BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//https://www.messiahofthemountains.org///NONSGML kigkonsult.se iCalcreator 2.10.15// METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT UID:20260419T124903UTC-33720hSvVr@https://www.messiahofthemountains.org/ DTSTAMP:20260419T124903Z 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.\n \nIntroduction\nIn t hese days between Ascension and Pentecost\, we gather with the disciples i n the upper room\, waiting for the Spirit to transform the church around t he world. In today’s gospel Jesus prays for his followers and for their mi ssion in his name. Amid religious\, social\, and economic divisions\, we s eek the unity that Jesus had with his Father. Made one in baptism\, we go forth to live our faith in the world\, eager for the unity that God intend s for the whole human family.\nPrayer of the Day\nO God of glory\, your So n Jesus Christ suffered for us and ascended to your right hand. Unite us w ith 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.\nAmen.\nFirst Reading: \nActs 1:6-14 Today’s reading is p art of the introduction to the narrative of the outpouring of the Spirit o n Pentecost. These verses tell of the risen Lord’s conversation with his d isciples on the eve of his ascension\, in which he promises that they will receive the power of the Holy Spirit.\nPsalm: 68:1-10\, 32-35\nSing to Go d\, who rides upon the clouds. (Ps. 68:4)\nSecond Reading:  \n1 Peter 4:12 -14\; 5:6-11 Our faith in Christ does not make us immune from the scorn of others. Nevertheless\, we are to resist the designs of evil when we exper ience disparagement from others because we trust God’s grace will strength en and guide us.\nGospel:  John 17:1-11\nOn the night before his crucifixi on\, Jesus prays to his heavenly Father\, asking that those who continue h is work in this world will live in unity.\n1  After Jesus had spoken these words [to his disciples\,] he looked up to heaven and said\, “Father\, th e hour has come\; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you\,\n2  s ince you have given him authority over all people\, to give eternal life t o all whom you have given him.\n3  And this is eternal life\, that they ma y know you\, the only true God\, and Jesus Christ\, whom you have sent.\n4  I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do.\n 5  So now\, Father\, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.  \n6  “I have made your na me known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours\, and y ou gave them to me\, and they have kept your word.\n7  Now they know that everything you have given me is from you\,\n8  for the words that you gave to me I have given to them\, and they have received them and know in trut h that I came from you\, and they have believed that you sent me.\n9  I am asking on their behalf\; I am not asking on behalf of the world but on be half of those whom you gave me\, because they are yours.\n10  All mine are yours\, and yours are mine\, and I have been glorified in them.\n11  And now I am no longer in the world\, but they are in the world\, and I am com ing to you. Holy Father\, protect them in your name that you have given me \, so that they may be one\, as we are one.”\n \nAfter the Sermon\, Holy C ommunion will be offered. Come as you are\, the gift of the Table of the L ord has been prepared as Jesus has requested and now we are invited to the meal. Come to the table like Peter\, with m ore enthusiasm than resolve a nd like James and John\, disappointed and the priorities of God’s reign. C ome to the table like Martha\, hosting and leading with confidence like Ma ry\, full of love and grief. Come to the table like Judas\, disillusioned and rebellious and like Mary Magdalene\, faithful till the end. Come to th e table\, because it is God who invites us and it’s God’s will that those who want to should meet God here.\nBlessing for the day (Our blessing is a n adaptation of a Franciscan Prayer)\nMay God bless us with discomfort at a Easy answers\, half truths and superficial leaderships so that we may li ve out God’s will deep in our heartland in our world.\nMay god bless with anger at injustice\, oppression and exploration and the environments that we may work for justice\, freedom and peace.\nMay God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain\, rejection\, hunger and war so tha t we may reach out with hands and hearts to help them\, walk with them and turn their pain into hope and joy.\nAnd may God bless us with enough fool ishness to believe that we can make a difference in this world\, so that w e can do what others claim cannot be done. To bring justice\, peace\, hope and love to all children\, the poor and all others in any need.\nGod be y our comfort\, your strength\;\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.messiahofthemounta ins.org/events/event/649-seventh-sunday-of-easter-year-a-worship-service-1 2-00-pm-service-pastor-naomi-carriker DTSTART:20260517T150000Z DTEND:20260517T160000Z LOCATION:Messiah Of The Mountains Lutheran Church (3690 US-19E\, Burnsville \, NC 28714\, USA) SUMMARY:Seventh Sunday of Easter -- Year A - Worship Service - 12:00 PM Se rvice -- Pastor Naomi Carriker URL:https://www.messiahofthemountains.org/events/event/649-seventh-sunday-o f-easter-year-a-worship-service-12-00-pm-service-pastor-naomi-carriker END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:20260419T124903UTC-3377LRxKXV@https://www.messiahofthemountains.org/ DTSTAMP:20260419T124903Z DESCRIPTION:Messiah of the Mountains collects contributions and give to the Reconciliation House.\nReconciliation House Mission.  Our mission is to p rovide physical assistance to families in crisis situations\, in many case s\, long-term suffering and financial poverty.\nA crisis may be defined as :\nHome fire or weather related disasters such as floods or storms\nMain b readwinner out of work due to job layoff\, injury\, or illness\nFamilies c aught up in generations of poverty due to minimal education and illiteracy \nDisabled and elderly people who cannot make ends meet on low\, fixed inc omes\nSingle parents trying to raise small children alone\nIndividuals who are under employed raising families on or barely above minimum wage\nSeas onal workers who cannot get work during the cold weather months Individual s who are transient\, homeless\, or stranded.\nPlease contribute if you ca n. https://www.messiahofthemountains.org/events/event/662-reconciliation-h ouse DTSTART:20260517T145800Z DTEND:20260517T145900Z LOCATION:Messiah Of The Mountains Lutheran Church (3690 US-19E\, Burnsville \, NC 28714\, USA) SUMMARY:Reconciliation House URL:https://www.messiahofthemountains.org/events/event/662-reconciliation-h ouse END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR