Created, saved and gifted by God, we seek, serve and share Jesus Christ.

Fifth Sunday of Easter
May 15, 2022 – 10:30 AM

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
901 East Stroop Road
Kettering, OH 45429-4688
(937) 298-0136

Introduction

Easter initiates a new day. It anticipates a new heaven and a new earth. The risen Lord is making all things new. In the mystery of holy baptism God has made new people of us. Today the Lord Jesus invites us to see everyone in a new light—through the lens of love.
We Are Found
As Jesus in today’s gospel prepares the disciples for his imminent departure, he tells them that they will look for him but won’t be able to join him where he is going. It will not be long before the women are at the tomb in the early morning, only to find it empty.
We also look for Jesus, but perhaps we don’t know that we are engaged in the search. We are constantly seeking purpose and answers, turning to self-help books, inspirational videos, exer- cise programs, and new ways of organizing our stuff. Billboards and magazine covers highlight our flaws while offering the next best solution to make us happy and well.
These opportunities can be compelling, and some of them will prove successful in managing some aspects of life. But these solutions don’t turn up what we’re really looking for: to be truly loved and known, secure and whole. We find this security only in the love of God. Yet, in this Easter season we are reminded that we do not need to seek Jesus; rather, Jesus seeks out and finds us. We cannot go where Jesus goes, leading the way through death to new life, but Jesus ultimately finds us wherever we are, even when we are most lost. The women found an empty tomb, but Jesus is not gone. The resurrected Jesus finds them!
In finding us, Jesus also directs our searching by giving us a commandment: “Love one an- other” (John 13:34). In seeking to love one another, we are reminded again and again that the great love of God has already found us.

GATHERING

CENTERING SONG “Will You Let Me Be Your Servant”

Will you let me be your servant,
let me be as Christ to you?
Pray that I may have the grace to
let you be my servant, too.

We are pilgrims on a journey,
we are trav’lers on the road;
we are here to help each other
walk the mile and bear the load.

I will hold the Christ-light for you
in the nighttime of your fear;
I will hold my hand out to you,
speak the peace you long to hear.

I will weep when you are weeping;
when you laugh I’ll laugh with you.
I will share your joy and sorrow
till we’ve seen this journey through.

Will you let me be your servant,
let me be as Christ to you?
Pray that I may have the grace to
let you be my servant, too.

WELCOME

ANNOUNCEMENTS

MISSION MOMENT

THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM

Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, the fountain of living water, the rock who gave us birth, our light and our salvation.
Amen.

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.

We give you thanks, O God, for in the beginning your Spirit moved over the waters, and by your Word you created the world, calling forth life in which you took delight.

Through the waters of the flood you delivered Noah and his family. Through the sea you led your people Israel from slavery into freedom. At the river your Son was baptized by John and anointed with the Holy Spirit. By water and your Word you claim us as daughters and sons, making us heirs of your promise and servants of all.

We praise you for the gift of water that sustains life, and above all we praise you for the gift of new life in Jesus Christ. Shower us with your Spirit, and renew our lives with your forgiveness, grace, and love.

To you be given honor and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever.
Amen.

GATHERING HYMN – “Thine Is the Glory”

Thine is the glory, risen, conqu’ring Son;
endless is the vict’ry thou o’er death hast won!
Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
kept the folded grave-clothes where thy body lay.

Thine is the glory, risen, conqu’ring Son;
endless is the vict’ry thou o’er death hast won!

Lo, Jesus meets thee, risen from the tomb!
Lovingly he greets thee, scatters fear and gloom;
let his church with gladness hymns of triumph sing,
for the Lord now liveth; death hath lost its sting!

Thine is the glory, risen, conqu’ring Son;
endless is the vict’ry thou o’er death hast won!

No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of life;
life is naught without thee; aid us in our strife;
make us more than conqu’rors, through thy deathless love;
bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above.

Thine is the glory, risen, conqu’ring Son;
endless is the vict’ry thou o’er death hast won!

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.

KYRIE

In peace, in peace, let us pray to the…
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

For the reign of God, and for peace thoughout the world;
for the unity of all, let us pray to the…
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

For your people here, who have come to give you praise;
for the strength to live your Word, let us pray to the…
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Help, save and defend us, O God.
Amen.

CANTICLE OF PRAISE

Now the feast and celebration,
all of creation sings for joy
to the God of life and love and freedom;
praise and glory forevermore!

Now is the feast of the Lamb once slain,
whose blood has freed and united us
to be one great people of God. Refrain

Now the feast and celebration,
all of creation sings for joy
to the God of life and love and freedom;
praise and glory forevermore!

