In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and local recommendations, we are continuing to post our digital services for the time being for those who feel more comfortable worshiping at home. Socially-distanced in-person worship is now resuming each Sunday at 12pm. Please click the audio bar below to listen to today’s service. Scroll down to follow along with the service text.
Hymn “Creator Spirit, by Whose Aid” LSB # 500
1 Creator Spirit, by whose aid The world's foundations first were laid,
Come, visit ev'ry humble mind; Come, pour Your joys on humankind;
From sin and sorrow set us free; May we Your living temples be.
2 O Source of uncreated light, The bearer of God's gracious might,
Thrice holy fount, thrice holy fire, Our hearts with heav'nly love inspire;
Your sacred, healing message bring To sanctify us as we sing.
3 Giver of grace, descend from high; Your sev'nfold gifts to us supply;
Help us eternal truths receive And practice all that we believe;
Give us Yourself that we may see The glory of the Trinity.
4 Immortal honor, endless fame Attend the almighty Father's name;
The Savior-Son be glorified, Who for all humankind has died;
To You, O Paraclete, we raise Unending songs of thanks and praise.
P: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
C: But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8-9)
(We reflect on God’s Word and examine ourselves)
P: Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.
C: Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. 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. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. 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: Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
(Sung)
P: In peace let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
P: For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
P: 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.
P: For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
P: Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
C: Amen.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain, whose blood set us free to be people of God.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Power, riches, wisdom, and strength, and honor, blessing, and glory are his.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Sing with all the people of God and join in the hymn of all creation.
Blessing and honor and glory and might be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
For the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign. Alleluia.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Let us pray. O God, You make the minds of Your faithful to be of one will. Grant that we may love what You have commanded and desire what You promise, that among the many changes of this world our hearts may be fixed where true joys are found; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
Scripture Reading
First Reading (Ezekiel 37:1-14)
1 The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. 2 And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. 3 And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” 4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8 And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.
11 Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. 13 And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. 14 And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord.”
P: This is the Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Second Reading (Acts 2:1-21)
2 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:
17 “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams;
18 even on my male servants and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
20 the sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
P: This is the Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
All: Alleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia, alleluia.
P: The holy Gospel according to St. Mark the 1st chapter.
C: Glory to You, O Lord.
(John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15)
26[Jesus said:] “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning…
4b “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
P: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to You, O Christ.
Hymn of the Day “Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blest” LSB # 498
1 Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest, And make our hearts Your place of rest;
Come with Your grace and heav'nly aid, And fill the hearts which You have made.
2 To You, the Counselor, we cry, To You, the gift of God Most High;
The fount of life, the fire of love, The soul's anointing from above.
3 In You, with graces sevenfold, We God's almighty hand behold
While You with tongues of fire proclaim To all the world His holy name.
4 Your light to ev'ry thought impart, And shed Your love in ev'ry heart;
The weakness of our mortal state With deathless might invigorate.
5 Drive far away our wily foe, And Your abiding peace bestow;
With You as our protecting guide, No evil can with us abide.
6 Teach us to know the Father, Son, And You, from both, as Three in One
That we Your name may ever bless And in our lives the truth confess.
7 Praise we the Father and Son, And Holy Spirit, with them One,
And may the Son on us bestow The gifts that from the Spirit flow!
Sermon
Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen
Today is the Feast of Pentecost. For six months out of the year we celebrate the church year which takes us from Advent to Pentecost.
In the season of Advent, we hear the prophetic Word that delivers to God’s people the promise and the hope of the coming Savior. At Christmas we join the angels in proclaiming Jesus’ humble birth in Bethlehem, born in flesh to redeem our flesh. We celebrate Jesus’ baptism by John in the river, His anointing as Messiah, the Christ, to be the sin-bearer for the entire human race. During Lent we feel the weight of our sin, the consequences of our guilt, as we prepare repentant hearts and look in faith on his sacrifice as he lays down his life for all of us, suffers and dies on the cross in great humiliation and anguish, forsaken by the Father, and then rises from the dead on Easter morning. Forty days later Christ ascends into heaven, to act as our great high priest, bringing the blood of sacrifice into the Holy of Holies, - blood that atones for every sin, blood that covers us and washes us clean, blood that satisfies God’s wrath so that our heavenly Father welcomes us as his dear children. Now Christ sits as mediator between God and men. Jesus Christ speaks on your behalf, on my behalf.
Last week in John’s Gospel we left the disciples back in Jerusalem, choosing Matthias by lot to take Judas’s place among their number. Jesus had told them before he ascended to wait in the city until they were clothed with power. In our Gospel lesson today we flash back to what Jesus had said to them on the night he was betrayed, while he’s still at supper with them in the upper room. They’re celebrating the Passover together, the feast held every year to remind God’s people of his protection from death, protection from his judgment against Egypt. The blood of the Passover lamb protected the people of Israel from death. The blood of the true Passover Lamb is about to be shed, blood that protects us from death.
