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ZION LUTHERAN CHURCHStratford, Ontario

Church Office: 519-271-8527 Cell:519-274-1300website: www.zionstratford.com email: zionlc@golden.net

People of Zion MinisterRev. Jeffrey Laustsen PastorSister Jean Widmeyer Visitation MinisterPaul Shilton Minister of MusicMarco Burak OrganistSandra Mogensen Pianist

EASTER 7 May 24, 2020

Again, a different form of the bulletin to keep you in touch. Here is your bulletin for today, the SeventhSunday of Easter.

Prayer of the Day:

O God of glory, your Son Jesus Christ suffered for us and ascended to your right hand. Unite uswith Christ and each other in suffering and in joy, that all the world may be drawn into yourbountiful presence, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, who lives and reigns with you andthe Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

A Reading from the Book of Acts

So when they had come together, the apostles asked Jesus, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore thekingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set byhis own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be mywitnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, asthey were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and theywere gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, “Men ofGalilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you intoheaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” Then they returned to Jerusalem fromthe mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. When they had enteredthe city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew,Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judasson of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women,including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

Acts 1:6-14

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Psalm

Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee before him. Let them vanishlike smoke when the wind drives it away; as the wax melts at the fire, so let the wicked perish at thepresence of God. But let the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; let them also be merry and joyful. Sing to God, sing praises to his name; exalt him who rides upon the heavens; Yahweh is his name, rejoicebefore him! Father of orphans, defender of widows, God in his holy habitation! God gives the solitary ahome and brings forth prisoners into freedom; but the rebels shall live in dry places. O God, when you wentforth before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, The earth shook, and the skiespoured down rain, at the presence of God, the God of Sinai, at the presence of God, the God of Israel. Yousent a gracious rain, O God, upon your inheritance; you refreshed the land when it was weary. Your peoplefound their home in it; in your goodness, O God, you have made provision for the poor. Sing to God, Okingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord. He rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens; he sendsforth his voice, his mighty voice. Ascribe power to God; his majesty is over Israel; his strength is in the skies. How wonderful is God in his holy places! the God of Israel giving strength and power to his people! Blessedbe God!

Psalm 68: 1-10, 33-36

A Reading from the First Letter of Peter

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as thoughsomething strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so thatyou may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. If you are reviled for the name of Christ,you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you. Humble yourselvestherefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him,because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devilprowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that yourbrothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. And after you havesuffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himselfrestore, support, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John

After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorifyyour Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given his authority over all people, to give eternallife to all who you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, andJesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the worldexisted. I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, andyou gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given meis from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them andknow in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf;

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I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in theworld, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that youhave given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.”

John 17: 1-11

Sermon:

Click on the little box below to view Pastor Jeff’s sermon (or you can find it on the website under theseparate heading “Sermons”)

My Movie May 22.mp4

Anthem: “The Church’s One Foundation”

(Click on the link below for the musical version)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ECY2IIeRg8

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THURSDAY, May 28 from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Our very own Paul Shilton and his wife, Barbara Fulton, will be performingin the Alzheimer Society of Perth County’s “Forget Me Not” Virtual MusicFestival Online Fundraiser. Details are below.

DETAILS:

The Alzheimer Society of Perth County is thrilled to invite YOU to join themTHURSDAY, MAY 28th @ 7pm "live" on their Facebook site for the first ever"Forget Me Not" online music festival. This exciting evening will featuremusical performances by an incredible line up of Canadian musicians, guestappearances by a number of your favourite celebrities and of course... yourbeloved hosts Don Landry and Eddie Matthews. Admission is totally free - butwe will "pass the hat" with all donations going to support the local work of theAlzheimer Society of Perth County.

Want to help us out? Please feel free to share this event on your facebookpage and invite your friends. Also, be sure to check out all the performer's website below for more details.We promise... this is going to be a whole lot of fun!!

ARTISTS INCLUDE:

CAROLYN ARENDS: http://carolynarends.comSHAWNA CASPI: http://www.shawnacaspi.comBARBARA FULTON/PAUL SHILTON: www.paulshilton.comBEN HEFFERNAN: http://www.benheffernanmusic.comALI MATTHEWS: http://www.alimatthews.comMADISON VIOLET: https://www.madisonviolet.comLAUREN NEILSON: https://www.facebook.com/lauren.neilson.5680BARRY JAMES PAYNE: http://www.stringbone.caDAVE SEMPLE: https://davesemple.bandcamp.comTHORN & ROSES: http://www.thornandroses.net UPSIDE OF MAYBE: http://www.upsideofmaybe.comHAYLEY VERRALL: https://www.hayleyverrallmusic.comTHE WIEBES: https://www.facebook.com/pg/thewiebes

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“R & R SUNDAY - RESURRECTION & REUNION”

As a result of Sunday Worship being cancelled until further notice and us not being able to celebrate theResurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday, Pastor Jeff is planning a grand celebration tocommemorate Easter Sunday and the reunion of the congregation. This grand celebration will takeplace the 1st Sunday we are allowed to open for worship and will include decorations, flowers andcoffee hour.

If you wish to donate so the Women of Faith group can purchase flowers and decorate the church forthis celebration, please write “R & R Sunday” and your name on a separate envelope. You may eitherbring your envelope to the Church office any weekday between 8 AM and 1:30 PM or place it in themailbox.

Thank you!!

THIS WEEK WE PRAY:

>for our members and friends with special needs: Beryl Horst, Margaret Wolfe, Ingrid Fraser, RoseMarie Schwalm, Nya Jimenez, Muriel Riehl, Karen Mogk, Ron Frank, Brian Gropp, Kolby McLeod.

>for researchers who are working on treatments and vaccines to combat the COVID-19 virus.

>for residents and staff of long-term care facilities, that they may be kept safe and healthy and findways to socially connect while remaining socially distant.

>for workers in grocery stores, pharmacies and other essential businesses, that they may be kept safeas they provide the necessary resources for our community.

>for students, parents, teachers and school staff who are working to ensure that learning continueswhile schools have been closed for the remainder of the academic year.

>for our congregation as we seek to reach out to each other and our community with the love of JesusChrist our Lord.

>for those who have no one to pray for them.

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