*thanksgiving for baptism · web view2021/05/23 · water may be poured into the font as the...

St. John Lutheran Church (ELCA)Mineola, IA

Pastor Luke Kuenzli

Order of Service and Worship TextsFor Virtual and In-person Worship

Adapted from Evangelical Lutheran WorshipSetting 6 and from Sundays & Seasons

May 2021 during COVID-19 pandemic

THIS SUNDAY: May 23, 2021 – Day of Pentecost10:30 – In-person Worship with Communion, YouTube Live stream with Virtual Communion

ACCOMPANIST: Barb MassALTAR: Sylvia LillyREADER: Rob Simmon

USHERS: Frank & Sylvia Lilly Tues – 1:00 Quilting Wed – 6:30 MCMA Baccalaureate Service at Glenwood High School Auditorium

NEXT SUNDAY: May 30, 2021 – Holy Trinity Sunday10:30 – In-person Worship with Communion, YouTube Live stream with Virtual Communion

Monday, May 31: Memorial Day Services10:00 at Salem Lutheran Church (Plumer Settlement)11:00 at Mineola Cemetery

For those worshipping virtually, please have a small portion of wine or grape juice and a small piece of bread ready for communion, or a Fellowship Cup from church on hand.

For those worshipping in person, please take a Fellowship Cup for each communing member of your family as you enter. Keep them with you in your pew and please ensure that they remain closed until you are instructed to open them. Those with children who commune may want to hold on to their cups for them, and assist them in opening the cups and holding cups once they are opened. Those who find it difficult to open the cups should ask an usher or family member for assistance. Please place your used communion cup on the empty tray in the back of the sanctuary as you depart.

1

St. John Lutheran ChurchMineola, Iowa Phone (712) 526-2268Website: stjohnluthchurchmineola.orgPastor Luke Kuenzli

May 23, 2021 10:30amDay of Pentecost

We are called to glorify God, grow in faith,

and build community.Mission Statement

SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION – Virtual and In-Person

Covid-19 Precautions for in-person worship For fully vaccinated individuals, masks are no longer required. We ask that

anyone who has not been fully vaccinated (final dose plus two weeks) continue to use a mask for the safety of their friends and community members.

We continue to practice social distancing of 6 feet. Closed pews are cordoned off and labelled. Please don’t gather in the hallway or enter any closed spaces. Restrooms will be limited to single-person/family use at any given time.

There will be limited prolonged singing and unison speaking. We continue to advise (not require) that unimmunized persons in the

vulnerable population groups of 65+ years of age and anyone with underlying medical conditions remain home and join us for worship virtually.

We ask that anyone with any respiratory symptoms (cough, sniffles, sneezing, sore throat) or fever please remain home.

We ask that if you are traveling to areas of high virus activity, you remain home for the Sunday following your travels.

Hand sanitizers are located throughout the open areas. Feel free to use them!

Looking for an opportunity to volunteer?1) We will need a few people to help design the photo pages for the directory,

make sure all contact info is up-to-date for members in the directory, and assist families with check-in for their photo session.

2) The MCMA food pantry will be resuming normal operations in July, and could use some additional volunteers to unload the delivery truck (usually on Tuesday mornings) and to assist people with finding the items they need.

Pantry Hours: most Thursdays 9:30am-2pm; first Thursday of the month, 6:30-8pm.

Contact Pastor Luke for further details!

Food DriveThe Women of St. John are having a food drive and collecting

for Mills County Storehouse all through the month of May.Kid-friendly cereals, canned tuna, chicken, pears, peaches

and mixed fruits, dry pastas, toilet paper and feminine hygiene products ALWAYS welcome and needed.

Items will be collected in the shopping cart. Only food items are counted for weight, but hygiene items are still needed!

2

Universal Church Directory Photography Sessionsare scheduled for:

Friday, June 18th 2pm-8:30pmSaturday, June 19th 10am-4pm

To sign up for a time, visit: https://ucdir.com/schedule/login.phpChurch Code: IA112 Church Password: photos

For assistance, please see Pastor Luke after worship or contact him during the week.

*Notes: Pets are welcome in Church Directory photos. Families of 5 or more will need two consecutive time slots. The Online Scheduling is INACTIVE on Saturdays and Sundays.

3

https://ucdir.com/schedule/login.php


Evangelical Lutheran Worship (Setting 9) (*Stand)

Prelude, Welcome/Announcements

GATHERING

*Thanksgiving for Baptism

Alleluia! Christ is risen. Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Refreshed by the resurrection life we share in Christ,let us give thanks for the gift of baptism.Water may be poured into the font as the presiding minster says:

We thank you, risen Christ,for these waters where you make us new,leading us from death to life, from tears to joy.