Jesus knows he will be arrested soon, tried, convicted, crucified in the morning. And Jesus tells the disciples that he’s not going to leave them alone. He’s going to send to them the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity
He says, “when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.”
“When the Helper comes…”
ESV – Helper
NIV – Advocate
KJV – Comforter
RSV – Counselor
Paraclaytus
3875 paráklētos (from 3844 /pará, "from close-beside" and 2564 /kaléō, "to call") – properly, a legal advocate who makes the right judgment-call because close enough to the situation. 3875 /paráklētos ("advocate, advisor-helper") is the regular term in NT times of an attorney (lawyer) – i.e. someone giving evidence that stands up in court
It also means ‘One who is called to someone’s aid’
It is used in a general sense to mean ‘One who appears in another’s behalf, a helper’
Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit to be the disciples’ Paraclete, to be our Paraclete. He calls him to our side and says that he is the Spirit of Truth who will bear witness about Jesus.
Luke records in Acts that there was a mighty rushing wind – like the sound, maybe, of a tornado, which we’re told sounds like a train coming – and tongues of flame divided and rested on each one of them, and they were given the ability to speak in other languages – languages that represent all the areas around the Mediterranean Sea. And that great, terrific sound drew a few thousand people to gather around the disciples.
Something powerful just happened. One of the Trinity… one of the three “persons” of God… God’s Holy Spirit has just come and filled Jesus’ followers – likely not just the disciples, but a number closer to 120, as Luke says a few verses before. The believers are all gathered together, and the coming of the Holy Spirit that Pentecost was a such a supernatural event that a great number of the people there in Jerusalem crowded around to find out what had happened.
This would be a great time to reveal the Holy Spirit of God to the masses. But as the crowds look on, it isn’t the Holy Spirit and his qualities that they’re hearing about. The people are each hearing in their own language, “the mighty works of God.” (Acts 2:11)
And I think it’s safe to say that the “mighty works of God” that were being spoken involved Jesus Christ. That’s what the Holy Spirit does – he points people to Jesus. The Holy Spirit empowers Peter to stand up before the crowd and speak. He explains that what the people are witnessing is in fulfillment of prophecy. He goes on to witness that Jesus is the Christ, sent by God, that although he was crucified, he was raised to life again, that he is ascended to the right hand of God and has now sent the Holy Spirit. It’s all about Jesus.
Repent, Peter says, and be baptized in the name of Christ Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins. And that day 3000 souls were added to the Church.
Our reading from the Old Testament today was from the vision that Ezekiel has from God. Ezekiel sees dry dead bones covering the valley floor. The nation of Israel, God’s precious people, are cut off from God because of their sin. And Ezekiel sees the nation lying dead on the valley floor. And not just dead corpses, but the bones only, very dry, very dead. That’s what sin does – it kills. It cuts us off from God where our life is.
God asks Ezekiel, “Can these bones live?” God says prophesy to the bones – and Ezekiel prophecies – he speaks God’s Word to the bones. And these are words of comfort, that God would put sinews back on the bones, and flesh, and put his breath back into the bones and they will live. And the bones come together. And then God tells Ezekiel to prophesy, to speak and to call for the breath from the four winds, and breath enters them, and they live! And we can imagine the sound of the bones rattling as they come together and the sound of the wind as the breath of God blows on and into the still dead bodies and brings life to them.
We said earlier that the Holy Spirit points people to Jesus because in Jesus there is life. Jesus says – “I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” The only way for us poor sinners to be made alive again is for God to forgive our sin, to remove the guilt of that sin from us and put it on someone else. That happens in the cross. That happens as Jesus Christ takes our sin on himself and pays the debt of death that we owed. This is what the Spirit testifies to: the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for sinners like you, and for sinners like me.
When you were baptized, God called the Holy Spirit to live in you, he called him to your side, to create faith in your heart – faith that sees Jesus as your Savior. Faith that acknowledges our weakness and our need, faith that clings tenaciously to Christ, who died and rose for us.
King David, we are told, was a man “after God’s own heart.” And yet he is led astray by his flesh and enticed to sin. He commits adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah who was away fighting in the army on behalf of David. And David thinks he’s got his sin covered up and everything’s okay. But it’s not okay. And then his sin gets worse when he finds out that Bathsheba is pregnant because then David has her husband killed, and takes her to be his own wife.
