BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//https://www.messiahofthemountains.org///NONSGML kigkonsult.se iCalcreator 2.10.15// METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT UID:20260419T124855UTC-19381irU85@https://www.messiahofthemountains.org/ DTSTAMP:20260419T124855Z DESCRIPTION: \nWe gather each Sunday at 11:00 am for worship by singing hym ns\, hearing readings from the bible\, praying together and a celebration of Holy Communion. Communion is the spiritual bread our bodies need to liv e. All are invited to join us at the Lord's table to be fed by his heavenl y food\, There are no strangers in God’s house\, and if you choose to wors hip with us\, we would be honored by your presence.\nIntroduction\nJesus d oes not abandon his followers. Through the Holy Spirit\, Jesus comes to ab ide with his disciples of every generation. As Pentecost draws near\, we a re reminded that the risen Christ dwells in us as the Spirit of truth. We receive this Spirit in baptism and pray that in our gathering around the L ord’s table the Spirit will transform us to be the body of the risen Chris t in the world.\nPrayer of the Day\nAlmighty and ever-living God\, you hol d together all things in heaven and on earth. In your great mercy receive the prayers of all your children\, and give to all the world the Spirit of your truth and peace\, through Jesus Christ\, our Savior and Lord\, who l ives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\, one God\, now and forever. \nAmen.\nFirst Reading: \nActs 17:22-31 In Athens\, Paul faces the challen ge of proclaiming the gospel to Greeks who know nothing of either Jewish o r Christian tradition. He proclaims that the “unknown god” whom they worsh ip is the true Lord of heaven and earth who will judge the world with just ice through Jesus\, whom God has raised from the dead.\n \nPsalm: 66:8-20 \nBless our God\, you peoples\; let the sound of praise be heard. (Ps. 66: 8)\n \nSecond Reading:  \n1 Peter 3:13-22 The author of 1 Peter encourages Christians to remain faithful even in the face of defamation and persecut ion. In baptism we are made clean to act in accordance with what is right. \n \nGospel:  John 14:15-21\nIn final words to his disciples on the night of his arrest\, Jesus encourages obedience to his commandments and speaks of the Spirit\, who will be with them forever. [Jesus said to the disciple s:]\n15  “If you love me\, you will keep my commandments.\n16  And I will ask the Father\, and he will give you another Advocate\, to be with you fo rever.\n17  This is the Spirit of truth\, whom the world cannot receive be cause it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him because he abides wi th you\, and he will be in you.  \n18  “I will not leave you orphaned\; I am coming to you.\n19  In a little while the world will no longer see me\, but you will see me\; because I live\, you also will live.\n20  On that d ay you will know that I am in my Father\, and you in me\, and I in you.\n2 1  They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me\, and those who love me will be loved by my Father\, and I will love them and r eveal myself to them.”\n \nAfter the Sermon\, Holy Communion will be offer ed. Come as you are\, the gift of the Table of the Lord has been prepared as Jesus has requested and now we are invited to the meal. Come to the tab le like Peter\, with m ore enthusiasm than resolve and like James and John \, disappointed and the priorities of God’s reign. Come to the table like Martha\, hosting and leading with confidence like Mary\, full of love and grief. Come to the table like Judas\, disillusioned and rebellious and lik e Mary Magdalene\, faithful till the end. Come to the table\, because it i s God who invites us and it’s God’s will that those who want to should mee t God here.\nBlessing for the day (Our blessing is an adaptation of a Fran ciscan Prayer)\nMay God bless us with discomfort at a Easy answers\, half truths and superficial leaderships so that we may live out God’s will deep in our heartland in our world.\nMay god bless with anger at injustice\, o ppression and exploration and the environments that we may work for justic e\, freedom and peace.\nMay God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain\, rejection\, hunger and war so that we may reach out wit h hands and hearts to help them\, walk with them and turn their pain into hope and joy.\nAnd may God bless us with enough foolishness to believe tha t we can make a difference in this world\, so that we can do what others c laim cannot be done. To bring justice\, peace\, hope and love to all child ren\, the poor and all others in any need.\nGod be your comfort\, your str ength\;\nGod be your hope and support\;\nGod be your light and your way\; and the blessing of God Creator\, Redeemer and Giver of Life\, remain with you now and forever. https://www.messiahofthemountains.org/events/event/6 48-sixth-sunday-of-easter-year-a-worship-service-12-00-pm-service-pastor-n aomi-carriker DTSTART:20260510T150000Z DTEND:20260510T160000Z LOCATION:Messiah Of The Mountains Lutheran Church (3690 US-19E\, Burnsville \, NC 28714\, USA) SUMMARY: Sixth Sunday of Easter- Year A - Worship Service - 12:00 PM Servic e -- Pastor Naomi Carriker URL:https://www.messiahofthemountains.org/events/event/648-sixth-sunday-of- easter-year-a-worship-service-12-00-pm-service-pastor-naomi-carriker END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR