Worship Bulletin 7th Sunday in Easter 5/17/2026
7TH SUNDAY OF EASTER
05-17-2026 10:00AM Worship (in person and online)
+ WE ANNOUNCE THE VICTORY +
OPENING SONG: “Jesus Shall Reign” Tan #289
OPENING RITE FOR EASTER 7 AND THE EASTER PEACE:
L Alleluia! Christ is risen.
C Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!
L He who came to save us…
C is risen and ascended!
L He who bled and died…
C is crowned with glory at the Father’s side!
L He who conquered Satan, sin, and death…
C will come again to judge the living and the dead!
L Death, despair, and the devil don’t have the last word.
C We are an Easter people, always rising!
L Therefore, let weeping turn to laughing,
let sorrow turn to joy,
let death turn to life,
let uncertainty turn to assurance,
let hesitation turn to proclamation,
C and let there be hope when hope is gone!
L Sisters and brothers, it is in Christ that we live and move and have our being… and it is in Christ that we are brought
together in unity as one to receive his Spirit, to take up his mission of love, and to bring harmony to a disordered world.
Let us affirm this mission of love and practice this oneness here and now…
[Each person will turn to a neighbor, make the sign of the cross on the forehead, and say…]
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 (together):
Dear God of glory and power, with one heart we pray for the Spirit to stir us once more with life… and with one
mind let us focus on our common witness of making Christ known to others in suffering and in joy. Amen.
+ WE PROCLAIM GOD’S SAVING WORD +
FIRST READING: ACTS 1:6-14
[A PROMISE of power to wait for!]
SECOND READING: 1 PETER 4:12-14; 5:6-11
[A PLEA to be steadfast in doing faith!]
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 17:1-11
[A PRAYER that all believers are united in loving!]
SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
THE SERMON: The Rev. Dr. Mark Bethala, a servant leader of God’s love
SONG RESPONSE: “Somebody Prayed for Me” Tan #505
AN AFFIRMATION OF OUR FAITH (The Apostles’ Creed):
L Living in the joy and the power of the Risen Lord, let us boldly confess our faith…
C I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and
born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He
descended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the
right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the
resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. 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
God has faith in us to live and spread the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ through our words, our deeds, our
loving, our sharing. In the Sanctuary you can put your offering in the offering plate to help do this.
Or you can: mail a check or money order to St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2169
74th Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19138… 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. God has given us
power and various resources to share and to serve.
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 #441 Tan #456
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: “Revive Us Again” Tan #275