We bless you, risen Christ, that your Spirit comes to usin the grace-filled waters of rebirth, like rains to our thirsting earth,like streams that revive our souls,like cups of cool water shared with strangers.

Breathe your peace on your church when we hide in fear.Clothe us with your mercy and forgiveness.Send us companions on our journey as we share your life.

Make us one, risen Christ.Cleanse our hearts.Shower us with life.

To you be given all praise,with the Holy Spirit,in the glory of God,now and forever. Amen.

4

Gathering Hymn “O Day Full of Grace” ELW #627Those at home may sing along.

Those in-person, please listen and meditate on the words as one person sings.

Tr. © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, admin. Augsburg Fortress

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.

5


*Kyrie (sung or hummed quietly) p. 165

6

*This is the Feast (sung or hummed quietly) p. 169

7


*Salutation The Lord be with you. And also with you.

*Prayer of the Day (spoken quietly) Mighty God, you breathe life into our bones, and your Spirit brings truth to the world. Send us this Spirit, transform us by your truth, and give us language to proclaim your gospel, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

8

WORD

First Reading: A reading from Acts 2:1-21.1When the day of Pentecost had come, [the apostles] were all together in one

place. 2And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

5Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.” 14But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 16No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

17‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. 18Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. 19And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. 20The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. 21Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ ”

...Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God!

9


Psalm 104:24-34, 35b We read responsively by whole verse.24How manifold are your works, O LORD!

In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.25Yonder is the sea, great and wide, with its swarms too many to number,

living things both small and great.26There go the ships to and fro,

and Leviathan, which you made for the sport of it.27All of them look to you to give them their food in due season. 28You give it to them; they gather it;

you open your hand, and they are filled with good things.29When you hide your face, they are terrified;

when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.30You send forth your Spirit, and they are created;

and so you renew the face of the earth.31May the glory of the LORD endure forever;

O LORD, rejoice in all your works. 32You look at the earth and it trembles; you touch the mountains and they smoke.33I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;

I will praise my God while I have my being.34May these words of mine please God. I will rejoice in the LORD.35bBless the LORD, O my soul. Hallelujah!

Second Reading: A reading from Romans. 8:22-2722We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until

now; 23and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 26Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

…Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God!

10

*Gospel Acclamation (sung or hummed quietly) p. 171

*Announcement of the Gospel

The holy gospel according to John 15:26-27;16:4b-15. Glory to you, O Lord.

*The Gospel is proclaimed [Jesus said,] 26“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the

Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. 27You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.

16:4b“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. 7Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9about sin, because they do not believe in me; 10about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; 11about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.

12“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

… The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon Pastor Luke Kuenzli

11


12

This week’s scriptures for the Festival of Pentecost are exciting and full of

possibility, and at the same time, they may give us some real food for thought. We

have heard the story of Peter and the other Apostles receiving the Holy Spirit with

tongues of fire and the rush of a mighty wind. We are accustomed to hearing about

the cacophony of voices praising God in various languages they had no business

knowing, which were somehow understood by all those hearing them. The story of

that first Pentecost after Jesus’ death and resurrection, the so-called “birthday of

the Church,” was the moment in which Jesus’ closest followers began to share the

story of God’s power in Jesus Christ in earnest. The Holy Spirit came, and the

world was forever changed.

Now, the Holy Spirit hadn’t been absent before this moment; we hear even

in Psalm 104 about God sending the Spirit to create and so renew the face of the

earth. That’s what the Holy Spirit is and has always been up to: giving and

renewing the gift of life. We’ll profess this truth in just a little while when we say

“we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life.”

The Giving of Life – that’s what’s happening on Pentecost. And note that I

say it “is happening,” not that “it happened.” Pastor Jon Benson from St. John

Lutheran Church in Council Bluffs shared a story about a woman he was visiting

years ago, who was very sick. As he read the Pentecost story, she asked, with a

gleam in her eyes as if imaging the excitement of that day, “Do you think

something like that could ever happen again?” Pastor Benson’s answer – and one

that the whole Church everywhere should agree with – was that “In fact, it has

never stopped happening.” The Spirit continues to descend in ways that bring Life,

in ways that change the world and our hearts.

But far too frequently, we are unaware of the Spirit’s movements. We don’t

always want to acknowledge what the Holy Spirit is doing – because it might mean

13


that we would have to make some changes to our own ways of being and thinking

and doing life.

