Fifth Sunday of Easter - Saint Luke Lutheran Church - Saint Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church
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Saint Luke Lutheran Church
Fifth Sunday of Easter
May 2, 2021
Communion Service
The Reverend Dr Christian Eichorn, Pastor
Altar Flowers are Dedicated to the Glory of God
by Gary & Karen Reynolds in honor of Pastor and Pam Eichorn
celebrating their first 10AM worship service
2Fifth Sunday of Easter
May 2, 2021
INTRODUCTION TO THE DAY
This Sunday’s image of how the risen Christ shares his life with us is the image
of the vine. Christ the vine and we the branches are alive in each other, in the
mystery of mutual abiding described in the gospel and the first letter of John.
Baptism makes us a part of Christ’s living and life-giving self and makes us
alive with Christ’s life. As the vine brings food to the branches, Christ feeds us
at his table. We are sent out to bear fruit for the life of the world.
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC BY BUD ESPER
WELCOME
PRELUDE
“Arioso” (Thanks Be To Thee), attr. Handel, arr. William Felton. Bud Esper, organ.
© Theordore Presser. Used with permission under One License @A-729360. All rights reserved.
Congregation stands
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
P Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, who forgives all our sin, whose
mercy endures forever.
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 of one another.
Gracious God,
C have mercy on us. We confess that we have turned from you and
given ourselves into the power of sin. We are truly sorry and humbly
repent. In your compassion forgive us our sins, known and unknown,
2things we have done and things we have failed to do. Turn us again to
you, and uphold us by your Spirit, so that we may live and serve you
in newness of life through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
P God, who is rich in mercy, loved us even when we were dead in sin, and
made us alive together with Christ. By grace you have been saved. In the
name of ☩ Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. Almighty God strengthen
you with power through the Holy Spirit, that Christ may live in your
hearts through faith.
C Amen.
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.
KYRIE
WA In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
WA For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
WA For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God,
and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
WA For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise,
let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
WA Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
C Amen.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
P The Lord be with you.
C And also with you.
P Let us pray.
L O God, you give us your Son as the vine apart from whom we cannot live.
Nourish our life in his resurrection, that we may bear the fruit of love and
2know the fullness of your joy, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
forever.
C Amen.
WORD
God speaks to us in scripture reading and preaching.
FIRST READING: Acts 8: 26—40
L 26
An angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go toward the south to
the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a wilderness
road.) 27So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a
court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her
entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28and was returning
home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29Then the
Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it.” 30So Philip ran up
to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you
understand what you are reading?” 31He replied, “How can I, unless
someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him.
32
Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this:
“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,
and like a lamb silent before its shearer,
so he does not open his mouth.
33
In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”
The eunuch asked Philip, “About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet
34
say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35Then Philip began to
speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good
news about Jesus. 36As they were going along the road, they came to some
water; and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me
from being baptized?” 38He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of
them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip
baptized him. 39When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord
snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way
rejoicing. 40But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing
through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he
came to Caesarea.
L The word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
2PSALM: Psalm 22: 25—31 (to be read responsively)
L 25
From you comes my praise in the great assembly; I will perform my
vows in the sight of those who fear the LORD.
C 26
The poor shall eat and be satisfied, Let those who seek the LORD give
praise! May your hearts live forever!
L 27
All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD; all the
families of nations shall bow before God.
C 28
For dominion belongs to the LORD, who rules over the nations.
L 29
Indeed, all who sleep in the earth shall bow down in worship; all who go
down to the dust, though they be dead, shall kneel before the LORD.
C 30
Their descendants shall serve the LORD, whom they shall proclaim to
generations to come.
L They shall proclaim God’s deliverance to a people yet unborn, saying to
31
them, “The LORD has acted!”
SECOND READING: 1 John 4: 7—21
L 7
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who
loves is born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not
know God, for God is love. 9God’s love was revealed among us in this way:
God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him.
10
In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his
Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11Beloved, since God loved us
so much, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God;
if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.
13
By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given
us of his Spirit. 14And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent
his Son as the Savior of the world. 15God abides in those who confess that
Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. 16So we have known and
believe the love that God has for us.
God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in
them. 17Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have
boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this
world. 18There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear
has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection
in love. 19We love because he first loved us. 20Those who say, “I love God,”
and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a
brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have
not seen. 21The commandment we have from him is this: those who love
God must love their brothers and sisters also.
2L The word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
C Alleluia. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me
and I in them bear much fruit. Alleluia.
GOSPEL: John 15: 1—8
P The Holy Gospel according to St John.
C Glory to you, O Lord.
P [Jesus said:] 1“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. 2He
removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears
fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. 3You have already been
cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. 4Abide in me as I abide in
you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the
vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5I am the vine, you are the
branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because
apart from me you can do nothing. 6Whoever does not abide in me is
thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered,
thrown into the fire, and burned. 7If you abide in me, and my words abide
in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8My Father
is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”
P The gospel of the Lord.
C Praise to you, O Christ.
+ SERMON + PASTOR CHRISTIAN EICHORN +
SPECIAL MUSIC
“I want Jesus to Walk With Me” (Spiritual), arr. William Felton. Bud Esper, piano.
© 2014 Alfred Music. Used with permission under One License @A-729360. All rights reserved.
2Congregation stands
NICENE CREED
WA Let us confess the faith of the church.
C 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 OF INTERCESSION
P Alive in the risen Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, we bring our
prayers before God who promises to hear us and answer in steadfast
love.
WA God of all fruitfulness, you abide in your church and your church abides
in you. Cleanse us by your word and give yourself to the whole church on
earth so that it bears fruit and witnesses to your love. Hear us, O God.
C Your mercy is great.
2WA You have created the heavens and the earth. As we wonder at the beauty
of creation, may we seek vital connections among all that depends on the
earth for life. Hear us, O God.
C Your mercy is great.
WA You rule the nations with justice and love. Give the leaders of the earth
assurance of your abiding presence, that they lead not by fear but with
love for those they are called to serve. Hear us, O God.
C Your mercy is great.
WA You have loved us so that we can love others. We pray for all in need of
your love: those who are poor, lowly, outcast, weak, or fearful. Provide for
the needs of all (especially). Hear us, O God.
C Your mercy is great.
WA You gather us with all the saints by the power of your Spirit (especially
with Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria and those we name before you).
With them, may our hearts live forever in your keeping. Hear us, O God.
C Your mercy is great.
P In the hope of new life in Christ, we raise our prayers to you, trusting in
your never-ending goodness and mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
C Amen.
PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you always.
And also with you.
SHARE THE PEACE OF THE LORD
Without shaking hands, share the universal sign of
peace with your neighbors.
Congregation sits
2OFFERING PRAYER
P Let us pray.
C Blessed are you, O God, ruler of heaven and earth. Day by day you
shower us with blessings. As you have raised us to new life in Christ,
give us glad and generous hearts, ready to praise you and to respond
to those in need, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
MEAL
God feeds us with the presence of Jesus Christ.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
P The Lord be with you.
C And also with you.
P Lift up your hearts.
C We lift them up to the Lord.
P Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
C It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Pastor continues with the Proper Preface for the
Fifth Sunday of Easter.
It is indeed right, our duty…and join their unending hymn.
SANCTUS (spoken in unison)
C Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are
full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Hosanna in the highest.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
P Blessed are you, O God of the universe.
Your mercy is everlasting and your faithfulness endures from age to age.
Praise to you for creating the heavens and the earth.
Praise to you for saving the earth from the waters of the flood.
2Praise to you for bringing the Israelites safely through the sea.
Praise to you for leading your people through the wilderness to the land
of milk and honey.
Praise to you for the words and deeds of Jesus, your anointed one.
Praise to you for the death and resurrection of Christ.
Praise to you for your Spirit poured out on all nations.
In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and
gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat;
this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to
drink, 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.
With this bread and cup we remember our Lord’s passover from death to
life as we proclaim the mystery of faith:
C Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
P God of resurrection and new life:
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us and on these gifts of bread and wine.
Bless this feast.
Grace our table with your presence.
C Come, Holy Spirit.
P Reveal yourself to us in the breaking of the bread.
Raise us up as the body of Christ for the world.
Breathe new life into us.
Send us forth, burning with justice, peace, and love.
C Come, Holy Spirit.
P With name/s and your holy ones of all times and places, with the earth
and all its creatures, with sun and moon and stars, we praise you, O God,
blessed and holy Trinity, now and forever.
C Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
P Lord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray.
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.
2INVITATION TO COMMUNION
P Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Congregation sits
COMMUNION Receive the Communion elements.
P The body of Christ, given for you.
The blood of Christ, shed for you.
C Amen.
TABLE BLESSING
P The body and blood of our lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you
in his grace.
C Amen.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
P Let us pray.
P Life-giving God, in the mystery of Christ’s resurrection you send light to
conquer darkness, water to give new life, and the bread of life to nourish
your people. Send us forth as witnesses to your Son’s resurrection, that
we may show your glory to all the world, through Jesus Christ, our risen
Lord.
C Amen.
Congregation stands
BLESSING
P May Christ, born into time to bring endless peace, guide our days and
years in righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The Lord
bless and keep you. The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy.
The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.
C Amen.
2SENDING HYMN
“Blest Be the Tie That Binds” #656
DISMISSAL
WA Go in peace. Christ is with you.
C Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE
+++ +++ +++
2--Thank you for worshiping with us this Sunday—
Pastor Eichorn was joined today by the following Saint Luke family members
assisting in today’s live video-stream and onsite worship service:
Altar Guild Sara Hart, Marcia Shaw, Deanie Currey
AV Team Ron & Karen Clark
Bulletin Diana Black
Church Music Bud Esper, Director of Church Music
Eucharistic Minister Joyce Rivenburgh
Greeters Carolyn Gnam, Pat Meyer
Lectors Joan Eccard
Sacristan Emil Gnam
Ushers Jim Meyer, Doug Snively
Prayer List for Sunday, May 2
Please join our Saint Luke Family in Prayer:
For those that are healing--
Donna Cutsforth
Ed Keating
Faye Kilmon
Janet Neff
Mary Poore (added by Emil Gnam)
Rosemarie Shepherd
William Zimmerman (son of Joan Zimmerman)
For those in need of long term prayers --
Alex Brooker
Barbara Ellenberger
Carl Currey
Carol Secan (friend of Joan & Walt Eccard)
Carrie McCroskey (friend of Elaine Kirby)
Christine Bahr (daughter of Inge Wilson)
Chuck Beardall (neighbor of Florence Asmund)
Dave Hash (friend of Lamont Jordan)
Dodie Niland
2Donna Gerard (friend of Gary Reynolds)
Doris & Ed Zack
Elizabeth Simon (friend of Rudy Voit)
Emily Bane (added by Carolyn Gardner)
Gary Roeder (cousin of Coral Mealia)
Grace Koch (sister of Deanie Currey)
Jackie Maden (friend of Florence Asmund)
Janice Merrill
Joan (sister of Dorothy Schieber)
Jim (son of Dorothy Schieber)
John & Sheila Schmidt
Key Norris (neighbor of Florence Asmund)
Linda & Gary Peddicord (Pam Wright’s sister & brother-in-law
Mike Schafer
Pat & Jack Golden and daughter Kathleen Muldowney
Pat Long & daughter Amey (friends of Marjorie & Don Eisenman)
Paula Gore
Richard Romano (cousin of Florence Asmund)
Rylee Grace (Karen Drakulic’s granddaughter)
Sherry & Andy Roseman
Vera Walker
Victoria Newcomb-Tutty (family of Rudy Voit)
For those who are mourning—
The Family of Betty Craig
The Family of Robert Dillon (cousin-in-law of Carolyn Gnam)
The Family of Larry Meegan (friend of Diana Black)
For our Men & Women serving in the Armed Forces, especially --
Brian McLaughlin, US Army, South Korea (Friend, Carol Lindquist)
Bryan Troy, US Air Force (Grandson, Dorothy Schieber)
Carter Hellesto, US Air Force (Grandson, Betty Ann & Chuck Johnson)
Eric Dompkowski, Captain, US Army, Fort Carson, CO (Son, Sue & Anthony
Dompkowski)
Joe Dunn, US Air Force, Fort McGuire, New Jersey (Grandson, Ron & Karen
Clark)
Jordan 14umber, US Marine Corp (Nephew, Karen & Gary Reynolds)
Joshua Bailey, US Army (Friend, Carol Lindquist)
Justin McLaughlin, National Guard, Lexington, KY (Friend, Carol Lindquist)
2Mason Hart, US Navy (Nephew, Sara & Bob Hart)
Susan Clark, SSgt US Army, Miami, FL. (Daughter, Ron & Karen Clark)
Tyler McLaughlin, US Army, Fort Sill, OK (Friend, Carol Lindquist)
For those coping with conflict, crisis or disaster—
• For justice and unity in the Elizabeth City NC community and across the nation.
May wisdom prevail before, during and after police/citizen altercations.
• For humane treatment and loving kindness to be shown to the children at the US
southern border unaccompanied by adult guardians.
• Everyone directly touched by COVID-19 either through having the illness, providing
home care for family or friend(s), and/or providing professional medical treatment
and services to those in need. For those, too, who are developing, producing,
transporting, giving and receiving COVID vaccines.
Please help keep our Prayer List updated.
Contact the church office to add or delete names from the prayer list.
Names above appearing in italics indicate will be removed next time;
names in bold are newly added or renewed.
