Sunday April 26, 2015
4th Sunday of Easter
Announcements
Ringing of Bells
Opening Prayer
Gathering and Lighting of Candles
“Here O Lord, Your Servants Gather” ELW 530 Verses 1, 2 and 4
Confession and Forgiveness Pouring water into the font!
If we are honest with our selves our hearts condemn us. But our God who knows
everything is greater than our hearts; and God’s deep desire for us is mercy , love
and peace. Therefore let us confess our sins in the presence of God!
Silence is kept for reflection.
We pray to you O Holy One. We worry about our friends, family and
strangers. We become overwhelmed about the evil flourishing in the world.
We pray for much O Lord and life doesn’t happen just like we pray so we
may become a little bit defeated. We are thankful you give us the gifts of
compassion and we try to give to the needs of the poor; yet we also make
judgments and want to fix and control. We might even wonder, "Where are
you, O God?" or even “why is this happening, O Lord?”
Lord have mercy on us. Forgive our inward thinking. Forgive us when we
could be more understanding but choose instead to become judgmental and
impatient. Forgive us when we, by our attitudes and language, our thoughts
and actions, have gone against your will. You lead us daily and offer us life.
You stand with us in times of trial and in the presence of those whom we
fear, giving us your love. And then you offer us a place with you. We ask
your help to live our lives in praise and trust in you and to remember that
you have called us to offer love in this world. Give us strength and courage,
joy and peace for all you send us to do. In the name of Jesus Christ, the
Good Shepherd, who laid down his life for us, his sheep, we pray. AMEN.
Forgiveness - Lifting water from the font
In this is love, not that we loved
God but that God loved us and sent the Son to atone for our sins. In the name of
+ Jesus Christ, I announce to you that your sins are forgiven. Let the perfect love
of God cast out fear, fill you with joy, and inspire you to live for others. Amen.
Sharing the Peace – The peace of Christ be with you all! And also with you!
(we may share a similar peace with one another)
Hymn of Praise “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” ELW 836
Prayer of the Day with WA - Our souls are weary, O God. We hear the loud
clamor of the world. We witness the crisis and trauma around us. We long for the
"good old days" when life seemed so much safer and simpler; when we felt
cherished and protected. In this spirit, we have come to this time of worship,
seeking your peace and hope. In the midst of all that is difficult, You are the One
who offers us strength, and wholeness and leads us to serve again. Lord You
know our name and our needs. You listen for our cries and respond in love. We
offer today the names and situations of illness, mourning, stress, and concern
which touch our lives and our souls. We have breathed our heart’s desire for their
healing and restoration. We pray in hope of your love flooding over them and your
presence for these dear ones in their situations and needs. Open our hearts this
day, O Lord, and enter into our lives. We pray that You be present with us,
strengthening us, restoring us, healing us, challenging us, to witness to the Good
News of Your love in the name of Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name, we pray. AMEN.
“Savior Like A Shepherd Lead us” ELW 789 verse 1 sung by the Cantor
The First Reading Acts 4.5-12
5 The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem,6with
Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John,* and Alexander, and all who were of the
high-priestly family. 7When they had made the prisoners*stand in their midst, they
inquired, ‘By what power or by what name did you do this?’ 8Then Peter, filled with
the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders, 9if we are
questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are
asked how this man has been healed, 10let it be known to all of you, and to all the
people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name
of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,* whom you crucified, whom God raised from the
dead. 11This Jesus* is
“the stone that was rejected by you, the builders;
it has become the cornerstone.”*
12
There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given
among mortals by which we must be saved.’
Word of God; Word of Life! Thanks be to God!
“Savior Like A Shepherd Lead us” ELW 789 verse 2 sung by the Cantor
Psalm 23 (We respond to the Cantor)
1
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;
3
he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.
4
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I 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; my cup overflows.
6
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall
dwell in the house of the LORD my whole life long.
2
“Savior Like A Shepherd Lead us” ELW 789 verse 3 and 4 sung by the
Cantor
The Second Reading 1 John 3.16-24
16
We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down
our lives for one another. 17How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the
world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? 18Little
children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. 19And by this
we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him
20
whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he
knows everything. 21Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness
before God; 22and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his
commandments and do what pleases him.
23
And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son
Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.24All who obey
his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that
he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.
Word of God; Word of Life! Thanks be to God!
The Gospel Acclamation
“I Want Jesus to Walk With Me” ELW 325
The Gospel according to John 10: Glory to you O Lord!
11
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the
sheep. 12The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep,
sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf
snatches them and scatters them. 13The hired hand runs away because a hired
hand does not care for the sheep. 14I am the good shepherd. I know my own and
my own know me, 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay
down my life for the sheep.16I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I
must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock,
one shepherd. 17For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in
order to take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own
accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have
received this command from my Father.”
