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Heat. who breaks the power of sin and darkness. Whose love is so much stronger.

The king of glory, the king above all kings. Chase the earth with holy thunder who brings us breathless in all wonder. The king of glory, the king above all kings.

This is amazing grace. This is amazing that you would take my place. that you would bear my cross.

You lay down your life that I would be set free. Jesus, I sing for all that you've done for me. I invite you to stand as you're able and join me as we give thanks for baptism.

>> Allelujah. Christ is risen. >> Christ is risen indeed.

Hallelujah. >> Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne and to the Lamb. >> Amen.

>> Let us give thanks for the gifts of baptism. Merciful God, you are the one who was, who is, and who is to come. You lead us beside still waters.

We thank you for the waters of creation, morning dew, gentle rain, roaring waves. We thank you for the waters that nourish us. Blessed are you.

Jesus Christ, you are the faithful witness who accompanies us on our journeys. We give you thanks for your lifegiving death and resurrection. We praise you for joining us in joy and sorrow.

Blessed are you >> Holy Spirit. You anoint our head with oil and our cup overflows. Break down barriers that divide us.

Fill us with a breath of peace. Blessed are you. >> Holy one, we thank you for the gifts and grace of baptism and for making us a new creation.

We join with saints and angels giving you honor and praise now and forever. as your people to raise and we dare to claim the promise of your love. Though the day may not be here, we trust it soon.

with your children will be free. Oh, may our hearts and minds be open. The church open for everyone inside.

For in God there is a welcome. In God we all belong and welcome our soul. We sing for all the children that we seek for generations yet to be a reason to doubt.

that they are blessed. May we in your love rest. Oh, may our hearts and minds be open.

Think the church doors open wide. May there be room enough for everyone inside. For in God there is a home.

In God we belong and welcome our song. Oh, we pray for all the young but short and shame. So afraid of who they are and whom they love.

May the message shall be that your love is for the few. May their faith in you. Oh may our hearts and minds be open.

When the church doors open wide, may there be room in them for everyone inside. For in God, there is a welcome in God. We all belong.

We are working for the future when children far and wide can their lives with dignity and pride. As they grow with strength and stature, may they join us in men as against all age we stand. Oh, may our hearts and minds be open wide.

There be room in love for everyone inside. Glory God. There is a welcome God we all are soul.

>> The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Glory to you for yours is the earth is the promise, the blessing, the birth of praise. The thanksgiving to your holy name.

Must be the great be the glory of all your glory to you God for yours is the earth. Christing to your holy name. Be the red.

Yours be the glory of God. Yours. Glory to you God for yours is the earth.

Yours the anointing the radiant world. A rejoicing for spirits of pain. The thanksgiving to your holy name.

Be the great be the glor. >> The Lord be with you. >> Let us pray together.

Oh God of glory, your son Jesus Christ suffered for us and ascended to your right hand. Unite us with Christ and each other in suffering and in joy that all the world may be drawn into your bountiful presence through Jesus Christ our savior and lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit one God now and forever. Amen.

Please be seated. If there children present that I can't see, I'd love to have you come forward. If not, just a a few words for all God's children of all ages.

It's good to have you and you are especially in a a wonderful role today. I'm glad you're here. God is glad you're here.

Those are God's words. I know you're glad you're here. I can see it on your face.

And the reason I say that is you did something very important for all of us today. And I don't think you realized it. Did you forget to light a candle?

No. You didn't light that big one today. And we won't light it for a while.

Do we have any idea why that candle didn't get lit today? It's called the Christ candle, the Pascal candle, but for a very special reason, you didn't light it and it won't be lit for a while. When that candle is lit, among many things, we call that the Christ candle, the Pascal candle.

When that candle is lit, it's a reminder to us that the risen Jesus is with us in this world in a special way. For 40 days after Easter, Jesus was with his first disciples in a very special way. They could see him.

Nobody else could see him. He was with them. He talked to them.

He worked with them. And then this past Thursday on the for the 40th day after Easter, Jesus was no longer visibly present with him physically. It was it was called the ascension.

Jesus returned to being the God of all the earth. He returned to his glory. And that candle went out because the light of the world, Jesus had called him.

