Bethlehem Lutheran ChurchEstablished 1874

Rev. Kerry B. Eversole, PastorDeacon Cindy Cordes-Eversole, Associate in Ministry

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 314, Lanesboro, MN 55949-0314Physical Address: 200 Kenilworth Ave S, Lanesboro, Minn.

Telephone: 507.467.3344E-mail Address: bethlehem@acegroup.ccWebsite: www.staronthehill.comFacebook Page: www.facebook.com/BethlehemLutheranLanesboro

Office Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.Parsonage Phone:

507.467.3017Pastor Kerry’s Cell Phone:

507.951.3954

Bethlehem Lutheran ChurchLanesboro, Minnesota

Day of Pentecost – Last Sunday of EasterSenior Recognition

May 23, 2021

On the day of Pentecost, there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where the disciples were. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. Acts 2:1-4

Welcome to worship at Bethlehem Lutheran Churchand our conclusion to the season of Easter!

Introduction to the Day. On the fiftieth day of Easter, the church celebrates the Holy Spirit, through whom and in whom the people of God are created and re-created. Pentecost is often called the birthday of the church but might more appropriately be called its baptism day, since the gift of the Spirit is the fullness of baptism. In today’s readings the Spirit brings the wideness of God’s mercy to places we least expect it — to dry bones, to a crowd of strangers of different lands and tongues, to our weak hearts. Jesus promises his disciples that they will be accompanied by the Holy Spirit, and that this Spirit reveals the truth. Today, we join the church in praying that God would send forth the flame of the Holy Spirit, guide it by the truth, and fill it with an abundance of gifts needed to carry out its baptismal mission. We pray that the Holy Spirit would lend fire to our words and strength to our witness. We ask that God would send us forth to proclaim with boldness the wondrous work of raising Jesus Christ, who is our life and our hope.

Being Together in Church in the Time of COVID-19. Church members and visitors are still required to wear a mask or face covering when in the building and during the service when they are able. They must sanitize their hands upon entering the church and frequently while in the building and wash their hands after using the lavatories. They must maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from people not in the same household. Please follow ushers’ directions when entering and exiting the sanctuary to maintain proper physical distancing including which pew you may sit in and where in the pew you may sit.

Worship Practices and Restrictions. Hymnals can be found in the pew racks. A full-service bulletin is placed on the pew where an individual worshipper may sit but it should not be shared. No shaking of hands, hugging, fist-bumping, high-fiving, etc., to greet one another before, during, or after worship. Instead, say “Good morning!” or “Glad you are here!” or “Hello!” … with eye contact! Speaking and singing will be permitted but only while wearing a face covering or mask. There will be no passing of offering plates. Plates are located at the entrances/exits where you can place your gifts which support Bethlehem’s various ministries.

Worship Book and Hymns. This morning’s service is printed in this bulletin. All of the hymns can be found in Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW), “the red book”, which are in the pew racks. Hymns in ELW are indicated by a large bold number in the left or right margin of each page.

Abbreviations. Throughout this worship folder hymns are signified by the pound symbol (#). P: refers to the presiding minister or preacher, A: denotes an assisting minister, and C: and/or bold text indicates the congregation.

Mistakes do not happen in our worship service;only unexpected events which are opportunities for joy!

An signifies that you may stand, as you are comfortably able.

GatheringThe Holy Spirit calls us together as the people of God.

MUSIC AS WE COME TOGETHER by Sue Holst

CALL TO WORSHIPP: Sisters and brothers, we are gathered today to celebrate the festival of

Pentecost.C: On Pentecost Day long ago, the Holy Spirit came upon the saints in

Jerusalem, just as Jesus promised.P: We also are gathered this morning to celebrate the birthday of the Christian

Church.C: May the Holy Spirit come upon our churches, filling our families and

our lives, just as it filled God’s people throughout the ages.P: We welcome the flame and power of the Spirit to confirm us as God’s

chosen and holy people and to energize our faith.C: We pray that the Holy Spirit will stir us to love and to serve and to

witness to God’s grace and mercy in Jesus Christ.

OPENING SONG O Day Full of Grace ELW # 627 Stanzas 1, 2, 3 and 4

GREETING

P: The joy and peace of our risen Savior, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

C: And also with you.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

P: Let us pray together.Mighty God,

Continued on the next pageAll: you breathe life into our bones, and your Spirit brings truth to the

world. Send us this Spirit, transform us by your truth, and give us language to proclaim your gospel, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

The Good News of God’s Spirit Among Us in WordGod speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching, and song.

