Sunday, May 3, 2020

Order of Worship: May 3, 2020, 10:30 AM - The Fourth Sunday of Easter


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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.

 DIALOG

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.

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.

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                                         

 HYMN                                   The Lord’s My Shepherd
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!