2This Week at Saint Luke
Sunday, May 2 10AM Worship with Communion Online Worship Service;
live-streamed at 10AM; available on YouTube under Live Casts;
and then available on our website the next day
Monday, May 3 Online sign-up begins for Sunday, May 9
10AM Property Meeting
Tuesday, May 4
Wednesday, May 5 9:30AM Morning Prayer in Fellowship Hall
10:15AM Eucharistic Minister Meeting
2AM Sign Up closes for May 9
6PM Bell Choir Practice
7PM Vocal Choir Practice
Thursday, May 6
Friday, May 7
Saturday, May 8 The Lord’s Food Pantry
Sunday, May 9 10AM Sanctuary Worship
Mother’s Day Online Worship Service; live-streamed at 10AM; available on
YouTube under Live Casts; and then available on our website the
next day
11AM Mother’s Day Fellowship
Scriptures for next Sunday, May 9
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Mother’s Day
Acts 8: 26—40
Psalm 98
1 John 5: 1—6
John 15: 9—17
2-- For Your Information --
NUTURE & FELLOWSHIP NEWS
• First, please review the sign-up board in Fellowship Hall for future hospitality
opportunities to participate.
• Then please note the Nurture & Fellowship coordinating committee has suggested we
make the hospitality we offer on Sundays much simpler. Our new motto is: KISS…
Keep It Simple Sister! We’ll be offering simple fare focusing on the chit chat, good will,
and love inherent in fellowship. Going forward for Sundays (Note: special occasions will
be handled differently), we offer just:
• Beverage (tea and coffee)
• Cookies or simple cakes
• Healthful options such as fruit like tangerines, etc.
MOTHER’S DAY FELLOWSHIP
We will celebrate Mother’s Day with coffee and cake after worship on May 9th. We will be
outside (weather permitting) in the front parking lot. Bring a beach/lawn chair. Also, we
are asking church members to park in the back of the church for that Sunday.
CHOIRS ARE BACK!
This is a great time to engage in singing and handbell ringing. After a pandemic year
without our choirs, we are eager to restart to sing/play our hearts out. It is among the most
fulfilling experiences you will have in Christian ministry.
For vocal choir, if you ever wanted to sing in a choir, or if you have experience and would
like to re-engaged in a singing experience, consider joining our vocal choir. Requirements
are basic: if you can carry a tune and hit a pitch, you may be perfect for a choir experience.
Don’t let that shower-singing experience go to waste. Join us.
For handbells, no experience necessary, we will teach you all you need to know and you
will have great fun doing it. If you can count from 1 to 8, you are a perfect match!
Rehearsals are Wednesday, beginning May 5: 6:00 for bells and 7:00 for voice. Questions?
Call Bud at 843-399-8317.
ACOLYTE-CRUCIFERS
If you would like to assist during worship services as an Acolyte-Crucifer, please
contact Emil at 910-575-2702.
For Your Information continued on next page
2JOHNSON FAMILY TORNADO RELIEF UPDATE: GoFundMe Page
We are progressing in our commitment to collect the funds needed to purchase a
replacement trailer for Delores Johnson and her two school-age sons. As you may
know, their home was destroyed as they huddled together in the bathtub of their
trailer home during the terrifying F-3 class tornado that hit Brunswick County near
midnight on February 15, 2021. We are grateful for all the donations which have come
to St Luke for tornado relief. But the challenge we’ve set remains and a GoFundMe
page has been setup online to encourage anyone near and far who wants to donate.
Pastor Eichorn sent an email to the congregation this past Tuesday with information
about this new way to donate. He asked that you in turn send this link out to friends
and family members either through email, text, tweet, or social media like Facebook.
Ask them to send it out to others as well. We hope this will create a groundswell of
participation and help us achieve the goal for the Johnson family as soon as possible.
Please share this link: https://gofund.me/a3793bc9.
JOHNSON FAMILY TORNADO RELIEF UPDATE: Tried and True Works Too
In addition to the new GoFundMe page, we continue to accept checks made out to St
Luke Lutheran Church with “Johnson Tornado Relief” written in the memo section.
Thank you to all who have donated to date, you truly do make a difference.
2ST LUKE LUTHERAN CHURCH
5869 Ocean Highway West, Ocean Isle Beach NC 28469
main: 910.579.0107 email: stlukeelca@stlukeoib.org website: stlukeoib.org
office hours: Monday through Thursday, 9:00am to 2:00pm
The Reverend Dr. Christian Eichorn, Pastor
cell/text: 610.393.7622 email: pceichorn@gmail.com
Emil Gnam, Sacristan
Bud Esper, M.A., Director of Church Music
stlukemusic@stlukeoib.org
Diana Lee Black, Administrative Assistant
stlukeelca@stlukeoib.org
Portions recorded by permission under One License #A-729360. All rights reserved.
Portions from sundaysandseasons.com.
Portions copyright ©2020 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.
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