Pentecost May 23, 2021

10:30 a.m.

Christ Lutheran Church 2610 Campbell Street • Valparaiso, Indiana 46385 • (219) 462-6660

Website: clcvalpo.org • E-mail: clcvalpo@clcvalpo.org

2

INTRODUCTION

Fifty days after Easter, we celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Crossing all boundaries that would separate us, the Spirit brings the wideness of God’s mercy to places we least expect it—to a crowd of strangers of different lands and tongues, to dry bones, to our weak hearts. Jesus promises his disciples that they will be accompanied by the Holy Spirit, and that this Spirit reveals the truth. We celebrate that we too have been visited with this same Spirit. Guided by the truth, we join together in worship, and then disperse to share the fullness of Christ’s love with the world.

GATHERING The Holy Spirit calls us together as the people of God

GATHERING MUSIC O Day Full of Grace Mallroy

WELCOME If you are joining us for the first time, welcome! We’d love to meet you, or if there’s anything you’d like to know about the ministry of Christ Lutheran Church, please visit our website at clcvalpo.org, email us at clcvalpo@clcvalpo.org or call 219.462.6660. May the peace of the risen Christ be with you! CALL TO WORSHIP The assembly stands.

Come, Holy Spirit, our souls inspire, and lighten with celestial fire; Thou the anointing Spirit art, who dost thy sevenfold gifts impart. 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. Children: This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. PRAYER OF THE DAY A brief silence is kept before the prayer.

Spirit of truth: Guide us into all the truth; consume the lies that shroud the world in hate; pray in us with sighs too deep for words; and the let the victim’s voice ring out with hope for a new world; through Jesus Christ, who goes to the right hand of God. Amen. The assembly is seated.

3

WORD

God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching and song When children read, they may read a version that is appropriate to their reading level and

voice, which may vary from the printed texts. CHILDREN’S TIME As children come forward, the Pastor helps them sit “distanced” and takes a moment to talk with them. HANDBELL ANTHEM Jubilant Celebration Raney

READING: Acts 2:1-21 Originally Pentecost was a Jewish thanksgiving-type festival celebrated seven weeks after Passover. On this particular Pentecost, however, the Holy Spirit is poured out upon the entire community of believers just as Jesus had promised and the scriptures had prophesied. Empowered by the Spirit, the entire community bears witness to God’s activity in multiple languages.

1When the day of Pentecost had come, [the apostles] were all together in one place. 2And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. 5Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” 12All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.” 14But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. 16No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 17‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. 18Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.

4

19And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. 20The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. 21Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ ” The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. RESPONSIVE PSALM 104:24-34, 35b 24How manifold are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. 25Yonder is the sea, great and wide, with its swarms too many to number, living things both small and great. 26There go the ships to and fro, and Leviathan, which you made for the sport of it. 27All of them look to you to give them their food in due season. 28You give it to them; they gather it; you open your hand, and they are filled with good things. 29When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. 30You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; and so you renew the face of the earth. 31May the glory of the Lord endure forever; O Lord, rejoice in all your works. 32You look at the earth and it trembles; you touch the mountains and they smoke. 33I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will praise my God while I have my being. 34May these words of mine please God. I will rejoice in the Lord. 35bBless the Lord, O my soul. Hallelujah! READING: Romans 8:22-27 By pouring the Holy Spirit into our hearts, God gives us the promised first fruit of eternal life so that we await God’s future in hope. In the meantime, the Spirit also intercedes for us by carrying the prayers of our weak human hearts to God.

22We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; 23and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 25But if we hope for

5

what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 26Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION The assembly stands to welcome the gospel. HOLY GOSPEL: John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 While speaking to his disciples before his death, Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as “the Helper” and describes the difference the Spirit will make in their lives and in the world.

The Holy Gospel according to John. Glory to you, O Lord. [Jesus said,] 26“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. 27You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning. 16:4b“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. 7Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9about sin, because they do not believe in me; 10about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; 11about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned. 12“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. SERMON The assembly is seated. Time for reflection follows the sermon.

6

MUSICAL REFLECTION We think on the text below as we listen to a musical reflection:

Oh, that I had a thousand voices to praise my God with thousand tongues! My heart, which in the Lord rejoices, would then proclaim in grateful songs to all, wherever I might be, what great things God has done for me. PRAYERS The assembly stands with the presiding minister. Alive 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. Gracious God, you give the Holy Spirit to your church, filling it with many and varied gifts. In the church throughout the world, strengthen us in our visioning and dreaming, that it may discover anew the Spirit’s creative work. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. God of life, your mighty works are too numerous to count. The earth is full of your creatures, living things both great and small. Open your hand and give them the necessities of this life. Send your fresh Spirit over the face of the earth. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. God of the nations, at the sound of the rushing wind, people speaking different languages proclaimed and heard together your deeds of power. Fill the leaders of nations with your Holy Spirit, so that they exercise your gracious will in the lives of people. In the midst of climate change, tend to the land, people, and churches of the Indian Ocean Islands: Comoros, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, and Seychelles. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. God of faithfulness, you tend to the needs of your people, even the sighs of our hearts. Hear those who cry out to you in distress. Restore to wholeness all who are in any need this day. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. God of love, fill our congregation of Christ Lutheran Church with gratitude for the gifts we have received from you. Renew our ministries, heal our divisions, and open us to the needs of our neighbors. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. Here other intercessions may be offered. God of hope, those who have died in you raise their eternal song of praise. We give you thanks for the many gifts of your people and rejoice in the witness of your saints: scientists Nicolaus Copernicus and Leonhard Euler, theologians and preachers John Calvin and Jiri Tranovský. 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

7

goodness and mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

MEAL God feeds us with the presence of Jesus Christ

DIALOGUE 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. TABLE PRAYER Underneath the prayer, we hear the hymn “Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds,” reminding us that our prayer and worship is gathered with the songs of all those gathered eternally in the presence of God.

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. Who, in the night in which he was betrayed, 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.

8

LORD’S PRAYER The Spirit makes us one. We pray as Jesus taught us: 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 The risen Christ invites us to this table. Come, eat and be satisfied. Thanks be to God! DISTRIBUTION The assembly is seated. PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION When all have returned to their places, the assembly stands as the minister continues. Wellspring of joy, through this meal you have put gladness in our hearts. Satisfy the hunger still around us, and send us as joyful witnesses, that your love may bring joy to the hearts of all people, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

9

SENDING

God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world INVITATIONS Brief invitations are shared, especially those related to the assembly’s participation in God’s mission in the world. A NOTE ABOUT OFFERINGS This congregation has changed lives throughout the pandemic – your offerings make that happen. Because offerings are never just for us, this month a portion is given to CLC’s upcoming 2022 Mission Trip to Costa Rica - in conjunction with Casa Adobe www.facebook.com/casadobe. While we cannot pass our Offering Plates to receive our offerings, they are available at the back of the sanctuary. You can also text ‘CLCVALPO’ to 77977 or browse to our secure on-line portal at http://clcvalpo.org/give.

PRAYERS FOR GRADUATES AND RETIREES BLESSING May our glorious God grant you a spirit of wisdom to know and to love the risen Lord Jesus. The God of life,

Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. Amen.

10

SENDING HYMN # 627 O Day Full of Grace

11

DISMISSAL Alleluia! Christ is risen. Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia! Go in peace. Share the good news. Alleluia! Thanks be to God. Alleluia! POSTLUDE Allegro di molto Saint-Saëns (from Fantaisie for Organ)

As worship concludes we move directly to the Gathering Place, where we are invited to greet one another and share in fellowship.

Service Notes Worship Leaders Lector: Sara Long

Prayer Assistant: Sara Long

Communion Assistants: Amy Knauff Cindy McGuire

Ushers: Marla Niksch Luke Venstrom Zach Wehner

Sound/Light: Jeff Peiffer

Pastors: Rev. Timothy Knauff, Jr. Rev. Erica Gibson-Even

Director of Music Ministries: Brian Bartusch Worship Participants: Celebration Ringers Handbell Choir Becca Budnik, percussionist

From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2021 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #26201.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Portions printed under OneLicense.net License #A-711129.

Portions from Prayers for an Inclusive Church by Steven Shakespeare. Stewardship Toolkit, Copyright © 2021, Rev. Robert Blezard. Pastor Blezard serves as pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Aberdeen, MD.

Cover art permission by Stushie Art.

12

Graduation Sunday Recognition Look for more details about our high school graduates in the June Newsletter!

Sara Johnson

Valparaiso High School

Future Plans: Attending DePaul University in Chicago, majoring in a science-related field

Favorite CLC Memory: “Going to the 2018 National Youth Gathering in Houston was my favorite memory at Christ Lutheran Church. It was awesome meeting people from around the country, completing fun service projects, and visiting the Houston Space Center!”

Most thankful to CLC for: “I’m thankful for the all the support that I’ve reached from the CLC community throughout the years, as well as all the friends I’ve made through Con-firmation and Circle.”

