Affirmation of Baptism 2024

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PRELUDE
“Trumpet Tune” (Jeremiah Clarke)
Lyndon Moquist, Tim Graf

PROCESSIONAL HYMN
“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” ELW #858

WELCOME

AFFIRMATION OF BAPTISM
Pastor: We gather in the name of God, who creates, saves, and calls us with love that
lasts forever.
All: Amen.
Pastor: Even before you were born and baptized, God delighted in you and called you
Beloved. You were claimed and named in baptism by the death and resurrection
of Jesus Christ. The baptismal promises were spoken to you, With Your family,
sponsors, and congregation gathered around you declaring God’s love and salvation for you.
All: We can affirm our faith as belief that is still becoming, with wonder, doubts, and more to learn. We believe that our baptismal promises move and adapt with us throughout our life and that it will continue to tell God’s truth about love, power, and value.
Pastor: We gather as witnesses as you affirm your baptismal promises today. We celebrate your participation in Christian community, Worship, service, prayer, and study for the sake of your sacred calling. The Holy Spirit has equipped you With unique gifts and talents to share As a partner in God’s creative work in the world.
All: Amen.

PRAYER OF THE DAY
Pastor: Let us pray,
God of grace and mercy, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit who has called, sanctified, and enlightened each of these beloved children of God. Help them to
shine the light that you have given them so that their gifts may be used in service
to a world that needs to receive the love, hope and peace that come from you.
Strengthen all your children in faith so that our lives and our witness bear the mark
of your love, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

READING
John 4:7–29, 39

A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” (His
disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is
it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” (Jews do not share things
in common with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and
who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he
would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you have no bucket,
and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our
ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?”
Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those
who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will
give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” The woman said
to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming
here to draw water.” Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come back.” The
woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying,
‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not
your husband. What you have said is true!” The woman said to him, “Sir, I see that you
are a prophet.

Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people
must worship is in Jerusalem.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.” Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who is speaking to you.”

Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you want?” or, “Why are you speaking with her?” Then the woman left her water jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, “Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?” Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I have ever done.”

PASTOR: The word of the Lord.
ALL: Thanks be to God.

SERMON
“I am Beloved”
Pastor Sarah Fike

HYMN
“Will You Come and Follow Me” (St. 1–2, 5) ELW # 798

PRESENTATION OF THE CLASS
Brendan Dolan, Council President

PROFESSION OF FAITH
Your baptism gathered a cloud of witnesses to speak promises on behalf of the whole Christian church. Your spiritual family grew to include sponsors, friends, and church members who have been keeping those promises and carrying your faith on your behalf. Today we ask you to make these same promises claiming your call to active participation in the nurturing of your spirit and the work of the church on earth.

Pastor: 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?
All: I renounce them.
Pastor: Do you renounce the powers of this world that rebel against God?
All: I renounce them.
Pastor: Do you renounce the ways of sin that draw you from God?
All: I renounce them.
Pastor: Do you believe in God the Father?
All: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
Pastor: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
All: 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.
Pastor: Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
All: I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins, and resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

AFFIRMATION OF THE BAPTISMAL PROMISE
Pastor: Confirmands, you have made a 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, and to serve
all people, following the example of Jesus, and to strive for justice and peace in
all the earth?

Confirmation students respond¹: “I do, and ask God to help and guide me.”

Pastor: People of God, do you promise to support these women and men and pray for
them in their life in Christ?
All: We do, and we ask God to help and guide us.

BLESSING (Families are invited to join students for the individual blessing. Join the pastors around the altar as their names are called.)

CONGREGATIONAL BLESSING
All: We celebrate your faith, your voice, and your unfolding story as beloved children of God! On behalf of the whole church on earth, we will continue to pray for your faith and give thanks for you.

PRAYER AFTER BLESSING
Gracious God, Thanks to the free gift of eternal life through Jesus, death’s power is destroyed! And, since death isn’t so scary anymore, we are freed for more courage and joy in our daily lives that can witness to your great love. Amen.

OFFERING

OFFERING OF MUSIC
“Faithful God” (Abbie Parker | Colby Wedgeworth | Matt Hein)
Rebecca Hammond, Tim Graf, Corwin Holk

OFFERING PRAYER
Pastor: Risen One,
All: you call us to believe and bear fruit. May the gifts that we offer here be signs
of your abiding love. Form us to be your witnesses in the world, through Jesus
Christ, our true vine. Amen.

PRAYERS OF GOD’S PEOPLE

THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

BEFORE YOU GO

BENEDICTION
Pastor: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy. The Lord look upon you with favor and † give you peace.
All: Amen

HYMN
“Go, My Children, With My Blessing” (St. 1 & 3) ELW # 543

SENDING
Pastor: Go in peace. Serve the Lord!

