| Prelude
Greeting and Welcome
Lighting of the Candles
Hymn of Invocation – Faith and Truth and Life Bestowing (LSB 584)
Faith and truth and life bestowing, Open now the Scriptures, Lord, Seed to life eternal sowing, Scattered on the wind abroad. Let not hearts, Your Word receiving, Like a barren field be found, Choked with thorns and unbelieving, Shallow earth or stony ground.
May the Spirit’s pow’r unceasing Bring to life the hidden grain, Daily in our hearts increasing, Bearing fruit that shall remain. So in Scripture, song, and story, Savior, may Your voice be heard. Till our eyes behold Your glory Give us ears to hear Your Word. + Preparation +
Invocation P: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen.
Opening Sentences - Acts 1:6, 11; Luke 24:46–47; Ephesians 1:22–23 P: Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? C: Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? P: It is written, that the Christ should suffer C: and on the third day rise from the dead, P: and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations. C: God gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body. Confession and Absolution P: Let us confess our sins to our gracious God. C: 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 neighbors 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. P: God did not leave us devoid of power and love. Christ ascended to His throne above but is with us still. The Holy Spirit did not give us faith for a short time but remains with us throughout our lives. By the death of Christ on the cross and by His glorious resurrection, your sins are forgiven, in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. Thanks be to God.
+ Word +
Salutation and Prayer of the Day P: The Lord be with you. C: And also with you. P: Let us pray. Almighty God, as Your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, ascended into the heavens, so may we also ascend in heart and mind and continually dwell there with Him, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen
First Reading – Acts 1:1–11 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. To them he presented himself alive after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
P: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God.
Second Reading – Psalm 47:1–9 Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth. He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet. He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm! God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne. The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted!
P: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God.
Holy Gospel – Luke 24:44-53 P: The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the twenty-fourth chapter. C: Glory to You, O Lord.
Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.
P: This is the Gospel of the Lord. C: Praise to You, O Christ.
Apostles' Creed I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And 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.
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. Amen.
Children’s Hymn – Open Our Eyes (AGPS 195)
Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus To reach out and touch Him And say that we love Him. Open our ears, Lord, help us to listen. Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus. (Repeat)
Children’s Sermon – Steph Chapa
Hymn of the Day – I Know My Faith Is Founded (LSB 587)
I know my faith is founded On Jesus Christ, my God and Lord; And this my faith confessing, Unmoved I stand on His sure Word. Our reason cannot fathom The truth of God profound; Who trusts in human wisdom Relies on shifting ground. God’s Word is all-sufficient, It makes divinely sure; And trusting in its wisdom, My faith shall rest secure.
Increase my faith, dear Savior, For Satan seeks by night and day To rob me of this treasure And take my hope of bliss away. But, Lord, with You beside me, I shall be undismayed; And led by Your good Spirit, I shall be unafraid. Abide with me, O Savior, A firmer faith bestow; Then I shall bid defiance To ev’ry evil foe.
In faith, Lord, let me serve You; Though persecution, grief, and pain Should seek to overwhelm me, Let me a steadfast trust retain; And then at my departure, Lord, take me home to You, Your riches to inherit As all You said holds true. In life and death, Lord, keep me Until Your heav’n I gain, Where I by Your great mercy The end of faith attain.
Sermon
Offering
Offertory
Prayers + Celebrating birthdays this week: 1 – Jules Bush; 4 – Ron Froesel, Amanda Bach; 5 – Joseph Ryan; 7 – Nickie Boehme + Wedding anniversaries: 2 – David & Gail Reed, Terry & Jennifer Buchholz; 3 – Steve & Cathie Albers, Scott & Ann Jonas; 5 – Mike & Laura Murphy; 6 – Tim & Jan Cosby
Special Celebrations and Needs: + Church family members: Sharon Gaal, recovering from shoulder surgery; Sue DeFosset, undergoing treatment for ongoing back issues; Sylvia Bach, suffering from vertigo; Jack Bentzinger, recovering from a fall; Cathie Albers, recovering from hip surgery; Paul Schultz, in hospice + Friends of our congregation: Jim Thielker, upon the death of his wife, Judy; Amanda, niece of Vicki Devenport, recovering from emergency abdominal surgery + Those who are homebound or in nursing facilities: Jules Bush, Frank & Sharon Gaal, Mary Guion, Jane Keathley, Vicki Lucas, Cindy Smith, Shirley Williams
Lord’s Prayer 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.
Benediction P: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace. C: Amen.
Closing Hymn – Sent Forth by God’s Blessing (LSB 643)
Sent forth by God’s blessing, our true faith confessing, The people of God from His dwelling take leave. The Supper is ended. O now be extended The fruits of this service in all who believe. The seed of His teaching, receptive souls reaching, Shall blossom in action for God and for all. His grace did invite us, His love shall unite us To work for God’s kingdom and answer His call.
With praise and thanksgiving to God ever-living, The tasks of our ev’ryday life we will face. Our faith ever sharing, in love ever caring, Embracing His children of each tribe and race. With Your feast You feed us, with Your light now lead us; Unite us as one in this life that we share. Then may all the living with praise and thanksgiving Give honor to Christ and His name that we bear.
Postlude
Altar flowers are given this morning by Mike & Laura Murphy In celebration of their 49th wedding anniversary
+ WORSHIP LEADERS + Preacher/Liturgist – Jon Chapa Organist/Pianist – Seth Carruthers Lector – Julie Atwood-Wise Sound/Video – Terry Young Ushers – Sandy Barbercheck, Judy George, Jeanne Lipinski, Becci Sasser Greeters – Steve & Phyllis Phelps | 
