
In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”
And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
EPISTLE 1 John 4:1-6
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
ALLELUIA AND VERSE 156
Alleluia! Lord, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life.
Alleluia, alleluia.
HOLY GOSPEL John 15:1-8
The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the fifteenth chapter.
Glory to You, O Lord.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to You, O Christ.
HYMN “Borning Cry”
Words and Music: John Ylvisaker, New Generation Publishers
I was there to hear your borning cry,
I’ll be there when you are old.
I rejoiced the day you were baptized,
to see your life unfold.
I was there when you were but a child,
with a faith to suit you well;
In a blaze of light you wandered off
to find where demons dwell.
When you heard the wonder of the Word
I was there to cheer you on;
You were raised to praise the living Lord,
to whom you now belong.
If you find someone to share your time
and you join your hearts as one,
I’ll be there to make your verses rhyme
from dusk ’till rising sun.
In the middle ages of your life,
not too old, no longer young,
I’ll be there to guide you through the night,
complete what I’ve begun.
When the evening gently closes in,
and you shut your weary eyes,
I’ll be there as I have always been
with just one more surprise.
I was there to hear your borning cry,
I’ll be there when you are old.
I rejoiced the day you were baptized,
to see your life unfold.
SERMON
NICENE CREED 158
(8:00) 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 Spirit 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 sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in 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.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
OFFERING and OFFERTORY 159
What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits to me?
I will offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call on the name of the Lord.
I will take the cup of salvation and will call on the name of the Lord.
I will pay my vows to the Lord now in the presence of all His people, in the courts of the Lord’s house, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.
+ THE RITE OF CONFIRMATION + 272 (10:30)
Beloved in the Lord, our Lord Jesus Christ said to His apostles: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded You; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:18-20) You have been baptized and catechized in the Christian faith according to our Lord’s bidding. Jesus said, “Whoever confesses Me before men, I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 10:32-33) Lift up your hearts, therefore, to the God of all grace and joyfully give answer to what I now ask you in the name of the Lord.
Do you this day in the presence of God and of this congregation acknowledge the gifts that God gave you in your Baptism?
Yes, I do.
Do you renounce the devil?
Yes, I renounce him.
Do you renounce all his works?
Yes, I renounce them.
Do you renounce all his ways?
Yes, I renounce them.
Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty?
Yes, I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
Do you believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord?
Yes, I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence he will come to judge the living and the dead.
Do you believe in the Holy Spirit?
Yes, I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
Do you hold all the prophetic and apostolic Scriptures to be the inspired Word of God?
I do.
Do you confess the doctrine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, drawn from the Scriptures, as you have learned to know it from the Small Catechism, to be faithful and true?
I do.
Do you intend to hear the Word of God and receive the Lord’s Supper faithfully?
I do, by the grace of God.
Do you intend to live according to the Word of God, and in faith, word, and deed to remain true to God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, even to death?
I do, by the grace of God.
Do you intend to continue steadfast in this confession and Church and to suffer all, even death, rather than fall away from it?
I do, by the grace of God.
We rejoice with thankful hearts that you have been baptized and have received the teaching of the Lord. You have confessed the faith and been absolved of your sins. As you continue to hear the Lord’s Word and receive His blessed Sacrament, He who has begun a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
The catechumens kneel to receive the confirmation blessing and a text of Holy Scripture as a remembrance of confirmation. The pastor places his hands on the head of each catechumen and makes the sign of the cross on the forehead while saying:
[Name], the almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given you the new birth of water and of the Spirit and has forgiven you all your sins, strengthen you with His grace to life everlasting.
Amen.
Genevieve Maureen-Agnes Billings Deuteronomy 6:5-6
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.Amy Grace Kessler 1 Corinthians 13:13
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.Kaydence Marie Killebrew Psalm 6:9
The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer.Kailee Jean Miller Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.Kaitlyn Sue Murdock Isaiah 35:4
Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! … The Lord will come and save you.”
Let us pray. Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank and praise You for Your great goodness in bringing these Your sons and daughters to the knowledge of Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, and enabling them both with the heart to believe and with the mouth to confess His saving name. Grant that, bringing forth the fruits of faith, they may continue steadfast and victorious to the day when all who have fought the good fight of faith shall receive the crown of righteousness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Peace be with you.
Amen.
+ THE SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT +
PREFACE 160
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 Him thanks and praise.
PROPER PREFACE
It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, Lord, our God, for in Christ You have given us the victory over sin, death, and the power of the devil. Therefore, with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:
SANCTUS “Holy, Holy, Holy” 161
Holy, holy, holy Lord God of power and might:
Heaven and earth are full of Your glory.
Hosanna. Hosanna. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
With joyful praise, Lord God, we bless You this day for having sent Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, to be the perfect sacrifice so that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name. Grant that our lives know the peace that surpasses all understanding. Invited by Your grace, grant that we come to Your Table with grateful hearts. Strengthen us through Christ’s body and blood, that we live with confidence, securely awaiting the eternal feast with all the saints in glory.
Amen.
THE WORDS OF OUR LORD Matt 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Cor 11:23-25
Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”
In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
PAX DOMINI “The Peace of the Lord” 163
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Amen.
AGNUS DEI “Lamb of God” 163
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.
Distribution of the Sacrament will be by family groups, at the direction of the usher. Children may come forward for a contactless blessing. Gluten-free and alcohol-free portions are available near the center aisle.
DISTRIBUTION HYMN “Father Welcomes All His Children” 605
refrain
Father welcomes all his children
To His family Through His Son.
Father giving His salvation,
Life eternal has been won.
Little children, come to Me,
For My kingdom is of these.
Life and love I have to give,
Mercy for your sin.
refrain
Father welcomes all his children
To His family Through His Son.
Father giving His salvation,
Life eternal has been won.
In the water, in the Word,
In His promise, be assured:
Those who are baptized and believe
Shall be born again.
refrain
Father welcomes all his children
To His family Through His Son.
Father giving His salvation,
Life eternal has been won.
Let us gladly die to sin;
Let us daily rise with Him,
Walk in the love of Christ our Lord,
Live in the peace of God.
refrain
Father welcomes all his children
To His family Through His Son.
Father giving His salvation,
Life eternal has been won.
DISTRIBUTION HYMN “Lord, Take My Hand and Lead Me” 722
Lord, take my hand and lead me Upon life’s way;
Direct, protect, and feed me From day to day.
Without Your grace and favor I go astray;
So take my hand, O Savior, and lead the way.
Lord, when the tempest rages, I need not fear,
For You, the Rock of Ages, Are always near.
Close by Your side abiding, I fear no foe,
For when Your hand is guiding, In peace I go.
Lord, when the shadows lengthen And night has come
I know that You will strengthen My steps toward home.
Then nothing shall impede me, O blessed Friend;
So take my hand and lead me Unto the end.
DISTRIBUTION HYMN “If Thou but Trust in God” 750: 1,3,4,7
If thou but trust in God to guide thee
And hope in Him through all thy ways,
He’ll give thee strength, whate’er betide thee,
And bear thee through the evil days.
Who trusts in God’s unchanging love
Builds on the rock that naught can move.
Be patient and await His leisure
In cheerful hope, with heart content
To take whate’er the Father’s pleasure
And His discerning love hath sent,
Nor doubt our inmost wants are known
To Him who chose us for His own.
God knows full well when times of gladness
Shall be the needful thing for thee.
When He has tried thy soul with sadness
And from all guile has found thee free,
He comes to thee all unaware
And makes thee own His loving care.
Sing, pray, and keep His ways unswerving,
Perform thy duties faithfully,
And trust His Word, though undeserving,
Thou yet shall find it true for thee.
God never yet forsook in need
The soul that trusted Him indeed.
DISTRIBUTION HYMN “Thy Body, Given for Me, O Savior” 619
Thy body, given for me, O Savior,
Thy blood which Thou for me didst shed,
These are my life and strength forever,
By them my hungry soul is fed.
Lord, may Thy body and Thy blood
Be for my soul the highest good.
With Thee, Lord, I am now united;
I live in Thee and Thou in me.
No sorrow fills my soul, delighted
It finds its only joy in Thee.
Lord, may Thy body and Thy blood
Be for my soul the highest good.
Who can condemn me now? For surely
The Lord is nigh and justifies.
No hell I fear, and thus securely
With Jesus I to heaven rise.
Lord, may Thy body and Thy blood
Be for my soul the highest good.
Though death may threaten with disaster,
It cannot rob me of my cheer;
For He who is of death the master
With aid and comfort ever is near.
Lord, may Thy body and Thy blood
Be for my soul the highest good.
My heart has now become Thy dwelling,
O blessed, holy Trinity.
With angels I, Thy praises telling,
Shall live in joy eternally.
Lord, may Thy body and Thy blood
Be for my soul the highest good.
POST-COMMUNION CANTICLE 164
Thank the Lord and sing His praise;
Tell everyone what He has done.
Let all who seek the Lord rejoice and proudly bear His name.
He recalls His promises and leads His people forth in joy
With shouts of thanksgiving. Alleluia, alleluia.
POST-COMMUNION COLLECT 166
Let us pray. O God the Father, the fountain and source of all goodness, who in loving-kindness sent Your only-begotten Son into the flesh, we thank You that for His sake You have given us pardon and peace in this Sacrament, and we ask You not to forsake Your children but always to rule our hearts and minds by Your Holy Spirit that we may be enabled constantly to serve You; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
HYMN “Go, My Children, with My Blessing” 922
Go, My children, with My blessing,
Never alone.
Waking, sleeping, I am with you;
You are My own.
In My love’s baptismal river
I have made you Mine forever.
Go, My children, with My blessing—
You are My own.
Go, My children, sins forgiven,
At peace and pure.
Here you learned how much I love you,
What I can cure.
Here you heard My dear Son’s story,
Here you touched Him, saw His glory.
Go, My children, sins forgiven,
At peace and pure.
Go, My children, fed and nourished,
Closer to Me;
Grow in love and love by serving,
Joyful and free.
Here My Spirit’s power filled you;
Here His tender comfort stilled you.
Go, My children, fed and nourished,
Closer to Me.
I, the Lord, will bless and keep you
And give you peace.
I the Lord will smile upon you
And give you peace.
I the Lord will be your Father,
Savior, Comforter and Brother.
Go, My children, I will keep you
And give you peace.
Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. From Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House.
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