Living the Lectionary

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Season: Easter
Week of May 22nd

“Refugees”

About the Season: We are in the season of Easter.

Easter is a 7 week long season, one week longer than
Lent. In this season, we celebrate the Resurrection
of our Lord and consider ourselves as a part of the
church which is promised a Resurrection like His.

About this Sunday: In this Sunday’s readings, we

consider what it means that we are refugees of this
world. We see this as our home of origin, but we
know of a home that our Savior has prepared the
way for us to go to where we will experience full
safety.
Reflecting on the Readings:
• Acts 7:55-60 – A Refuge for the Outspoken –
One of the things that frightens us the most is
to be considered “outspoken”. Stephen’s
witness made others consider him outspoken,
but he took his refuge in God. Have you ever
said something that has caused you to want
shelter or refuge?
• Psalm 31 – A Refuge in the Lord – “In you, O
Lord, I take refuge,” says the Psalmist. When
do you find yourself taking refuge in God?
• I Peter 2:2-10 – The Refuge of God’s People –
Peter explains that God’s refuge for His people
IS His people. We find refuge in His church, His
gathering of believers. How does this gathering
of believers act as a refuge?
• John 14:1-14 – Preparing a Refuge – Jesus
tells His disciples that He is going to prepare a
place where they can experience “refuge” –
namely, the Resurrection. How do you feel
that the Resurrection will be a “refuge” when
you get to it?
Law and Gospel:
• Law: This world causes us to seek refuge. The
pain, frustration, and brokenness of this world
is because of our sins and the sins of others.
Those sins turn us into refugees, looking to flee
the land of our birth for peace and security.
• Gospel: Jesus is our rescuer who sweeps us up
out of a land of sin and destruction and sets us
into a place prepared for us by Him: the Church
and after we die, the Resurrection.
Living the Lectionary Ideas:
• Learn: What do Christians mean when they
say “the Church”? Is it a gathering? Is it a
place? How is the Church comprised? And
how does that speak to it being a place of
refuge?
• Do: Refugees leave their familiar places for
someplace new. Consider going to a place that
you have never been to every day for lunch, or
on your daily walk. Get a feel for “leaving the
familiar” and ask God how this leaving speaks
to your life’s walk.
• Live: Develop and attitude of expectancy for
what is coming next in your life.

Prayers to Consider
Thanksgiving for mothers and motherhood,
especially for their love which leads us to consider
the source of all love, God

Thanksgiving for the placement of vicars and

pastors from our seminaries, and blessings upon
their ministries, especially for Adam Douthwaite –
vicar at Our Savior Lutheran in Carbondale IL and
the newest member of our circuit, Joshua Brown

Thanksgiving for years of life for Paul Walsh and

Chris Walsh
 Announcements
Seeking Yard Crew
Enjoy working outdoors, doing things like
weeding, gardening, mowing, trimming, etc? Sign
up to be a part of University Lutheran's Yard Crew.
Contact David Hughes for more information.

Orientation Help
We’re looking for students to help at Orientation
on the Tuesdays and Thursdays between May 17
and June 23. The time will be 10:30am to 2:30pm.
Volunteers for any amount of time during that
span are appreciated!

(More announcements on back cover)

Dates to Remember
TODAY Canceled Council
Meeting
Canceled
Council
members have
elected to
cancel this
Sunday’s council
meeting
May 4th Wednesday +Vespers+ We
6:30pm for will start up
food again with
7pm for +Vespers+ this
+Vespers+ Wednesday! Join
us!
May 8th
Next Sunday Council
Meeting
 Council
Members,
please be
prepared for a
meeting next
Sunday after
worship

New Bible Study – Acts Movie

Join us on Sunday mornings as we watch a movie
retelling of the Acts story given word-for-word
from the NIV translation of the Bible.

Our Semi(nole)narian heads to Campus

Ministry vicarage
Our "Semi(nole)narian" Adam Douthwaite
received his vicarage assignment this past
Wednesday. He will be helping with campus
ministry at Our Savior Lutheran in Carbondale IL,
near the campus of Southern Illinois University -
Carbondale.

New Pastor in the Circuit

Joshua Brown has been called out of the seminary
to be the pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in
Valdosta, GA, a part of our circuit.

(More announcements on inside of sheet)