All: Thanks be to God!

POSTLUDE
“Lift High the Cross” (arr. Tim Graf)
Tim Graf

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• Oscar Ailie
• Blake Anderson
• Addison Anslinger
• Ashlyn August
• Sydney Benson
• Eli Benson
• Finnegan Bidwell
• Nathan Borchers
• Myles Caulfield
• Zoey Charbonneau
• Celia Checco
• Logan Cole
• Makenzie Coy
• Maya Crane
• Freya Dahl
• Aubrey Danielson
• Matilda Diedrich
• Brooke Ehler
• Gage Elliott
• Luke Erickson
• Drew Erlandson
• Andrew Fritsche
• Annika Fritsche
• Britta Gatchell
• Deacon Gausman
• Joseph Gehrts
• Diego Gonzalez
• Gavin Gustad
• Hudson Hala
• Elena Hand
• Luke Hanson
• Owen Hoffelt
• Ilse Hudson
• Viviana Jiovanazzo
• Isaac Johnson
• Grace Johnson
• Brayden Keck
• Aiden Krueger
• Aria Laffond
• Teddy Larson
• Derek Lundstrom
• Julia Mareck
• Sawyer McIlmoyle
• Zachary McKeever
• Colin Meagher
• Maxwell Morehead
• Addison Murphy
• Jenna Nelson
• John Page
• Lauren Peterson
• Owen Rausch
• George Reisdorf
• Caroline Rhody
• Sam Roslansky
• Parker Sender
• Charles Shultz
• William Shultz
• Thomas Simon
• Jack Smith
• Amelia Steffen
• Kate Stineman
• Allison Toftely
• Logan Watkins
• Sawyer Worum

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THANK YOU TO OUR SMALL GROUP GUIDES

These people have dedicated countless hours, supporting the faith formation of these confirmation students. Thank you for your love of the gospel and for shepherding these young people through this time of spiritual education and renewal. Your efforts have helped to instill a love for God, a dynamic faith, and a life that will serve God’s world. Please take a moment to thank the small group guides for their work.

• Julie Bane
• Stefanie Berg
• Rich Gruenhagen
• Heather King
• Percy Lutz
• Nicole Macht
• Sara Rausch
• Erin Reisdorf
• Robin Wall

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The Musicians for Today’s Worship

• Tim Graf (Director of Worship & Music)
• Rebecca Hammond
• Corwin Holk
• Lyndon Moquist

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Prayers

As a community of faith we are connected through joy, sorrow, worship, and prayer. Please pray for the people listed below.
Your prayers are greatly appreciated!

We ask for God’s loving embrace to hold all those who mourn, especially:

• Mark Romo and family on the death of his sister, Jackie Manion
• Pastor David Lillejord and family on the death of his father, Nels Lillejord
• Brad and Nicki Mlynar on the death of Brad’s father, Edward
• Marty Wyland, Starr Bourque and family on the death of brother in law, Ben
• Tricia O’Donnell and family on the death of her mother, Betty O’Donnell
• Steve Lutz and family for the loss of his father
• Dave and Lori Goble on the death of their niece, Mandy

Prayers of Mourning:

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice. Psalm 130:1–2
For I am convinced that neither death nor life… nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38–39
Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die’. John 11:25–26

As we are praying for all members of the St. Andrew community, this week we pray especially for God’s comfort, healing, protection, and strength to be present with:

• Buzz Heitner
• Merna Smith
• Barb Goergen
• Joyce Butler
• Sherry Anderson
• Steve Lutz’s brother, Dan
• Pat McMullen
• John Rostad
• Julie Bergquist

Long Term Prayers:

• Gordon Gilbert
• Kathy Hoagland
• Dave & Sherri Anderson’s daughter, Sarah Anderson-Jacobson
• Ron Wolfbauer
• Dick Smith
• Tammi Ziesemann as she continues her cancer treatment
• For the people of Haiti enduring ongoing political upheaval, severe economic challenges, and gang-related violence.
• For the people of the Middle East and Ukraine – non-violence and peace.
• All those in the military serving our country

General Prayers:

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you. Psalm 55:22a
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Names will remain listed until more are added unless otherwise requested. To add a name to the prayer list, click Prayer Requests or contact Pastor Peter Johnson.

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See what’s happening at St. Andrew

There’s always something happening here at St. Andrew and we’re so glad to offer ministries and events for people of all ages! Visit our Events Page to see all of our events, and visit our Ministries Page to learn about all of our communities of faith!

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The Pastors of St. Andrew

1. ↩︎