May 17, 2026
7th Sunday of Easter

 Announcements 

Thanksgiving for Baptism

Alleluia! Christ is risen.
Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne
and to the Lamb!
Amen.
Let us give thanks for the gifts of baptism.


Water may be poured into the font as the presiding minister continues.
Merciful God,
you are the one who was, who is, and who is to come.
You lead us beside still waters.
We thank you for the waters of creation:
morning dew, gentle rain, roaring waves.
We thank you for the waters that nourish us (local waters may be named).
Blessed are you.
You guide us to springs of the water of life.

Jesus Christ, you are the faithful witness
who accompanies us on our journeys.
We give you thanks for your life-giving death and resurrection.
We praise you for joining us in joy and sorrow.
Blessed are you.
You guide us to springs of the water of life.

Holy Spirit, you anoint our head with oil and our cup overflows.
Break down barriers that divide us.
Fill us with the breath of peace.
Blessed are you.
You guide us to springs of the water of life.

Holy One, we thank you for the gifts and grace of baptism,
and for making us a new creation.
We join with saints and angels, giving you honor and praise,
now and forever.
Amen.

Opening Hymn 
CCLI - 10,000 Reasons

Greeting
The 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.

Prayer of the Day
Almighty God, your only Son was taken into the heavens and in your presence intercedes for us. Receive us and our prayers for all the world, and in the end bring everything into your glory, through Jesus Christ, our Sovereign and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

 

First Reading: Acts 1:1-11

[Luke writes:] 1 In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and teach 2 until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait there for the promise of the Father. “This,” he said, “is what you have heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

  6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But 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.” 9 When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11 They 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.”

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Psalm  47

God has gone up with a shout. (Ps. 47:5)
 1 Clap your hands, | all you peoples;
  shout to God with a | joyful sound.
 2 For the Lord Most High is | to be feared:
  a great king over | all the earth,
 3 who subdues the | peoples under us,
  and the nations un- | der our feet;
 4 who chooses our inheri- | tance for us,
  the pride of Jacob, | whom God loves. R
 5 God has gone up | with a shout,
  the Lord with the sound | of the ram’s horn.
 6 Sing praises to | God, sing praises;
  sing praises to our | king, sing praises. R
 7 For God is king of | all the earth;
  sing praises | with a song.
 8 God reigns o- | ver the nations;
  God is en- | throned on high.
 9 The nobles of the peoples have gathered as the people of the | God of Abraham.
  The rulers of the earth belong to God, who is high- | ly exalted. R

Second Reading:     Ephesians 1:15-23

15 I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18 so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may perceive what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. 20 God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. 22 And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation
 WOV Setting 5

Gospel: Luke 24:44-53
This is the holy gospel according to Luke the 24th chapter.
Glory to you, O Lord.

44 [Jesus said to the eleven and those with them,] “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.”45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised, so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

  50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon 

Hymn of the Day
 CCLI - Love the Lord

The Nicene Creed

Prayers of Intercession

Trusting in the power of Christ’s resurrection to heal and redeem our broken world, let us pray for the needs of all creation.

A brief silence.

Gracious God, your Son Jesus ascended to fill all time and space and is present with all people. By your Holy Spirit, lead your church and its leaders in faith, hope, and love, and in sharing the presence of Christ. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.

Majestic God, your Son Jesus entrusts his ministry to his followers to care for all you have created. Instill in us a commitment to sustainable ecological practices. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.

Almighty God, your Son Jesus sits at your right hand and rules the cosmos. Inspire national and local politicians to lead with equity and fairness, raise up advocates and activists for those seeking justice, and cultivate peace throughout the world. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.

Merciful God, your Son Jesus carries with him the scars of suffering as our wounded healer. Guide with your wisdom the work of surgeons, pharmacists, midwives, and all medical specialists, and bring your healing touch to all who are sick (especially). Merciful God,
receive our prayer.

Caring God, your Son Jesus reveals the depths of your love and gathers all people to himself. Accompany us in our work and play to make your presence known in all that we do. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
Here other intercessions may be offered.


Life-giving God, by his death and resurrection, your Son Jesus destroyed death forever. With thanksgiving we remember those who rest from the labors, assured of your promise of everlasting life. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.

God of resurrection power, use us and these prayers to proclaim the good news of new life to all the world, through Jesus Christ, our risen Savior.
Amen.

The Passing of Peace
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
And also with you.

Anthem

x

Offertory Hymn 
 ELW 374 - Day of Arising (vs. 3)

Offertory Prayer 

Merciful God,
accept the fruits of our labor, gathered to give you glory.
You have set a table before us, a glimpse of that great day
when we will hunger and thirst no more.
Nourish us with the body and blood of Jesus,
that goodness and mercy may follow us
and bless the world you love.
In the name of Jesus,
Amen.

The Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all
times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty
and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ. Fulfilling the
promise of the resurrection, you pour out the fire of your Spirit,
uniting in one body people of every nation and tongue.

And so, with Mary Magdalene and Peter and all the witnesses of
the resurrection, with earth and sea and all their creatures, and
with angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim, we praise
your name and join their unending hymn:

WOV Setting 5
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of pow’r and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory, full of your glory.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.

Thanksgiving at the Table

Holy God, our Maker, Redeemer, and Healer, in the harmonious
world of your creation, the plants and animals, the seas and stars
were whole and well in your praise.
When sin had scarred the world, you sent your Son to heal our ills
and to form us again into one.

In the night in which he was betrayed,
our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,
and gave it for all to drink, saying:
This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
Remembering, therefore, his acts of healing, his body given up,
and his victory over death, we await that day when all the
peoples of the earth will come to the river to enjoy the tree of
life.
Send your Spirit upon us and this meal: as grains scattered on
the hillside become one bread, so let your Church be gathered
from the ends of the earth, that all may be fed with the Bread of
life, your Son.
Through him all glory and honor is yours, Almighty Father,
with the Holy Spirit, in your holy Church, both now and forever.Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer 
Lord remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray:
Our Father, Who art in heaven,
Hollowed by 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.

God feeds us with tender mercy.
Come to the table.

Lamb of God
CCLI - Lamb of God (Rundman)

Communion Hymns

 CCLI - Oceans
 CCLI - Open Our Eyes

The Table Blessing
Come to the table of new life.
Receive the risen Lord.

Post Communion
ELW 540 - Go, Make Disciples

Prayer After Communion 
Holy One,
through this meal you have made your home among us
and are making all things new.
Send us now to speak peace to anxious hearts,
to love our enemies,
and to bring your healing to the nations.
In the name of Jesus,
Amen.

Blessing

God Almighty, who is the beginning and the end,
Jesus Christ, the firstborn of the dead,
and the Spirit, our advocate and peace,
☩ bless you now and forever.
Amen.

Sending Hymn
    CCLI - Your Grace is Enough

Dismissal
Go in peace. Praise the Lord. Alleluia!
Thanks be to God. Alleluia!

Photo by Erika Giraud on Unsplash