Flannery O’Conner, the mid-twentieth century novelist, was well known for

her grotesque depictions of humanity, meaning not disgusting, per se, but that

people are often deeply incongruous within themselves and their societies, and that

we are often quite strange when we actually consider our motivations and

intentions. Later in her short life – she died at age 39 – her writing moved into a

phase in which even the grotesqueries of human nature would bear goodness, and

even goodness could appear grotesque.

In “The Habit of Being,” a collection of her various letters and

correspondences, O’Conner wrote these words, explaining why so many of the

characters in her stories experience and cause such profound pain: “All human

nature resists grace because grace changes us and the change is painful.”

This is what happens when the Holy Spirit is at work in us – sometimes –

most of the time – we resist the Spirit’s movement because it requires so much of

us. It is painful to be changed, transformed, remade. The Spirit, by her very

presence in and among us, induces the labor under which the whole creation

groans in agony and anticipation. Paul is right when he says that “we do not know

how to pray as we ought” (or “to pray for what we need” translated differently).

We are far too consumed with praying for what we want – working for what we

want – living for what we want – to pray, work and live for what is most needful.

Jesus, speaking to his disciples before his death, confronts them with that

conflict between what is wanted and what is needed. They do not want him to die,

to depart from them, they do not want to feel sorrow; but Jesus says that it is

actually for their benefit that he departs, for in going, he can send the Spirit to

them, and the Spirit will “prove the world wrong.” The Spirit will change the way

the world works, by showing us what is right. This Spirit, Paul wrote, “intercedes

14

with sighs too deep for words… according to the will of God.” That is what is most

needful: that God’s will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. But the grotesque,

incoherent, and broken human will resists grace – resists God’s will for forgiveness

and mercy and the making new of all things – because it is so very painful to be

changed by grace.

Perhaps this is why Jesus says “I still have many things to say to you, but

you cannot bear them now.” We hear Jesus’ words about loving neighbors as

ourselves, about loving our enemies, and this is all well and good in theory. But to

get specific and to say that as a Christian, it is your job, your faithful duty and

obligation to love – truly love with compassion and hospitality and kindness

beyond simply “live and let live” – to love that particular person with whom you

most struggle in life… That politician from the other side of the aisle; that person

whose use of pronouns you find offensive or can’t comprehend; that person who

views the Covid pandemic and vaccinations far differently than you do. To be told

and to receive that command to love in greater specificity is painful because it

means that we might have to make some adjustments to our ways of thinking and

being and doing.

The painful truth of life is that we cannot bear all of what Jesus has to teach

us. We haven’t been through all that we need to go through to understand the

depths of Jesus’ grace – in our mortal lives, we cannot comprehend or see the new

reality of God’s kingdom; we can only hope for it. And yet… and yet, the Spirit

comes to us and gives us the gifts of wisdom and discernment even in the midst of

our perplexity, the gifts of patience and kindness even in the midst of our sneering

dismissals, the gifts of peace and goodness even in the midst of our grotesquerie.

The Spirit comes to intercede, to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves: to

inspire growth in faith and in trust and in love and in grace.

15


The Spirit is poured out upon all flesh in its individuality, as well: sons and

daughters, young and old, slaves and free, with new visions and new dreams and

new prophecies and portents and signs that all point to one new and right and

wonderful reality of salvation for any and all who call upon the Lord. If only we

would call. If only we would stop so vigorously resisting grace for ourselves and

for others. If only. Flannery O’Conner also said this: “The truth does not change

according to our ability to stomach it emotionally.”

Pentecost – for Christians, the “birthday of the Church” – is an ongoing

outpouring of the truth because the Spirit has come to us and continues to come to

us… to reveal to us what is right, what is good. That process of learning and

growing by the Spirit’s grace is not easy or painless. But few things worthwhile are

easy or painless. Often the things that matter most in life, from which we gain the

greatest wisdom and compassion, are the things that hurt most in the moment. Call

it labor pangs or growing pains, call it what you will. When the Spirit comes to us,

we grow, we are given life, we are given grace that changes us and the world

around us. Thanks be to God who comes to us, who remains with us, who saves us,

even from ourselves. Alleluia. Amen.

Hymn of the Day “O Holy Spirit Root of Life” #399Those at home may sing along.


16

Text © 1991 Jean Janzen, admin. Augsburg FortressArr. © 2006 Augsburg Fortress

*Nicene CreedWe 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.

17


Prayers of Intercession Alive in the risen Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, we bring our prayers

before God who promises to hear us and answer in steadfast love. Silence.

