Welcome to Trinity Lutheran Church

501 S. Washington, Albert Lea MN | 507-373-2466

website: www.tlc-al.org e-mail: office@tlc-al.org
facebook: www.facebook.com/tlcal

Pastor Eileen Woyen | email: pastor@tlc-al.org

Sunday, May 24, 2020
Seventh Sunday of Easter/Ascension
In these days between Ascension and Pentecost, we gather with the disciples in the upper room,
waiting for the Spirit to transform the church around the world. In today’s gospel Jesus prays
for his followers and for their mission in his name. Amid religious, social, and economic
divisions, we seek the unity that Jesus had with his Father. Made one in baptism, we go forth to
live our faith in the world, eager for the unity that God intends for the whole human family
GATHERING
Bells
Opening Hymn
“A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing!” ELW 393
A hymn of glory let us sing!
New hymns throughout the world shall ring:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Christ, by the road before untrod,
Ascends unto the throne of God.
Refrain. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
The holy apostolic band
Upon the Mount of Olives stand,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
And with his faithful foll’wers see
Their Lord ascend in majesty. Refrain
To whom the shining angels cry,
“Why stand and gaze upon the sky?”
Alleluia! Alleluia!
“This is the Savior!” thus they say,
“This is his glorious triumph day!” Refrain
“You see him now, ascending high
Up to the portals of the sky.”
Alleluia! Alleluia!
“Hereafter Jesus you shall see
Returning in great majesty.” Refrain
O risen Christ, ascended Lord,
All praise to you let earth accord:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
You are, while endless ages run,
With Father and with Spirit one. Refrain
Easter Announcement
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Invocation
We begin in the name of the  Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Call to Worship for Ascension Day
(inspired by Acts 1:9-11)

A new day has begun.

Hope wins!
A fresh start is granted.
Faith wins!
Today you have the opportunity to do something new.
Hope wins!
Christ is entering your life in a new way.
Faith wins!
Come, let us worship God, who is inviting us into life in a new way, a way that transcends death,
a way of hope and faith.
Love wins!
Let us worship Christ, who overcame death to give us new life!
~ written by Rev. Mindi and posted on Rev-o-lution. http://rev-o-lution.org/

Apostolic Greeting
P: The grace of our Lord  Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy
Spirit be with you all!
C: And also with you!
Kyrie
Refrain
Kyrie eleison, on our world and on our way.
Kyrie eleison, ev’ry day.
For peace in the world, for the health of the church, for the unity of all;
For this holy house, for all who worship and praise,
Let us pray to the Lord, let us pray to the Lord. Refrain.
That we may live out your impassioned response to the hungry and the poor;
That we may live out truth and justice and grace,
Let us pray to the Lord, let us pray to the Lord. Refrain.
For peace in our hearts, for peace in our homes, for friends and family;
For life and for love, for our work and our play,
Let us pray to the Lord, let us pray to the Lord. Refrain.
For your Spirit to guide; that we center our lives in the water and the Word;
That you nourish our souls with your body and blood,
Let us pray to the Lord, let us pray to the Lord. Refrain.
Hymn of Praise
Refrain.
This is the feast of vict’ry for our God,
For the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign. Alleluia.
Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain,
Whose blood set us free to be people of God.
Power, riches, wisdom, and strength,
And honor, blessing, and glory are his. Refrain.
Sing with all the people of God,
And join in the hymn of all creation;
Blessing, honor, glory, and might
Be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen. Refrain.

Prayer of the Day

O God of glory, your Son Jesus Christ suffered for us and ascended to your right hand. Unite us
with Christ and each other in suffering and in joy, that all the world may be drawn into your
bountiful presence, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and
the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

