Greetings in Christ!
This weekend has a lot packed into it. Yesterday (Thursday) the church celebrated Ascension, so that will be reflected in the service this weekend. This weekend is the 7th Sunday of Easter. Culturally it is Mothers’ Day and at Immanuel, we’re in the second week of our 3-week stewardship emphasis. Thematically speaking, Pastor Troup has his work cut out for him since he’s preaching.
Pastor Troup will continue Immanuel’s emphasis on stewardship in relation to our texts for the weekend and our life as a whole. Be sure to scroll down to find more helpful information about the service as you prepare.
As we remember Jesus’ ascension, talk about the importance of stewardship, and express our thanks to our mothers, our Epistle text for this weekend provides a valuable reminder. John says, “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
In Luther’s explanation of the 4th Commandment in the Large Catechism, he talks about the importance of parents in keeping order and such, but he always comes back to the grace of God and the faith given to us to trust that grace. He talks about being stewards of life, but he always points back to Christ. You may or may not be a parent. You may or may not be the steward of something that seems amazing to the rest of the world. You may or may not have, do, or be a lot of things, but if we do not have the Son, we do not have life.
In Christ who is ascended to the right hand of the Father in glory we have eternal life and peace. Through Christ, we have been granted peace beyond all understanding knowing that the Father who created life, gives eternal life through His Son by His bountiful grace.
I look forward to seeing you this weekend as we praise God’s name and receive His bountiful gifts.
Blessings in Christ!
Pastor Demski
Take a few minutes to glance through the Service Folder so you can read the prayers, look through the content of the hymns and prepare your heart and mind to hear God’s Word and receive His good gifts.
You can dig deeper into the liturgy with this segment from Issues, Etc.
Here’s the lectionary summary that explains how all of the readings fit together.
Our Great High Priest Preserves Us in the Name of His Father
On the eve of His Passion, Christ Jesus intercedes for the disciples as their merciful and great High Priest. He prays that His Father would protect them “from the evil one” and preserve them in His name (John 17:11–12, 15). Along with His prayer, Christ Himself comes to the Father by His self-sacrifice upon the cross, thereby consecrating Himself for the sake of His disciples, “that they also may be sanctified in truth” (John 17:19). To that same end, He speaks to them in the world and gives them His Father’s Word, that is, Himself. His apostles, in turn, have written these things “to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). For “this life is in his Son,” whom He has given by His Word, and “whoever has the Son has life” (1 John 5:11–12). By this apostolic testimony, disciples are gathered together “with one accord,” as one Body in Christ, “devoting themselves to prayer” and waiting upon the Lord in “the upper room” of His Church on earth (Acts 1:13–14).
If you couldn’t join us for worship last weekend, or you would like to hear part of the service again you can watch it now.
Immanuel Lutheran Church & School 