#easter 5

Jesus expects his followers to accomplish more than he has, perhaps because he expects them to have more time. This piece of teaching is from before the crucifixion, but we’re reading it here looking forward instead to his ascension. He’s about to leave. The original intention may have been to point to his death, but reading it this week we’re definitely thinking about that triumphant…

Acts 7:55-60 Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16 1 Peter 2:2-10 John 14:1-14 Previously Never Die Magic Words

Love is supposed to be our defining characteristic. The thing that is visible to everyone. Is that what Christians are known for in 2025? Even if you read this narrowly, assuming that this only means love of other Christians, I think you’d have difficulty finding anyone who would say that Christians today are known for their lives for each other. Not our piety or our devotion to God. Our love…

Acts 11:1-18Psalm 148Revelation 21:1-6John 13:31-35 Lord’s Day 21 Previously: Scope

Where I live, English ivy is a nasty invasive plant. It grows quickly, even in deep shade. It climbs into trees starving them of sunlight while competing with them for water and weighing down their branches. It puts down new roots wherever it touches the ground. Cuttings easily grow new roots and even small pieces can rapidly become whole carpets of ivy. This makes disposal challenging and unwary…

We’re reading a fragment of the story of Lazarus raised from the dead this week. The church I attend most weeks (following the Revised Common Lectionary) read this passage back in Lent, a couple of weeks before Easter. But we’re still following A Women’s Lectionary For The Whole Church so this passage appears here, in the middle of the season of Easter. We’re also zoomed way in, focusing on the…

Gathering Song:

Psalmody:

Opening Prayer

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.

Anthem:

Lessons

First Lesson- Acts 7:55-60

55Filled with the Holy Spirit, [Stephen] gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56“Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 57But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. 58Then 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. 59While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60Then 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.

Second Lesson- 1 Peter 2:2-10

2Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation—3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.   4Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and 5like 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. 6For 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.” 7To 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,” 8and  “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.   9But 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.  10Once you were not a people,   but now you are God’s people;  once you had not received mercy,   but now you have received mercy.

Gospel Acclamation:

Gospel- John 14:1-14

[Jesus said to the disciples:] 1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. 2In 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? 3And 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. 4And you know the way to the place where I am going.” 5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”   8Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” 9Jesus 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’? 10Do 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. 11Believe 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. 12Very 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. 13I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.”

Gospel & Sermon:

Hymn of the Day:

Creed

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, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became truly human. 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, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who 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.

Prayers for Others

Peace

Offering- Click Here to Give

Thanksgiving for the Word Prayer

Praise and thanks to you, holy God, for by your Word you made all things: you spoke light into darkness, called forth beauty from chaos, and brought life into being. For your Word of life, O God, we give you thanks and praise.

By your Word you called your people Israel to tell of your wonderful gifts: freedom from captivity, water on the desert journey, a pathway home from exile, wisdom for life with you. For your Word of life, O God, we give you thanks and praise.

Through Jesus, your Word made flesh, you speak to us and call us to witness: forgiveness through the cross, life to those entombed by death, the way of your self-giving love. For your Word of life, O God, we give you thanks and praise.

Send your Spirit of truth, O God; rekindle your gifts within us: renew our faith, increase our hope, and deepen our love, for the sake of a world in need. Faithful to your Word, O God, draw near to all who call on you; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory forever. Amen.

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/Blessing

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, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit,

bless you now and forever.

Amen.

Sending Hymn:

Dismissal

Christ is risen, just as he said.

Go in peace. Share the good news. Alleluia!

Thanks be to God. Alleluia!