J. Todd Bruning
- Apr 18, 2021
- 13 min read

SUN., April 18 - 3rd Sunday of EASTER: Steal Away Home!!

Updated: Apr 24, 2021

https://zoom.us/j/619327455

Meeting ID: 619 327 455

More details available at:

https://bruningt.wixsite.com/companionship/post/how-to-zoom-worship-with-us

Right at the crest, where MOUNT OLIVE begins its descent, the whole crowd of disciples burst into enthusiastic praise over all of the mighty works they had witnessed!!    LUKE 19:34

Mount Olive Lutheran Church

Rev. J. Todd Bruning, Pastor

Dolphene Davis, Minister of Music

3100 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Dallas, TX 75215

(church) 214-428-2892 (cell) 972-653-0316

www.mountolivedallas.org

We Serve as a Vehicle through which the Gospel of Jesus Christ is spread.

STEAL AWAY HOME: Third Sunday of Easter

10:45 - Leader's Meeting

11:00 - Coffee Hour in 11 Minutes

(Sip your coffee and discuss Exodus 6 or Luke 24 ... and how God might reach a Wide Range of People through us during the 50 Day, 8 Sunday season of Easter ... or what does COMPANIONSHIP mean for you for the final three quarters of 2021?)

11:11 - WORSHIP BEGINS

500 Years Ago Today: The DIET OF WORMS

In 1517, Martin Luther drew up his 95 theses in Wittenberg, Germany, condemning the Catholic Church for its corrupt practice of selling “indulgences,” or forgiveness of sins. Luther followed up the revolutionary work with equally controversial and groundbreaking theological works, and his fiery words set off religious reformers across Europe.
In 1521, the pope excommunicated him. 500 years ago today, on April 18, 1521, Luther was called to appear before the The Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, at the Diet of Worms to defend his beliefs. Uttering words like, HERE I STAND ... or HERE WE STAND ... and refusing to recant or rescind his positions, Luther was declared an outlaw and a heretic. Powerful German princes protected him, however, and by his death in 1546 his ideas had significantly altered the course of Western thought.
Of the 73 million Lutherans around the world, more than one third are African. About half are people of color. Of the 3,672,858 Lutherans in North America, less than 2 percent are people of color.
There is a severe shortage of trained pastors in Africa. In America, the Lutheran Church has 1 pastor for every 376 members. In Tanzania, for instance, there is 1 pastor for every 3,500 members. By training Africans to be teachers of the faith, Lutherans In Africa (LIA) is able to help fill the need for pastors and further spread the Gospel, allowing God to work through His external Word.

A) PRELUDE: Hymn #61 in the Red Book: Christ Has Arisen, Aleluya, a traditional Tanzanian hymn led by Abiding Presence Lutheran Church, Burke, VIRGINIA, Mfurahini, Haleluya, led by Azania Front Lutheran Church, Dar Es Salaam, TANZANIA, Africa, Er ist erstanden, Halleluja, Evangelische Banter Kirche Wilhelmshaven, GERMANY, Mfurahini, Haleluya, led on Udugu Sunday at Advent Lutheran Church in NEW YORK CITY by Joshua Coyne, Nora M. Gustuson, Michael Eisenstein, Brian Peck, and Aaron Wunsch.

B) First Lesson: LUKE 24:13-35 read by #1

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them,

“What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?”

They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them,

“What things?”

They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.”

C) First Hymns: Total Praise! - led by Richard Smallwood

Please MUTE and SING (lyrics are in the video)

What is the mission of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church?

To Serve as a VEHICLE through which the Gospel is Spread!!!

In the next 6 weeks, DAY BY DAY, we will be intentional

about being a VEHICLE

that will deliver CONFIDENCE, COMPASSION, and COMPANIONSHIP

to a tremendously anxious COMMUNITY,

remembering that God is our REFUGE & STRENGTH.

SERMON SERIES: The Blues & Greens of Baptism

EASTER: HERE HE STANDS ... Christ is Risen! Pastor Alberty leading.

April 11: Let My People Go

April 18: Steal Away Home

April 18 (after worship): Blessing Bags & Roof Fundraiser

April 25: Wade in the Water

May 2: Hold On (Keep Your Hand on that Plow)

Possible Sunday @ St. Luke's Lutheran in Richardson

May 9: Roll, Jordan, Roll

May 16: We Shall Overcome

May 21-22: Companionship - Train the Trainer

May 23: PENTECOST SUNDAY - OUTDOORS @ Mt. Olive?

C) SECOND LESSON: EXODUS 5:22-6:10, led by #2 & #3

2) Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me? Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued your people at all.”
3) Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out of his country.”
2) God also said to Moses, “I am the Lord. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the Lord I did not make myself fully known to them. I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, where they resided as foreigners. Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant.
3) “Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord.’”

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks Be to God!!

D) HALLELUJAH! from the Houston 2018 ELCA National Youth Gathering, leading into our MESSAGE for the YOUNG at HEART, a special edition for EASTER SUNDAY

E) KYRIE, led by Carlos Leggett

In peace, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.

Amen.

E) LITURGY & PRAYER led by #4 & #5

5) The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

AND ALSO WITH YOU

4) We gather together and share a CREED to remember that in God, we have a Companion who will never fail us and will be with us always. It is a CREED that reminds us that death is never the final answer, and the hope springs eternal for those who follow the God of Resurrection and Life.

I BELIEVE IN GOD, THE FATHER ALMIGHTY

Creator of heaven and earth.

I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST,

God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.* On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come 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.

5) We take this moment to confess our sins: Do you confess that you are captive to sin and cannot free yourself from this trap of sin and death, at least not in this life? Do you confess that you have sinned against God in anger, rebellion, frustration, doubt and fear.

WE DO.

4) Do you confess that, because your neighbor fails to love in the way that God commands, that you also have not loved your neighbor as yourself? Do you confess that you struggle to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength?

WE DO.

5) Do you ask, with the help of Jesus Christ, Forgive us, Lord, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name.

WE DO. AMEN.

4) Brothers and sisters hear this grace: In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for you and for His sake, God forgives you all of your sins. As a called disciple of Christ I declare the entire forgiveness of all of your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

AMEN.

5) The peace of Christ be with you always.

AND ALSO WITH YOU.

4) We will now switch to Gallery View. As forgiven sinners, please share the peace with somebody on this call, using their name.

PEACE BE WITH YOU.

F) Gospel Lesson: LUKE 24:28-35, led by #5

Halle, Halle, Halle-lujah, led by Tanya Browne & Dolphene Davis

Our Gospel Lesson comes from Luke in the 24th Chapter.

GLORY TO YOU, O LORD!

As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly,

“Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.”

So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other,

“Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

PRAISE TO YOU, OH CHRIST

H) SECOND SONG: Steal Away, led by Mahalia Jackson & Nat King Cole in 1957

Please MUTE and SING (lyrics are in the video)

J) SERMON: "Let My People Go" shared by Pastor Todd

SERMON SERIES: The Blues & Greens of Baptism