Ascension of Our Lord May 21, 2023
WELCOME to each of you gathered for worship this morning. Please take a moment to complete the attendance sheet and place it in the offering plate when it is passed.
| OUR MISSION STATEMENT “Sharing God’s love and His promise for tomorrowEngaging with God’s children to carry the light ofJesus Christ from the altar through the door.” Louis Sanders – Council PresidentVacant – Vice-PresidentDr. Eric Hahn – SecretaryAnni Hahn – Treasurer |
Love Lutheran Church
3730 MacArthur Blvd.
New Orleans, La 70114
504-362-1967
Love Lutheran e-mail addresses: lovelutheran68@gmail.com
Love Lutheran Website: www.lovelutheran.org
Love Lutheran is a Member of the ELCA
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America website at: www.elca.org
Follow us on Facebook: Love Lutheran Church New Orleans
+ + +
PRESIDING AT WORSHIP: Rev Lisa Gaye
LECTOR: Amy Hilton
+ + +
IN OUR PRAYERS
Congregation Prayers:
Mary Sanders
Melissa Gallant
Sharon Steele
Dianne Revuelta
Lyn Weixel
Robert Onsgard
Kevin Trimble
Ken and Sandy Flora
Phillip Brubaker
Denise Daigrepont Roy
Ila Duncan
Jamie Johnson
Hans Heinemann
Rick and Gabe Lyons
Laurie Smith
Andrew Douglas
Arlene Ogg
Elaina Cannon and Children
Leya and Aaliyah
Wayne Prayers:
Bob Steele
Sarah Steele
Charlie Steele
Kathy Gamble
Dirk Anderson
Joyce Barber
Jodee James
Lu Carrigan
Janice Bela
Dixie Adkins
Alex Adkins
Adam Adkins
Julien Adkins
Alisha Adkins
Dixie Prayers:
Bob Steele
Sarah Steele
Charlie Steele
Kathy Gamble
Dirk Anderson
Joyce Barber
Jo Ellen Smith Nursing Home
Elaine Prayers:
Elaine Teague
David and Kim Teague
Joshua Teague
David Teague Jr.
Steven Teague
Terri Marino
Jackie Pavur
Shirley Lyons
Louis Mayer
Lane Wise
Paul Steele
Pastor Lisa Prayers:
Community and World
For Bob Steele recovering from surgery
For those who work and live in nursing homes
Staff of United Churches of Algiers Emergency Fund
Our military serving here and abroad
We pray also for Love Lutheran Church and for all those in need of healing power of God’s love.
Ask and it will be given to you: Our Lord invites us to bring all our cares and concerns to him and trust in his mercy and grace. If you have prayer concerns please let Pastor Gaye know by noon on Wednesday so that your prayer request may be included in the prayers of the people at Sunday worship. Please inform Pastor Gaye if your prayer request needs to be extended longer than two weeks.
+ + +
| LOVE LUTHERAN CHURCH Interim Clergy: Rev. Lisa Gaye Adult Bible Study: 9:00 A.M. Office: 504-362-1967 Worship: 10:00 A.M. |
Ascension of Our Lord May 21, 2023
PRELUDE (Harp Prelude)
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
(Stand as you are able)
BRIEF ORDER FOR CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
P: In the name of the Father, and of the (+) Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
P: 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.
C: Amen.
P: Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and one another.
(Silence is kept for reflection)
P: Most merciful God,
C: We confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. 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. 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: In the mercy of Almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for you, and for his sake God forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ and by his authority. I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all of your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the (+) Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
(Harp with intro)
OPENING HYMN: #ELW 855 “Crown Him with Many Crowns”
(printed in the back of the worship bulletin)
(congregation sings with organ)
THE GREETING
P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C: And also with you.
THE KYRIE
THE HYMN OF PRAISE: “Now the Feast and Celebration”
PRAYER OF THE DAY
P: Let us pray.
