6th Sunday of Easter
God’s Own Child, I Gladly Say It (592)
God’s own child, I gladly say it: I am baptized into Christ!
He, because I could not pay it, gave my full redemption price.
Do I need earth’s treasures many? I have one worth more than any
That brought me salvation free, Lasting to eternity!
Sin, disturb my soul no longer: I am baptized into Christ!
I have comfort even stronger: Jesus’ cleansing sacrifice.
Should a guilty conscience seize me, since my baptism did release me
In a dear forgiving flood, sprinkling me with Jesus’ blood?
Satan, hear this proclamation: I am baptized into Christ!
Drop your ugly accusation; I am not so soon enticed.
Now that to the font I’ve traveled, all your might has come unraveled,
And, against your tyranny, God, my Lord, unites with me!
Death, you cannot end my gladness: I am baptized into Christ!
When I die, I leave all sadness to inherit paradise!
Though I lie in dust and ashes faith’s assurance brightly flashes:
Baptism has the strength divine to make life immortal mine.
The Holy Baptism of Madelyn Ann Volpe
Madelyn is the daughter of Kati and Michael. Chris Matzenbacher and Sylvia Flores
have agreed to serve as her godparents. May the Lord enable her growth as child of God and guide the ministry of her parents and all who surround her with the love of Jesus.
The Invocation
En el nombre del Padre, y del X Hijo, y del Espíritu Santo.
All Amen.
The Baptismal Address
Dearly beloved, our Lord commanded Baptism, saying to His disciples in Matthew: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all I have commanded you. I will be with you always, to the very end of the age”. And St. Paul says, “Baptism now saves you”. The Holy Scriptures also teach that all are conceived and born sinful and are under the power of the devil until Christ claims us as His own. Receive the sign of the holy cross both upon your X forehead and upon your X heart to mark you as one redeemed by Christ the crucified.
The Flood Prayer
Almighty and eternal God, according to Your strict judgment You condemned the unbelieving world through the flood, yet according to Your great mercy You preserved believing Noah and his family, eight souls in all. You drowned hard-hearted Pharaoh and all his host in the Red Sea, yet led Your people Israel through the water on dry ground, foreshadowing this washing of Your Holy Baptism. Through the Baptism in the Jordan of Your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, You sanctified and instituted all waters to be a blessed flood and a lavish washing away of sin. We pray that You would behold this child according to Your boundless mercy and bless him with true faith by the Holy Spirit, that through this saving flood all sin in him, which has been inherited from Adam and which he himself has committed since, would be drowned and die. Grant that he be kept safe and secure in the holy ark of the Christian Church, being separated from the multitude of unbelievers and serving Your name at all times with a fervent spirit and a joyful hope, so that, with all believers in Your promise, he would be declared worthy of eternal life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
All Amen.
The Confession of Faith
Do you renounce the devil and all his works and all his ways?
All I do renounce them.
Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty?
All Yes, I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
Do you believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son?
All Yes, I believe 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.
Do you believe in the Holy Spirit?
All Yes, I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection X of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Madelyn, I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Almighty God and the Father of our Lord, who has given you the new birth of water and of the Spirit and has forgiven you all your sins, strengthen you with His grace to life X everlasting.
All Amen.
The Presentation of the Candle
Live always by the light of Christ, and be watchful for His return in glory that you may meet Him with joy and enter with Him to the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end.
The Baptismal Prayer
Almighty and most merciful God and Father, we thank and praise You that You graciously preserve and enlarge Your family and have granted Madelyn Ann the new birth in Holy Baptism and made her a member of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and an heir of Your heavenly kingdom. We humbly implore You that, as she has now become Your child, You would keep her in her baptismal grace that according to all Your good pleasure he may faithfully grow in a godly life to the praise and honor of Your holy name and finally with all Your saints obtain the promised inheritance in heaven; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
All Amen.
Sentences of Welcome
Madelyn Ann, Child of God, Christ has set you free and given you life. Live in Him.
All Madelyn Ann, Child of God, we welcome you into the family of family of Christ!
The Kyrie
Prayer of the Day
Let us pray.
All God, you have delivered us from the power of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of your Son: grant, that as by his death he has brought us to life, so by his continual presence in us he may raise us to eternal joy; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Scripture Readings
Acts 17:16-31
While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 18 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. 19 Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean.” 21 (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) 22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you. 24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
This is the word of the Lord.
All Thanks be to God.
1 Peter 3:13-22
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened. 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. 19 After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— 20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand; with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
This is the word of the Lord.