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world within you and in me and in each one of us here." the wonderful light of Jesus that was put into you in your baptism and into me in my baptism. Let your light so shine before others that they can see your good works and give glory is really the big deal now. Yep.

that candle. We light that candle for a funeral because that's a quiet reminder that the risen Lord is with us in a special way. We light that candle for baptisms.

We light that candle for special occasions to remind us. But when that's not lit, it's a reminder that the light is in you and in me. And even in him over there, I don't know.

He shows up every now and then, but yeah, in a wonderful way. How wonderful it is to be a baptized child of God. How how big a deal it really is.

And you just reminded us of that. Thank you. Let's pray.

Dear God, >> in holy baptism, >> you put your light in me. Help me every day >> to let my light shine >> in Jesus name. Amen.

Thank you so much. Our first lesson is a reading from the book of the Act of the Apostles. When the apostles had come together, they asked Jesus, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?" He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was while he was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven?

This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven." Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath's day journey away. When they had entered the 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 Alpha, and Simon the Zealot and Judas son 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. The word of the Lord. >> Thanks be to God.

Please join us in singing the responsorial song. Sing to God. Sing to God.

Let God arise and let God's enemies be scattered. Let those who hate God flee. As driven away, so you should drive them.

As the wax melts before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. >> But let the righteous be glad and rejoice before God. Let them also be merry and joyful.

>> Sing to God, sing the rides. I am That namej in your holy habitation. Oh God, you are a father to orphans, defender of widows.

and bring into the rebels inert places. Oh God, when you went forth before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, >> the earthquakes and the skies tore down rain at the presence of the God of the presence of God, the God of Israel, >> you sent a bountful rain, oh God, you resto toward your inheritance when it languished. >> Your people found their home in it.

In your goodness, oh God, you have made provision for the sing. Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth. Sing praises to the Lord.

You ride in the heavens, oh God, in the heavens. You sent forth your voice, your voice. Ascribe power to God whose majesty is over Israel.

whose strength is in the wonderful places, oh God of Israel, giving strength and power to your people. The second lesson is 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 though something strange were happening to you.

But rejoice in so far as you are sharing Christ's sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. If you were reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed. You are blessed because the spirit of glory, which is the spirit of God, is resting on you.

Humble yourselves, therefore, 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 liar lion, your adversary, the devils prowl around looking for someone to devour. Resist him steadfast in your faith.

For you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the power forever and ever.

Amen. The word of the Lord. >> Thanks be to God.

>> Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelu shall we go?

You have the words of eternal life. Halleluah. Hallelu.

>> The Holy Gospel according to St. John the 17th chapter. Glory to you, Lord.

>> After Jesus had spoken these words to his disciples, he looked up to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come. Glorify your son so that the son may glorify you since you have given him authority over all people to give eternal life to all whom you have given him." and this is eternal life that they may know you, the only true God and Jesus 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 on your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed. I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours and you gave them to me and they have kept your word.

Now they know that everything you have given me is from you. For the words that you gave to me, I have given to them. and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you and they have believed that you sent me.

I am asking on their behalf. I'm 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 the world, but they are in the world. And I'm coming to you, holy father.

Protect them in your name that you have given me so that they may be one as we are one. The Gospel of the Lord to Christ. >> Please be seated.

The day that North Charleston teenagers Josh Long and Troy Driscoll were rescued after nearly a week a drift at sea dawned with a perfect sunrise. A rainbow and dolphins frolicking around their tiny sailboat. The AP writer reported, "It was amazing that morning.

Something felt different. A lot different." 17year-old Josh Long recalled, "I can honestly say that I had never given up hope. God had us in his hand the whole time." The two teens, best friends, had set out to fish near a sandbar a few dozen yards off Sullivan's Island in their small sailboat on that April Sunday of 2005.

The boat didn't have a sail or a mast. The teens just paddled around in the hall to fish. A rip tide suddenly swept them out to sea.

Seven days later, a drift at sea. I ask God, 15-year-old Troy Driscoll confessed. If it's your will that we not live, take us home.

If it not, send us a boat. After surviving on their faith, raw jellyfish and seaater, the two saw a fishing boat on the horizon later that same day. They were rescued off the North Carolina coast more than a 100 miles from where they set sail in South Carolina to fish.

