Welcome
Worship
There's a place for everyone at Our Savior to be involved and make new friends through small group ministries, fellowship events, and committees for the congregation's life and mission. Membership is voluntary and personal.
Persons join when they express the desire to affiliate. Adults may join formally the congregation by either a letter of membership transfer from another Christian congregation or by adult Confirmation.
The sacrament of Holy Communion is celebrated with this understanding: that the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ are truly present in, with, and under the bread and wine; and, that the penitent receive the full forgiveness of all their sins. All baptized Christians who, in good conscience, can receive with this understanding are invited to partake.
Baptisms and weddings are conducted as needed. A church wedding requires a couple to spend a period of time preparing for marriage in consultation with the pastor.
An elevator and access ramp are available for entering and exiting the building. Refreshments are usually served after worship on Sunday. In warmer weather, the church is air-conditioned for your comfort.
Lutheran Church of Our Savior
12 Franklin Avenue, Port Washington, NY 11050
(516) 767-0603
Sunday Update for 7 Easter
May 24, 2020
Alleluia! God has gone up with a shout. Alleluia!
Today’s Gospel Saint John 17:1-11
On the night before his crucifixion, Jesus prays to his heavenly Father, asking that those who continue his work in this world will live in unity.
1After Jesus had spoken these words [to his disciples], he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, 2since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. 5So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.
6“I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; 8for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. 10All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. 11And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.”
The remainder of the prayer:
12While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. 13But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. 14I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. 16They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 17Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.20I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, 21that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, 23I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. 26I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."
Video Message Link
I’ve already worshiped twice this morning. First with Pr. Marc Herbst (YouTube: Church of Our Savior Lutheran in Manhasset), and then with Pr. Mike Schneider (Good Shepherd Lutheran in Buena Park, CA). You’re invited to use the following links. Blessings on your day!
In coordination with today’s homily, please see this linked story in Newsday:
https://www.newsday.com/news/health/coronavirus/hunger-on-long-island-1.44849357
Memorial Day Prayer for Your Use Tomorrow
Let us pray: Heavenly Father, on this Memorial Day we pray for those who courageously laid down their lives for the cause of freedom. May the example of their sacrifice inspire in us the selfless love of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Bless the families of our fallen troops, and fill their homes and lives with Your strength and peace. Embolden us to answer the call to work for peace and justice, and thus seek an end to violence and conflict at home and abroad. We pray in the Name of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Weekend Update for 7 Easter
May 24, 2020
Sunday after the Ascension
Tomorrow’s the final Sunday in Eastertide 2020. Thursday, Christians around the world celebrated the Ascension of Our Lord. In Germany and the Scandinavian countries Himmelfartstag, Ascension Thursday, is a public holiday. So, tomorrow, the final Easter Sunday, is a “bridge Sunday” leading us to the Feast of Pentecost on May 31st. The Gospel for the day is the first 11 verses of the Lord’s “High Priestly Prayer,” as it’s called, in John 17. Manifold themes are in this prayer:
- Jesus’ glorification on the cross;
- His authority;
- the glory of creation;
- eternal life here and now;
- satisfaction of completed mission;
- unity; and,
- a living relationship with God grounded in mutual love and trust.
Most importantly, Jesus prays for us and our protection as we carry on His ministry and mission in the world. The Spirit we celebrate next Sunday is the power of His prayer in us that we might be hearers and doers of the Word.
Monday’s Memorial Day observance reflects, however imperfectly, the authority God gives Jesus over all people. Jesus’ authority is His willingness to die for others as did our war dead whom we honor. Since there’s no parade this year down Main Street and only limited observances, someone suggests if you don’t have a flag to fly at your house that you might draw 2 pictures, one of the U.S. flag and one of a red poppy. Or, go to Google images and find something representative. Post the picture in a window or storm-door Our war dead willingly died for Americans and others; Jesus willingly dies for all people, an absolute love of others. I appreciate the blending of flag and poppy in this picture.
Photo of the Week
New, weekly feature produced by the Church Council while we’re socially-distant: a people picture! Here’s one from 2017 of the auction, fun$raising team. Team Auction, left to right, Wendy Trunz, Denise de Reyna, Linda Murphy, Donna Rice, Dawn (Grandma-to-be) Preston, and Victoria Gordon with “Bella” in front. Missing from photo are Rachel Sunday, Jean Vogeley and Kristina Wood.