SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS AT HOME WORSHIPSEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

MAY 16, 2021

PRAYER OF THE DAYGracious and glorious God, you have chosen us as your own, and by the powerful name of Christ you protect us from evil. By your Spirit transform us and your beloved world, that we may find our joy in your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

GOSPEL READING: JOHN 17:6-19In this reading the church hears Jesus’ words on the night before his death—his prayer for his disciples and for all who would believe in him through their words.

Jesus prayed: 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. 12While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. 14I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. 16They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 17Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.”

GOSPEL REFLECTION BY ASSISTING MINISTER DICK WERPY

Children have very simple views of life… and of love. The following are several children’s views on the topic of love.

A 7 year old said – “If falling love is anything like learning how to spell, I don’t want to do it. It takes too long.”

A 5 year old boy – “Once I’m in kindergarten, I’m going to find me a wife.”

David, age 8 stated – “Love will find you, even if you are trying to hide from it. I’ve been trying to hide from it since I was five, but the girls keep finding me.”

An 8 year old observed – “I think you’re supposed to get shot with an arrow or something, but the rest of it isn’t supposed to be so painful.”

Another: “Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.”

And my favorite: “When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe in their mouth.”

Today is May 16th, and our Gospel lesson talks about LOVE. The love that Christ expressed for us in his prayer.

John 17 is the longest recorded prayer of Jesus in any of the Gospels. And a lot scholars call this prayer: Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer, because in this prayer Jesus is interceding for His people just like a High Priest in the Old Testament would have interceded for God’s people. I don’t sense that Jesus is praying like He’s some kind of religious official I sense that He’s praying just like a Husband would pray for the woman he loves. I sense a passion and a depth of emotion.

In Ephesians 5:25, Paul tells husbands to “love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” Did you catch that? Christ loves the church! That’s His Bride. He gave Himself up for her!! It’s a passionate love… a sacrificial love. And so I don’t picture Jesus droning on as a dutiful priest. I picture Jesus pouring His whole heart into these words. BECAUSE THIS PRAYER IS IMPORTANT!

But now, what’s so important about this prayer? Why would Jesus bother to pray the things He prays here to the Father? Well we need to remember that just a few days after this prayer, Jesus is going to die on the cross. He’s going to buried in a tomb, and 3 days later He’s going to rise from the dead. And 40 days after that, He’s going to go UP into heaven, and He’ll not come back until the end of the age.

Jesus is going to be gone and the church will be pretty much in the hands of His followers. And when that happens there were going to be dangers to be faced, because He’s not going to be there in the flesh any longer. And so in this vital prayer - just days before His crucifixion - Jesus was praying for the Father to protect his people from those dangers of our world.

Now, the focus of Jesus’ prayer of love for you was this: “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” John 17:20-21

Jesus prays for you and me, the whole church that the Father would watch over us, protect us and save us even though we were generations away from our birth. He gave his live to save us. He loves us beyond human understanding. God bless each of you and keep you safe. Amen.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSIONAlive in the risen Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, we bring our prayers before God who promises to hear us and answer in steadfast love.A brief silence.Holy God, in Christ Jesus the joy of the church is made complete. Root the church in your Word and unify us as Christ’s body. Send us into the world as your loving people, ready to testify to your Spirit at work. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Mighty God, the world reveals your creative impulse. Seas teem with life, forests reach up to praise you, and the mystery of life lies deep in the soil. Guard and keep this world for the well-being of all your creatures. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Gracious Sovereign, those who follow your ways are like trees planted near streams of water. Establish the leaders of nations and all in authority in your grace and truth. Strengthen them, so that the people they serve will have abundant life. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Generous Savior, you befriend those who are sick, suffering, poor, lonely, outcast or rejected. Grant healing and love to all in need, especially those we lift through our Prayer Chains. Give them tangible signs of your steadfast love. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Creator God, here in this community we share the gifts of praying, learning, and supporting one another. Give us thankful hearts as we claim the gifts that are unique to us and keep us from being envious of others with different gifts. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Saving God, your wonderful promise is the gift of eternal life in Jesus. Through the witness of those who have died in you, strengthen us now in this gift of life. We cherish the memory of your saints, especially Nancy Borchert of Shepherd of the Hills. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

In the hope of new life in Christ, we raise our prayers to you, trusting in your never-ending goodness and mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

FURTHER READINGS:Here are the lessons for the Day so you can read further:

First Reading: Acts 1:15-17,21-26Second Reading: 1 John 5: 9-13Psalm: Psalm 1

CHILDREN’S WORSHIP: Click on the items below for children’s activities:

BENEDICTIONSeek justice. Resist evil.Add your voice. Extend your hands.Together, may we bend the arc of history toward justice.Together, may we create havens of hope.Together, may we be the body of Christ in this world until we join in the dance of the saints.Amen.

BLESSING & SENDINGMay our glorious God grant you a spirit of wisdomto know and to love the risen Lord Jesus.The God of life,Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit,bless you now and forever. Amen.

SHEPHERD CALENDAR OF EVENTS

WEEK OF MAY 16 – MAY 23, 2021

MAY BIRTHDAYS:

HELEN T.— MAY 13SALLY E.— MAY 16LINDA O. —MAY 21

TERRY SCOBY — MAY 27

Sunday, May 16 th —Seventh Sunday of Easter 9:30 a.m.—Rejoice!/Shepherd Zoom Worship Service w/Holy Communion (Pastor Zach Parris presiding)

Pastor Janet on vacation from May 10 – 20th

Wednesday, May 19 th 11:00 a.m. – Wednesday morning Zoom Bible Study gathering

Friday, May 20 th 7:00 a.m. — Men’s Zoom Breakfast Bible Study5:00 p.m.—Friday Night Perspectives Zoom Gathering

Sunday, May 23 rd 9:30 a.m.—Sunday Zoom Worship Service with Rejoice Lutheran—Pastor Zach Parris preaching

SAVE THE DATE: Sunday, June 13th—Ryssby Worship with Picnic Fellowship

DAILY LECTIONARY READINGS FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 16, 2021, YEAR B:Monday, May 17, 2021

Psalm 115; Exodus 28:29-38; Philippians 1:3-11

Tuesday, May 18, 2021Psalm 115; Numbers 8:5-22; Titus 1:1-9

Wednesday, May 19, 2021Psalm 115; Ezra 9:5-15; John 16:16-24

Thursday, May 20, 2021Psalm 33:12-22; Genesis 2:4b-7; 1 Corinthians 15:42b-49

Friday, May 21, 2021Psalm 33:12-22; Job 37:1-13; 1 Corinthians 15:50-57

Saturday, May 22, 2021Psalm 33:12-22; Exodus 15:6-11; John 7:37-39

Sunday, May 23, 2021Acts 2:1-21; Psalm 104:24-34, 35b; Romans 8:22-27; John 15:26-27, 16:4b-15

MAY BIRTHDAYS:

HELEN T.— MAY 13SALLY E.— MAY 16LINDA O. —MAY 21

TERRY SCOBY — MAY 27