Sometimes God sends us a boat to answer prayer. A very long time ago in answer to Jesus prayer, God created the church. Many of you have gathered here throughout the Easter season to worship and praise the risen Lord Jesus.

Over these weeks, we've been hearing from St. John the story of that last supper of Jesus with his followers. After Jesus had finished washing the feet of every disciple that night, he returned to his place at the table and began to talk about what was ahead for him.

His betrayal, his suffering, his death, his resurrection, and his departure. I will not leave you orphaned. He promised them and us last Sunday.

A little while and the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. It was just as he said it would be.

Jesus farewell discourses as biblical scholars call them concluded. But that wasn't all. Jesus began to pray.

And John 17 is Jesus great prayer for the church. The great prayer is our Lord's stream of consciousness about returning to the glory that was his before the world began. recalling his mission to make God known to his followers and acknowledging that all that he had come to do had been done.

Now they know Jesus acknowledged in prayer, "Father, that everything you've given me is from you. They know in truth that I have come from you and they believe that you have sent me. Holy Father, he prayed, protect them in your name that you have given me that they may be one as you and I are one.

When Gre when Jesus great prayer for the church ended, he got up from that table and with his disciples went out to the garden of Gethsemane. The last thing our Lord did at that last supper was to pray for his followers, the foundation of what would become after his resurrection, the church. John's gospel appeared very late in the first century.

By that time, everyone for whom Jesus had prayed that night was dead. What's the point of recalling a prayer for people who were dead? The answer is in those verses 6-8.

They were yours and you gave them to me and they have kept your word. For the words that you gave to me, I have given to them and they have received them and know that I came from you and have believed that you sent me. All of this St.

John recalls for the late first century church and for you and me today that there be may be no doubt in our minds about the unbroken continuity of Christ's church. The church was not then, nor is it today. A wonderful event that some well-intentioned people gathered together and start Christ's church of which grace is but one small part is something far greater than anything we can create.

The church is God's answer to Jesus prayer. I'm speaking now in the plural because Jesus speaks in the plural there in Acts 1, today's first reading. You plural speaking to all the followers who were gathered with our risen Lord on that 40th day after Easter as his postresurrection physical appearances neared an end.

It is not for you all of us everywhere to know God's divine timetable. Jesus responded to the Jewish follower who was expecting Jesus to restore the kingdom of David. But can you imagine with those 40 days after Jesus resurrection had been for his followers how much his physical presence and his words had strengthened them?

Did they have any idea how long it would last? By the time someone asked the risen Lord if the time had come for him to restore the kingdom to David, 43 days had passed since that last supper where Jesus prayed for his disciples and for you and me. Our Lord's death and resurrection was not just for his fellow Jews.

It was not to restore the kingdom to Israel. It was for all the world of all time. You, all of you, the church, he promised will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.

And you, all of you, the church across time in eternity, will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. The church is God's answer to Jesus great prayer. Within that gospel truth are three more great gospel truths.

First, a gospel truth about us. The church, not this building, but the communion of saints who gather in this holy place and all over the world on this Lord's day belong to God. All mine are yours and yours are mine and I have been glorified in them." Jesus prayed aloud that last night.

This isn't about you or me. It's about God. The church is not our doing.

It's God's doing. God is not ours. We belong to God.

That's what the wonderful testimony in First Peter that we've been reading now for seven weeks has been all about. God claimed us. Baptized into the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We didn't take on God's family. God adopted us. God gathered us into the kingdom of God.

We are adopted sons and daughters of God. The church is God's answer to Jesus great prayer. The second gospel truth about us, the church, the body of Christ on earth is that we are empowered by God's spirit, the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is not a special blessing of God resolved for those who earned it or deserve it or who even pray to receive it. Jesus breathed into them the Holy Spirit that Easter evening. John recalled, "God's Holy Spirit was poured out on more of Jesus faithful followers on that first Pentecost.

From the smallest, the youngest among us to the largest and oldest, God's gracious gift of God's Holy Spirit has come down through the ages from those first apostles through the laying on of hands. Generation after generation after generation, someone somewhere put his or her hands on you following the water baptism and began to pray, pour your Holy Spirit, and they called your name and then named the various gifts that the spirit will bring to your life. In that high and holy moment, you became a member of the empowered people of God.