Power and riches, wisdom and might,
all honor and glory to Christ forever. Refrain

Now the feast and celebration,
all of creation sings for joy
to the God of life and love and freedom;
praise and glory forevermore!

For God has come to dwell with us,
to make us people of God;
to make all things new.

Now the feast and celebration,
all of creation sings for joy
to the God of life and love and freedom;
praise and glory forevermore!

PRAYER OF THE DAY

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. Amen.

WORD

God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching, and song.

FIRST READING Acts 11:1-18

In defense of his earlier baptism of non-Jewish believers, Peter demonstrates to the members of the Jerusalem church that God’s intention to love Gentiles as well as Jews is revealed in Jesus’ testimony. In this way the mission to the Gentiles is officially authorized.

A reading from the book of Acts.
Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, saying, “Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?” Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, “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. As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’ But I replied, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ But a second time the voice answered from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, you must not call profane.’ This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also ac- companied me, and we entered the man’s house. He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.’ And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If 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?” When 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.
Thanks be to God.

SECOND READING Revelation 21:1-6

John’s vision shows us that in the resurrection the new age has dawned; God dwells with us already. Yet we wait for the time when the tears that cloud our vision will be wiped away. Then we will see the new heaven, new earth, and new Jerusalem.

A reading from the book of Revelation.
I 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. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And 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; he 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.”
And 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.” Then 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.
Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Alleluia, Alleluia. Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia!

GOSPEL READING John 13:31-35

After washing the disciples’ feet, predicting his betrayal, and then revealing his betrayer, Jesus speaks of his glorification on the cross. This deep complicated love of Jesus, even to death on the cross, will be the distinctive mark of Jesus’ community.

The Holy Gospel according to John.
Glory to you, O Lord.

When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little 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.’ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

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

YOUTH MESSAGE

MESSAGE

HYMN OF THE DAY – “This Is Amazing Grace”

Who breaks the power of sin and darkness,
Whose love is mighty and so much stronger?
The King of Glory, the King above all kings.

Who shakes the whole earth with holy thunder,
Who leaves us breathless in awe and wonder?
The King of Glory, the King above all kings.

This is amazing grace, this is unfailing love,
That you would take my place,
That you would bear my cross,
You laid down your life
That I would be set free.
O Jesus, I sing for all that you’ve done for me,
All that you’ve done for me.

Who brings our chaos back into order,
Who makes the orphan a son and daughter?
The King of Glory, the King above all kings.

Who rules the nations with truth and justice,
Shines like the sun in all of its brilliance?
The King of Glory, the King above all kings.

This is amazing grace, this is unfailing love,
That you would take my place,
That you would bear my cross,
You laid down your life
That I would be set free.
O Jesus, I sing for all that you’ve done for me.

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain!
Worthy is the King who conquered the grave!
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain!

Worthy is the King who conquered the grave!
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain!
Worthy is the King who conquered the grave!
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain:
Worthy, worthy, worthy! Oh!

This is amazing grace, this is unfailing love,
That you would take my place,
That you would bear my cross,
You laid down your life
That I would be set free.
O Jesus, I sing for all that you’ve done for me,
O Jesus, I sing for all that you’ve done for me.

APOSTLES’ CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s 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.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

Set free from captivity to sin and death, we pray to the God of resurrection for the church, people in need, and all of creation.

A brief silence.
Each intercession concludes:
God, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

In your mercy, O God, respond to these prayers, and renew us by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Amen.

MEAL

God feeds us with the presence of Jesus Christ.

GREAT THANKSGIVING

Lift up your heads;
we lift them up to God.
Lift up your voices;
we lift them up to God.
Lift up your hearts;
we lift them up to God.

WORDS OF INSTITUTION

And so we gather at the table. We come from many different places in life. And as we come together around the table we discover that our differences are not something we just tolerate, but that our differences are indeed a blessing. So come, children of God, just as you are. Wherever you are on this journey of life and faith, you are welcome here – here in this place, here in this community, here at this table. Come, children of God, come and remember.
Remember the stories that Jesus’ friends tell: Stories of bread broken and shared to feed a multitude; stories of gathering both enemy and friend together around a common table; stories of unlikely guests revealing the face of the sacred.
On a night of both celebration and betrayal Jesus took bread, blessed it and broke it; gave it to his disciples and said, “Take and eat, this is my body given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.” Then Jesus took the cup, blessed it, and gave it to his disciples 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.”
And so we pray: Lord, bless this bread and bless this fruit of the vine. Bless all of us in our eating and drinking that our eyes might be open, and that we might recognize the risen Christ in our midst, indeed in one another.

LORD’S PRAYER

Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.
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 TO COMMUNION

The risen Christ dwells with us here. All who are hungry, all who are thirsty, come.
Amen.

HOLY COMMUNION – Receiving the Lord’s tangible presence.

The body of Christ, given for you.
The blood of Christ, shed for you.
Each person may respond: Amen.

Communion Statement ~ If you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is your Savior and Redeemer and would like to receive Holy Communion, then come forward to receive the elements. If you would just like to come forward and receive a blessing, then you may do that also.

NOTE: We invite everyone to come forward for Holy Communion. If you have a gluten allergy, gluten-free wafers are available upon request when receiving Communion. Also, if you prefer not to receive wine at Communion, apple juice is available upon request.

LAMB OF GOD

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us, mercy on us. mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you break the chains of hatred and fear:
have mercy on us, mercy on us. mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you are the way of justice and peace:
have mercy on us, mercy on us. mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you are the way of mercy and love:
have mercy on us, mercy on us. mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world:
grant us peace, grant us peace, grant us peace.

COMMUNION HYMN “The Same Love

You choose the humble and raise them high;
You choose the weak and make them strong;
You heal our brokenness inside and give us life.

The same love that set the captives free,
The same love that opened eyes to see
Is calling us by name; you are calling us all by name.

The same God that spread the heavens wide,
The same God that was crucified
Is calling us all by name; you are calling us all by name.

You take the faithless one aside
And speak the words, “You are mine”;
You call the cynic and the proud, “Come to me now.”

The same love that set the captives free,
The same love that opened eyes to see
Is calling us by name; you are calling us all by name.

The same God that spread the heavens wide,
The same God that was crucified
Is calling us all by name; you are calling us all by name. Oh…

You’re calling, you’re calling, you’re calling us to the cross.
You’re calling, you’re calling, you’re calling us to the cross.
You’re calling, you’re calling, you’re calling us to the cross.
You’re calling, you’re calling, you’re calling us to the cross.

The same love that set the captives free,
The same love that opened eyes to see
Is calling us by name; you are calling us all by name.

The same God that spread the heavens wide,
The same God that was crucified
Is calling us all by name; you are calling us all by name. Oh…

REFLECTION DURING COMMUNION

As we prepare to receive the sacrament today, may we quietly take this time to center ourselves on Christ, and the amazing gifts of grace and forgiveness that we have been given. As we receive the body and the blood of our Lord, let us reflect upon His sacrifice. Finally, may we take this time to ask the Holy Spirit to enter our hearts, and then to work in us and through us in the coming days.

TABLE BLESSING

The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and always keep you in God’s grace.
Amen.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

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.
Amen.

SENDING

BLESSING

God, the Author of life, Christ, the living Cornerstone, and the life-giving Spirit of adoption, bless you now and forever.
Amen.

SENDING HYMN – “O Christ, Your Heart, Compassionate”

O Christ, your heart, compassionate,
bore ev’ry human pain.
Its beating was the pulse of God;
its breadth, God’s vast domain.
The heart of God, the heart of Christ
combined in perfect rhyme
to write God’s love in human deeds,
eternity in time.

As once you welcomed those cast down
and healed the sick, the blind,
so may all bruised and broken lives
through us your help still find.
Lord, join our hearts with those who weep
that none may weep alone,
and help us bear another’s pain
as though it were our own.

O Christ, create new hearts in us
that beat in time with yours,
that, joined by faith with your great heart,
become love’s open doors.
We are your body, risen Christ;
our hearts, our hands we yield
that through our life and ministry
your love may be revealed.

O Love that made the distant stars,
yet marks the sparrow’s fall,
whose arms stretched wide upon a cross
embrace and bear us all:
come, make your church a servant church
that walks your servant ways,
whose deeds of love rise up to you,
a sacrifice of praise!

DISMISSAL

Alleluia! Christ is risen.
Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Go in peace. Tell what God has done.
Created, saved and gifted by God, we seek, serve and share Jesus Christ.
Alleluia! Thanks be to God.

POSTLUDE

“W + 2” = Worship Plus Two
Make a commitment to not only worship each week but also try to find a way to serve in the congregation and seek out a way to serve our community.

YOU ARE NOW ENTERING THE MISSION FIELD

From Sundays and Seasons.com.
Copyright 2014 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.
Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #22920.

New Revised Standard Version Bible,
Copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Curches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.