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May 24, 2015 JOIN US FOR WORSHIP:

The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod 5443 Sunset Rd New Port Richey, FL 34652 (727) 849–4418 Rev. Hiruy Gebremichael, Guest Pastor website: faithnpr.org e-mail: frontoffice@faithnpr.org pastortom@faithnpr.org

SUNDAYS: Sunday School: 9:15 am Worship at 10:00 am Holy Communion: 2nd & 4th Sundays Our Mission Statement

Loving Jesus and Making His love known.

TO OUR GUESTS: Please sign our guest book in Narthex I and fill out a fellowship card to place in the offering plate.

FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH May 24th, 2015 – 10 AM The Day of Pentecost – Mission Festival Service WELCOME TO OUR SERVICE THIS MORNING If you are a first time guest, we want to extend a special welcome. We are honored to have you with us this morning and pray that you will be blessed by our fellowship and the Word of God that is shared. If you do not have a church home, we ask that you consider becoming a part of our fellowship. Please fill out one of the cards in front of you, and note the information regarding communion participation on the back it. We pray that you will join us again soon.

If you are a member or frequent guest, we appreciate your faithful encouragement in our worship and walk in the Lord. If there is someone sitting around you that you do not know, please be sure to introduce yourself, they may be a member that you have not previously met or a guest who would welcome your warm friendliness.

TO PONDER, AS WE GATHER FOR WORSHIP: In the Nicene Creed we confess the Holy Spirit as "the Lord and giver of life," and on Pentecost, after Jesus' resurrection, the Spirit was both given to the apostles and, through them by Baptism, to 3,000 people. Today we remember that day and thank God for the gift of the Spirit, without whose gift of faith none of us "can believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him." On this day devoted to the mission zeal of the Church, may God bless our worship.

OPENING RESPONSIVE PSALM:

please STAND and face the back of the sanctuary

P: On Pentecost in the year our Lord Jesus rose from death, the Holy Spirit came to the apostles with great signs and gifts. That same Spirit is with each of us, for without His aid we cannot have sustaining faith in our Savior. In Psalm 139 David contemplates this truth. We begin by reading it responsively. … …

P: How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!

Men: O LORD, You have searched me and known me!

Women: You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You discern my thoughts from afar.

Men: You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.

Women: Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.

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P: You hem me in, behind and before, and lay Your hand upon me.

ALL: SUCH KNOWLEDGE IS TOO WONDERFUL FOR ME; IT IS HIGH; I CANNOT ATTAIN IT.

P: Where shall I go from Your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from Your presence?

Men: If I ascend to heaven, You are there!

Women: If I make my bed in the depths, You are there!

Men: If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.

Women: If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night," even the darkness is not dark to You; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with You. ALL: HOW PRECIOUS TO ME ARE YOUR THOUGHTS, O GOD! HOW VAST IS THE SUM OF THEM!

P: For You formed my inward parts; You knitted me together in my mother's womb.

C: I PRAISE YOU, FOR I AM FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE.

P: Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well.

C: MY FRAME WAS NOT HIDDEN FROM YOU, WHEN I WAS BEING MADE IN SECRET, INTRICATELY WOVEN IN THE DEPTHS OF THE EARTH.

P: Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in Your book were written, every one of them, ALL: THE DAYS THAT WERE FORMED FOR ME, WHEN AS YET THERE WAS NONE OF THEM. [Psalm 139:1–13] OPENING HYMN:

“Holy Spirit, Ever Dwelling”

LSB # 650

ANNOUNCEMENTS SERVICE OF WORD AND SACRAMENT FOR PENTECOST INVOCATION, CONFESSION and ABSOLUTION: The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their baptism.

P: In the Name of the Father and of the [+] Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C: AMEN.

P: Because of the faith created and sustained by the Holy Spirit we trust that God not only knows our faults, but that for Jesus' sake He promises to forgive them! Let us consider our sins, asking God for His promised forgiveness.

(Silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self – examination.)

