Online Worship - May 10, 2020
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Due to popular demand, an encore of the Alleluia Banner by the Good Shepherd Kids has been deemed essential!
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Dialogue sur les Grands jeux (on Ave Maris Stella)
by Nicolas de Grigny
Vance Reese, Jaeckel organ
Note from Vance:
I recently attended (via Zoom) a meditation exploring the energy of women mystics and goddesses, and it was an enriching experience. I sense that these archetypes and energies are very much present in the world, and are there to nurture us and give us strength, and perhaps sometimes to confound us, which is actually pretty easy to do. When I thought about honoring that archetypical strong feminine, somehow I was led to one of the Marian hymns, "Ave Maris Stella."
The alternate strength and gentle singing quality of the Jaeckel organ, exhibited in this prelude based on the 8th century text and tune, I hope honors this ever-present energy in our lives.
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Confession and Forgiveness
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The congregations words are in bold type.
B
lessed be the holy Trinity,
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one God,
who forgives all our sin,
whose mercy endures forever.
Amen.
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
Gracious God,
have mercy on us. We confess that we have turned from you and given ourselves into the power of sin. We are truly sorry and humbly repent. In your compassion forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things we have done and things we have failed to do. Turn us again to you, and uphold us by your Spirit, so that we may live and serve you in newness of life through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.
God, who is rich in mercy, loved us even when we were dead in sin, and made us alive together with Christ. By grace you have been saved. In the name of
☩
Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. Almighty God strengthen you with power through the Holy Spirit, that Christ may live in your hearts through faith.
Amen.
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Almighty God, your Son Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. Give us grace to love one another, to follow in the way of his commandments, and to share his risen life with all the world, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
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Today's readings are presented by Bob Schuld.
First Reading: Acts 7:55-60
Filled with the Holy Spirit, [Stephen] gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he died.
Word of God, word of life.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16
In you, O LORD, I seek refuge;
do not let me ever be put to shame;
in your righteousness deliver me.
Incline your ear to me;
rescue me speedily.
Be a rock of refuge for me,
a strong fortress to save me.
You are indeed my rock and my fortress;
for your name's sake lead me and guide me,
take me out of the net that is hidden for me,
for you are my refuge.
Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.
My times are in your hand;
deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your steadfast love.
Second Reading: 1 Peter 2:2-10
Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation-if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture:
"See, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious;
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."
To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe,
"The stone that the builders rejected
has become the very head of the corner,"
and
"A stone that makes them stumble,
and a rock that makes them fall."
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Once you were not a people,
but now you are God's people;
once you had not received mercy,
but now you have received mercy.
Word of God, word of life.
Thanks be to God.
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GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
David Gresham
GOSPEL: John 14:1-14
[Jesus said to the disciples:] "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."
Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it."
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
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Seized with Fear, or Seized by the Son -
Pastor Ken Albright
The words of Jesus in John 14 have become familiar words for those who attend funerals. The language about a house with many rooms lend themselves easily to consideration of a heavenly home for those who have lived by faith.
But I want to consider some other dimensions of Jesus' words with you, and how they may bring comfort and confidence to us in whatever we are staring down in the present time.
Keep in mind that these words are being shared by Jesus with his closest followers on the eve of his being handed over to the authorities. Jesus is facing imminent danger. The cloud of death is hanging over him and he is very aware of it. And look what he has to say to his disciples:
"Do not let your hearts be troubled."
The words in Greek convey the stoppage of a present action.
Richard W. Swanson translates those words in his commentary as:
"Your wills-don't be shaken."
He calls for his followers to allay their fears as they put the same measure of faith in him as they have placed in God.
Thus...as they enter into the events of the next few hours, he is encouraging them to put their full confidence that God is indeed working for the good amid the ugliness and the tragedy that will unfold.
These words in the first part of John 14 are less about a heavenly abode and more about the status of our ongoing relationship with Jesus and God.
Jesus says in verse 3:
"I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also."
Swanson also opened my eyes to an understanding of those words:
"take you to myself".
He said that word is oddly enough, the word meaning "seize" --the word used for when a husband takes his bride away from her house, her family. The bridegroom seizes his bride. Whisks her away to a new life inseparable from himself. A new life. A new family unit.
