Masks are encouraged, but optional in our building for worship and all activities. Masks will still be available at our entrance, and anyone who is more comfortable wearing a mask is encouraged to do so.

- Gathering -

Alleluia! Christ is risen.

Joined to Christ in the waters of baptism, we are clothed with God’s mercy and forgiveness. 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, you are the fire of rebirth. Glory to you for oceans and lakes, for rivers and streams. Honor to you for cloud and rain, for dew and snow. Your waters are below us, around us, above us: our life is born in you. 

You are the fountain of resurrection.

Noah and the animals survive the flood, Hagar discovers your well.

Naaman washes his leprosy away,

Praise to you for the water of baptism and for your Word that saves us in this sacrament. Breathe your Spirit into all who are gathered here and into all creation. Illumine our days. Enliven our bones. Dry our tears. Wash away the sin within us, and drown the evil around us. Satisfy all our thirst with your living water, Jesus Christ, our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

          

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

The grace of our risen Savior, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

The Lord be with you.

Let us pray. O Lord God, you teach us that without love, our actions gain nothing. Pour into our hearts your most excellent gift of love, that, made alive by your Spirit, we may know goodness and peace, through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

First Reading   Acts 11:1-18

¹Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. ²So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, ³saying, “Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?” ⁴Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, ⁵“I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. ⁶As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. ⁷I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’ ⁸But I replied, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ ⁹But a second time the voice answered from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, you must not call profane.’ ¹⁰This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. ¹¹At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. ¹²The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. ¹³He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; ¹⁴he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.’ ¹⁵And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. ¹⁶And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ ¹⁷If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?” ¹⁸When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, “Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.”

Word of God. Word of life.

Second Reading  Revelation 21:1-6

¹I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. ²And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

 “See, the home of God is among mortals.

 He will dwell with them;

 they will be his peoples,

 and God himself will be with them;

 ⁴he will wipe every tear from their eyes.

 Death will be no more;

 mourning and crying and pain will be no more,

 for the first things have passed away.”

 ⁵And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” ⁶Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life

Word of God. Word of life.

Gospel     John 13:31-35

The Holy Gospel according to John.

Glory to you, O Lord.

³¹When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. ³²If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. ³³Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ ³⁴I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. ³⁵By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

God of grace,

The peace of Christ be with you all.

Living God,

It is indeed right, our duty, and our joy... join their unending hymn:

The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.

We give you thanks, generous God, for in this bread and cup we have tasted the new heaven and earth where hunger and thirst are no more. Send us from this table as witnesses to the resurrection, that through our lives, all may know life in Jesus’ name.

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

Go in peace. Christ is with you.

Each Wednesday we gather on Zoom for conversation about the upcoming readings for Sunday worship. It is a morning filled with engaging discussion, wonderful questions, and a whole lot of fun and laughter. Join in the conversation - no previous experience is necessary. You may join in by going to www.zoom.us and entering the meeting ID and passcode, or by clicking the link below.

Meeting ID: 863 5628 3748

Passcode: 358139

Thank you to all who were a part of Saturday's Food Drive at Immanuel, both working or donating items! Your gifts make a huge difference in people's lives. God is gracious and good and works through out hands. 95 families are being helped through backpacks distributed through Webster's elementary schools, and countless people can put food on their tables through the Little Pantry.

If you were unable to drop off food at the food drive, you may place food in the Little Pantry at any time, or drop off food on Sunday mornings.

Come celebrate with us as we celebrate our choirs! All former bell and senior choir members are invited. Our choirs are excited to share some of our favorite anthems with you! If you are interested in singing or ringing please contact music@immanuelwebster.org. 

Bring your family, a dish-to-share, personal drinks and table service, and if you’d like, your favorite lawn game. Hamburgers, hot dogs, rolls, and condiments. Sign-up by June 5 on the poster in the lower hallway at church or by calling the office. Valley View Shelter is accessed from the park entrance on Holt Rd, just south of Lake Rd. Join in fellowship and outdoor joy as we kick off the summer at the park.

Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds, Text © 1958 Service Book and Hymnal, admin. Augsburg Fortress. Reprinted by permission under OneLicense #A-714459.

Day of Delight and Beauty Unbounded, Text © 2011 GIA Publications, Inc., giamusic.com. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under OneLicense #A-714459.

With High Delight Let Us Unite, Text © 1969 Concordia Publishing HouseReprinted by permission under OneLicense #A-714459.