Announcements
Christ is risen and God has the last laugh! Today is Holy Hilarity Day, where the Easter laugh is welcome and we celebrate the gift of humor. On this Sunday just weeks after Easter, we observe, along with many others, “risus paschalis,” God’s “Easter laugh.” What a blessing to have Cassi, the Christian clown, with us. He has been clowning since 1983.
Confession and Forgiveness
Pastor: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
People of God: And also with you.
Pastor: Let us pray. Loving God,
People of God: you sent your Son to die for our sins, reminding us that our sin is no laughing matter. Forgive us for our cruel jokes that demean others. Forgive us when we laugh at others just because they are different. Remind us there is a time to laugh and a time to cry, a time for humor and a time for solace. Grant us, O Lord, the wisdom to know the difference. Amen.
Pastor: God is more ready to forgive than we are to repent. The forgiveness of God awaits us like the waiting father for the prodigal son. Receive the assurance of God’s forgiveness and forgive others as you have been forgiven in the name of +Jesus Christ. People of God: Amen
Gathering Hymn ELW #525 You Are Holy
Prayer of the Day
Assisting Minister: Let us pray. Almighty God, with joy we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. By your grace, enable us to show the power of the resurrection in what we say and do, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. People of God: Amen
Reading Acts 13:1-3 and 14:8-18
Chapter 13
Assisting Minister: 1Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the ruler, and Saul. 2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
Chapter 14
8In Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet and had never walked, for he had been crippled from birth. 9He listened to Paul as he was speaking. And Paul, looking at him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, 10said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And the man sprang up and began to walk. 11When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in human form!” 12Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates; he and the crowds wanted to offer sacrifice. 14When the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, 15Friends, why are you doing this? We are mortals just like you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. 16In past generations he allowed all the nations to follow their own ways; 17yet he has not left himself without a witness in doing good — giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filling you with food and your hearts with joy.” 18Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them. The word of the Lord. People of God: Thanks be to God
Sermon Jesus, Scars and Laughter Rev. Arlyn Tolzmann
Song So Oft We Come Into This Place
Music: ELW #886, O for a Thousand Tongues
So oft we come into this place
to sing of joys we share;
yet sit and glare with frowning face
with looks enough to scare.
Indeed there is a time to weep,
a time for laughing too;
for Jesus Christ, whose name we keep,
such feelings are not new.
We see the Lord as one so stern,
the One who has to be;
yet humor in him we discern,
he made us, didn’t he?
Prayers of the People
Assisting Minister: Lord God, you enliven our faith when we have the courage to face our doubts and faith questions.
Silence for reflection
Assisting Minister: God of grace, God of laughter, we thank you for the joy won through the resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord. We thank you for the gift of laughter that celebrates the moment. We thank you for the playfulness of children, which reminds us we are all your children. Bless students and teachers as they learn together but also must deal with fears of violence in schools. Bless our Christian education programs here at church that we might change lives and teach well about your love. Bless the St. Barnabas Christian Preschool as they teach children and encourage them to walk in your ways. Hear us, O God. People of God: Your mercy is fantastic.
Assisting Minister: God of wholeness and healing, we pray for those in our circle of care, especially Susan, Grace, Alice, Gus, Faith, Denise, Leslie, Norma, Brian, Scott, Jessica, Alicia, Jeanne, Barb, Cecil (See-sil), Stan, Marlene, Ryleigh, Dylan, Sandy, Hopie (Hope-y), the Bredemus (bread-a-mus) family, Allen, Bunny, the Vogt (vote) family, Patricia, Michael, Nicholas and his family, Beth, Betty, Tom, Kara (car-a), and those we name silently or aloud <pause>. Hear us, O God. People of God: Your mercy is fantastic.
Assisting Minister: To those who never crack a smile while singing hymns of joy or somehow think your Son was not a person of joy and humor, grant them eyes, ears, tongues and hearts to express the joy of living in Christ and of sharing God’s love. Hear us, O God. People of God: Your mercy is fantastic.
