SUNDAY, MAY 3RD, 2026
FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER​

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INTRODUCTION​

As we continue to celebrate the fifty days of Easter, today’s gospel includes
     Jesus’ promise that he goes to prepare a place for his followers in his Father’s
     house. Our baptism commissions us to share Jesus’ mission in the world. As 1st
     Peter reminds us, we are a holy people, called to proclaim the one who called us
     out of darkness into light. In words and deeds we bear witness to the risen
     Christ—our way, our truth, our life.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Almighty God, your Son Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. Give us
     grace to love one another, to follow in the way of his commandments, and to
     share his risen life with all the world, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy
     Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.​

FIRST READING

ACTS 7:55-60
Stephen was one of the seven men chosen by the apostles to serve tables so
     that the apostles could be free to serve the word (Acts 6:1-6). Stephen does more
     than distribute food, however. For his preaching of God’s word, he becomes the
     first martyr of the faith.

55 Filled with the Holy Spirit, [Stephen] gazed into heaven and saw the glory of
     God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see the
     heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” 57 But
     they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him.
     58 Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him, and the
     witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they
     were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he
     knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
     When he had said this, he died.

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PSALM

PSALM 31: 1-5, 15-16
(Response) Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit. (Ps. 31:5)

1 In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge; let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness.
2 Incline your ear to me;
make haste to deliver me.
3 Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe, for you are my crag and my
        stronghold; for the sake of your name, lead me and guide me.
4 Take me out of the net that they have secretly set for me,
for you are my tower of strength.
(Response) Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit. (Ps. 31:5)

5 Into your hands I commend my spirit,
for you have redeemed me, O Lord, God of truth.
15 My times are in your hand;
rescue me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.
16 Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your steadfast love.”

(Response) Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit. (Ps. 31:5)

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SECOND READING

1ST PETER 2:2-10
Christ is the cornerstone of God’s saving work and the foundation of our lives.
     We are God’s chosen, holy people who continuously celebrate and declare the
     mercy of God we experience through Jesus Christ.

2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow
     into salvation—3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
4 Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and
     precious in God’s sight, and 5 like living stones let yourselves be built into a
     spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to
     God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in scripture:
     “See, I am laying in Zion a stone,
     a cornerstone chosen and precious,
     and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
     7 This honor, then, is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,
     “The stone that the builders rejected
     has become the very head of the corner,”
     8 and
     “A stone that makes them stumble
     and a rock that makes them fall.”
     They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own   
     people, in order that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out
     of darkness into his marvelous light.
     10 Once you were not a people,
     but now you are God’s people;
     once you had not received mercy,
     but now you have received mercy.​

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​​​​GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Alleluia. I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father
     except through me. Alleluia. (John 14:6)

GOSPEL READING

JOHN 14:1-14
       On the night that he is to be arrested, Jesus shares final words with his disciples.
     As the one through whom God is known, he promises to go before them and act
     on their behalf.

[Jesus said to the disciples:] 1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God;
     believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it
     were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I
     go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so
     that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way to the place
     where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are
     going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the
     truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you know
     me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

     8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” 9 Jesus
     said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know
     me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the
     Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
     The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own, but the Father who dwells
     in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in
     me, but if you do not, then believe because of the works themselves. 12 Very
     truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in
     fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 I will
     do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
     14 If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.”​

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Worship Service Content is used via permission through Augsburg Fortress Liturgies

Annual License #SB144368. The next Subscription Renewal Date is 2/28/2027.
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License #11327166. The next Subscription Renewal Date is 1/31/2027.

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BULLETIN FOR SUNDAY, MAY 3RD, 2026