Worship Bulletin for 6th Sunday of Easter 5/10/2026
6TH SUNDAY OF EASTER
MOTHER’S DAY
05-10-2026 10:00AM Worship (in person and online)
+ WE ANNOUNCE THE VICTORY +
THE OPENING RITE FOR EASTER 6:
L As an old Christian song reminds us, all around this world, “Some folk would rather have houses and land.”
C “Some folk choose silver and gold.”
L “These things they treasure and forget about their souls.”
C “But I have decided to make Jesus my choice.”
L It seems like anything and everything is worshipped by somebody.
C And some people even worship an “unknown god”, which is like worshipping “WHATEVER”.
L Many seek and search all over, and they find no lasting peace, real power, or worthy promise.
C But I have decided to make Jesus my choice.
L Yes, my path is set – I will try to love and trust God like Jesus did.
C I will try to love and serve the world like Jesus commands.
L I will seek the advice and strength of the Holy Spirit.
C For I have decided to make Jesus my choice.
L Even if I struggle, even if I suffer, I will try to give witness to God’s love.
C Jesus is risen, Jesus is alive, and Jesus is Lord! Alleluia!
OPENING SONG: “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” Tan #440 (different tune)
CELEBRATION OF NEW LIFE IN CHRIST:
L Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Obedience is the key to right relationship with God, and
the most obedient we can ever be is to love the whole world as Jesus commands. Jesus assures his believers that we are
are not left to ourselves like “orphans” to do this alone, because we can’t. The presence and the power of the Holy Spirit
provides us the will and the way to love. Let the full life of the Risen Christ be in you by loving Him faithfully and by loving
one another freely. In this way you will never be alone. I invite you to practice some love right now by turning to a neighbor,
making the sign of the cross on their forehead and saying –
C “Receive [+] the sign of the cross. Because HE died, YOU are alive!”
THE PEACE GREETING… We share the peace, love, and forgiveness of the RISEN CHRIST!
SONG OF PRAISE: “Lord, I lift your name on high, Lord, I love to sing your praises.
I’m so glad you’re in my life, I’m so glad you came to save us.
You came from heaven to earth to show the way;
from the earth to the cross, my debt to pay;
from the cross to the grave, from the grave to the sky; Lord, I lift your name on high!”
THE PRAYER OF THE DAY:
Dear God, you overflow with love, and you desire that we love one another. As a mother hen cares for her
chicks, bless all who provide motherly care to others. And please spark me with your Holy Spirit to start right where I am, giving witness of God’s love through Jesus Christ to someone somewhere sometime. Amen.
+ WE PROCLAIM GOD’S SAVING WORD +
FIRST READING: ACTS 17:22-31
[In Athens, Paul sees that many are searching for beliefs. But handmade gods + unknown gods have their limits.]
SECOND READING: 1 PETER 3:13 – 22
[If we suffer because of our faith, trust that those “nail holes in our wrists” will help ventilate our souls through Christ’s victory.]
GOSPEL VERSE: “Oh, how He loves you and me. Oh, how He loves you and me.
He gave His life, what more can He give?
OH, HOW HE LOVES YOU; OH, HOW HE LOVES ME;
OH, HOW HE LOVES YOU AND ME!
Jesus to Calv’ry did go, His love for this world to show.
What He did there brought hope from despair…”
THE HOLY GOSPEL: JOHN 14:15-21
[Your “paraclete” – not parakeet – is chirping! That’s the Greek word for the Holy Spirit, with you and in you to support you!]
SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
THE SERMON: Stephanie Fluellen and Carol Chatman, members of St. Peter’s
SONG RESPONSE: “ I’ve Got a Feelin’ ” Tan #313
A CONFESSION OF FAITH (words written by the late humble and faithful South African Bishop Desmond Tutu):
Goodness is stronger than evil;
Love is stronger than hate;
light is stronger than darkness;
life is stronger than death;
and victory is ours through God who loves us. Amen.
THE PRAYERS… We pray that all people might be transformed by the GOOD NEWS of Easter!
+ WE SHARE GOD’S NOURISHING MEAL +
TITHES (10% giving) AND GIFTS
We are, through the promised Holy Spirit, given the strength and the guidance to be the risen body of Jesus Christ
in a suffering and searching world. In the Sanctuary you can put your offering in the offering plate to help do this. Farther away, you can: mail a check or money order to St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2169 74th Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19138… or contribute online through bit.ly/stpetersgiving and set up a one-time donation or a recurring weekly gift to the categories you select… or text Give+ at 833-914-0896 and follow the instructions for your contribution. Tell the story that saves lives through love.
SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
THE OFFERTORY SONG: “Get all excited, go tell ev’rybody that Jesus Christ is King! [sing this line 3 times]
Jesus Christ is still the King of kings, the King of kings!”
OFFERING PRAYER led by the Communion Assistant:
O God, it is only by your amazing grace that we are Easter-alive today! We dedicate our gifts and our lives
to drying tears and sharing good news of peace. Make us bold and eager witnesses to others of NEW LIFE
IN CHRIST. Amen.
THE PREFACE… We prepare to celebrate the LORD’S SUPPER with humble joy!
L The Lord be with you. C And also with you.
L Lift up your hearts! C We lift them up in love for God!
L Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. C It is right to give God our thanks and praise.
L The Lord delivers us from sin and death… C … and grants us salvation and eternal life!
L [continues the Preface]… we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
C [singing…] “Holy, holy, holy, holy,
holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!
and we lift our hearts before you as a token of our love,
holy, holy, holy, holy.
Precious Jesus, precious Jesus,
We’re so glad that you redeemed us, precious Jesus…
Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit,
come and fill our hearts anew, O Holy Spirit…”
THE EUCHARISTIC WORDS by the Celebrant, who recalls and re-enacts Jesus’ Holy Meal.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
COMMUNION AND BLESSINGS… All believers in Christ are welcome at the Lord’s Table! You may come up by the center
and kneel or stand at the altar. Get an empty glass as you come up if you want wine from the chalice; we will also have a tray of poured glasses of grape juice at the altar. You may return to your seats by the side aisles. TO GIVE US LIFE, HE WAS WILLING TO DIE! WHEN WE EAT THIS BREAD AND DRINK THIS CUP, WE REMEMBER HIS DEATH… PROCLAIM HIS RESURRECTION… AND LOOK FORWARD TO HIS RETURN.
COMMUNION SONGS: Tan #410 Tan #566
THE COMMUNION BLESSING by the Celebrant after all have communed.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER by the Communion Assistant.
+ WE ARE SENT TO SHOW AND TELL +
THE BENEDICTION… Leave with a message upon your heart, on your lips, and revealed through your daily living: I have
seen the Lord! Go in the faith-filled power of the Risen Lord (+) to love God and to serve your neighbor in all that you do.
CLOSING SONG: “He Lives” Tan #275