John Hofer

Valparaiso High School

Future Plans: Attending Western Michigan University, majoring in Electrical Engineering, and continuing my football career

Favorite CLC memory: “Camp Lutherwald! Going to a summer camp with my friends and learning about God was so much fun!”

Most thankful to CLC for: “I am thankful for the loving and supporting community CLC has built. We could not have done a lot of things if we didn’t have the gracious support of the churc. I am thankful for all of the love the church and community has given me. Whenever I enter CLC, I know I am home.”

Hannah Fields

Valparaiso High School

Future Plans: Hannah will be attending DePauw University, double majoring in Global Health and Spanish, and plans to study abroad. She hopes to get a Master’s in Public Health and work as an epidemiologist.

Favorite CLC memory: “The mission trip to Houston for the National Youth Gathering, I loved the service work and how friendly and fun everyone was. I also loved meeting new people and the speakers and bands were great.”

Most thankful to CLC for: “I am so thankful for all of the support that the CLC community has given me. Everyone is so genuine and welcoming, and I feel as if I have found a sec-ond family. I’ve been a member of the CLC community from the time I was born, and I grew into the person I am today because of CLC. Thank you all!”

Lucia Otten

Valparaiso High School

Future Plans: Attending Valparaiso University to study Spanish and possibly Environmental Studies or Global Service. I am traveling to Costa Rica this summer to study, improve

13

my Spanish, and world knowledge. I hope to find a career utilizing Spanish and helping the environment.

Favorite CLC Memory: “I smile whenever I think of eating dunner together at youth group. The friendship, yummy food, and jokes make those nights special. Especially when Gail brings her famous brownies!”

Most thankful to CLC for: “I am thankful for the CLC community’s ambition and drive for helping others. Everywhere I turn, CLC members are volunteering: at the men’s shelter, working to make CLC more eco-friendly, playing music in service, and doing so much more! Thank you for motivating me to always be looking beyond myself!”

Conley Knauff

Valparaiso High School

Future Plans: Studying abroad next year in Germany with the CBYX program, then attend college to study music and psychology. I hope to become a music therapist.

Favorite CLC memory: “I distinctfully remember, at National Youth Gathering 2018, walk-ing into a huge stadium chanting the ‘DK Rap’ from Donkey Kong 64. Everyone stared at us weird, but we didn’t care, we were having so much fun!”

Most thankful to CLC for: “I’m thankful for the closely-knit community we’ve created throughout our time at CLC. My friends at Circle are some of the closest ever and I’ll always be grateful for that.

Charlie Schmidgall

Washington Township High School

Varsity Soccer, Team Captain (Varsity Soccer), DECA, Washington Senators Band

Future Plans: Attending Purdue University to study Agricultural Sales and Marketing

Christ Lutheran Church would also like to congratulate:

Bret Boettcher, Washington Township High School, attending Purdue University

Nolan Coil, Valparaiso High School, attending Calvin University

David Bittorf, Valparaiso High School, studying to be an electrician

Addie Janowiak, Valparaiso High School, attending Belmont University

Elizabeth ‘Libbie’ Lawson, Valparaiso High School, attending Purdue University

Hailey Earl, Valparaiso High School, attending Michigan State University

Grace Provenzano, Valparaiso High School, attending Ball State University

Carter Casbon, Chesterton High School

Connor Casbon, Chesterton High School

Payton Gallowitch, Valparaiso High School

Elijah Schuitema, Valparaiso High School

Lucas Siewin, Valparaiso High School

Zack Skinner, Valparaiso High School

14

COMMEMORATIONS Week of May 23, 2021

May 24 Nicolaus Copernicus, died 1543; Leonhard Euler, died 1783; scientists Remembering scientists such as Copernicus and Euler offers an opportunity to ponder the mysteries of the universe and the grandeur of God’s creation. Copernicus is an example of a renaissance person. He formally studied astronomy, mathematics, Greek, Plato, law, medicine, and canon law. He also had interests in theology, poetry, and the natural and social sciences. Copernicus is chiefly remembered for his work as an astronomer and his idea that the sun, not the earth, is the center of the solar system. Euler (OY-ler) is regarded as one of the founders of the science of pure mathematics and made important contributions to mechanics, hydrodynamics, astronomy, optics, and acoustics. May 27 John Calvin, renewer of the church, died 1564 John Calvin began his studies in theology at the University of Paris when he was fourteen. In his mid-twenties he experienced a conversion that led him to embrace the views of the Reformation. His theological ideas are systematically laid out in his Institutes of the Christian Religion. He is also well known for his commentaries on scripture. He was a preacher in Geneva, was banished once, and then later returned to reform the city under a theocratic constitution. May 29 Jiri Tranovský, hymnwriter, died 1637 Jiri Tranovský (YEAR-zhee truh-NOF-skee) is considered the “Luther of the Slavs” and the father of Slovak hymnody. Trained at the University of Wittenberg in the early seventeenth century, Tranovský was ordained in 1616 and spent his life preaching and teaching in Prague, Silesia, and finally Slovakia. He produced a translation of the Augsburg Confession and published his hymn collection Cithara Sanctorum (Lyre of the Saints), the foundation of Slovak Lutheran hymnody.