FIRST READING Ezekiel 37:1-14

The Hebrew word ruach can be translated as “spirit”, “wind”, or “breath”. This reading plays on these different meanings of the word. Just as the dry bones in Ezekiel’s vision are given new life, flesh, and breath (or spirit), so God will give the exiles God’s own spirit and will bring them home to the land of Israel.37:1The hand of the LORD came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said to me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O LORD GOD, you know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus says the LORD GOD to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the LORD.”So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me,

“Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the LORD GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.Then he said to me, “Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.’ Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the LORD GOD: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the LORD,

Continued on the next page.when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken and will act, says the LORD.”

A: Word of God, word of life.C: Thanks be to God.

SECOND READING Acts 2:1-21

Originally Pentecost was a Jewish thanksgiving-type festival celebrated seven weeks after Passover, perhaps celebrating the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai after the Exodus. On this Pentecost, the Holy Spirit is poured out upon the entire community of believers just as Jesus promised before he ascended into heaven (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8), and the scriptures had prophesied (Joel 2:28-32). Through signs of wind, fire, and a variety of languages, the entire community bears witness to God’s activity before the gathered and astonished people assembled in Jerusalem for the festival.2:1When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and

Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, bothJews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power.” All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”But 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. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

Continued on the next page.‘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.Even upon my slaves, both men and women,

in those days I will pour out my Spirit;and they shall prophesy.

And I will show portents in the heaven aboveand signs on the earth below,

blood, and fire, and smoky mist.The sun shall be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood,before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day.

Then everyone who calls on thename of the Lord shall be saved.’”

A: Word of God, word of life.C: Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Spirit of the Living God Printed at the end of the bulletin.

GOSPEL John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15

Announcement of the Gospel.

P: The Holy Gospel according to Saint John, the fifteenth chapter.C: Glory to you, O Lord.

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.15:26[Jesus said,] “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. You 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. But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled

Continued on the next page.your hearts. Nevertheless 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. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When 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. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

Affirmation of the Gospel.

P: The Pentecost gospel of our Lord.C: Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON Deacon Cindy

SONG OF THE DAY Gracious Spirit, Heed Our Pleading ELW # 401 Stanzas 1, 2, 3 and 5

Responding to the Good News of God’s Spirit Among UsBLESSING OUR GRADUATES A Litany of Faith and Courage

P: God of Abraham and Sarah, you led your people in the past; lead our graduates now.

A: Grant them the strength of Noah to face laughter and scorn, the courage of Ruth to leave behind the old and familiar, the hope of Jeremiah to invest in the future, and the unselfishness of Esther to put their own lives in danger for the sake of others.

P: God of Moses and Miriam, you delivered your chosen people and led them through the wilderness. Give our graduates protection, guidance, power, and strength on their journey through life.

A: God of Deborah and Gideon, you have given us leaders to bring us back when we wander from you. Give our daughters and sons leaders and deliverers and grant them wisdom to follow them.

Continued on the next page.P: God of Peter and John and Mary Magdalene, you have called us to follow

Jesus. Teach our children to work together in mutual responsibility, side-by-side, neither tagging behind nor shoving to the front.

A: God of Paul and Pricilla and Aquila, your apostles risked their lives for the sake of the gospel. Fill our children with enthusiasm for your word, and help them to say as did Isaiah, “Here am I. Send me.”

P: Use our children in building up the church, in joining its various expressions and congregations for ministry to the whole world.

A: God of our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself in love for the whole world, teach these young men and women so to love. Grant them the Spirit of Christ, who came not to be served, but to serve.

P: Gracious God, I ask you to also bless the parents of these young people, who have raised their children and nourished them in the Christian faith. Give them strength in your continuing presence and give them many joyful reunions with their daughters and sons.

A: And now, let us all join in saying to our graduates:

All: Go out into the world in peace; be of good courage; hold fast to what is good; return no one evil for evil; strengthen the faint-hearted; support the weak; help the suffering; honor all people; love and serve our God, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

ANTHEM Let Us Serve Him Bethlehem Choir

PRAYERS OF GOD’S PEOPLE

After the last prayer all sing ELW # 752 Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying

LORD’S PRAYER Traditional WordingP: O God, as you sent upon the disciples the promised gift of the Holy Spirit,

look upon your whole church and open our hearts to the power of the Spirit. Kindle in us the fire of your love, and strengthen our lives for service, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who taught us to pray:

Continued on the next page.

