Service of the Wordstjohnluthchurchmineola.org/.../2020-05-31.pentecost_a.e… · Web...

SERVICE OF THE WORD – COVID-19 Suspension

St. John Lutheran Church (ELCA)Mineola, IA

Pastor Luke Kuenzli

Order of Service and Worship TextsFor Virtual Worship

Adapted from Evangelical Lutheran WorshipService of the Word and Holy Communion Setting 4

May 2020 during COVID-19 pandemic

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This SUNDAY: May 31, 202010:30am Virtual Worship

CANCELLED for the time being: please pay attention to church website, Facebook page,

and/or word-of-mouth network for updates!Quilting, Bible StudyPreschool, ChoirSunday School, ConfirmationSunday in-person WorshipsRelay for Life (Mills County)

Glenwood HS Virtual Graduation today, Sunday, May 31. We will also recognize our congregation’s four high school graduates and other graduates of college and graduate programs during our virtual worship service.

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St. John Lutheran ChurchMineola, Iowa Phone (712) 526-2268Website: stjohnluthchurchmineola.orgPastor Luke Kuenzli

May 31, 2020 10:30amDay of Pentecost

We are called to glorify God,

grow in faith, and build community.

Mission Statement


GatheringWelcome/Announcements

As we begin, please prepare by finding a bowl (small or large) and placing some water into the bowl; or you may pour water into the bowl at the same time as Pastor Luke.

THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISMAlleluia! Christ is risen. Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Joined to Christ in the waters of baptism, we are raised with him to new life.Let us give thanks for the gift of baptism.

Water may be poured into the font as the presiding minister gives thanks.

We give you thanks, O God, for in the beginning you created us in your image and planted us in a well-watered garden.

In the desert you promised pools of water for the parched, and you gave us water from the rock.

When we did not know the way, you sent the Good Shepherd to lead us to still waters. At the cross, you watered us from Jesus’ wounded side, and on this day, you shower us again with the water of life.

We praise you for your salvation through water, for the water in this font, and for all water everywhere.

Bathe us in your forgiveness, grace, and love. Satisfy the thirsty, and give us the life only you can give.

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

Take a moment to dip your hands in the water and make the sign of your cross on your family members’ or your own forehead, a sign that Christ is with us even in the midst of suffering, anxiety, and uncertainty. You may say “Remember your baptism into Christ’s life, death, and resurrection” if you are marking others who have been baptized with the sign of the cross; or “rejoice in God’s grace, poured out for all people in Jesus” if you are marking those who

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have not been baptized.GATHERING SONG “O Holy Spirit, Enter In”

(public domain)

O Holy Spirit, enter in, and in our hearts your work begin, and make our hearts your dwelling.

Sun of the soul, O Light divine, around and in us brightly shine,your strength in us upwelling.

In your radiance life from heaven now is given overflowing,

gift of gifts beyond all knowing.

Left to ourselves, we surely strayoh, lead us on the narrow way,with wisest counsel guide us;

and give us steadfastness, that we may follow you forever free,

no matter who derides us.Gently heal those hearts now broken; give some token you are near us,whom we trust to light and cheer us.

O mighty Rock, O Source of life, let your good Word in doubt and strife

be in us strongly burning,that we be faithful unto death

and live in love and holy faith,from you true wisdom learning.Lord, your mercy on us shower;

by your power Christ confessing,we will cherish all your blessing.

GREETINGThe 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.

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KYRIE (Holy Communion Setting 4)

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SONG OF PRAISE (Holy Communion Setting 4)

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PRAYER OF THE DAY Let us pray. A brief silence is kept before the prayer.O God, on this day you open the hearts of your faithful people by sending into us your Holy Spirit. Direct us by the light of that Spirit, that we may have a right judgment in all things and rejoice at all times in your peace, through Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

WORDFirst Reading: Acts 2:1-21

When the day of Pentecost had come, [the apostles] were all together in one place. 2And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. 5Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.” 14But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 16No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 17‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. 18Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.

19And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. 20The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. 21Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ ”

...Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God!

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Psalm: Psalm 104:24-34, 35b24How manifold are your works, O LORD!