This is the security Jesus tells the disciples they have...even as they face an uncertain future. Even as their master is being whisked away to suffer at the hands of others.
He's calling them to trust that he's got them. God's got them. They belong to God. They are in God. One with God. They are secure in that-no matter what else whirls around them and threatens to toss them like an old barn in a tornado.
Jesus tells them-I will take you to myself. You are in me. I am in you. Whatever we face on the way ahead...God is in it.
Whatever faces Jesus...it is God's work. Whatever befalls him...Jesus will use to glorify God. Whatever happens to Jesus...God will glorify Jesus in it.
I think it is that kind of trust that is displayed in Stephen in the first reading today.
Stephen was bearing witness to Jesus among people who closed their ears to his message.
What is so remarkable in that story is Stephen's composure. He has been so "seized" by the Lord of life, that he can stand up to his own stoning without fear.
Before the first stone is ever cast we see how he has elected to believe that Jesus and the Father are one.
It says that while they were grinding their teeth at him, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
Stephen was not troubled, though an angry army was beginning to circle around him. Stephen was not shaken, because his eyes were fixed on the vision of God's glory. Stephen was free to speak for God without fear of the repercussions.
He was so clear in his heart that the path he was on was God's, and the future that awaited him was with God, that he could deal with whatever the present was-with a vision of hope!
He then takes the posture of kneeling in the midst of a people hurling nature's ammunition at him and prays so loud that those throwing the stones can hear him: "Lord do not hold this sin against them."
Only God knows the seeds of faith that Stephen sowed that day. Perhaps some fell on the soil of Saul's heart, the one who was keeping the coats of those doing the stoning.
Nevertheless, Stephen became the first martyr of the Christian faith.
Stephen found himself at the center of controversy precisely because he was not afraid to talk about Jesus, and to speak truth to people who were not disposed to hear it.
Now most of us would probably say that our spiritual gift is certainly not martyrdom!
But most of us would say that we know that as people whom Jesus has seized to be his own in our baptism, who carried us away from sin and death, and who refused to hold our sin against us-that we have a calling, a personal mission if you will, to tell those who are disposed to hear of him, about Jesus.
About Jesus and his love.
About Jesus and this great big spiritual house he is building us into.
About Jesus and the peace he puts in our hearts.
About Jesus and the truth with which he teaches.
About Jesus and his burning desire to take us into himself, so that the way ahead, out of our present predicament, is not one to be feared, but faced with hope and conviction that the one who raised Jesus from death raises us too. Today, and tomorrow. And the next day.
Perhaps, just maybe, people are more inclined to hear a word about Jesus more in the present than at most times in our lives.
Think about it. Who do you know who is troubled? Shaken? Seized with fear?
How might your listening ear testify that God hears their cry?
How might you being a rock for them point them to Christ who is their cornerstone?
How might your sharing of a time when you were afraid and God gave you peace be a touchstone for the next chapter in their journey into the great big heart of God, where there is room for all?
Whatever you are facing, remember, you have been seized by the Son! Taken up by the Bridegroom and made part of his household forever. Lord give us courage to pass on that message to all who may welcome it. Amen.
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ELW 806,
"O God, My Faithful God"
Kathye Gresham, hymn leader
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With the whole church, let us confess our faith:
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;
by the power of the Holy Spirit He became incarnate
from the virgin Mary, and was made man.
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.
With the Father and the Son, He is worshiped and glorified.
He 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.
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The Assisting Minister today is Karen Anderson.
Uplifted by the promised hope of healing and resurrection, we join the people of God in all times and places in praying for the church, the world, and all who are in need.
Build us up, mothering God, as living stones united in your spiritual house. Continually strengthen your church as it is sent forth to proclaim your love. We pray especially for the ELCA Living Stones Prison Congregation inside the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton, Washington as they seek to build up those around them.
God of mercy, hear our prayer.
Humble us, creator God, as part of your creation. Fill us with respect and awe for the world you have made, including volcanoes, ocean currents, tropical rainstorms, glaciers, and other forces that both destroy and create.
God of mercy, hear our prayer.
Align our ways to your love, O God. We pray for countries, leaders, and other organizations as they prepare places for those seeking refuge and safety...especially for organizations and ministries that care for the homeless, including The Haven, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services, and Lutheran World Relief.
God of mercy, hear our prayer.