The church, the church is God's answer to Jesus great prayer. the church, you and me and all the baptized people of God everywhere across this earth throughout time belong to God. We are the spirit empowered people of God.

So the third gospel truth about us is that we are God's witnesses before the world. You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, our risen Lord promised. And follow that with another great promise.

And you will be my witnesses from Jerusalem through Rock Hill to the ends of the earth. The grammar that our Lord used at his ascension to glory was not request. It was not invitation.

It was not even possibility. It was declaration, a statement of fact. If you are in the church, you belong to God.

You are empowered with the inddwelling spirit of the living God. And you are the risen Lord's witnesses before this world. In holy scriptures, especially the New Testament, the term witness has its linguistic roots in the word for martyr.

A witness is one who by personal experience and observation speaks the truth as they've come to experience personally. Many in those early decades of the church's history, beginning with Stephen, testified publicly to the truth about God as they had come to know it and the Lord's truth as they had come to hear from him and died for making their witness. Peter's letters are written to encourage the first century followers of Jesus who are suffering because of they what Jesus had said they would be witnesses to the world of God's saving love in Jesus Christ.

Devoted followers of Jesus Christ know that faith formation is a lifelong commitment to Bible reading to an active prayer life to worship with fellow believers. When your faith is no longer nourished in this way, you become weak and vulnerable. You become a prime target.

St. Peter knew that so very long ago. And so he warned believers, like a roaring lion, your adversary, the devil, prowls around looking for someone to devour.

Resist him, steadfast in your faith. Upon these gospel truths, we grow our faith over a lifetime. Troy Driscoll, the North Charleston teen whose prayer for a boat was answered, confessed to misgivings earlier in that week.

It was the first time he said that I really got angry with God in my life. I asked, "Why me? What did I do to deserve this?" From his personal experience of God's redeeming grace, I'm confident that his faith continues to grow.

Well, yours, will you claim those gospel truths for yourself and the life of faith to which our risen Lord has called you? Amen. The challenge of flight of the wind like the new Holy Spirit to the meers of Christ to the branches of the church to our gift.

Holy Spirit come with a healing of the ceaseless voice of prayer with the power to love with the peace beyond the Come Holy Spirit come with the whole church. Let us confess our faith using the words of the Apostles Creed. I believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontious Pilot, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day, he rose again.

He ascended into he is seated at the right hand of the father. And he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the holy spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of s, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Amen. Trusting in the power of Christ's resurrection to heal and redeem our broken world, let us pray for the needs of all creation. Oh God, your people sing praises throughout the church.

By your Holy Spirit, inspire musicians, deacons, pastors, and bishops to proclaim the gospel of Jesus. Merciful God, your creative power fills the universe. Bring favorable weather, nurture plants and animals, protect us from natural disasters, and guide us to care for all you have made.

Merciful God, your justice is ex exercised in society by those in authority. Instill in political leaders, business leaders, school administrators, and all who care for others a desire for peace and equity. Merciful God, your compassion and care come through the gifts of medicine.

and relationships. Soothe the anxious. Protect widows and orphans.

Comfort those living with memory loss and their families. And heal the sick, especially those we now, whether silently or aloud. Merciful God, your love radiates from communities gathered in your name.

Bless those experiencing significant transitions in life such as graduation, retirement, new employment, and accompany us in our prayers during these times. Merciful God. Oh God, your promise of eternal life is certain and sure.

Inspire us by the steadfast faith of those who have gone before us so that we may be confident in the assurance you give. Merciful God, >> receive our prayer. God of resurrection power, use us and these prayers to proclaim the good news of new life to all the world through Jesus Christ our savior and lord.

>> Amen. >> The peace of the Lord be with you always. >> We share a sign of peace with those around you.

The service continues with the offering. Let's give back to God from what God has given us first. In this time of desparing We believe in this broken generation.

We believe in God the Father. We believe in Jesus Christ. We believe in the Holy Spirit that he's given us new life.

We believe in the crucifixion. We believe that he conquered death. We believe in the resurrection.