In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.25Yonder is the sea, great and wide, with its swarms too many to number,

living things both small and great.26There go the ships to and fro, and Leviathan, which you made for the sport of it.27All of them look to you to give them their food in due season. 28You give it to them; they gather it;

you open your hand, and they are filled with good things.29When you hide your face, they are terrified;

when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.30You send forth your Spirit, and they are created;

and so you renew the face of the earth.31May the glory of the LORD endure forever;

O LORD, rejoice in all your works.32You look at the earth and it trembles; you touch the mountains and they smoke.33I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;

I will praise my God while I have my being.34May these words of mine please God. I will rejoice in the LORD.35bBless the LORD, O my soul. Hallelujah!

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:3b-133bNo one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit. 4Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; 6and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. 7To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. 12For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

...Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God!

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Gospel Acclamation (Holy Communion Setting 4)

Announcement of the GospelThe Holy Gospel, according to John 19-23. Glory to You, O Lord!

The Gospel is Proclaimed19When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

…the gospel of the Lord. Praise to You, O Christ!

SERMON Pastor Luke Kuenzli

This month, my question for 2020 Re-Vision, our year-long focus on

congregational vision, had to do with recognizing the “holy places” in our lives.

The physical spaces where we find God, the circumstances that lend to a sense of

God’s presence, maybe even the people by whom and with whom we are

comforted with God’s love. This focus on vision has largely become

overshadowed by the COVID pandemic (and by the way, the novelty of this novel

coronavirus has worn off…), but events of this past week, and these scriptures

have brought the questions back into mind for me.

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Our Western Iowa Synod clergy have been meeting via Zoom each week for

check-ins, and this past week, we were privileged to have conversation with Rev.

Dr. Troy Troftgruben, Associate Professor of New Testament at Wartburg

Seminary. He invited us as pastors to consider the importance of physical spaces –

to each of us as individuals, and to our communities of faith. He also asked us to

think about how this has changed, especially given the now months-long hiatus

from gathering in our physical spaces for worship.

We reflected on these questions through the lens of the book of Acts. In Acts

2:41-47, we are told that the early believers in Christ spent much time together in

the Temple, and broke bread with glad and generous hearts in their homes. They

devoted themselves to prayer and the teachings of the apostles, to fellowship and to

the breaking of bread. It is clear that for the earliest Christians, the home was just

as important a “holy place” as was the Temple. And other passages of scripture

speak of Christians gathering in squares and at gates and near the river, where Paul

supposed there might be a place of prayer (Acts 16). In short, worship and prayer

and Christian community happened in a variety of places for the early Christians.

Less important than the location of worship was the vocation of the

worshippers. It was what they did that defined their community of faith:

fellowship, prayer, meal, and teachings; not where they were... This is also

reflected in the name those earliest Christians chose for themselves: it wasn’t “the

church” or “the believers,” but “the Way.” (Acts 9). In Greek, the hodos. They

referred to themselves as “the way,” “the journey,” “the path,” “the road.” The

early Christians were defined not just by a location, but by their vocation, their

way of being, their journey through life, the path or road down which they kept

moving.

(And as a sidenote, the word “Synod” by which we in the Lutheran Church

refer to our regional or ethnically defined churches, comes from the same root syn-

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meaning “together” and -hodos meaning “journey or way.” Our Synod is one of

the means by which we journey with other Christians through life.)

A progression, not only a position; a vocation, not only a location – this is

what made for “holy places” in the early Church. Rewind, then, to our first lesson

for today, from the beginning of Acts 2. It was the day of Pentecost, a Hebrew

festival of thanksgiving for the harvest and for God’s giving of the law to Moses. It

may be interesting to note that God showed up to Moses on a mountain, Sinai, and

that this became a “holy place” because God had come there. But the festival of

Pentecost, Shavuot, also celebrated the ending of the wheat harvest – an

ingathering of grain from many places, many fields, for which the people had been

working all season long to nurture growth. The first fruits of this labor were

dedicated to God as holy.

As adherents to Judaism from all over the known world gathered in

thanksgiving for God’s providence of food and of law, the apostles gathered, as

well, all together in a house. Like the giving of the Law to Moses on Sinai, with

fire and smoke and the shaking of the mountain (Exodus 19:18), there was once

again an instance of “theophany,” a visible manifestation of God to humankind. A

sound like the rush of a violent wind, tongues of fire, and spoken words in

unlearned languages, all attributed to the coming of the Holy Spirit to the apostles.

All the commotion roused the interest of the crowds, and they came to see what

was going on, to see what it all meant.

Now, there was nothing special about the house where the apostles were

gathered. It wasn’t a “holy place” by any means. No, it was the people who were

holy. The apostles themselves, who had dedicated themselves to Jesus during his

life and remained dedicated to him after his death, resurrection, and ascension into

heaven. It was their way of life that was holy – proclaiming to all the known world

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and to the ends of the earth the story of God’s all-encompassing love. They were

holy because Jesus had made them so, as we read in John’s Gospel.

So as we consider the “holy places” where we have found God to be present,

let us remember that it isn’t really about the “place,” but about the people with

whom we have journeyed through life, about our way of being, of moving, of

following in the ways of Jesus: compassion and grace, forgiveness and love. You,

brothers and sisters in Christ, you are a holy place because you have been gifted

with the Holy Spirit, who dwells in you!

Whether you are at St. John Lutheran Church in Mineola, IA on a Sunday

morning, or sitting in a house like the apostles; whether you remain in a locked

room for fear or are out in the streets proclaiming the Word of God; whether you

are Jew or Greek, slave or free, white or brown, young or old, son or daughter;

whether you have wisdom or discernment or knowledge or faith, healing or

prophecy or tongues; whether you are graduating from high school to go study

cinema or art or exercise science or sports management; whether you are

graduating from college or a grad program and beginning to work in nursing or

animal conservation or business or anesthesia; whether you are in Sioux Falls or

Kansas City or Council Bluffs or Glenwood or Indianola or St. Joseph or anywhere

in all creation; the Holy Spirit who lives in you, breathed by God into your being,

has made you holy.

You are the holy place, the holy people, through whom others may come to

know the message of God’s love in word and in deed. You belong to “the Way” of

Jesus, and you are journeying through life, but never alone. We journey with you,

in prayer and in fellowship, in teaching and in breaking bread… you remain in our

hearts and minds, and we hope that we remain in yours, too.

And, of course, this isn’t only true of those graduates whose

accomplishments and plans we recognize today. We are the Church, followers of

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the Way, and so our call as individuals and as a community, as members together

of the body of Christ, is to share the good news of God’s love; to praise God while

we have our being; to use our Spirit-breathed gifts in the cause of grace. It is good

news for us, that God’s Holy Spirit came to this world through Jesus’ words and

the witness of his apostles.

And the best news of all, my dear friends, is that the Spirit comes to us

today, a new Pentecost each moment, perhaps not with tongues of fire and with

rushing wind, but with every breath taken; with each word of praise, of prayer, of

witness spoken; with all the acts of love and generosity and compassion given.

Breaths and words and deeds that change the world, just as surely as did the

coming of the Spirit on that day of Pentecost in Jerusalem. The Spirit comes, to

make of us a holy people, not bound by place and time, but placed nevertheless in

a moment, in a space, in a situation – and called out of every location with the gift

of vocation. Jesus calls us, the Spirit leads us, and the Father stays with us,

wherever we are and wherever we are going, as a people of the Way, a people on

the way. Amen.

HYMN OF THE DAY “How Clear Is Our Vocation, Lord” ELW #580Text © 1892 Hope Publishing Company. Used with permission.

How clear is our vocation, Lord, when once we heed your callto live according to your word and daily learn, refreshed, restored,

that you are Lord of all and will not let us fall.

But if, forgetful, we should find your yoke is hard to bear;if worldly pleasures fray the mind and love itself cannot unwind

its tangled skein of care: our inward life repair.

We marvel how yours saints become in hindrances more sure;whose joyful virtues put to shame the casual way we wear your name,

and by our faults obscure your pow’r to cleanse and cure.

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In what you give us, Lord, to do, together or alone,in old routines or ventures new, may we not cease to look to you,

the cross you hung upon, all you endeavored done.

