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Resurrection of Our Lord
Easter Season Worship Fourth Sunday of Easter
“Good Shepherd Sunday”
May 3 rd , 2020
Musical Prelude
As We Gather
Today is sometimes called “Good Shepherd Sunday.” Jesus is called the “gate”
of the sheep in today’s gospel. The risen Christ opens the way to abundant life.
He anoints our heads with oil and guides us beside the still waters of our
baptism. Each Sunday he spreads a feast before us amid the world’s violence
and war. We go forth to be signs of the resurrection and extend God’s tender
care to all creation.
Pastor’s Greeting—
Music – “Savior, like a Shepherd Lead Us” TFBF 254
1 Savior, like a shepherd lead us; much we need your tender care.
In your pleasant pastures feed us, for our use your fold prepare.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, you have bought us; we are yours.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, you have bought us; we are yours.
2 We are yours; in love befriend us, be the guardian of our way;
keep your flock, from sin defend us, seek us when we go astray.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, hear us children when we pray.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, hear us children when we pray.
3 You have promised to receive us, poor and sinful though we be;
you have mercy to relieve us, grace to cleanse, and pow'r to free.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, early let us turn to you.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, early let us turn to you.
4 Early let us seek your favor, early let us do your will;
blessed Lord and only Savior, with your love our spirits fill.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, you have loved us, love us still.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, you have loved us, love us still.
Invocation Confession and Absolution
Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit who is
present, who gives life, who calls into existence the things that do not exist.
Amen.
Let us confess our sins and be reconciled with God and with one another.
2 Silence is kept for reflection and self-examination.
Most merciful God,
you sent your son to die and rise to new life in order that death
might be brought to an end and that we might live a new life in Him.
Yet we confess that we too often have chosen to remain captive to
doubt and fear and ways that lead to death. By our thoughts, words,
and actions, we have scorned your love, diminished the lives of
others, and defaced your image in us. Gracious God, forgive us for
Jesus’ sake, and enable us by His resurrection power to live no
longer for ourselves but for Him who died and rose again for us.
Amen.
Jesus was delivered over to death for our sins and raised to life for our justification. God,
who is rich in mercy, loved us even when we were dead in sin, and made us alive together
with Christ. By grace you have been saved.
I, a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God to all of you and in the stead and by
the command of our Lord Jesus forgive you all your sins, in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy
Spirit.
Amen
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all
And also with you.
Prayer of the Day
O God our shepherd, you know your sheep by name and lead us to safety
through the valleys of death. Guide us by your voice, that we may walk in
certainty and security to the joyous feast prepared in your house, through
Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
First Reading: Acts 2:42-47
Today’s reading is a description of life in the community following Peter’s sermon on the day
of Pentecost, when the Spirit was poured out on God’s people. The new community is
4 sustained in worship and fellowship, shares what they have, and ensures that everyone has
enough.
42 [The baptized] devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and
fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
43 Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being
done by the apostles.
44 All who believed were together and had all things in
common;
45 they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the
proceeds to all, as any had need.
46 Day 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,
47 praising God and having the goodwill of all the
people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were
being saved.
Psalm 23
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.
2 The Lord makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters.
3 You restore my soul, O Lord, and guide me along right pathways for your name’s
sake.
4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil;
for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head
with oil, and my cup is running over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell
in the house of the Lord forever.
MUSIC “The Lord’s My Shepherd” LBW 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 furnished 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.
5 Second Reading: 1 Peter 2:19-25
Doing the right things does not guarantee that one will not experience difficulties,
hardships, rejection, or even suffering. Here Christ is presented as the model for our path of
endurance and loyalty to God, particularly amid adversity.
19 It is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering
unjustly.
20 If 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.
21 For 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.”
23 When 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.
24 He
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.
25 For you
were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd
and guardian of your souls.
Gospel: John 10:1-10
Jesus uses an image familiar to the people of his day to make a point about spiritual
leadership. Those who listen to Jesus are led to abundant life.
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. 2 The one
who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens
the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by
name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes
ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They
6 will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not
know the voice of strangers.”
6 Jesus used this figure of speech with them,
but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
7 So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the
sheep.
8 All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did
not listen to them.
9 I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and
will come in and go out and find pasture.
10 The thief comes only to steal and
kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
SERMON “We Have Marched Off the Map” Psalm 23
MUSIC – “The King of Love My Shepherd Is” LBW 456
1 The King of love my shepherd is, whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am his and he is mine forever.
2 Where streams of living water flow, my ransomed soul he leadeth
and, where the verdant pastures grow, with food celestial feedeth.
3 Perverse and foolish oft I strayed, but yet in love he sought me,
and on his shoulder gently laid, and home, rejoicing, brought me.
4 In death's dark vale I fear no ill, with thee, dear Lord, beside me,
thy rod and staff my comfort still; thy cross before to guide me.
5 Thou spreadst a table in my sight; thine unction grace bestoweth;
and, oh, what transport of delight from thy pure chalice floweth!
6 And so, through all the length of days, thy goodness faileth never.
Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise within thy house forever.
Offering Prayer
Merciful God, our ordinary gifts seem small for such a celebration, but you make of
them an abundance, just as you do with our lives. Feed us again at this table for
service in your name, in the strength of the risen Christ. Amen.
The Apostles Creed
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.
7 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
Prayers of Intercession
Prayers of Intercession
Uplifted by the promised hope of healing and resurrection, we join the
people of God in all times and places in praying for the church, the world,
and all who are in need.
A brief silence.
Our prompt and response today is: Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
The Prayers conclude:
With bold confidence in your love, almighty God, we place all for whom we
pray into your eternal care; through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The peace of the Lord be with you always — And also with you
It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places offer thanks and praise to, O Lord, holy
Father, almighty and ever living God. But chiefly are we bound to praise you for the glorious resurrection of our
Lord, for he is the true Passover Lamb who gave himself to take away our sin, who by his death has destroyed
8 death, and by his rising has brought us eternal life. And so, with Mary Madgalene and Peter and all the witnesses
of the resurrection, With earth and sea and all their creatures, and with angels and archangels, cherubim and
seraphim, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
Words of Institution
Lord’s Prayer
Invitation to Communion
Come to the banquet. Behold the risen Christ.
Sharing of Communion
9 Prayer after Communion
Life-giving God, you have fed us with your word, and our hearts burn within us. Through
this meal you have opened us to your presence. Now send us forth to share the gifts of
Easter with all in need;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Blessing
May the One who brought forth Jesus from the dead
raise you to new life, fill you with hope, and turn your mourning into
dancing.
Almighty God, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.
Amen.
Announcements
MUSIC “All People That on Earth Do Dwell” LBW 245
1 All people that on earth do dwell, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice;
him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell; come ye before him and rejoice.
2 Know that the Lord is God indeed; without our aid he did us make.
We are his folk, he doth us feed, and for his sheep he doth us take.
3 Oh, enter then his gates with praise; approach with joy his courts unto;
praise, laud, and bless his name always, for it is seemly so to do.
4 For why? The Lord our God is good: His mercy is forever sure;
his truth at all times firmly stood, and shall from age to age endure.
5 To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the God whom heav'n and earth adore,
from us and from the angel host be praise and glory evermore.
Dismissal
Just as he said. Christ is risen
He is risen indeed.
Go in peace. Share the good news. Alleluia!
Thanks be to God. Alleluia!
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