The Seventh Sunday of Easter

May 4, 2008 9:00am

Thank You for sharing this time of worship with us. Do come again! If you do not have a local church home, we invite you to make your home with us. You will find Christian love, opportunities for spiritual growth, warm friendships, and an appreciation of being part of God’s family. Visitors: Please include your email address in the Friendship Register information. Thanks!

The Lord's Supper is being celebrated today. This special meal, instituted by Christ, unites us with Him and our brothers and sisters in the faith. This sacrament is intended for those who are baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; trust in Jesus Christ as the only way to heaven; and believe that the true body and blood of Jesus are present with the bread and wine of Holy Communion. Guests who share this faith are invited to speak with the pastor before joining us in this holy meal.

Please Don’t Rush Off After The Worship Service! Stick around for some refreshments and a little conversation. We hope you are able to stay! The Education Hour begins at 10:30am.

Assisting Us In Worship This Morning

Nicole Burkhardt, organ and Clavinova

Mathew Puliyelil, communion assistant

We Gather To Worship The Lord

Order of Service: The Common Service, p. 15 in the front of the hymnal

Hymns: 170 549 551 341

Message: Acts 1:12-14

“More Than Names On A List”

FIRST LESSON Acts 1:1-14

In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen. After His suffering, He showed Himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while He was eating with them, He gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift My Father promised, which you have heard Me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

So when they met together, they asked Him, "Lord, are You at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

After He said this, He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven."

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

EPISTLE I Peter 4:12-17, 5:6-11

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

... Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

HOLY GOSPEL John 17:1-11a

After Jesus said this, He looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the time has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You. For You granted Him authority over all people that He might give eternal life to all those You have given Him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. I have brought You glory on earth by completing the work You gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world began.

"I have revealed You to those whom You gave Me out of the world. They were Yours; You gave them to Me and they have obeyed Your word. Now they know that everything You have given Me comes from You. For I gave them the words You gave Me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from You, and they believed that You sent Me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those You have given Me, for they are Yours. All I have is Yours, and all You have is Mine. And glory has come to Me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, protect them by the power of Your name-- the name You gave Me-- so that they may be one as We are one.”

This Week At Mt. Olive

Today: 8:45am Prayer Time in the Fireside Room

9:00am Family Worship Service with Holy Communion

10:00am Refreshments and Social Time

10:30am Sunday School and Adult Education Hour

2:00pm Mt. Olive Chinese Church Worship Service

Monday: 6:00pm Outreach Committee Meeting

7:00pm “Beautiful Feet” Bible Study

Wednesday: 5:30pm Confirmation Class

7:00pm Jesus Cares Ministry Planning Meeting

Thursday: 10:00am “Explorers of the Word” Bible Study

7:00pm Women’s Guild Work Night

Saturday: 9:00am Christian Life Ministries Plant Sale/Christ Lutheran Church

Next Sunday: 9:00am Family Worship Service (Mother’s Day)

2:00pm Open House for Ed & Marcella Voss

7:00pm Coordinating Council Meeting

Saturday (May 17): The Great Give, Grow, & Grill Day and Kid’s Corner

The Next Time you are visiting our Mt. Olive website, be sure to click on two new buttons: Camp Croix, and The Bridge. These are both video links. Just go to www.mtolive-wels.net

The Next Meeting for the planning of our Jesus Cares Ministry here at Mt. Olive will be this Wednesday, May 7^th at 7:00pm. We welcome your input. Contact Ann Karpenko at 651.653.1198 if you have any questions. Thanks!

Women's Guild Work Night: this Thursday, May 8^th, at 7:00pm. All members of Mt. Olive are invited to join us as we work on projects to be sent to Terry and Mary Schultz for their mission work in Peru. As many of you heard earlier this year, the MSELP (ELS in Peru) plans to build a kindergarten school building in the area hardest hit by the earthquake that hit Peru last August. Terry can use any and all items that we can supply him with. This includes cross-stitched crosses, laminated bible story pictures, completed craft projects that can be used for teaching and student gifts, etc. No matter what your skill level, we can use your help. If you can help with cutting, please bring a good pair of scissors that you feel comfortable using. We will try to have all other supplies that you will need on hand. We'll end our time together with a light snack and fellowship. Thank you! Linda Petersen and Pam Folkens.

Congratulations Ed & Marcella! An Open House will be held next Sunday, May 11^th, in honor of Ed & Marcella Voss’s 90^th birthdays and their 65^th wedding anniversary. The celebration will be held from 2:00 to 5:00pm at the Heritage Place of Roseville, 563 W Country Road B. All welcome!

Coming Very Soon: Our Third Annual Great Give, Grow, and Grill Day. What is it? It’s an opportunity for our congregation to say to our neighbors, We’re here! – We care! – And we’re not bad people either! It happens on Saturday, May 17^th, from 9:00am until 3:00pm.

It starts with Give: Give blood to give life to folks who need it. This is open to all members and to the people of our community. The first appointment begins at 9:30am. If you are physically able and qualify as a donor, please give blood!

Then comes Grow. Our annual Plant Exchange has been an opportunity to meet the people of our neighborhood and provide a welcomed service. This year, because our date coincides with the Como area garage sale events, we anticipate even more visitors who will take plants home to grow in their gardens.

Of course, the exciting G is Grill! From 11:00am until 2:00pm, free hot dogs, chips, beverages, etc., will be served to all who stop by. We’ll be on hand to greet visitors with a smile! A large tent will be set up in our parking lot.

Plus: This year we are adding a “Kid’s Corner” consisting of face painting, crafts, fish or duck pond, and a Bible story stage. This will serve as this year’s VBS, and will run from 9:30am until 12:30pm. So, as you can see, this Neighborhood Awareness Event will require much work and many hands. We need you to work in at least one area – from putting up and taking down the tent to welcoming and visiting with those who attend.

We will be distributing brochures door-to-door on Monday, May 12^th, at 6:30pm (rain date: Tuesday, May 13^th, 6:30pm). Your help in getting the word out will be greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance for whatever help you can give. Pray that the Lord bless our efforts!

The Nominating Committee is seeking eligible candidates for the annual election to the Coordinating Council. Four positions are on the ballot: President, Outreach, Adult Discipleship, and Property & Grounds. Please prayerfully consider serving our congregation on the council and running for one of these offices. Elections are at the spring congregational assembly on Sunday, May 18. If interested please contact Greg Schuyler at 612-810-7521 or Liberty Belter at 651-428-5185.

Christian Life Ministries is hosting its 3^rd annual Walk For Life on Sunday, May 18^th, beginning at 3:00pm, at Casey Lake Park in North St. Paul. A potluck picnic will follow the Walk. Registration forms are available in the back of the church.