All Thanks be to God.
The Gospel Procession
The Holy Gospel is read in the midst of the people as a reminder of God coming to us in
Jesus Christ. As the Gospel is announced some make a small cross on their forehead, lips,
and chest – a prayer that the Word would dwell in our minds, on our lips, and in our hearts.
Thy Strong Word (578)
Thy strong word did cleave the darkness; At thy speaking it was done.
For created light we thank thee While thine ordered seasons run.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise to thee who light dost send!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia without end!
The Gospel according to John.
All Glory to You, O Lord. John 14:15-21
Jesus said to his disciples: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows him. But you know him, because he remains with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.
The Gospel of the Lord.
All Praise to you, O Christ.
Thy Strong Word (578)
God the Father, light-creator,To thee laud and honor be.
To thee, Light from Light begotten, Praise be sung eternally.
Holy Spirit, light-revealer, Glory, glory be to thee.
Mortals, angels, now and ever Praise the holy Trinity!
Children’s Sermon
Son of God, Eternal Savior (842)
Son of God, eternal Savior, Source of life and truth and grace,
Word made flesh, whose birth among us Hallows all our human race,
You our Head, who, throned in glory, For Your own will ever plead:
Fill us with Your love and pity, Heal our wrongs, and help our need.
As You, Lord, have lived for others, So may we for others live.
Freely have Your gifts been granted; Freely may Your servants give.
Yours the gold and Yours the silver, Yours the wealth of land and sea;
We but stewards of Your bounty Held in solemn trust will be.
Come, O Christ, and reign among us, King of Love and Prince of Peace;
Hush the storm of strife and passion, Bid its cruel discords cease.
By Your patient years of toiling, By Your silent hours of pain,
Quench our fevered thirst of pleasure, Stem our selfish greed of gain.
Son of God, eternal Savior, Source of life and truth and grace,
Word made flesh, whose birth among us Hallows all our human race:
By your praying, by Your willing, That Your people should be one,
Grant, O grant our hope’s fruition; Here on earth Your will be done.
Sermon
Prayer of the Church
After the pastor says Lord in Your Mercy, all respond with Hear our Prayer.
For a Blessed Easter Season as we rejoice in the resurrection of Jesus
For blessing in our outreach; CDC, Thrift Ship, Food Pantry, LINC, Presa
Pastors Philip, Roy, Naresh, Christoph, Matt, and all church planters
For U.S. Leaders: President Joe, Governor Greg, Mayor Ron
For those in Military: Jarred, Alissa, Mark, Tom, Thomas, Ricky, Jennifer
Church Leaders; LCMS President Matthew, District President Michael
Persecuted Christians: Jordan, Kazakhstan, Nicaragua, Oman
Global Partner Church: Confessional Lutheran Church of South Africa
For Comfort, Health, Encouragement, and Recovery:
The people of Ukraine
Thanksgiving for Mothers
Thanksgiving for the Baptism of Madelyn Ann
Irma Martinez
Lindsey Dice, friend of Suzanne (mourning the death of her mother Kim)
Roy Wessel (with health challenges)
Alicia and Drew (for God to grant peace and guidance)
Addie Longstreet (friend of Alva-Alicia who is in the hospital)
Diana Garza (recovering from surgery)
Evangelina Flores (mother of Eva Schindel, with health challenges)
Avelinda Salgado (Suzanne’s cousin – struggling with challenges)
Virginia Luna (for clarity and guidance from God in this season)
Joy Garra (friend of Virginia Mason – diagnosed with breast cancer)
Pat Garcia (cousin of Rick Garza in need of liver transplant)
Linda Wenck (as she undergoes chemotherapy treatment)
Michael Garcia (brother of Eva, battling cancer)
Daniel (brother of Patricia Perez, recovering from surgery)
Diane Beasley
Ana Garcia (cousin of Paul and JoAnn – diagnosed with cancer)
Cecilia Luna (friend of America Alderete – diagnosed with cancer)
Joe Ojeda (blessing and guidance as he begins pastoral formation)
Tillie Cropper
Alex and Gulley Rivera
Vicky Dean (sister of Melissa Hild)
Yesenia (daughter of Anna Marquez)
Teresa Medellin (neighbor of Alicia Guerrero)
Mildred Westphal
Albert Pedroza (neighbor of Thomas Robledo)
Cayley (granddaughter of Robert and Linda Chetwood)
Austin Hernden
Robin Beasley Jr
Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow (805)
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host:
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Prayer Before Reception of Holy Communion
O Lord, I believe and profess that you are truly Christ,
The Son of the living God, who came into the world
To save sinners of whom I am the first.