C: Almighty God, your only Son was taken into the heavens and in your presence intercedes for us. Receive us and our prayers for all the world, and in the end bring everything into your glory, through Jesus Christ, our Sovereign and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
(You may be seated)
First Reading: Acts 1:1-11
Before he is lifted into heaven, Jesus promises that the missionary work of the disciples will spread out from Jerusalem to all the world, and that the disciples will be accompanied and empowered by the Holy Spirit. His words provide an outline of the book of Acts.
[Luke writes:] 1 In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning 2 until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. “This,” he said, “is what you have heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Psalm: Psalm 47
God has gone up with a shout. (Ps. 47:5)
1 Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with loud songs of joy.
2 For the LORD, the Most High, is awesome, a great king over all the earth.
3 He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet.
4 He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah
5 God has gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the king of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm.
8 God is king over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.
9 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.
Second Reading: Ephesians 1:15-23
15 I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18 so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. 20 God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. 22 And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
(Stand as you are able)
(Harp music)
Gospel: Luke 24:44-53
The Holy Gospel according to Luke Glory to you, O Lord.
[Jesus said to the eleven and those with them,] 44 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, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” 50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; 53 and they were continually in the temple blessing God.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
(You may be seated)
(Harp music representing the sound of the spirit)
SERMON
(Stand as you are able)
HYMN OF THE DAY: #ELW 825 “You Servants of God”
(printed in the back of the worship bulletin)
P: God has made us his people through our Baptism in Christ. Living together in hope, we confess our faith.
THE 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,
And 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 Christian church.
The communion of saints
The forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body,
And life everlasting. Amen.
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
A: United in the hope and joy of the resurrection, let us pray for the church, the world, and all in need.
(A brief silence)
A: Ever-present God, root your church firmly in you. Let us neither become entranced staring up into the heavens, nor distraught by the suffering of the world. Teach us to see you in every face, every place, and every moment. Hear us, O God.
C: Your mercy is great.
A: God of the cosmos, you cradle creation in your loving arms and anoint it with signs of your presence. In the budding of flowers, the birth of a baby, and the formations of the land and sky, reveal your abundant life. Hear us, O God.
C: Your mercy is great.
A: Eternal God, your reign is above us, around us, beneath us, and beside us. As you rule the cosmos with justice and mercy, pour out your Spirit upon those in authority, that they serve humbly and justly. Hear us, O God.
C: Your mercy is great.
A: God of companionship, provide clarity and direction for those experiencing life transitions—in births and deaths, new employment and new relationships, divorces and departures. We pray for those receiving new diagnoses or undergoing treatment for illness or injury (especially…). Hear us, O God.
C: Your mercy is great.
(Here other intercessions may be offered spoken aloud or in our hearts.)
(After each petition we respond:)
A: Hear us, O God.
C: Your mercy is great.
A: God of welcome, you call us to feast at your eternal banquet. We give thanks for those who came before us, whose lives witnessed to your love. Hear us, O God.
C: Your mercy is great.
P: Rejoicing in the victory of Christ’s resurrection, we lift our prayers and praise to you, almighty and eternal God; through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord.
C: Amen.
P: Lord Jesus, you said to your apostles: I leave you my peace, my peace I give you. Look not on the sins, but on the faith of your church, and grant us peace and unity of your kingdom where you live forever and ever.
C: Amen.
P: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C: And also with you.
(You may be seated)
THE OFFERING
(Stand as you are able)
THE OFFERTORY: “As the Grains of Wheat”
THE OFFERTORY PRAYER
A: Let us pray, Merciful God,
C: everything in heaven and on earth belongs to you. We joyfully release what you have entrusted to us. May these gifts be signs of our whole lives returned to you, dedicated to the healing and unity of all creation, through Jesus Christ. Amen.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Lift up your hearts.
C: We lift them to the Lord.
P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C: It is right to give him thanks and praise.
THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
PROPER PREFACE
P: It is indeed right and good, our duty and our joy, always and everywhere to give you thanks, holy Father, almighty and eternal God through Jesus Christ the King of glory.
After his resurrection he appeared to his disciples. You raise him to your right hand before their eyes that he may raise us to be your5 children and heirs of your glory.
Therefore all the world rejoices in paschal joy, and we join the praise of the angels and the company of heaven, singing with one voice:
THE SANCTUS:
(printed on the following page)
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
P: “Our Lord Jesus Christ, the same night in which He was betrayed,
took bread and when He had given thanks,
He broke it and gave it to His disciples saying:
‘Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you.
Do this in remembrance of Me.’
“In the same way also, He took the cup after supper, gave thanks,
and gave it to them saying: ‘Drink of it all of you;
this cup is the New Testament in My blood,
which is shed for you and for many, for the remission of sins.
Do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
With this bread and cup we remember our Lord’s Passover from death to life as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
P: We say together
C: Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again. Amen
P: We pray together THE LORD’S PRAYER
C: 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.
THE COMMUNION
P: The gifts of God for the people of God, feed on them in your heart with thanksgiving.
C: Amen
(You may be seated)
The Communion follows:
During the communing of Pastor and Assistant the congregation sings “Lamb of God”
(printed on the following page)
(Stand as you are able)
COMMUNION HYMN: (Harp music)
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
A: Let us pray.
Gracious God, in you we live and move and have our being. With your word and this meal of grace, you have nourished our life together. Strengthen us to show your love and serve the world in Jesus’ name.
C: Amen.
THE BENEDICTION
P: The God of all, who raised (+) Jesus from the dead, bless you by the power of the Holy Spirit to live in the new creation.
C: Amen.
(Harp with intro)
SENDING HYMN: #ELW 521 “O Day of Rest and Gladness”
(printed in the back of the worship bulletin)
(congregation sings with organ)
DISMISSAL
P: Go in peace. Serve the Risen One.
C: Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE (Harp Postlude)
+ + +
Readings are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Bible with Apocrypha.
Copyrighted elements of Revised Common Lectionary, liturgical texts, and liturgical music used by permission of Augsburg Fortress under license number SB144485. All music and portions of the liturgical music reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-705233. All rights reserved. Clipart and images as reprinted from Churchart.com license.
Scripture Next Sunday: Day of Pentecost
Acts 2:1-21;
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b;
1 Corinthians 12:3b-13;
John 20:19-23
Hymns
ANNOUNCEMENTS
In the event of an emergency you may contact Pastor Gaye at the church office (504) 362-1967.
Cell Phones: We are requesting that members and visitors please silence your cell phones to “off” while in the sanctuary and we are in worship service.
| UPCOMING EVENTS: |
Please consider a donation to the Memorial Engelbracht Guest Musician Fund. Donation envelopes can be found in the rear of the church.
If you wish to help to aid in the recovery of victims of disaters, donations can be made through Lutheran Disaster Relief at LDR.com.
+ + +
Daily devotional website as suggested by Pastor Lisa Gaye
Meditation on the Lessons – Take Home
Prayer:
O Blessed Lord, who caused all Holy Scripture to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest your word, that we may embrace and hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our savior Jesus Christ, Amen.
1. Identify a passage from scripture today that touches your life.
2. Pray for the Holy Spirit as you write: “From what I’ve heard and shared, what do I believe God wants me to do or be? Is God inviting me to change in any way?
From the Lambeth/African Bible Study Method EPCUSA
GUEST MUSICIAN
HARPSICORD MUSICIAN Victoria Beyea
Victoria writes from Hattiesburg MS, I was first introduced to the harp at a young age, although I wasn’t the one playing it, my older sister was the first harpist in the family, and naturally, I wanted a piece of the action. After some time of taking private lessons, I purchased my sister’s harp and am still using it today. The harp is a Savli Daphne 40 pedal harp made in 1989. Each of the 40 strings represents a different pitch while the 7 foot pedals around the base can be adjusted to increase or decrease the length of the strings, making the pitches sharp or flat. I’ve been playing the harp for many weddings for over a half decade. I just love being able to add extra elegance of harp music to a special occasion.
Last modified: June 9, 2023
