Friday, April 29, 2016 Evening Prayer Commemoration of Catherine of Sienna, died 1380. Catherine was the first woman among Roman Catholics to receive the title "Doctor [teacher] of the Church." Catherine was a Dominican sister known for her mystical visions as well as her work on behalf of people who were poor and imprisoned. Throughout this weekend’s assembly, we will gather for a variety of worship services. Tonight’s liturgy is from Marty Haugen’s Holden Evening Prayer and is led by an ensemble from Abiding Presence, San Antonio. Please silence all cell phones and other electronic devices in worship.

About this weekend’s worship: “Give me a morsel of Bread…” Elijah reminds us in 1 Kings that with faith in God, it only takes a morsel to enrich and nurture our lives…because we trust in a God who provides us with abundance. In a culture of wealth, we sometimes forget that simple and easy is just as rich. With the theme of “Bring Me a Morsel” in mind, this Assembly’s worships have been planned intentionally as simple as possible. Lutherans believe that worship is a public act where the justice, love, peace, and holiness of God is embodied. As we gather in the name of the Risen Christ, we do so with the central things of worship. They are the bath (baptism), the meal (communion), prayers, and the Word; all done within the assembly. Assembly is important here because in each action a community is necessary; to hear, to pray, to eat with, to welcome and enter into the Body of Christ. In other words, when we consider these central things and recognize that they require the assembly, we understand why we worship. What is worship then? Worship is the gathered community, where we are turned outward toward our neighbor, recognizing God’s gifts to us as we carry out the actions of Jesus…actions, in fact, we are commanded to carry out by Christ. Worship focused on these four central things awakens our hearts to experience God’s gifts and the faith brought about in these gifts. Worship is about engaging our whole selves, each person participating…not passively observing. We believe that worship is possible anywhere, anytime, among God’s people. This weekend, as we celebrate our community of faith in its larger, synodical expression, we focus on these four central things…and the simplicity that comes with these four central things…the bath, the meal, the prayers and the Word. And, as we focus our attention towards being good stewards of all our resources, we consider what makes true worship…not the method or style of worship, but the gathered body, using the resources we have, bringing our whole selves to the table. Imagine the simplicity of worship in a place like the small villages of Costa Rica, Guatemala, Rwanda, and many of our other globally partnered synods. Worship is vibrant, worship uses only what is available, and worship is the Body of Christ gathered for Word and Sacrament. 2 | 2016 Synod Assembly Worship

Gathering Music After a period of silence, the assembly stands as the music begins. Opening Sentences:

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Evening Hymn: Joyous Light of Heav’nly Glory

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Evening Thanksgiving

The assembly is seated. Psalm 141

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Silence is kept for reflection. Prayer: Let the incense of our repentant prayer ascend before you, O God, and let your lovingkindness descend upon us, that with purified hearts we may sing your praises with the church on earth and the whole heavenly host, and may glorify you forever and ever. Amen. 8 | 2016 Synod Assembly Worship

Reading: 1 Kings 17:8-16 The word of the Lord came to [Elijah], saying, 9“Go now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there; for I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” 10So he set out and went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the town, a widow was there gathering sticks; he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, so that I may drink.” 11As she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” 12But she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die.”13Elijah said to her, “Do not be afraid; go and do as you have said; but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterwards make something for yourself and your son. 14For thus says the Lord the God of Israel: The jar of meal will not be emptied and the jug of oil will not fail until the day that the Lord sends rain on the earth.” 15She went and did as Elijah said, so that she as well as he and her household ate for many days. 16The jar of meal was not emptied, neither did the jug of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.

Lectura: 1 Reyes 17:8-16 8 Entonces el Señor dijo a Elías: 9 “Levántate y vete a la ciudad de Sarepta, en Sidón, y quédate a vivir allí. Ya he ordenado a una viuda que también vive allí, que te dé de comer.” 10 Elías se levantó y se fue a Sarepta. Al llegar a la entrada de la ciudad vio a una viuda que estaba recogiendo leña. La llamó y le dijo: –Por favor, tráeme en un vaso un poco de agua para beber. 11 Ya iba ella a traérselo, cuando Elías la volvió a llamar y le dijo: –Por favor, tráeme también un pedazo de pan. 12 Ella le contestó: –Te juro por el Señor tu Dios que no tengo nada de pan cocido. No tengo más que un puñado de harina en una tinaja y un poco de aceite en una jarra, y ahora estaba recogiendo un poco de leña para ir a cocinarlo para mi hijo y para mí. Comeremos, y después nos moriremos de hambre. 13 Elías le respondió: –No tengas miedo. Ve a preparar lo que has dicho. Pero primero, con la harina que tienes, hazme una torta pequeña y tráemela, y haz después otras para ti y para tu hijo. 14 Porque el Señor, Dios de Israel, ha dicho que no se acabará la harina de la tinaja ni el aceite de la jarra hasta el día en que el Señor haga llover sobre la tierra. 15 La viuda fue e hizo lo que Elías le había ordenado. Y ella, su hijo y Elías tuvieron comida para muchos días. 16 No se acabó la harina de la tinaja ni el aceite de la jarra, tal como el Señor lo había dicho por medio de Elías.

The reading ends: Holy Wisdom, Holy Word. The assembly responds: Thanks be to God. After a time of silence for prayer and meditation following the reading, the assembly stands. Response to the Word: The light shines in the darkness. And the darkness has not overcome it.

Light show at San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio

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Annunciation and Magnificat: A cantor sings: “An angel went from God to a town called Nazareth…. And Mary said, ‘I am the servant of my God, I live to do your will.’”

The Visitation – He Qi

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Prayers of the Faithful:

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Concluding Prayer: To you, O God we give up the burdens of this day, trusting your love and mercy. Calm our souls, and refresh us with your peace. Keep us close to Christ and draw us close to one another in the bonds of his wondrous love. We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen. Lord’s Prayer: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

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Final Blessing:

A greeting of peace may be shared with all. Sending Music Copyright information: -Copyright © 2016 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS008900. -Hymns and other liturgical music are reprinted from OneLicense.net A-723584 and CCLI 663738. -Other portions retprinted by permission from Book of Common Worship, © 1993 Westminster John Knox Press. -Readings are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. -He, Qi. The Visitation, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=46125 [retrieved April 5, 2016]. Original source: heqigallery.com. -Palmero, Nan. San Fernando Cathedral, San Antonio - Xavier de Richemont Light Show. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:San_Fernando_Cathedral,_San_Antonio_-_Xavier_de_Richemont_Light_Show_(2014-1212_22.20.49_by_Nan_Palmero).jpg [retrieved April 5, 2016]. This file is made available under the Creative Commons CC 2.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.

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