All: 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.

SendingGod blesses us and sends us in mission to the world.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

BLESSINGP: 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.

C: Amen.

CLOSING SONG God of Tempest, God of Whirlwind ELW # 400 Stanzas 1, 2 and 4

DISMISSAL

A: Alleluia! Christ is risen.C: Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!A: Go in peace. Share the good news. Alleluia!C: Thanks be to God. Alleluia!

SENDING MUSIC by Sue Holst

Bethlehem Lutheran Church Youthwho are members of the

Class of 2021Ryleigh Alery, Lanesboro High School

Caden Anderson, Lanesboro High SchoolCale Anderson, Lanesboro High School

Esme Decker, John Marshal High SchoolBenjamin Eversole, Lanesboro High School

Logan Jensson, Lanesboro High SchoolRyan Kelly, Lanesboro High School

Jared Peterson, Lanesboro High SchoolPablo Ruen, Lanesboro High School

Kendall Stettler, Lanesboro High SchoolSydney Taylor, Lanesboro High SchoolDevin Troendle, Lanesboro High School

AcknowledgementsPermission to Podcast / Stream provided by Christian Copyright Licensing International, Inc., under License # 11459672. Additional fee paid. www.ccli.com.

Permission to Podcast / Stream provided by One License, Inc., under License # A-735588. Additional fee paid. www.onelicense.net.

Permission to project, livestream, or podcast liturgy and music content under copyright to or administered by Augsburg Fortress provided under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License SAS103296.

PowerPoint® Slides, Worship Texts, and Graphics are from sundaysandseasons.com © 2021 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Used by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License SAS103296.

The Call to Worship is reprinted by permission of the publisher from Plain Talk Before God: The Language of Worship, compiled by Handt A. Hanson and Paul Y. Murakami. Copyright © 1992 Prince of Peace Publishing, Inc./Changing Church, Inc.

The Litany of Faith and Courage is reprinted by permission of the publisher from Bread for the Journey: Resources for Worship, edited by Ruth C. Duck. Copyright © 1981 The Pilgrim Press.

Spirit of the Living God Text: Daniel Iverson © 1935, renewed 1963 Birdwing Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing). Music: Daniel Iverson © 1935, renewed 1963 Birdwing Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing). Used by permission of Christian Copyright Licensing International under CCLI License # 11459672. CCLI Song # 23488. www.ccli.com.

Prayer RequestsIn Our Community. For our church members and friends living with chronic illness and other diseases, homebound, residing in care facilities, and hospitalized. See the newsletter for our members living in area nursing homes. And let us not forget those sick and dying of COVID-19.

In Our Synod. Bishop Regina Hassanally invites the congregations of our synod to make a commitment to pray this week for the following faith communities: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Rochester; Greenfield Lutheran Church, Harmony; Ulemo Lutheran Church, Tanzania; Ntwike Lutheran Church, Tanzania; Asivida Ministry, Colombia; and Ihanja Technical School, Tanzania.

News and NotesGEV Registration Open for Summer Programming. After prayerful discernment, the staff and board of Good Earth Village have decided that our program focus this summer will be intergenerational overnight camps and one-day adventure experiences. We are excited to offer wonderful, themed days for K-12 grade campers and faith-filled family experiences onsite. Visit our website for camp descriptions, dates, and pricing. www.goodearthvillage.org.

This Week in Our CongregationToday, Sunday, May 23 — Day of Pentecost — Senior Recognition

7 & 8 grade Confirmation session 10:15 AM

Next Sunday, May 30 — Holy Trinity — First Sunday after Pentecost

Spirit of the Living God

Let Us Serve Him

Words by Don Besig and Nancy PriceMusic by Don Besig

If we walk within His lightHe will guide each step we take.

He will keep us in his sightand bring us back if we go astray.

When the road is dark and coldwe will have His hand to hold,and if we put our trust in Him,

we'll see a brand new day begin.

Let us go and let us serve Him with a love for all to see.Let us show that we have heard Him

and we believe, yes we believe.

When we talk with Him in prayerHe will hear each word we say.When we're safe within His care

we know that He will show us the way.

There's no need to live in fearfor our God is always near.Yes, He loves us ev'ry one

and we must see His work is done.

Let us go and let us serve Him with a love for all to see.Let us show that we have heard Him

and we believe, yes we believe, yes we believe.

Let us go and let us serve Him with a love for all to see.Let us show that we have heard Him

and we believe, we believe, yes, we believe.