Our next Sunday service | stlukes-classic

Sunday May 24, 2026

Holy Eucharist

10:00 AM

The organ prelude is selected and played by organist Karlaine Livingston.

After the prelude, the church bell is rung inviting the passing populace to our service. A moment of silence is then observed.

The congregation is invited to stand.

Entrance Hymn

# 450 The Hymnal 1982

Minister: Alleluia. Christ is risen.
People: Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia

Minister: Let us pray.

Minister and People:

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Song of Praise

#S-280 The Hymnal 1982

Minister: God be with you.
People: And also with you.

Minister: Let us pray.

The Collect for the Seventh Sunday of Easter

Minister and People: O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen (Revised Common Lectionary Prayers)

First Reading

Acts of the Apostles 1:8-14

Lector: A Reading from Acts of the Apostles

6When [the apostles] had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” 12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. 13When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

Lector: Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.
People: Thanks be to God.

PSALM 68:1-10, 33-36

Arise, O God, and let your enemies be scattered; * let those who hate you flee before you.
Let them vanish like smoke when the wind drives it away; * as the wax melts at the fire, so let the wicked perish at your presence, O God.
But let the righteous be glad and rejoice before you; * let them also be merry and joyful.
We sing praises to your holy Name; we exalt the One who rides upon the heavens; * yours is the Name in which we rejoice!
Guardian of orphans, defender of widows, * God, in your holy habitation!
You give the solitary a home and bring forth prisoners into freedom, * but the rebels shall live in dry places.
O God, when you went forth before your people, * when you marched through the wilderness,
The earth shook, and the skies poured down rain at the presence of God, the God of Sinai, * at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
You sent a gracious rain, O God, upon your inheritance; * you refreshed the land when it was weary.
Your people found their home in it; * in your goodness, O God, you have made provision for the poor.

33. Sing to God, O nations of the earth; * sing praises to the Holy One,

34. Who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens, * who sends forth a voice, a mighty voice.

35. Ascribe power to God, * whose majesty is over Israel, whose strength is in the skies.

36. How wonderful is God in the holy places; * the God of Israel giving strength and power to the people; blessed be God!

Second Reading

1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11

Lector: A reading from the First Letter of Peter.

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you.
5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. 8 Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. 10 And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.

Lector: Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.
People: Thanks be to God.

Sequence Hymn

#483 The Hymnal 1982

The Holy Gospel

John 17:1-11

Minister: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John
People: Glory to you, O Christ

1[Jesus] looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you,2since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. 5So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed. 6“I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; 8for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. 10All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. 11And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.”

Minister: The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to you, O Christ.

The Sermon

The Rev. Dr. Bruce MacDuffie

Nicene Creed

Minister and people:
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.

Amen.

Prayers of the People

Reader: Come, let us pray with thanksgiving to him who ascended with great triumph to God’s heavenly kingdom, responding to each petition by saying, “Hear us, Ascended Lord.”

Reader: Open our minds to understand the truth of holy scripture, fashioning our lives to proclaim its saving message, and bearing witness to the power of forgiveness and mercy;

Silence

Reader: For this we pray;