Pastor: Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray.People of God: Amen
Children’s Sermon Cassi the Clown
The Peace (Please share peace by waving or showing the peace sign.)
Pastor: The peace of Christ be with you always. People of God: And also with you.
Offering
Pastor: Let us pray. God our provider, you have not fed us with bread alone, but with words of grace and life. Bless us and these your gifts, which we receive from your bounty through Jesus Christ our Lord. People of God: Amen
The Awesome Thanksgiving
Pastor: The Lord be with you.
People of God: And also with you.
Pastor: Lift up your hearts.
People of God: We lift them to the Lord.
Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People of God: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Pastor: In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread and gave thanks; he 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.
Pastor: And now let us pray with confidence in the words that Jesus taught us:
People of God: 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
Invitation to Communion
Assisting Minister: Come with thanks and joy, just like attending a meal with friends. It is the Lord’s party and the Lord invites you! People of God: Amen
For our at-home worshippers, you may take communion using these words:
The body of Christ, given for you.
The blood of Christ, shed for you.
Communion Songs
I’ve Got the Joy Joy Joy Joy
ELW #528 Come and Fill Our Hearts (Sung repeatedly)
ELW #267 Joy to the World
ELW #535 Hallelujah! We sing your praises
Pastor: The body and blood and blood of our +Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen and keep you, now and forever. People of God: Amen.
Assisting Minister: Let us pray. God of our pilgrimage, in this meal you have nourished us with the presence of our Lord Jesus. Send us out with joyful hearts into the great mission field beyond the doors of this place, to proclaim and live out your love, now and forever. People of God: Amen
The Blessing
Pastor: The God of Isaac, who is “laughter” and the God of us all; the +Lord Jesus, who is the way, truth, and resurrection; and the joyous Holy Spirit, who calls us together, bless and keep you now and forever. People of God: Amen! Ya betcha!
Is it true that Lutherans are more apt to forget water for the font than the coffee pot?
Song Coffee, coffee, coffee Music: ELW #413 Holy, Holy, Holy
Coffee, coffee, coffee,
Lutherans and coffee.
We drink it in the morning,
we like it hot you see.
Coffee, coffee, coffee,
on land or air or sea,
brewed to perfection
but not instantly!
Coffee, coffee, coffee,
Lutherans and coffee.
Adding cream or sugar
is plain adultery.
Coffee, coffee, coffee,
we like it black, you see;
no frilly coffees
and not instantly!
Jell-o, Jell-o, Jell-o,
red, green, or yellow;
chock full of carrot shreds,
we serve it gleefully.
Jell-o, Jell-o, Jell-o,
Lutherans serve Jell-o.
Come join our potlucks,
Jell-o, you will see!
Coffee, coffee, coffee
Lutherans and coffee.
We drink it in the morning,
it is our wake-up aid.
Coffee, coffee, coffee,
we drink it when we’ve prayed
And as good stewards
We will buy fair trade!
Dismissal
Assisting Minister: Christ is risen! People of God: Christ is risen, indeed!
Assisting Minister: Go in Peace! Take the joy of Jesus into the world!
People of God: Thanks be to God. Alleluia! Alleluia! Amen! Ya Betcha!
Postlude
Thank you to those serving us today
Pastor: Rev. Arlyn Tolzmann
Worship Assistant: Cassi the Clown & Rachel Brewer
Music: Gloria Peetz ~ Song Leader: Lorena Skelley
Altar Guild: Phyllis Blumke
Usher/Greeter: Bill & Sean Rochford
Sound Board: Nancy Rochford
Producer: Mark Gates ~ Graphics: Dawna Gates
Counters: Marianne Barstow & Sally Skalany
Altar Flowers: Ken and Jan Mohr
In Celebration of their Wedding
From sundaysandseasons.com. Copyright © 2023 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved
Much of the service and lyrics written by Pastor Arlyn Tolzmann