God of honey and harvest of grain and grape of ocean and orchard: This harvest time may we both praise and pray; praise you for the abundance and pray that this harvest is not just shared but shared justly.
God of beehives and breadbaskets of living webs and the weaving of life of ecosystems and economy: This harvest time may we both praise and pray praise you for the wealth of the harvest and pray that this harvest is not just a promise but is full of promise for all.
God of bumble bees and blue whales evolution and environment ice-field and star-field: This harvest time may we both praise and pray praise you for the sheer wonder of the world and pray that this harvest is not about our wealth but the wealth of our generosity. Amen.
1. What scares, confuses, or challenges me in this reading? 2. What delights or comforts me in this reading? 3. What stories or memories does this story stir up within me? 4. What is God calling me to do or to be in this reading?
Gospel Canticle
Prayers of the People
The Lord’s Prayer
Blessing/Sending
God of harvest, gardener supreme, you place us at the centre, feed us, equip us and, having provided for us, look to a different harvest— a fruitfulness of lives in service to you and others. God of harvest, feed us prune us harvest us that our lives might bring glory to you. Amen.
We begin by creating a holy space. We light a candle to recognize the light of Christ, present with us during worship. We ring a singing bowl or bell to give us time to breathe and fully arrive, and to remind us to listen for God’s voice speaking to us during this holy time.
Confession and Forgiveness: Prayer of Brokenness/Confession
Holy God, we confess that we do not always love our neighbor. We confess that we have despised others, even to the point of hatred. We confess that we have been hurt by others. We confess that forgiveness and reconciliation at times are just impossible for us. We know that nothing is impossible in You. We come to You, seeking healing and wholeness for us. Help us, whenever possible, to live in peace with others, to seek reconciliation and healing and forgiveness. For Your Son came and lived among us, was betrayed and denied, abused and put to death. He rose again, and came with the message of peace to those who had denied him and abandoned him. May we walk in his ways. Amen.
Blessing/Assurance of Pardon
(inspired by Matthew 19:26, Psalm 139, Romans 8:31-39) For nothing is impossible with God. There is no place you can go, no end of the earth you can run, where God cannot find you. There is nothing on earth or beyond death that can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. You are forgiven. You are loved. You are reconciled to God. Go and live with the love of God. Amen.
You can use these questions to discuss the Bible story with those in your household, with your study group, or on your own in a journal.
ELCA Book of Faith Devotional Questions 1. What scares, confuses, or challenges me in this text? What do I have questions about? 2. What delights or comforts me in this text? What is my favorite part, and why? 3. What stories or memories does this text stir up in me? What does it remind me of? How does this story connect to the story of my life? 4. What is God up to in this text? What is this living Word calling me to do or to be?
Song of the Day (changes each week)
Apostles’ Creed
Prayers of the People
Holy God, may we hear your voice In the stillness of night, in clatter of day You call us, and we respond, Here I am! May we follow you Holy God, May we love as you love.
Holy One, through trials and turbulence Make us steady, your hands Holding strong the fragile and weak Holy God, May we love as you love.
Gracious God, may the fruits of our lives be food for the hungry, bread clothing, shelter, fire, water, Word Holy God, May we love as you love.
God of justice, remove the barriers Of our lives that keep us from One another, barriers we construct Based on skin color, religion, or gender May we hear, and follow, graciously. Holy God, May we love as you love.
Loving God, take this day our fears our Worries, distractions, and all Turn them into grace and mercy, And, following the example of Martin Luther King, Jr. and all your Saints. Holy God, May we love as you love. Amen.
During this season where we celebrate the baptism of Jesus, consider giving the gift of soap for Personal Care Kits and Baby Care Kits. You can send boxes of soap to the MN or MD warehouses, or give a gift online here: https://donate.lwr.org/give/190907/#!/donation/checkout
Offering Prayer
Giving God, Following the example of the magi, we offer our gifts to you, our gold, our worship, and our time in relationship with you. Use our gifts for the healing of the nations, in the name of Jesus, Amen.
by Rev. Breen Marie Sipes
Sending Song: We are Marching in the Light of God
Blessing/Extinguish Candles
May our Epiphany God, Who appeared by the light of a star, In the rending of the heavens and the flight of a dove, In the miracle of water turned to wine, bless, keep, and call you forth, both now and always. Amen.
by Rev. Breen Marie Sipes
Sending: God, You Are Calling
Gentle and patient, God, you are calling. Careful and persistent, God, you are calling. In grieving and in praise, God, you are calling. Through dawn and midday, God, you are calling. Unexpected and planned, God, you are calling. In a still small voice and in power, God, you are calling. Spontaneous and prepared, God, you are calling. Willing or protected, God, you are calling.
Our God is eager to share with us, wherever we are in our journey. May we be diligent to listen. God, you are calling.
Go in peace, called into God’s marvelous Light. Thanks be to God!
Tri-Saints provides this resource as a way to help you and those you love to worship on the go, wherever you are. Because in person worship is currently suspended, we will use this site as our order of worship on Sunday morning. You can find the link to the Zoom meeting on our parish website: www.tri-saints.org Please bring a candle to light, a “singing” bowl to ring, your Alleluia banner and/or noisemaker, a small bowl of water, and a coloring devotion, if you wish.
Easter Blessing (Easter Sunday)
Prayer Practice
We will engage in an Easter season prayer practice led by Rev. Patrick Sipes of The Forming Spirit.
Light Your Candle
Lighting a candle helps us to take an ordinary space and set it aside for a holy purpose. It reminds us of the light of Christ, coming among us. You can use a wax candle, an LED candle, or even a flashlight.
Confession & Forgiveness
Lutheran Book of Worship pg. 77
Ring the Singing Bowl
In worship, we ring a singing bowl to remind us of God’s presence and to help us to take a moment to fully arrive and be present to worship. You can use a metal bowl and a wooden spoon, a bell, or anything else that makes a sustained ringing sound (my favorite was a metal trash can and a rolling pin!). You can also play the video below.
Alleluia! Christ is risen! Christ is risen, indeed! Alleluia!
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.
Litany: Psalm 95
O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and the dry land, which his hands have formed. O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
We invite our children and youth into a time of interactive storytelling. At the end, they are invited to color their devotion sheet while they listen to the Gospel and the sermon.
Gospel
Questions for Discussion
If you are accessing this site at a time other than our Zoom meeting, take some time to talk with others in your household or to journal about the following questions. If you get stuck, or want a place to start, you can access Pastor Breen’s weekly Dwelling in the Word devotion at http://tri-saintsworship.weebly.com
ELCA BOOK OF FAITH DEVOTIONAL QUESTIONS
What scares, confuses, or challenges me in this text? What do I have questions about?
What delights me in this text? What is my favorite part, and why?
What stories or memories does this text stir up in me? How does this story connect to my life?
What is God up to in this text? What is God calling me to do or to be because of this message?
Worshippers have the opportunity to email Pastor Breen in advance, or to text or chat box their prayers during live worship.
Prayers of the People
The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray for ourselves, the world, and all in need of prayer.
Powerful God, we pray for the church. During this time apart, help us to learn to connect, i n new, old, and surprising ways. Draw us ever closer to you. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
Powerful God, we pray for the earth. Give us favorable weather, a safe planting season, and the hope of a plentiful harvest. Bless all those who care for your creation. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
Powerful God, we pray for the world. We pray especially for decision makers, health care workers, scientists and factory workers, and all those who are working to provide essential services. Give wisdom to our leaders, safety to those who are vulnerable, and respite to those who are at the end of their strength. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
Powerful God, we pray for our Partners in Mission. We pray especially for… Use their hands to do your work. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
Powerful God, we pray for those who cannot be here with us today. We pray especially for… Help us to find innovative ways to connect with those who need our presence. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
Powerful God, we pray for those in need of prayer. We pray especially for… Heal the sick, comfort the dying, give solace to all who mourn, and give us all a full measure of your grace and mercy, especially as we struggle in the days and weeks ahead. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
Powerful God, we pray for those who are celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, or other important milestones this week. We pray especially for… You are with us in the midst of our celebrations. Give us your joy, peace, hope, and love. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
Powerful God, we pray for ourselves. (Chat box and texting prayers) and for those things on our hearts and minds which are known only to you. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
Powerful God, we know that you both hear and respond to the prayers of our hearts. Give us each what we need, this day and always. In your name we pray, Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Offering
Mission of the Month: Lutheran World Hunger Chicks: For $1, Sunday school children and other members can purchase and decorate this paper chick for themselves or in honor of friends and loved ones. Hang the colorful chicks in a prominent spot – like the sanctuary or narthex – to highlight your success. The funds raised will benefit ELCA World Hunger and help provide families in need with chickens, other animals and the resources they need to escape hunger and poverty for good. You can find your own Chick to color here: http://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/Buck_A_Chick.pdf Sew Bee It Medical Face Masks Our area hospitals and health care workers are in need of hand made masks. You can find the free pattern here: http://www.sewbeeitquiltshop.com/shop/Surbical-Mask-Pattern/p/Surgical-Mask-Pattern-x48249789.htm
Offering Prayer
Alleluia! Christ is risen! Christ is risen, indeed! Alleluia! We pray: Lord of All, you are a miracle worker, a healer, and a giver of new life. Open our eyes to see you, our hearts to receive you, and our hands to share the many blessings that you have given us to a world in need. We pray in hope and Easter joy, Amen.
Sending Song
Remembering Our Baptism
During this season of Easter, we conclude our worship by returning to our baptism so that we remember in this physical sign that God walks with us, from our worship and into our lives. We ask God to be present with us here in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
(Remember your baptism by dipping your finger in your water bowl and making the sign of the cross on your forehead. You may also say, “I am God’s child.”)
You are God’s Child. You are loved. You are forgiven. You have a place in God’s kingdom. Walk wet in this promise of life. Amen
Blessing
Dismissal
Alleluia! Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia! Go in peace, strengthened for your journey. Thanks be to God.
Dwelling in the Word Together 