The gospel of the Lord! Praise to you O Christ!
Sermon with pastor Cheryll
Hymn of the Day “A New Commandment” WOV 664 sing twice
The Nicene Creed led by the WA
Intercessory Prayers with the WA
After each petition God of mercy and goodness: hear our prayer.
To the shepherd of our souls le us pray for the church for the world and all in
need!
O Merciful God, we pray that you gather us together and make us one, one in
ministry and mission to the world, as one flock, one shepherd, loving one another.
God of goodness and mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for the nations of the world. We pray for each leader to be given your
wisdom and compassion so they will sue their power to help the power and defend
the vulnerable. God of goodness and mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for this community….strengthen those who work each day to heal the
sick, welcome the outcasts, and help sisters and brothers in need. God of
goodness and mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for friends and loves one…comfort all who are suffering, we ask that you
walk with them through the dark valleys and restore them body, mind and soul.
God of goodness and mercy, hear our prayer.
May the prayers of this community be offered at this time…………………….
God of goodness and mercy, hear our prayer.
Loving God by the power of your Spirit help us to keep your commandments and
to love one another with the love of Jesus, in whose holy name we pray. Amen
The Offering
The Offering Prayer – Gracious God we given you thanks that you have shown
us the meaning of love through Jesus Christ, who gave his life for us. We ask that
you show us how to share Christ’s love by giving our lives for one another wit the
gifts you have given us; to the glory of your holy name. Amen
The Great Thanksgiving and Words of Institution
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Let us lift up our hearts. We lift them to the Lord!
Let us give thanks and praise to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, O God of the universe.
Your mercy is everlasting
and your faithfulness endures from age to age.
Praise to you for creating the heavens and the earth.
Praise to you for saving the earth from the waters of the flood.
Praise to you for bringing the Israelites safely through the sea.
Praise to you for leading your people through the wilderness
to the land of milk and honey.
Praise to you for the words and deeds of Jesus, your anointed one.
Praise to you for the death and resurrection of Christ.
Praise to you for your Spirit poured out on all nations.
In the night in which he was betrayed,……Do this for the remembrance of me.
With this bread and cup
we remember our Lord's Passover from death to life
as we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
O God of resurrection and new life:
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us
and on these gifts of bread and wine.
Bless this feast.
Grace our table with your presence.
Come, Holy Spirit.
Reveal yourself to us in the breaking of the bread.
Raise us up as the body of Christ for the world.
Breathe new life into us.
Send us forth,
burning with justice, peace, and love.
Come, Holy Spirit.
With [name/s and] your holy ones of all times and places,
with the earth and all its creatures,
with sun and moon and stars,
we praise you, O God,
blessed and holy Trinity,
now and forever. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer and Distribution
During Distribution Sing “The King of Love My Shepherd Is” ELW 502
The Table Blessing
The Prayer After Communion with WA - Life-giving God, we give you thanks for
nourishing us with the bread of heaven and the wine of love, Jesus our risen
Savior. As you send us into the world, guard us from the power of evil, keep us in
unity with all your people, and by your Spirit move us to testify to your grace in our
words and actions; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Blessing – May the goodness and mercy of God Father +Son and the Holy
Spirit follow us all the days of your life, and at our life’s end may we dwell in the
house of the Lord forever! Alleluia!
Sending Hymn “Good Christian Friends, Rejoice and Sing” ELW 385
Dismissal with WA– In the name of the Good Shepherd let us love one another!
Thanks be to God!
SAINTS IN SERVICE
Ushers – Karen L.
Worship Assistant – Karl,
Church Cleaning – Diann
Reader
Communion
Acolyte
4/26 Che’rie
Wayne
Karen O.
5/3
5/10
5/17
5/24
5/31
Altar Guild – Jeannette.,
Cantor
Karen L.
Ushers – Wayne
Worship Assistant – Karen L.,
Altar Guild – Maddie,
Church Cleaning – Sharon
Reader
Communion
Acolyte
Cantor
Sharon
Jeannette
Dustin
Sharon
Karen O.
Dustin
Bill
Jeannette
Adeline
Linda
Cheryl
Karl
Jeannette
Bill
Diann
Bill
Maddie
Karl
Karl
Karen L.
When one knows she/he will
replacement and text/call or
Cheryll with the Information.
be missing church, please find a Saint
send the Dove or an Angel to Pastor
From Ministry Matters online, Feasting on the Word Liturgy Companion with editing and From
Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2015 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted
by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #26728. New Revised
Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council
of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights
reserved. Illustrations from walkinggospel.com, Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, Charlotte
NC, biblia.com, pixabay.com online and Wikipedia.org and wordpress.com. Permission given
for worship use.