WORD
First Reading Acts 1:6-14
Today’s reading is part of the introduction to the narrative of the outpouring of the Spirit on
Pentecost. These verses tell of the risen Lord’s conversation with his disciples on the eve of his
ascension, in which he promises that they will receive the power of the Holy Spirit.
6
When [the apostles] had come together, they asked [Jesus], “Lord, is this the time when you will
restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that
the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has
come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the
ends of the earth.” 9When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud
took him out of their sight. 10While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven,
suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand
looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come
in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
  12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a
sabbath day’s journey away. 13When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs
where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas,
Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of
James. 14All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women,
including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.
Second Reading 1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11
Our faith in Christ does not make us immune from the scorn of others. Nevertheless, we are to
resist the designs of evil when we experience disparagement from others because we trust God’s
grace will strengthen and guide us.
12
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as
though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice insofar as you are sharing
Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. 14If
you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the
Spirit of God, is resting on you.
 5:6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due
time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. 8Discipline yourselves, keep alert.
Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to
devour. 9Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the
world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. 10And after you have suffered for a little while,
the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore,
support, strengthen, and establish you. 11To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia. Blessed are those who have not seen* and yet have come to believe. Alleluia. (John
20:29) Alleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Holy Gospel John 17:1-11
On the night before his crucifixion, Jesus prays to his heavenly Father, asking that those who
continue his work in this world will live in unity.
1
After Jesus had spoken these words [to his disciples], he looked up to heaven and said, “Father,
the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, 2since you have given him
authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3And this is eternal
life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4I
glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. 5So now, Father, glorify me
in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.
  6“I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were
yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7Now they know that everything
you have given me is from you; 8for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and
they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you
sent me. 9I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of
those whom you gave me, because they are yours. 10All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I
have been glorified in them. 11And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world,
and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that
they may be one, as we are one.”
The Gospel of our Lord
Praise to you, O Christ.
Children’s Sermon
Sermon
Hymn
“Beautiful Savior” ELW 838
Beautiful Savior, King of creation,
Son of God and Son of Man!
Truly I’d love thee, truly I’d serve thee,
Light of my soul, my joy, my crown.
Fair are the meadows, fair are the woodlands,
Robed in flow’rs of blooming spring;
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,
He makes our sorrowing spirit sing.
Fair is the sunshine, fair is the moonlight,
Bright the sparkling stars on high;
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer
Than all the angels in the sky.
Beautiful Savior, Lord of the nations,
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, praise, adoration,
Now and forevermore be thine!
Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen

Passing of the Peace

Offering
To enroll in online offerings, please go to www.tlc-al.org and click on Online Giving on the left
side. Or you may mail them to Trinity Lutheran Church, 501 S. Washington Avenue, Albert
Lea, MN 56007
Offertory Prayer
Generous God, here are our gifts of time; here are our gifts of talents; here are our gifts of
money; building stones for your Kingdom, awaiting shaping and placing within your loving
purpose. Amen.
~ written by Rev Dr Derek Browning, and posted on the Church of Scotland’s Starters for Sunday website.  http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/

MEAL
Prayers of the People
P: Lord, in your mercy, C: hear our prayer.
The Lord’s Prayer (Say)
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

SENDING
The Benediction
Mission Statement
People of Trinity, what is our mission?
We are a fellowship of believers in Christ, sustained by God’s Word, led by the Holy
Spirit and committed to God’s vision of caring!
Announcements
Dismissal
Hymn
 “You Are the Seed” WOV 753
You are the seed that will grow a new sprout;
You’re a star that will shine in the night;
You are the yeast and a small grain of salt,
A beacon to glow in the dark.
You are the dawn that will bring a new day;
You’re the wheat that will bear golden grain;
You are a sting and a soft gentle touch,
To witness wherever you go.
Refrain
Go, my friends, go to the world,
Proclaim the great love of God;
Messengers to tell the way of life,
Peace and pardon for all.
Be, my friends, a loyal witness,
From the dead Christ arose;
“Lo, I’ll be with you forevermore,
Till the end of the world
You are the flame that will lighten the dark,
So resplendent with hope, faith, and love,
You are the shepherds to lead the whole world
To waters and pastures of peace.
“You are the friends that I chose for myself,
You’re the word that I want to proclaim.
You are the new reign of God built on rock,
Where justice and truth are at home.” Refrain
You are the life that will nurture the plant;
You’re the waves in a turbulent sea;
Yesterday’s yeast is beginning to rise,
A new loaf of bread it will yield.
There is no place for a city to hide,
There’s no mountain that can cover its might;
Let your light shine so that your loving works
Give honor and glory to God. Refrain