Sunday May 23, 2021 - Confirmation Service at 3pm - Lutheran Church of the Redeemer Atlanta GA USA

SERVICE OF AFFIRMATION OF BAPTISM Sunday, May 23, 2021 The Order of Worship at 3:00 pm WELCOME HYMN

A Mighty Fortress is Our God The National Lutheran Choir

1 A mighty fortress is our God, 3 Though hordes of devils fill the a sword and shield victorious; land he breaks the cruel oppressor's rod all threat'ning to devour us, and wins salvation glorious. we tremble not, unmoved we The old satanic foe stand; has sworn to work us woe! they cannot overpow'r us.

With craft and dreadful might Let this world's tyrant rage; he arms himself to fight. in battle we'll engage!

On earth he has no equal.

His might is doomed to fail; God's judgment must prevail!

2 No strength of ours can match his One little word subdues him. might!

We would be lost, rejected.

4 God's Word forever shall abide, But now a champion comes to no thanks to foes, who fear it; fight, for God himself fights by our side whom God himself elected. with weapons of the Spirit.

You ask who this may be?

Were they to take our house, The Lord of hosts is he! goods, honor, child, or spouse, Christ Jesus, mighty Lord, though life be wrenched away, God's only Son, adored. they cannot win the day.

He holds the field victorious.

The kingdom's ours forever!

THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. | Amen 1

Joined to Christ in the waters of baptism, we are clothed with God's mercy and forgiveness. Let us give thanks for the gift of baptism.

We give you thanks, O God, for in the beginning your Spirit moved over the waters and by your Word you created the world, calling forth life in which you took delight. Through the waters of the flood you delivered Noah and his family.

Through the sea you led your people Israel from slavery into freedom. At the river your Son was baptized by John and anointed with the Holy Spirit. By water and your Word, you claim us as daughters and sons, making us heirs of your promise and servants of all. We praise you for the gift of water that sustains life, and above all we praise you for the gift of new life in Jesus Christ.

Shower us with your Spirit, and renew our lives with your forgiveness, grace, and love. To you be given honor and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever.

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE DAY Lord God of our ancestors, we thank you for what you have done and will continue to do with our daughters and sons. Walk with them in life and keep the evil one from obstructing their path. You see all.

You know where the water is deep. Keep them from danger. Order their steps and guide their feet while they run the race of faith. May the good work that you have begun in them be brought to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. | Amen.

W O R D God speaks to us in scriptures read, sung and preached.

THE FIRST READING Jeremiah 31:31-34 Stephanie Greene, lector The renewed covenant will not be breakable, but like the old covenant it will expect the people to live upright lives. To know the Lord means that one will defend the cause of the poor and needy (Jer. 22:16). The renewed covenant is possible only because the Lord will forgive iniquity and not remember sin. Our hope lies in a God who forgets.

The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It

will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt — a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the LORD. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, "Know the LORD," for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.

After the reading: Word of God, word of life. | Thanks be to God. THE SECOND READING Romans 3:19-28 Derek Peterson, lector Paul’s words stand at the heart of the preaching of Martin Luther and the other Reformation leaders. No human beings make themselves right with God through works of the law. We are brought into a right relationship with God through the divine activity centered in Christ’s death. This act is a gift of grace that liberates us from sin and empowers our faith in Jesus Christ.

Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For "no human being will be justified in his sight" by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.

But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus.

Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.

After the reading: Word of God, word of life. | Thanks be to God.

PSALM READING During a Psalm rewriting assignment, each Confirmation class was given a Psalm to rewrite. The 8th grade class wanted to read theirs during this Service. A Reinterpretation of Psalm 88, written by the 8th grade class.

1 O Lord, God of my salvation, when I lie in bed at night and cry out for you, 2 please hear me, hear my cry 3 I’m anxious, I’m tired, I get older everyday 4 I feel alone in my troubles, I’m weak.

5 I have no one to turn to, like the poor and homeless, I feel forgotten 6 It can’t get any worse.

7 I feel like you are against me, and it crushes my heart.

8 You turned my friends against me, and they hate me.

They don’t return my texts.

9 I cry my eyes out. Why won’t you answer me?

10 Can you help anyone as miserable as me? 11Do the ignored praise and love you?

12 Do the forgotten know you?

13 I cry until the morning.

14 Why are you ignoring me?

15 All my life, I’m scared, lonely. I feel like I’m growing old.

16 Your disappointment overwhelms me 17 from all sides.

18 Everyone I love is gone, darkness in my only friend.

GOSPEL John 8:31-36 Jesus speaks of truth and freedom as spiritual realities known through his word. He reveals the truth that sets people free from sin.

Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, 'You will be made free'?"

Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

Before the reading: The Holy Gospel according to…| Glory to you, O Lord.

After the reading: The gospel of the Lord. | Praise to you, O Christ.

FAITH STATEMENTS and BIBLE VERSES VIDEO

by Confirmands

Mary Donovan Renne Doyle Kathryn Ann Johnson Alec John Kraby Catherine Glenn Lawrence Finley Carrington Love Kennedy Alexandra Mosley

Fiona Grace Peterson James Pargen Robertson III Katherine Amelia Tanzola Preston Bendol Vassar Tenley Grace Vassar Gavin Ray Wilde

THE PRESENTATION Dear friends, we give thanks for the gift of baptism and for these people, one with us in the body of Christ, who are making public affirmation of their baptism.

The following persons desire to make public affirmation of their baptism. (Each candidate’s name is read.)

Let us pray. Merciful God, we thank you for these sisters and brothers, whom you have made your own by water and the Word in baptism. You have called them to yourself, enlightened them with the gifts of your Spirit, and nourished them in the community of faith. Uphold your servants in the gifts and promises of baptism, and unite the hearts of all whom you have brought to new birth.

We ask this in the name of Christ. | Amen.

PROFESSION OF FAITH I ask you to profess your faith in Christ Jesus, reject sin, and confess the faith of the church.

Do you renounce the devil and all the forces that defy God? Response: I renounce them.

Do you renounce the powers of this world that rebel against God? Response: I renounce them.

Do you renounce the ways of sin that draw you from God? Response: I renounce them.

Do you believe in God the Father?

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the son of God? 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 crucifed, 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.

Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?

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.

AFFIRMATION OF BAPTISM Each Confirmand and their family will be called on for the blessing and laying on of hands You have made public profession of your faith. Do you intend to continue in the covenant God made with you in holy baptism: to live among God’s faithful people, to hear the word of God and share in the Lord’s supper, to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed, to serve all people, following the example of Jesus, and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth?

Each person responds: I do, and I ask God to help and guide me.

People of God, do you promise to support these sisters and brothers and pray for them in their life in Christ?

We do, and we ask God to help and guide us.

Father in heaven, for Jesus’ sake, stir up in name the gift of your Holy Spirit; confirm her/his faith, guide her/his life, empower her/him in her/his serving, give her/him patience in suffering, and bring her/him to everlasting life.

Amen.

After all have been called: Let us rejoice with these sisters and brothers in Christ.

We rejoice with you in the life of baptism.

Together we will give thanks and praise to God and proclaim the good news to all the world.

MUSIC

O Day Full of Grace Association of Lutheran Church Musicians

BLESSING Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us. Almighty God + bless you with grace, mercy, and peace, now and forever. Amen.

SENDING Go in peace. Live in love as Christ loved us. | Thanks be to God. Special thank you to our small group leaders.

Jeff Guthrie Derek Peterson Stephanie Greene Jenny Cranford-Thomas Mark Johnson Leigh Wilde

THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER 731 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30308 www.redeemer.org | 404.874.8664 | Emergency Line: 404.874.9759 The Rev. Mark H. Larson............................................................. Senior Pastor, ext. 201 The Rev. Ronald Bonner ..........................Pastor for Community Engagement, ext. 203 The Rev. Jonathan Trapp........................................ Pastor for Faith Formation, ext. 233 The Rev. Jenny McLellan ............................... Pastor for Congregational Care, ext. 224 STAFF Bob Boyd .................................................. Director of Operations and Finance, ext. 232 Seth Brown ......................................................... Facilities and Media Director, ext. 218 Robin Durdin ................................................... Office Administration Director, ext. 204 Kate Elkins ........................................................................... Preschool Director, ext. 252 David Hansen..................................................................Adult Choral Director, ext. 236 Sarah Hawbecker ................................. Organist & Children’s Music Director, ext. 206 Deacon Mary Houck........................... Children & Family Ministries Director, ext. 227 Jennifer Isaacson .............................................. Financial Information Director, ext. 237 Karen Medford.................. Parish Nurse, and Adult Faith Formation Director, ext. 230 Hillary Nelson ................................................... Youth Director, hnelson@redeemer.org Tawanda Searcy .......................................Receptionist and Wedding Director, ext. 200 Stacey Williams ..................................................................................... Head of Security