Gracious God, you give the Holy Spirit to your church, filling it with many and varied gifts. In the church throughout the world, strengthen us in our visioning and dreaming, that it may discover anew the Spirit’s creative work. Enable us to hear your words and bear them so that your kingdom may come to us in its fullness. Bless Bailey and Danielle and all engaged in mission for the sake of your love. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

God of life, your mighty works are too numerous to count. The earth is full of your creatures, living things both great and small. Open your hand and give them the necessities of this life. Send your fresh Spirit over the face of the earth. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

God of the nations, at the sound of the rushing wind, people speaking different languages proclaimed and heard together your deeds of power. Fill the leaders of nations with your Holy Spirit, so that they exercise your gracious will in the lives of people. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

God of faithfulness, you tend to the needs of your people, even the sighs of our hearts. Hear those who cry out to you in distress. Restore to wholeness all who are in any need this day, especially Bill Smith, Flo Tompkins as she turns 95, Jaxsyn Fada, Landon Angeroth, Tom Sperling, Chuck Brotherton, Van and Brittany Evans, JoAnn, Gary Smith, Fred Techau, Jason and family, . Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

God of love, fill this congregation of St. John Lutheran Church with gratitude for the gifts we have received from you. Renew our ministries, heal our divisions, and open us to the needs of our neighbors. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

God of hope, all those who live and who have died in you raise an eternal song of praise. We give you thanks for the many gifts of your people and rejoice in the witness of your saints. Bless Hanna and Zander Savage in their new life of marriage together. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

In the hope of new life in Christ, we raise our prayers to you, trusting in your never-ending goodness and mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

18

Sharing of the Peace The peace of the Lord be with you all. And also with you.

Please greet one another with a socially distanced sign of Christ’s Peace.

Offering A physical offering is not collected at this time. You are invited to support the mission of our congregation by leaving a gift in the offering plate in the back of the worship space when you depart, by sending a gift by mail to the church office, or by giving online through our church website or the Give+ app on your mobile device. We give thanks to God for your generosity!

*Offering PrayerBlessed are you, O God, ruler of heaven and earth. Day by day you shower us with blessings. As you have raised us to new life in Christ, give us glad and generous hearts, ready to praise you and to respond to those in need, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

*Holy Communion p.172The 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.

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, through our Savior Jesus Christ. Fulfilling the promise of the resurrection, you pour out the fire of your Spirit, uniting in one body people of every nation and tongue.

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:

19


* “Holy, Holy, Holy” p.173

*Eucharistic Prayer and Words of InstitutionHoly God, Breath of life and Fire of love: with a mighty wind you brought creation into being, and by a pillar of fire you led your people into freedom. We praise you for the gift of your Son, who poured out your Spirit on his disciples of every race and nation.

In the night in which he was betrayed, 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.

Remembering, therefore, his death, resurrection, and the sending of the holy and life-giving Spirit, we await his coming again to renew the face of the earth.

Send now your Holy Spirit upon us and upon this meal: anoint us with your gifts of faith, hope, and love, that, with thankful hearts, we may be witnesses to your Son. Through him all glory and honor is yours, Almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit, in your holy Church, both now and forever. Amen.

20

*Lord’s PrayerGathered together by the Holy Spirit, we pray as Jesus taught us: (spoken quietly)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: The risen Christ invites us to this table. Come, eat and be satisfied.

“Lamb of God” is sung as we prepare to receive communion. During this time, those using the Fellowship Cups may peel back the clear plastic cover to remove the wafer, and then the foil cover to open the grape juice. p. 174

After the song, we will receive Christ’s body and blood or serve our family members with these words: The body of Christ, broken for you. The blood of Christ, shed for you.

After all have communed: May the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ, strengthen us and keep us in his grace, now and forever. Amen.

21


Prayer after CommunionWellspring of joy, through this meal you have put gladness in our hearts.Satisfy the hunger still around us, and send us as joyful witnesses, that your love may bring joy to the hearts of all people, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

S ENDING Benediction

May our glorious God grant you a spirit of wisdomto know and to love the risen Lord Jesus.

The God of life, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit,bless you now and forever. Amen.

Sending Song “Holy Spirit Ever Dwelling” #582Those at home may sing along.


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

22

Scripture quotations from New Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Service adapted from Evangelical Lutheran Worship © 2006. All rights reserved.And/or from Sundays and Seasons.com. © 2021 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.

Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #46263.

“O Day Full of Grace” Tr. © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, admin. Augsburg Fortress.

“O Holy Spirit Root of Life” Text © 1991 Jean Janzen, admin. Augsburg Fortress. Arr. © 2006 Augsburg Fortress.

Permission to print and stream above music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License #731513-A. All rights reserved.

23

*thanksgiving for baptism · web view2021/05/23 · water may be poured into the font as the...

Documents