P: Most merciful God, 3

ALL: WE CONFESS THAT WE HAVE OFTEN FORGOTTEN YOUR GRACIOUS PRESENCE WITH US EACH DAY. WE HAVE GRIEVED YOUR HOLY SPIRIT WITH OUR SELF–CENTERED THOUGHTS, OUR UNLOVING WORDS, AND OUR CARELESS ACTIONS. WE HAVE FEARED WORLDLY OPPOSITION TO YOUR WORD, KEEPING OUR FAITH SILENT IN THE PRIVACY OF OUR HOMES. FOR JESUS' SAKE FORGIVE US; GRANT US STRENGTH OF FAITH AND OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THAT FAITH WITH BOLDNESS, CONFIDENT OF YOUR FORGIVENESS, PROTECTION, AND GUIDANCE.

P: Christ has ascended to heaven and sent His Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us. As a called and ordained servant of Christ and by His authority I therefore declare to you that your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father and of the [+] Son and of the Holy Spirit.

ALL: AMEN. GREETING OF THE PEACE HYMN OF PRAISE:

“Holy Spirit, Gift of God”

HOLY SPIRIT, GIFT OF GOD

sung to the tune of, “Holy Spirit, Light Divine”

3. Best Gift God the Father gives, Who receives It dies and lives.

Ask—It will not be refused!

Pray—how is It to be used?

1. Holy Spirit, Gift of God, Spread Your grace and peace abroad; Plant the seed of life in all Doomed to death in Adam’s fall.

∆ 4. Praise the Father, praise the Son, Praise the Spirit, [+] Three yet One! Never ending glory be To the Blessed Trinity!

2. Long before I knew Your name, In my heart You lit Your flame; By the Water and the Word My adoption was conferred.

SERVICE OF THE WORD SALUTATION AND COLLECT OF THE DAY:

P: The Lord be with you.

C: AND ALSO WITH YOU.

P: Let us pray together: C: O GOD, ON THIS DAY YOU ONCE TAUGHT THE HEARTS OF YOUR FAITHFUL PEOPLE BY SENDING THEM THE LIGHT OF YOUR HOLY SPIRIT. GRANT US IN OUR DAY BY THE SAME SPIRIT TO HAVE A RIGHT UNDERSTANDING IN ALL THINGS AND EVERMORE TO REJOICE IN HIS HOLY CONSOLATION; THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, OUR LORD, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, ONE GOD, NOW AND FOREVER. 4

AMEN.

[Please be seated] TODAY’S READINGS FROM HOLY SCRIPTURE ARE APPOINTED FOR THE DAY OF PENTECOST

OLD TESTAMENT LESSON:

Ezekiel 37: 1 – 14, page 918

The Lord puts His Spirit within us and we shall live.

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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. 2And 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.” 4Then He said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the Word of the LORD. 5Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 6And 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. 8And 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. 9Then 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.” 10So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.

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 clean cut off.’ 12Therefore 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. 13And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. 14And 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.” 11

R: This is the Word of the Lord.

C: THANKS BE TO GOD.

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SECOND LESSON:

Acts 2: 1 – 21, page 1,157

“Everyone who calls upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved” (The evangelist, St. Luke writes:) 1When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

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Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven.

And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9Parthians and Medes and 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, 11both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

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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. 15For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 14

“‘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.

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And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved.’”

R: In many and various ways, God spoke to His people of old by the prophets.

C: BUT NOW IN THESE LAST DAYS, HE HAS SPOKEN TO US BY HIS SON. 6

Please STAND as a sign of resurrection hope GOSPEL LESSON:

John 15: 26 – 27; 16: 4 – 15, page 1,148 “When the Spirit comes, He will guide you into all the truth.”

[Jesus said:] 26“But 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. 27And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning. … …

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But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.

“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5But now I am going to Him who sent me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7Nevertheless, 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. 8And when He comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see Me no longer; 11concerning 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. 13When 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. 14He 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.

RESPONSORY FOR PENTECOST:

P: Sing to the Lord and bless His name, proclaim His salvation from day to day.

C: GIVE TO THE LORD ALL GLORY AND STRENGTH; GIVE HIM THE HONOR DUE HIS NAME. ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA.

P: Now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first-fruits of them that sleep.

C: GIVE TO THE LORD ALL GLORY AND STRENGTH; GIVE HIM THE HONOR DUE HIS NAME. ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA.

P: Glory be to the Father and to the [+] Son and to the Holy Spirit.

C: GIVE TO THE LORD ALL GLORY AND STRENGTH; GIVE HIM THE HONOR DUE HIS NAME. ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA. CONFESSION OF OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH:

Third Article of the Apostles’ Creed

P: What is the Third Article of the Apostles’ Creed?

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C: I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE HOLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH, THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY, AND THE LIFE EVERLASTING. AMEN.

P: What does this mean?

C: I BELIEVE THAT I CANNOT BY MY OWN REASON OR STRENGTH BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST, MY LORD, OR COME TO HIM; BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS CALLED ME BY THE GOSPEL, ENLIGHTENED ME WITH HIS GIFTS, SANCTIFIED AND KEPT ME IN THE TRUE FAITH. IN THE SAME WAY HE CALLS, GATHERS, ENLIGHTENS AND SANCTIFIES THE WHOLE CHRISTIAN CHURCH ON EARTH, AND KEEPS IT WITH JESUS CHRIST IN THE ONE TRUE FAITH. IN THIS CHRISTIAN CHURCH HE DAILY AND RICHLY FORGIVES ALL MY SINS AND THE SINS OF ALL BELIEVERS. ON THE LAST DAY HE WILL RAISE ME AND ALL THE DEAD, AND GIVE ETERNAL LIFE TO ME AND ALL BELIEVERS IN CHRIST. THIS IS MOST CERTAINLY TRUE. Please be seated SERMON HYMN:

“Filled with the Spirit’s Power” sung to the tune of, “Draw Near and Take the Body of the Lord”

1. Filled with the Spirit’s pow’r, with one accord The infant Church confessed its risen Lord.

O Holy Spirit, in the Church today In faith’s conversion let your pow’r display.

2. Now with the mind of Christ set us on fire, That reaching out may be our great desire.

Give joy and peace; give faith to hear your call, And readiness in each to work for all.

3. O Spirit, give us faithful hearts sincere, That Your great pow’r defends salvation here.

O Lord, our hearts with grateful thanks endow So in this Pentecost You bless us now.

SERMON:

“A 21st – Century Pentecost” The Rev. Hiruy Bereket Gebremichael, Message based on today’s Gospel lesson from John, chapters 15 & 16.

WE RECEIVE OUR FIRST – FRUITS AND OFFERINGS

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OFFERTORY HYMN:

1.

2.

“God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending” sung to the tune of, ‘Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee’

God, whose giv–ing knows no end–ing, From Your rich and end – less store: Trea – sure, too, you have en–trust–ed, Gain through pow’rs Your grace con–ferred;

Na – ture’s won–der, Je – sus’ wis – dom, Cost – ly cross, grave’s shat–tered door, Ours to use for home and kin – dred, And to spread the Gos – pel Word.

Gift – ed by You, we turn to You, Of – f’ring up our–selves in praise; Op – en wide our hands in shar–ing, As we heed Christ’s age–less call,

Thank – ful song shall rise for – ev – er, Gra – cious don – or of our days.

Heal – ing, teach – ing, and re–claim–ing, Serv – ing You by lov – ing all.

RESPONSIVE PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH:

Please STAND as you are able

(at conclusion of each petition offered by the pastor:)

P: … O Lord, pour out Your Spirit, C: THAT ALL WHO CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD MAY BE SAVED. LORD’S PRAYER

[spoken in unison] [found on the inside back cover of the hymnal] SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT

PRAYER FOR COMMUNICANTS: THE WORDS OF OUR LORD:

(offered by the celebrating pastor) (Words of Institution to consecrate the Holy Supper)

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THE PEACE:

P: The peace of the Lord be with you always!

C: AND ALSO WITH YOU!

Please be seated

DISTRIBUTION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER HYMNS TO BE SUNG DURING HOLY COMMUNION: “Eternal Father, Strong to Save” “Spread the Reign of God the Lord” “God Bless Our Native Land” “Christ High – Ascended, Now in Glory Seated”

LSB # 717 LSB # 830 LSB # 965 LSB # 840

CLOSING RESPONSE, PRAYER AND BENEDICTION:

Please STAND as you are able

P: Oh give thanks unto the LORD, for He is good!

C: HIS MERCY AND STEADFAST LOVE ENDURE FOREVER!

P: Let us pray together: ALL: POUR YOUR HOLY SPIRIT UPON US, O LORD, AND CLEANSE OUR HEARTS, THAT BY HIS INWARD DWELLING WE MAY BRING FORTH THE FRUIT OF GOOD WORKS AND PRAISE TO YOU; THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, OUR LORD, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE SAME HOLY SPIRIT, ONE GOD, NOW AND FOREVER. AMEN.