God of healing and rest, help those whose hearts are heavy and weighed down by many troubles or illness. Comfort their suffering, ease their distress, and carry their burdens, especially
Rita, Darrell, Marilyn, Nora, Russ, Parke, Bob, Teresa, Holmes, Sheila, Steve's family and friends, Ron, Jesse, the Fiorini family, John, Glenn, Mary, Jan, Tracy's family and friends, Iann, Martha, Lourdes, Penny, Mary, and those we name before you now, out loud or in our hearts...
God of mercy, hear our prayer.
Nurturing God, on this day in which we honor mothers, we pray for those who tend and teach young children, for the safe pregnancies of expectant parents, and for families who struggle with infertility and miscarriage. We give thanks for all who have shown mothering care, and we remember all for whom this day is difficult.
God of mercy, hear our prayer.
God of wisdom, guide those who participate in the discussion around Christian education at Good Shepherd this week. Give us all enthusiasm for and commitment to life-long learning, building up of the body of Christ, and discipleship.
God of mercy,
hear our prayer.
With bold confidence in your love, almighty God, we place all for whom we pray into your eternal care; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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The Call by Ralph Vaughan Williams
Kathye Gresham, soprano
Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life:
Such a Way, as gives us breath:
Such a Truth, as ends all strife:
Such a Life, as killeth death.
Come, My Light, my Feast, my Strength:
Such a Light, as shows a feast:
Such a Feast, as mends in length:
Such a Strength, as makes his guest.
Come, my Joy, my Love, my Heart:
Such a Joy, as none can move:
Such a Love, as none can part:
Such a Heart, as joys in love.
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Thank you for continuing your faithful response to God in your tithes and offerings through mail to the church office or online at Good Shepherd's website,
www.lutheranchurchbrevardnc.com.
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May the One who brought forth Jesus from the dead raise you to new life, fill you with hope, and turn your mourning into dancing. Almighty God, Father,
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Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. Amen.
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Christ is risen, just as he said. Go in peace. Share the good news. Alleluia!
Thanks be to God! Alleluia!
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Toccata by Gyorgy Mushel
Vance Reese, Jaeckel organ
Note from Vance: This is a rare organ piece by a Soviet composer. When I heard it, the organist suggested that it represented the Soviet farmer on his tractor. This toccata continues an exploration of different "touch pieces" (toccatas) in different eras on different instruments. The overall energy is exhilarating and playful.
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Individual Prayers
and Ministry Moment
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INDIVIDUAL PRAYERS
Good Shepherd Members:
Rita Black, Darrell Dixon, Marilyn Fogdall, Nora Johnson, Russ Sena, Parke Sickler
Prayers for Family and Friends of Members, Our Homebound, and Friends in Ministry:
Bob and Teresa Boccanfuso, father and step-mother of Andrea Boccanfuso
Holmes Desmelik
Sheila Holland, friend of Elaine Raynolds
Family and friends of Steve Howell,
brother of Whitney Ferrara,
at Steve's passing
Ron Hund
, former Good Shepherd Member
Jesse Fiorini and Family
, neighbors of Marilyn Carlson
John
, brother of a friend of Pastor Ken
Glenn Karnatz
, friend of Barbara Hotaling
Mary LeSourd
, half-sister of Elaine Raynolds
Jan McCracken, niece of Ruth Unger
Family and friends of Tracy Propst
, daughter-in-law of Sid Propst,
at Tracy's passing
Iann Russell
, son of Pastor Jack & Lisa Russell
of Living Waters Lutheran Church
Martha Schroeder, sister-in-law of Ruth Unger
Lourdes Swancara,
daughter-in-law of Sheila & John Swancara
Penny Thomas
, sister of Janice Liebe
Mary Grodnik
, at The Oaks
Living Waters Lutheran Church
in Cherokee, NC
MINISTRY MOMENT
Christian Education at Good Shepherd
On Tuesday, May 12, at 4:00 p.m., all are invited to participate in a discussion via Zoom around Christian education at Good Shepherd for the next few months. Your input is needed. We want to know what you would like to see in terms of educational offerings. Please bring your
"Outside the Box" and "What box?" ideas.
If you haven't already RSVP'ed to the church office, please do so by Monday, May 11, so that the Zoom link for the meeting can be sent to you.
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