BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//https://www.messiahofthemountains.org///NONSGML kigkonsult.se iCalcreator 2.10.15// METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT UID:20260419T092008UTC-6910j6h3c5@https://www.messiahofthemountains.org/ DTSTAMP:20260419T092008Z 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\nToda y’s gospel begins with two disciples walking to Emmaus\, overcome with sad ness\, loss\, and disappointment. They had hoped Jesus\, who was crucified \, would be the one to redeem Israel! Yet the risen Christ walks with them and then opens their eyes in the breaking of the bread. Each Sunday our h earts burn within us as the scriptures are proclaimed and Christ appears t o us as bread is broken and wine is poured. The story of Emmaus becomes th e pattern of our worship each Lord’s day.\nPrayer of the Day\nO God\, your Son makes himself known to all his disciples in the breaking of bread. Op en the eyes of our faith\, that we may see him in his redeeming work\, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit\, one God\, now and forever .\nAmen.\n \nFirst Reading: Acts 2:14a\, 36-41\nToday’s reading is the con clusion of Peter’s sermon preached following the giving of the Holy Spirit to the apostles on the day of Pentecost. The center of his preaching is t he bold declaration that God has made the crucified Jesus both Lord and Ch rist.\n \nPsalm: 116:1-4\, 12-19\nI will call on the name of the Lord. (Ps . 116:13)\n \nSecond Reading:  1 Peter 1:17-23\nThe imagery of exile is us ed to help the readers of this letter understand that they are strangers i n a strange land. Christians no longer belong to this age. Through the dea th of Christ we belong to God\, so that our focus\, faith\, and hope are n o longer on such things as silver or gold.\n \nGospel:  Luke 24:13-35\nThe colorful story of Jesus’ appearance to two disciples on the road to Emmau s answers the question of how Jesus is to be recognized among us. Here\, h e is revealed through the scriptures and in the breaking of bread.\n13  No w on that same day two [disciples] were going to a village called Emmaus\, about seven miles from Jerusalem\,\n14  and talking with each other about all these things that had happened.\n15  While they were talking and disc ussing\, Jesus himself came near and went with them\,\n16  but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.\n17  And he said to them\, “What are you d iscussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still\, lookin g sad.\n18  Then one of them\, whose name was Cleopas\, answered him\, “Ar e you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that hav e taken place there in these days?”\n19  He asked them\, “What things?” Th ey replied\, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth\, who was a prophet might y in deed and word before God and all the people\,\n20  and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him.\n21  But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes\, an d besides all this\, it is now the third day since these things took place .\n22  Moreover\, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the t omb early this morning\,\n23  and when they did not find his body there th ey came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive.\n24  Some of those who were with us went to the to mb and found it just as the women had said\, but they did not see him.”\n2 5  Then he said to them\, “Oh\, how foolish you are and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared!\n26  Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory? ”\n27  Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets\, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.  \n28  As they came n ear the village to which they were going\, he walked ahead as if he were g oing on.\n29  But they urged him strongly\, saying\, “Stay with us\, becau se it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them\, he took bread\, bl essed and broke it\, and gave it to them.\n31  Then their eyes were opened \, and they recognized him\, and he vanished from their sight.\n32  They s aid to each other\, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was ta lking to us on the road\, while he was opening the scriptures to us?”\n33  That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem\, and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together.\n34  They were saying\, “T he Lord has risen indeed\, and he has appeared to Simon!”\n35  Then they t old what had happened on the road and how he had been made known to them i n the breaking of the bread.\n \nAfter the Sermon\, Holy Communion will be offered. Come as you are\, the gift of the Table of the Lord has been pre pared as Jesus has requested and now we are invited to the meal. Come to t he table like Peter\, with m ore enthusiasm than resolve and like James an d John\, disappointed and the priorities of God’s reign. Come to the table like Martha\, hosting and leading with confidence like Mary\, full of lov e and grief. Come to the table like Judas\, disillusioned and rebellious a nd like Mary Magdalene\, faithful till the end. Come to the table\, becaus e it is God who invites us and it’s God’s will that those who want to shou ld meet God here.\nBlessing for the day (Our blessing is an adaptation of a Franciscan Prayer)\nMay God bless us with discomfort at a Easy answers\, half truths and superficial leaderships so that we may live out God’s wil l deep in our heartland in our world.\nMay god bless with anger at injusti ce\, oppression and exploration and the environments that we may work for justice\, freedom and peace.\nMay God bless us with tears to shed for thos e who suffer from pain\, rejection\, hunger and war so that we may reach o ut 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 foolishness to belie ve that we can make a difference in this world\, so that we can do what ot hers claim cannot be done. To bring justice\, peace\, hope and love to all children\, the poor and all others in any need.\nGod be your comfort\, yo ur 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\, remai n with you now and forever. https://www.messiahofthemountains.org/events/e vent/651-third-sunday-of-easter-year-a-worship-service-12-00-pm-service-pa stor-naomi-carriker DTSTART:20260419T150000Z DTEND:20260419T160000Z LOCATION:Messiah Of The Mountains Lutheran Church (3690 US-19E\, Burnsville \, NC 28714\, USA) SUMMARY: Third Sunday of Easter -- Year A - Worship Service - 12:00 PM Serv ice -- Pastor Naomi Carriker URL:https://www.messiahofthemountains.org/events/event/651-third-sunday-of- easter-year-a-worship-service-12-00-pm-service-pastor-naomi-carriker END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR