The Bulletin is at: 04-22-2018 – Bulletin
The Service in PDF format is at: 04-22-2018 – Service
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FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
April 22, 2018
AS WE GATHER…This Sunday in the Church Year is often called “Good Shepherd Sunday.” The Gospel from John 10 records Jesus revealing Himself as the Good Shepherd. While fewer and fewer people are familiar with what it is like to take care of sheep, this metaphor of God’s protection and provision has become a great source of comfort and hope. What better day at Peace to welcome new members into the fold! God grant that you find such blessed comfort as you dwell securely here in the house of the Lord.
RINGING OF THE BELL
CHOIR ANTHEM: ”God Gives Us a Future with Hope”
By Pepper Choplin
Surely I know the plans I have for you,
Plans for your welfare and not for harm.
Surely I know the plans I have for you,
Plans for a future that’s full of hope.
Our God lives, our God loves, and gives us a future with hope.
Our God hears, our God cares, and gives us a future with hope.
Our God gives a future.
Surely I know the plans I have for you,
Plans for your welfare and not for harm.
Surely I know the plans I have for you,
Plans for a future that’s full of hope, so full of hope.
Our God lives, our God loves, and gives us a future with hope.
Our God hears, our God cares, and gives us a future with hope.
If you call Me, I will answer. If you pray to Me, I will hear.
When you search for me, I will be there.
When you seek Me with all your heart, you’ll find Me,
You will find me.
We know our God lives, our God loves, and gives us a future with hope.
Our God hears, our God cares, and gives us a future with hope.
So look to the future, embrace the future, God gives the future, God gives us hope!
P: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
OPENING PRAYER
C: Great Shepherd of the sheep, You search us out when we are lost. You pick us up when we are hurt, and you bring us to safe pasture. As we gather for worship this day, help us to clearly see and hear of your love for us so that we can leave with confidence knowing that, with you as our Shepherd, we have nothing to fear. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
WE CONFESS OUR SINS
P: We confess our sins to God and one another:
C: Gracious Lord God, we confess our sins to you, the sins in our thoughts, words and actions. We confess that we do not always appreciate your Fatherly love and the love you give to families through mothers and fathers. Help parents to show your love and so bring up their children in a loving Christian atmosphere. Amen.
Silence for Reflection
WE RECEIVE GOD’S FORGIVENESS
P: God is gracious and is more ready to forgive us than we are to receive it thankfully and humbly. As a fellow child of God I declare the forgiveness of all our sins, in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
SONG OF PRAISE: “Great Is the Lord” TOSB 66
Great is the Lord,
He is holy and just,
By His power we trust In His love.
Great is the Lord, He is faithful and true,
By His mercy He proves He is love.
Great is the Lord, and worthy of glory,
Great is the Lord, and worthy of praise.
Great is the Lord, now lift up your voice,
Now lift up your voice:
Great is the Lord
Great is the Lord
Great is the Lord,
He is holy and just,
By His power we trust In His love.
Great is the Lord, He is faithful and true,
By His mercy He proves He is love
Great are you Lord, And worthy of glory
Great are you Lord, and worthy of praise.
Great are you Lord,
I lift up my voice,
I lift up my voice:
Great are you Lord!
Great are you Lord!
P: The Lord be with You!
C: And also with you!
P: Let us pray. Almighty God, merciful Father, since You have wakened from death the Shepherd of Your sheep,
C: grant us Your Holy Spirit that when we hear the voice of our Shepherd we may know Him who calls us each by name and follow where He leads,
P: through Jesus, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
Love one another as Christ has loved us.
Jesus is our Good Shepherd.
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
SERMON HYMN “He Leadeth Me, O Blessed Thought” LSB 501
- He leadeth me: O blessed thought!
O words with heav’nly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where-e’er I be,
Still ‘tis God’s hand that lead-eth me.
REFRAIN: He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful foll’wer I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.
- Lord, I would clasp Thy hand in mine,
Nor ever murmur nor repine;
Content whatever lot I see,
Since ‘tis my God that leadeth me.
REFRAIN
- And when my task on earth is done,
When by Thy grace the vict’ry’s won,
E’en death’s cold wave I will not flee,
Still God through Jordan leadeth me.
REFRAIN
C: I believe in God, the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
And was born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate.
Was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
And is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
The holy Christian Church,
The communion of saints,
The forgiveness of sins,
The resurrection of the body,
And the life everlasting. Amen.
OFFERING
We offer our thanksgiving for what God has first given us—ourselves, our time, our possessions.
OFFERTORY
P: Let us pray to God Almighty for people everywhere in their various needs, for the Church around the world, for all who are near and dear to us, and for ourselves.
R: The Lord is my shepherd;
C: I shall not want.
P: We pray, O Lord, that wherever people are calling out to You, wanting for food, clothing, or shelter, that You will awaken in us and in government and social agencies care and compassion. Thus may the blessings You have showered on this planet be shared with them, bringing You all the praise. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
R: He makes me lie down in green pastures.
C: He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.
P: Sovereign God, we pray for all people who are suffering under the ravages of war between nations, civil unrest and revolution, and terror from extremists of all stripes. Raise up leaders who will work for peace and justice and will seek ways of reconciliation. Move government leaders to look in empathy on all who are denied basic human rights; lead them to make decisions to restore calm and human dignity for all. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
R: He leads me in paths of righteousness
C: for His name’s sake.
P: O Holy Spirit, we pray for the Church here and around the world. Grant opportunity for clergy and lay leaders to share the good news, strengthening those who trust in Jesus and leading many to their Savior. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
R: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,
C: for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
P: Lord Jesus, hear us as we pray for those we know who are calling out to You for healing of body or mind, who face this day with sudden crises, are enduring long term illness, or are looking through tears of sorrow, (including…). Grant them days of health, relief, and comfort as You accompany them on their journey. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
R: You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
C: You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
P: Heavenly Father, grant strong faith to us and all who come to the Lord’s Supper this day. Give us the blessings of life and salvation that flow from our Savior’s body and blood. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
R: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
C: and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
P: These and any other things You would have us ask of You, heavenly Father, grant to us for the sake of Jesus, Your Son, our Lord, in whose name we pray.
C: Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
CLOSING BLESSING
CLOSING SONG: “All Creatures of Our God and King” LSB 527(v. 1,5,7)
- All creatures of our God and King,
Lift up your voice with us and Sing:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
O burning sun with golden beam
And silver moon with softer gleam;
Oh, praise him! Oh, praise him!
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
- O ev’ryone of tender heart,
Forgiving others, take your part,
Oh, praise him! Alleluia!
All you who pain and sorrow bear,
Praise God and lay on him your care,
Oh, praise him! Oh, praise him!
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
- Let all things their Creator bless
And worship God in humbleness.
Oh, praise him! Alleluia!
Oh, praise the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, Three in One,
Oh, praise him! Oh, praise him!
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
P: Go in peace! Serve the Lord!
C: Thanks be to God!