RECOGNITION OF GRADUATES - College/Graduate Degree Programs:

Jessica Arnold , daughter of Kim and Gary Arnold, graduated from Simpson College in Indianola with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Minors in English and Spanish. She plans to work in Animal Conservation.

Emma Ringsdorf, daughter of Bill and Chelle Ringsdorf, graduated from the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg with a Bachelors in nursing. She will be taking Boards this summer, and working at Kansas University Medical Center in Kansas City on the medical telemetry unit.

Laura Taylor, daughter of Mike and Renee Chekal, graduated from Mount Marty College in Yankton with a Doctorate in Nurse Anesthesia Practice, will be working as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls.

Ethan Thompson, son of Janet and Randy Thompson, graduated from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake with a degree in sports management and a minor in business.

High School Graduates, Glenwood Community High School Class of 2020:

Audrey Arnold, daughter of Kim and Gary Arnold, will attend Simpson College to study Exercise Science and Music. She plans to attend graduate school to become a Physical Therapist or Athletic Trainer.

Adam Clayton, son of Chris and Christine Clayton, will attend Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Missouri, majoring in Cinema.

John Palmer, son of Dixie and Darren Thomas and Chip Palmer, plans to continue his academic studies at Iowa Western Community College while playing Football for the Iowa Western Reivers Football Program, then pursue a sports management degree elsewhere.

Tanner Williams, son of David and Carla Williams, will be attending Iowa Western Community College, studying Art & Illustration. He plans to transfer to an art school to complete his education and pursue a career in digital animation.

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NICENE CREEDWe 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 Maryand 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 INTERCESSIONEach portion of the prayers ends with these or similar words.Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

The presiding minister concludes the prayers with these or similar words.Into your hands, gracious God, we commend all for whom we pray,trusting in your mercy; through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

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PEACE The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you.Please take a moment to greet your family members who are with you, or to send a greeting via text message to someone you are thinking of today.

ThanksgivingOFFERING

While we cannot take up a physical offering through our virtual worship, I would encourage you to continue the practice of giving. Even though we cannot meet in person and our church building is closed to the public, we do have continued commitments to ministries beyond our congregation’s walls, such as the MCMA food pantry, the Mills County Storehouse, Bethany Lutheran Home, the Western Iowa Synod, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, as well as commitments to our congregation’s employees and expenses such as utilities.

OFFERTORY SONG “Now Thank We All Our God” public domain

Now thank we all our God with hearts and hands and voices,who wondrous things has done, in whom this world rejoices;

who, from our mothers’ arms, has blest us on our waywith countless gifts of love. And still is ours today.

Oh, may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,with ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us,

and keep us all in grace, and guide us when perplexed,and free us from all harm in this world and the next.

All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given,the Son, and Spirit blest, who reigns in highest heaven,

the one eternal God, whom earth and heav’n adore;for thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.

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THANKSGIVING FOR THE WORDThe presiding minister leads one of the following or another appropriate prayer.Let us pray.

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.

THE LORD’S PRAYEROur 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,

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forever and ever. Amen.

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Sending

BLESSINGMay the One who brought forth Jesus from the deadraise 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 SONG “Holy Spirit, Ever Dwelling” ELW#582(public domain)

Holy Spirit, ever dwelling in the holiest realms of light;Holy Spirit, ever brooding o’er a world of gloom and night;Holy Spirit, ever raising those of earth to thrones on high;living, life imparting Spirit, you we praise and magnify.

Holy Spirit, ever living as the church’s very life;Holy Spirit, ever striving through us in a ceaseless strife;

Holy Spirit, ever forming in the church the mind of Christ:you we praise with endless worship for your gifts and fruits unpriced.

Holy Spirit, ever working through the church’s ministry;quick’ning, strengthn’ning, and absolving, setting captive sinners free;

Holy Spirit, ever binding age to age and soul to soulin communion never ending, you we worship and extol.

DISMISSALChrist is risen, just as he said. Go in peace. Share the good news. Alleluia! Thanks be to God. Alleluia!

From Evangelical Lutheran Worship copyright © 2006. All rights reserved. And/or from Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2020 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.

Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #46263.

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