And still, David believes he’s got things covered. But it’s not alright – David’s bones are dry. But God calls Nathan the prophet to come alongside David. And Nathan tells David about a man who has wronged his neighbor in a really terrible way, so that David says, “this man shall die!” And Nathan says, “you are the man!” And God’s Word convicts David and brings him to repent and confess his sin. And the next words out of the prophet’s mouth are “the Lord has put away your sin. You shall not die.” The forgiveness that David receives from God is won on the cross by Jesus Christ.
Our society wants to turn a blind eye to sin. In our postmodern, post-Christian world, anything and everything goes as long as it works for you and doesn’t condemn someone else. But it’s a lie of Satan – and his goal is to fill the valley with dry bones.
what sins do we struggle with? Pride, greed, lust, selfishness, anger? Are we carrying deep guilt as David was, shoving it back into the recesses of our minds but haunted by it nonetheless? If you’ve not confessed that sin to God, then do that. Come to me as your pastor I’ll hear your confession. Or unload it to God in prayer. Let the Holy Spirit lead you to the cross to witness that sin paid for in full.
If you have confessed your sin – then leave it in the nail printed hands of your Savior, and give your thanks to God as your guilt is replaced with great joy in the face of God’s forgiveness in Christ.
Thank God that he has sent us such a Helper, a Comforter, a Counselor, a Paraclete called to our side who helps us repent of our sin and points us to Jesus Christ our Savior. He died and rose from the dead, that our dry bones might live. It is God’s great promise that “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Confession of Faith -- Nicene Creed
C: I believe in one God, the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth
and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only‐begotten Son of God,
begotten of His Father before all worlds,
God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God,
begotten, not made,
being of one substance with the Father,
by whom all things were made;
who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary
and was made man;
and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.
He suffered and was buried.
And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures
and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father.
And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead,
whose kingdom will have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord and giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,
who spoke by the prophets.
And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church
I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,
and I look for the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Prayer of the Church
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Gracious Lord, Your Spirit fills the world and gladdens Your Church with the remembrance of all Christ Jesus has spoken. Glorify His name among us in every word and deed. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, by Your Spirit You have established Your Holy Church on the proclamation of Christ, our Savior. Sustain the apostolic preaching to the ends of the earth, that in every tongue the mighty works of God in Christ may be heard. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of comfort, give hope to Your people in the midst of this world of death and despair. Put Your Spirit within us to believe, to live and to serve according to Your promises and commands. Lead our homes to confess our confidence in Your power to raise the dead — now and at the Last Day. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, Your Son acknowledged Satan as ruler of this world and its ways, yet one whose reign is judged and whose time is short. Beat back his lies and deadly work, that the order of Your creation may be seen. Give us good government and leaders who are both honest and faithful. Even so, let us look eagerly for Your Son’s return, and let that be quickly. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
We call on Your name, O Lord, praying in Your Spirit to help and save all [especially Kareen, JoAnn, Craig, Phyl, Judy, Gloria Garcia, Lauren, Patti, Barbara, Pam, Danielle, Piper, Roger, Nancy, Trish, and Molly. Guard and keep all first responders and those who serve in our military, especially Matt, Lee, Ethan and Tony. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord, send Your Holy Spirit upon Your faithful people, that convicted of their sin they may also be convinced that the righteousness of Christ is theirs, and in repentance and faith receive the things of Christ present in this Supper: His holy body and precious blood for the forgiveness of sins. Unite us by Your Spirit of truth in faith and confession, and comfort us with the knowledge that this world’s prince is judged. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, heavenly Father, through Your Son You promised Your Holy Spirit, who would convince the world of sin, of righteousness and of judgment. Enlighten our hearts so that we confess our sins, obtain everlasting righteousness through faith in Christ and, through every trial and temptation, abide in the consolation that Christ is Lord over the devil, death and all things, and that He will graciously deliver us from all affliction to make us partakers of eternal salvation; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
The 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
P: The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace.
C: Amen.
Closing Hymn “O Day Full of Grace” LSB #503
1 O day full of grace that now we see Appearing on earth’s horizon,
Bring light from our God that we may be Replete in his joy this season.
God, shine for us now in this dark place; Your name on our hearts emblazon.
2 O day full of grace, O blessed time, Our Lord on the earth arriving;
Then came to the world that light sublime, Great joy for us all retrieving;
For Jesus all mortals did embrace, All darkness and shame removing.
3 For Christ bore our sins, and not his own, When he on the cross was hanging;
And then he arose and moved the stone, That we, unto him belonging,
Might join with angelic hosts to raise Our voices in endless singing.
4 God came to us then at Pentecost, His Spirit new life revealing,
That we might no more from him be lost, All darkness for us dispelling.
His flame will the mark of sin efface And bring to us all his healing.
5 When we on that final journey go That Christ is for us preparing,
We gather in song, our hearts aglow, All joy of the heavens sharing,
And walk in the light of God’s own place, With angels his name adoring.