Ecumenical Prayer Cycle

This week we pray for the churches and people of Indian Ocean Islands: Comoros, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles We are thankful for: • the spectacular scenery, exotic plants, rare animals and abundant sea life that flourish in the region • how people who are ethnically and religiously diverse have long lived together • the economic developments that have lifted some out of poverty

15

GOSPEL MESSAGE

This Changes Everything

On Pentecost, we celebrate the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to send the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and guide us, bringing understanding and unity. However, for those present for the events described in the reading from Acts, in which the Holy Spirit descended and rested upon them, celebration wasn’t exactly what those gathered were thinking about. Terror might be a more appropriate word. Shock, perhaps. Mystery. It felt like anything but a celebration; it was disruptive and frightening! After such an experience, your life is changed forever. Once you have lived through something so monumental, you are never the same. And that is the point. That is why we celebrate. Because on this day, the church was born. On this day the apostles—students of an itinerant rabbi who had taught his followers for only a few years—were filled with the Holy Spirit, turned upside down and inside out, changed utterly. On this day, not only the apostles but also three thousand others (Acts 2:41) were filled with the Spirit that transforms us and enables us to see others as our siblings in Christ. Often, the aftermath of crisis makes strangers into friends. Several thousand people who had been turned inward, thinking of themselves, their needs, and their concerns, were made a community, turned outward, thinking of their relationships, their neighbors, and the needs and concerns of others. “When the Spirit of truth comes,” Jesus had said, “he will guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13). The Holy Spirit, blowing through a diverse group, signals a formation of community, a binding together to make a new way of living. And this is what God showed the apostles, the others gathered in that room, and the several thousand who were baptized: when the Holy Spirit blows into your life, nothing is ever the same. And that’s a cause for celebration.

• the vital evangelism, social and public witness of churches, and how the churches relate to people of other faiths. We pray for: • the fragile environment and the unique plants, animals and lands, that they will be protected, especially as the sea rises • tourism and other economic developments, that they will not threaten, but enhance life for all the people in these countries • churches, that they will grow through evangelistic efforts and in their work with those of other faiths • Christians to be bolder in their public witness for justice and reconciliation, especially in times of political turmoil.

16

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mark your calendars for VBS

Week of June 13 - All-ages outdoor VBS for three evenings that week, with serious and silly activities for children and adults

------ Sojourner Truth House Walk

In our partnership with our sister congregation, Bethel in Gary, Christ Lutheran is joining them for a walk, rain or shine, on Saturday, June 12 at 9 am to raise funds for Sojourner Truth House, a social services organization in Gary. (See flyer below) We'd love to have you join our BC(Bethel/Christ) Truth Trekkers team and walk with us or if that is not possible, we en-courage you to make a monetary donation to help us meet our $500 goal. There are a number of ways to make your donation: 1. Use our online giving portal at clcvalpo.org/give

2. Make a check out to Christ Lutheran Church, put “Walk” in the memo line, and put it in the black box by the church office or outside Door #3.

3. Put any cash donation in the black box by the church office or Door #3 with a note that it is for the BC Truth Trekkers team.

4. Give your cash or check donation to either Kathy Lundstrom or Kathy Sutherland who will be outside the sanctuary before and after the in-person 10:30 service on Sunday, June 6.

For those who are able to walk as a part of our BC Truth Trekkers team, we will carpool and leave Christ Lutheran at 8:10 am Saturday, June 12 for Bethel where we will begin our walk at 9 am. Or you can drive to Bethel (411 Montgomery St. Gary, IN 46403) on your own to be ready to walk at 9 am. We will walk for about 2 miles. Thank you for supporting this worthy cause and our partnership with Bethel.

------ Worship Assistants are Needed to help keep in-person worship safe and go smoothly - you’ll find that signup link on the church webpage, as well as the signup for assisting with live-streamed worship.

Pastoral Care - with the arrival of effective vaccines, our health advisers tell us it is reasona-ble to resume some pastoral visitation. Both pastors are vaccinated, and if you are also vac-cinated, we should be able to visit safely - please be in touch with the office or one of us if you’d like a visit! We miss you!