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SERVICE OF THE WORD
St. Stephen
Lutheran Church
May 3, 2020 – The Fourth
Sunday of Easter
OPENING MUSIC
The Lord’s My
Shepherd – David
Cherwien
Christ
the Lord is Risen Today – Richard W. Gieseke
HYMN Christ the Lord is Risen Today! Alleluia!
Lutheran Book
of Worship 128
1 Christ the Lord is ris'n today; Alleluia!
Christians, hasten on your way; Alleluia!
offer praise with love replete, Alleluia!
at the paschal victim's feet. Alleluia!
2 For the sheep the Lamb has bled, Alleluia!
sinless in the sinner's stead. Alleluia!
Christ the Lord is ris'n on high;
Alleluia!
now he lives, no more to die. Alleluia!
3 Christ, the victim undefiled, Alleluia!
God and sinners reconciled, Alleluia!
when contending death and life, Alleluia!
met in strange and awesome strife.
Alleluia!
4 Christians, on this holy day, Alleluia!
all your grateful homage pay; Alleluia!
Christ the Lord is ris'n on high;
Alleluia!
now he lives, no more to die. Alleluia!
Text:
attr. Wipo of Burgundy, d. c. 1050; tr. Jane E. Leeson, 1807-1882, alt.
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!
Alleluia!
Holy is the Lord, the Almighty,
He was, he is, and he is to come.
He is worthy of glory and honor and power.
He created all things. By his will they came to be.
Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was
slain;
worthy to take the scroll and break
its seals.
By his blood he purchased for God
people of every race and tongue,
of every folk and
nation.
Christ made of them a kingdom
and priests to serve our God.
And they shall reign on earth
forever.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!
Alleluia!
APOSTLES’ CREED
God has made us his people through
our Baptism into Christ. Living together in trust and hope, we confess our
faith.
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 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 catholic
Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the
body,
and the life
everlasting. Amen
PRAYER OF THE DAY
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
God of all power, you called from death our Lord
Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep. Send us as shepherds to rescue the
lost, to heal the injured, and to feed one another with knowledge and understanding;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen
FIRST LESSON: Acts 2:24-47
42[The baptized] devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship,
to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
43Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
43Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
SECOND Lesson 1 Peter 2:19-25
19It is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while
suffering unjustly. 20If you endure when you are beaten for doing
wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for
it, you have God’s approval. 21For to this you have been called,
because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you
should follow in his steps.
22“He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
23When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.
22“He committed no sin,
and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
23When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Gospel John
10:1-10
The Holy Gospel according to St. John.
[Jesus said:] 1“Very
truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but
climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 2The one who
enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3The gatekeeper
opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by
name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he
goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5They
will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know
the voice of strangers.” 6Jesus used this figure of speech with
them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
7So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell
you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who came before me are
thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the
gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find
pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I
came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
SERMON
Lutheran Book of Worship 451
1 The
Lord’s my shepherd; I’ll not want.
he
makes me down to lie
in
pastures green; he leadeth me
the
quiet waters by.
He
leadeth me, he leadeth me
the
quiet waters by.
2 My
soul he doth restore again,
and
me to walk doth make
within
the paths of righteousness,
e’en
for his own name’s sake;
within
the paths of righteousness,
e’en
for his own name’s sake.
3 Yea,
though I walk in death’s dark vale,
yet
will I fear no ill;
for
thou art with me, and thy rod
and
staff me comfort still;
for
thou art with me, and thy rod
and
staff me comfort still.
4 My
table thou hast furnishèd
in
presence of my foes;
my
head thou dost with oil anoint,
and
my cup overflows.
My
head thou dost with oil anoint,
and
my cup overflows.
5 Goodness
and mercy all my life
shall
surely follow me,
and
in God’s house forevermore
my
dwelling-place shall be.
And
in God’s house forevermore
my
dwelling-place shall be.
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
Rejoicing in the
resurrection of our Lord, let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ
Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.
Silence is kept.
Shepherd your Church into
right paths of obedience, faithfulness, and love. Provide for its every need,
and bring it into one fold. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Give the Spirit of the
resurrection to our faith family; that living together in fellowship, we may
bear witness to Christ’s love with gifts of time, money, and energy for the
building up of the Church.
hear our prayer.
Give
wisdom and discernment to the leaders of the world and to all whom you have
given authority and care for others. We thank you for their good work. Bless
them in the exercise of their offices, that freedom, justice, health and safety
may be maintained. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We pray to you, almighty God, in this time of pandemic. You are
our refuge and our strength, a very present help in time of trouble. Do not let
us fail in the face of these events. Uphold us with your love, and give us the
strength we need. Help us in our confusion, and guide our actions. Heal the
sick, console the bereaved and afflicted, protect the innocent and helpless,
and deliver all who are in peril; Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We
pray for all who walk in the valley of the shadow of death; and for those
afflicted by poverty, chronic unemployment, illness, violence, and despair.
Lead them with your rod and staff and guide them to places of refreshment. Hear
now our prayers.
The
people offer spoken or silent petition and thanksgiving.
Lord,
in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Surely
those who have died in your peace will dwell with you forever. We thank you for
those who have gone before us. Call us to walk in the paths of righteousness
until we come to the fullness of blessing in your house. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Into your hands, O Lord, we
commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy; for the sake of your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
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
The peace of the Lord be with you
always.
And also with you.
ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR
THE FAITH FAMILY
BENEDICTION
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The
Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to
you.
The
Lord look upon you with favor and give us peace.
Amen
HYMN A Mighty Fortress is Our God
Lutheran Book of Worship 229
1 A
mighty fortress is our God,
a
sword and shield victorious;
he
breaks the cruel oppressor's rod
and wins salvation glorious.
The
old satanic foe
has
sworn to work us woe!
With
craft and dreadful might
he
arms himself to fight.
On
earth he has no equal.
2 No
strength of ours can match his might!
We
would be lost, rejected.
But
now a champion comes to fight,
whom
God himself elected.
You
ask who this may be?
The
Lord of hosts is he!
Christ
Jesus, mighty Lord,
God's
only Son, adored.
He
holds the field victorious.
3 Though
hordes of devils fill the land
all
threat'ning to devour us,
we
tremble not, unmoved we stand;
they
cannot overpow'r us.
Let
this world's tyrant rage;
in
battle we'll engage!
His
might is doomed to fail;
God's
judgment must prevail!
One
little word subdues him.
4 God's
Word forever shall abide,
no
thanks to foes, who fear it;
for
God himself fights by our side
with
weapons of the Spirit.
Were
they to take our house,
goods,
honor, child, or spouse,
though
life be wrenched away,
they
cannot win the day.
The kingdom's ours forever!
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Be at peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