Accept me as a partaker of your mystical supper, O Lord,
For I will not reveal your mystery to your enemies,
Nor will I give you a kiss as did Judas, But like the thief I profess to you:
Remember me, O Lord, when you come in your kingdom.
Remember me, O Master, when you come in your kingdom.
Remember me, O Holy One, when you come in your kingdom.
May the partaking of your Holy mysteries, O Lord,
Be not for my judgment or condemnation,
But for the healing of my soul and body.
O Lord, I also believe and profess, that this,
Which I am about to receive,
Is truly your most precious Body, and your life-giving Blood,
Given for me for remission of all my sins and for life everlasting. Amen
(Eucharistic Prayer from Byzantine Rite Liturgy)
Service of the Sacrament
The Lord be with you.
All And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
All We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All It is right to give Him thanks and praise.
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, always and everywhere to give you thanks, almighty and eternal Father, and in these days of Easter to celebrate with joyful hearts the memory of your wonderful works. For by the mystery of his passion Jesus Christ, your risen Son, has conquered the powers of death and hell and restored in men and women the image of your glory. He has placed them once more in paradise and opened to them the gate of life eternal. And so, in the joy of this Passover, earth and heaven resound with gladness, angels and archangels and the whole of creation sings forever of your glory:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of Sabaoth adored;
Heaven and earth with full acclaim shout the glory of Your name.
Sing hosana in the highest, sing hosana to the Lord;
Truly blest is He who comes in the name of the Lord!
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Blessed are You, Lord of heaven and earth, for You have had mercy on those whom You created and sent Your only-begotten Son into our flesh to bear our sin and be our Savior. With repentant joy, we receive the salvation accomplished for us by the all-availing sacrifice of His body and His blood on the cross. Gathered in the name and the remembrance of Jesus, we beg You, O Lord, to forgive, renew, and strengthen us with Your Word and Spirit. Grant us to faithfully eat His body and drink His blood as He bids us to in His own testament. Gather us together from the ends of the earth to celebrate, with all the faithful, the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. Receive our prayers; deliver and preserve us. To You alone be all glory, honor, and worship, now and forever.
All Amen.
The Consecration
The Acclamation and Invitation
As often as we eat of this bread and drink from this cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
All Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Behold the Lamb of God, behold Jesus, who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.
All Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.
La paz del Señor sea con ustedes.
All Y Tambien contigo
Sharing of the Peace
Greet each other in the name of Christ by saying ‘the Peace of the Lord be with you’ as a
sign of forgiveness & reconciliation in preparation for reception of the Blessed Sacrament.
Lamb of God
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; grant us peace.
Distribution
Eucharistic Dismissal
Thank The Lord
Thank the Lord and sing of His praise; Tell everyone what He has done.
Let everyone who seeks the Lord, Rejoice, and proudly bear His name.
He recalls His promises, and leads His people forth in joy
With shouts of thanksgiving. Alleluia, alleluia.
Post-Communion Prayer
We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You, that of Your mercy, You would strengthen us in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Announcements
Alleluia! Sing to Jesus (821)
Alleluia! Sing to Jesus; His the scepter, His the throne;
Alleluia! His the triumph, His the victory alone.
Hark! The songs of peaceful Zion Thunder like a mighty flood:
“Jesus out of ev’ry nation Has redeemed us by His blood.”
Alleluia! Not as orphans Are we left in sorrow now;
Alleluia! He is near us; Faith believes, nor questions how.
Though the cloud from sight received Him When the forty days were o’er,
Shall our hearts forget His promise: “I am with you evermore”?
Alleluia! Bread of heaven, Here on earth our food, our stay;
Alleluia! Here the sinful Flee to You from day to day.
Intercessor, Friend of sinners, Earth’s Redeemer, hear our plea
Where the songs of all the sinless Sweep across the crystal sea.
Alleluia! King eternal, Lord omnipotent we own;
Alleluia! Born of Mary, Earth Your footstool, heav’n Your throne.
As within the veil You entered, Robed in flesh, our great High Priest,
Here on earth both priest and victim In the eucharistic feast.
Alleluia! Sing to Jesus; His the scepter, His the throne;
Alleluia! His the triumph, His the victory alone.
Hark! The songs of peaceful Zion Thunder like a mighty flood:
“Jesus out of ev’ry nation Has redeemed us by His blood.