And he's coming back again. Let our faith be greater than the songs we sing. And in our weakness and temptations, we believe.

We believe. We believe in God the Father. We believe in Jesus Christ.

We believe in the Holy Spirit. And he's given us new life. We believe in the crucif.

We believe that he conquered death. We believe in the resurrection and is coming back again. The lost be raised in the year and now of the church.

Our God will say we believe. We believe that the gates of hell will not prevail. The power of God and we know your love will never fail.

We believe. We believe in God the Father. We believe in Jesus Christ.

We believe in the Holy Spirit. And he's given us We believe in the crucifix. We believe that he conquered death.

We believe in the resurrection. And he's coming back. He's coming back again.

He's coming back again. We believe to the river of the sea. the harvest of the seeds that were gather.

Let us pray together. Merciful God, accept the fruits of our labor, gathered to give you glory. You have set a table before us, a glimpse of that great day when we will hunger and thirst no more.

Nourish us with the body and blood of Jesus that goodness and mercy may follow us and bless the world you love. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

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.

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. You call your people to cleanse their hearts and prepare with joy for the pascal feast that renewed in the gift of baptism we may come to the fullness of your grace. And so with all the choirs of angels with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn.

Holy, holy, holy Lord God of power and God almighty. Heaven and earth are full of your gloryana in the highest. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lordana in the highestana in the highest.

Blessed are you, oh God of the universe. Your mercy is everlasting and your faithfulness endures from age to age. Praise to you for creating the heavens and the earth.

Praise to you for saving the earth from the waters of the flood. Praise to you for bringing the Israelites safely through the sea. Praise to you for leading your people through the wilderness to the land of milk and honey.

Praise to you for the words and deeds of Jesus, your anointed one. Praise to you for the death and resurrection of Christ. Praise to you for your spirit poured out on all nations.

In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread and he 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 and he gave thanks and he gave it for all to drink, saying, "This cup is the new covenant, the new relationship in my blood shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Christ died.

Christ Hallelujah. Thanks be to God. Lamb of God, you take away the s of the world, have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take the s of the world, grant us peace. Grant Heat.

I am the bread of life and believe in me shall not come to me unless the father And I will raise you up. And I will raise you up. And I will raise you up on the last day.

The bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world. And if you eat of his bread, you shall live forever. You shall live forever.

And I will raise you up. And I will praise you all. And I will praise you.

and drink of his blood and drink of his blood. You shall have life within you. And I will raise you up.

And I will raise you up. And I will raise you up on the last day. I am the resurrection.

I am the light. You believe in me. Even though you die, you shall live forever.

And I will praise you. And I will raise you up. And I will raise you up on the last day.

Yes, Lord. I believe that you are the Christ, the son of God. You have come into the world.

And I will praise you. And I will praise you up. And I will raise you up on the last day.

Thank you. Now Christ First, Preach the cross where Christ renews his word. Baptize the son of the river.

Hallelu. Hallelu. Go to the world.

The word of God's redeeming grace. Seek God's presence in each time and space. Hallelu Hallelu to the world of blessed the night of tears great and joyous day Christl Hallelu the ones I said for I am with you till the ageall of glory of hallelujah.

Good morning. >> We welcome and are thankful for all who have worshiped together here in person and online. Today, the mission site profile task force requests your presence in the fellowship hall directly after the 8:30 service right now.

uh at the last of the three God's Vision for Grace meetings. Your completed anonymous questionnaires can be dropped off in the fellowship hall box or in the office until May 24th, whether you were able to attend or not. Um also, young youth will meet today at 3:30 and gym youth meet at 4:30 for their last meetings before the summer.

Thank you for all those who helped host our promised guest this week. If any among us have not yet had the opportunity to be part of this ministry, please consider doing so next time. On Thursday, May 21st, seniors at Grace meet in the Fellowship Hall at 11:30 for bingo.

Please RSVP by May 19th. Next Sunday, we celebrate the day of Pentecost in worship and invite all to wear the color red to church. For more details and other announcements, please check out this week's grace notes emailed every Tuesday.

Now, let us read our mission statement together. We share God's grace by welcoming all people, growing together in faith, and joining God's work in our community. Thanks be to God.

>> Hallelujah. Ahead.