P: Bless we the Lord.

C: THANKS BE TO GOD!

P: May God the Father, who in grace created you and all things; may God the [+] Son, who on the cross completed His work of redemption for us and ascended into heaven to send the promised Holy Spirit to us; may God the Holy Spirit, who creates, grows, awakens, sustains and protects the faith in your hearts to be able to call Jesus Lord – bless you and keep you this day and always.

C: AMEN. AMEN. HYMN OF DEPARTURE:

“Creator Spirit, by Whose Aid”

P: In the comfort and power of the Holy Spirit – go in peace, serve the Lord!

C: THANKS BE TO GOD!

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LSB # 500

Those Serving Today: Guest Minister: The Rev. Hiruy Bereket Gebremichael Assisting Elder Duty Elder Acolyte Altar Care Lay Reader Audio Assistant Video Assistant Ushers Flower Angels Altar flowers

Tim Burkee Larry Roach Destiny Unsworth Marti Curran & June Svensson Steve Schoeneck Bob Behnke John Schaerffer Rich & Sandi Leenhouts, Jack Greenlee, Lynn Shaner Rich & Sandi Leenhouts Given to the Glory of God by: June Svensson in memory of loved ones.

Pastor Gebremichael is the associate pastor at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Tucker, GA He is currently serving their Eritrean mission and national missionary to the Tigrinyan-speaking population in the United States.

 This Week’s Opportunities to Seek, to Strengthen, and to Serve Sunday, May 24

9:15 am 10:00 am

Monday, May 25 Wednesday, May 27 Thursday, May 28 Friday, May 29

9:00 am 7:00 pm 6:30 pm 9:00 am 11:00 pm

Sunday School/Adult Bible Study Worship Service w/Holy Communion OFFICE CLOSED IN OBSERVANCE OF MEMORIAL DAY Food Pantry Technology Committee Meeting NA meeting at GSH Food Pantry NA meeting in GSH

Stewardship Sentence ACTS 2:1: “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.” Pentecost was the Old Testament harvest festival: a time of thanksgiving, bounty, and the giving of gifts. How appropriate that in the New Testament it takes on the meaning of harvest the ripe fields of the nations, bringing in the elect of every tribe and tongue to sing the Lord’s praise. Every farmer knows that it is God who gives the increase, that harvest calls for thanksgiving.

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HEY KIDS! READY TO GO CAMPING? Join us beginning on June 7th from 9:15 am until 11:00 am in the Christian Life Center for "Camp Discovery".

Bring your friends and neighbors too. We'll have breakfast in the Discovery Diner, have fireside lessons and fantastic camp crafts. You won't want to miss out on the fun. Earn your first of many badges by joining us on June 7th. It's all free and designed just for you. See you there!

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL is less than a month away, and we will soon be decorating the Christian Life Center to look like a Summer Camp site. To do this, we are asking members of the congregation to consider lending us Christmas trees and camping equipment so that we can make a forest with some camp sites. All Christmas trees and camping supplies will be returned by summer's end (unless you need it back sooner, then please let us know). You may either contact John Schaerffer at johnschaerffer@faithnpr.org, or bring in any Christmas trees and camping equipment to the CLC or to the church office.

DON’T FORGET THAT OUR VBS KICKOFF WILL BE ON SUNDAY, JUNE 14TH IN PREPARATION FOR OUR EVENING VBS THE WEEK OF JUNE 15 – 19.

BOOKS – A – HUNDRED: That is how many gently used books we would like to sell as a Fundraiser for VBS. If you’re looking to part with some of your old books, we just might have a new home for them. BUT, and this is huge, we need someone to head up this project. So, be thinking about books you might like to donate, but DON’T BRING THEM TO US until we have someone lined up to head up this project. We would like to sell the books at the Kick-Off, so we need someone to step up and take on this project ASAP. Are YOU someone?

WE ARE LOOKING FOR DONATIONS of the following items for crafts for our VBS this year: boxes of crayons, permanent markers, fine point markers, glitter, sequins, Elmer's glue, washable markers, white poster boards, large paper plates, colored sand (various colors), empty toilet paper rolls, decorating masking tape, color tissue paper, and yarn. All donations can be taken to the CLC and earmarked for VBS, or you may speak to John Schaerffer.

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