BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//https://www.messiahofthemountains.org///NONSGML kigkonsult.se iCalcreator 2.10.15// METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT UID:20260419T112037UTC-285776CCGA@https://www.messiahofthemountains.org/ DTSTAMP:20260419T112037Z 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\nAs w e continue to celebrate the fifty days of Easter\, today’s gospel includes Jesus’ promise that he goes to prepare a place for his followers in his F ather’s house. Our baptism commissions us to share Jesus’ mission in the w orld. As 1 Peter reminds us\, we are a holy people\, called to proclaim th e one who called us out of darkness into light. In words and deeds we bear witness to the risen Christ—our way\, our truth\, our life.\nPrayer of th e Day\nAlmighty God\, your Son Jesus Christ is the way\, the truth\, and t he life. Give us grace to love one another\, to follow in the way of his c ommandments\, and to share his risen life with all the world\, for he live s and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\, one God\, now and forever.\nAm en.\nFirst Reading: \nActs 7:55-60 Stephen was one of the seven men chosen by the apostles to serve tables so that the apostles could be free to ser ve the word (Acts 6:1-6). Stephen does more than distribute food\, however . For his preaching of God’s word\, he becomes the first martyr of the fai th.\nPsalm: 31:1-5\, 15-16\nInto your hands\, O Lord\, I commend my spirit . (Ps. 31:5)\n \nSecond Reading:  \n1 Peter 2:2-10 Christ is the cornersto ne of God’s saving work and the foundation of our lives. We are God’s chos en\, holy people who continuously celebrate and declare the mercy of God w e experience through Jesus Christ.\n \nGospel:  John 14:1-14\nOn the night that he is to be arrested\, Jesus shares final words with his disciples. As the one through whom God is known\, he promises to go before them and a ct on their behalf. [Jesus said to the disciples:]\n1  “Do not let your he arts be troubled. Believe in God\; believe also in me.\n2  In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so\, would I have tol d you that I go to prepare a place for you?\n3  And if I go and prepare a place for you\, I will come again and will take you to myself\, so that wh ere I am\, there you may be also.\n4  And you know the way to the place wh ere I am going.”\n5  Thomas said to him\, “Lord\, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”\n6  Jesus said to him\, “I am the wa y and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me .\n7  If you know me\, you will know my Father also. From now on you do kn ow him and have seen him.”  \n8  Philip said to him\, “Lord\, show us the Father\, and we will be satisfied.”\n9  Jesus said to him\, “Have I been w ith you all this time\, Philip\, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say\, ‘Show us the Father’?\n10  Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The w ords that I say to you I do not speak on my own\, but the Father who dwell s in me does his works.\n11  Believe me that I am in the Father and the Fa ther is in me\, but if you do not\, then believe because of the works them selves.\n12  Very truly\, I tell you\, the one who believes in me will als o do the works that I do and\, in fact\, will do greater works than these\ , because I am going to the Father.\n13  I will do whatever you ask in my name\, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. \n14  If in my name you ask me for anything\, I will do it.”\n \nAfter the Sermon\, Holy Comm union will be offered. 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 me al. Come to the table 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 like Mary Magdalene\, faithful till the end. Come to the t able\, 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 an a daptation of a Franciscan Prayer)\nMay God bless us with discomfort at a E asy 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 ang er 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 that w e may reach out with hands and hearts to help them\, walk with them and tu rn their pain into hope and joy.\nAnd may God bless us with enough foolish ness to believe that we can make a difference in this world\, so that we c an do what others claim cannot be done. To bring justice\, peace\, hope an d love to all children\, the poor and all others in any need.\nGod be your comfort\, your strength\;\nGod be your hope and support\;\nGod be your li ght 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/647-fifth-sunday-of-easter-year-a-worship-service-12-00- pm-service-pastor-naomi-carriker DTSTART:20260503T150000Z DTEND:20260503T160000Z LOCATION:Messiah Of The Mountains Lutheran Church (3690 US-19E\, Burnsville \, NC 28714\, USA) SUMMARY: Fifth Sunday of Easter -- Year A - Worship Service - 12:00 PM Serv ice -- Pastor Naomi Carriker URL:https://www.messiahofthemountains.org/events/event/647-fifth-sunday-of- easter-year-a-worship-service-12-00-pm-service-pastor-naomi-carriker END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR