Fourth Sunday of Easter Good Shepherd Sunday / May 2, 3, 2020 PRE-SERVICE Blessed Assurance Vocalists WORDS OF WELCOME / CHILDREN’S MESSAGE OPENING HYMN M: The grace of our Lord (+) Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you. C: And also with you. 2 CONFESSION OF SINS M: God invites us to come into his presence and worship him with humble and penitent hearts. Therefore, let us acknowledge our sinfulness and ask him to forgive us. C: Holy and merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful, and that I have disobeyed you in my thoughts, words, and actions. I have done what is evil and failed to do what is good. For this I deserve your punishment both now and in eternity. But I am truly sorry for my sins, and trusting in my Savior Jesus Christ, I pray: Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner. M: God, our heavenly Father, has been merciful to us and has given his only Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Therefore, as a called servant of Christ and by his authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. PRAYER AND PRAISE LORD, HAVE MERCY M: For all that we need in life and for the wisdom to use all your gifts with gratitude and joy, hear our prayer, O Lord. M: For the steadfast assurance that nothing can separate us from your love and for the courage to stand firm against the assaults of Satan and every evil, hear our prayer, O Christ. 3 M: For the well-being of your holy Church in all the world and for those who offer their worship and praise, hear our prayer, O Lord. M: Merciful God, maker and preserver of life, uphold us by your power and keep us in your tender care: M: The works of the Lord are great and glorious; his name is worthy of praise. O LORD, OUR LORD (Continued) 4 PRAYER OF THE DAY M: Let us pray. O Lord, Jesus Christ, you are the Good Shepherd who laid down your life for the sheep. Lead us now to the still waters of your life-giving Word that we may abide in your Father’s house forevermore; for you live and reign with him and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 5 FIRST LESSON 1 Samuel 17:34-37 But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.” PSALM 23 Christian Worship Page 72 The LORD is my shepherd,* I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures;* he leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul;* he guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,* for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Refrain (Continued) 6 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.* You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,* and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Glory be to the Father and to the Son* and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,* is now, and will be forever. Amen. Refrain Refrain Tune: Richard Proulx. © 1986 GIA Publications, Inc., Chicago, IL, www.giamusic.com. All rights reserved. Used by permission. SECOND LESSON Hebrews 13:20-21 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. ANTHEM Gentle Shepherd Vocalists 7 VERSE OF THE DAY GOSPEL John 10:1-10 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 8 HYMN OF THE DAY Verses 1, 3, 5 (Vocalists) Verses 2, 4, 6 (All) SERMON Hebrews 13:20-21 9 APOSTLES’ CREED I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come 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. PRAYER OF THE CHURCH M: O Lord God, our strength, our song, and our salvation, you fulfilled your promises by the resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ, from the dead. C: Thanks be to God! You give us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. M: In your compassion you sent Christ, the Good Shepherd, who laid down his life to rescue the lost. C: Drive out all doubt and gloom that we may delight in your glorious triumph. M: Lift our eyes heavenward to see him who lives to make intercession for the saints, and grant us confidence in the greatness of his power. Keep before us the vision of your redeemed people standing before your throne and singing the song of victory. C: Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive wisdom and power and honor and glory and praise. 10 M: Make us instruments of your peace as we bring the good news of hope and new life to those around us. Guide us in the use of all that you have entrusted to us: our time, our talents, and our treasures. C: Risen Lord, live in us that we may live for you. M: Merciful Lord Jesus, grant healing to the sick, and strengthen the faith of the suffering and the dying. Assure them of your abiding presence, and comfort them with the hope of eternal life. Special prayers and intercessions may follow. M: Hear us, Lord, as we bring you our private petitions. Silent prayer. M: Gracious Father, you have restored to us the joy of your salvation. With happy hearts, we come before you and say: C: Alleluia! Thanks be to God! Amen. LORD’S PRAYER 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. 11 HYMN Verse 3 (Vocalists) Verses 1, 2, 4, 5 (All) M: Almighty God, we thank you for teaching us the things you want us to believe and do. Help us by your Holy Spirit to keep your Word in pure hearts that we may be strengthened in faith, guided in holiness, and comforted in life and in death, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 12 BENEDICTION M: Brothers and sisters, go in peace. Live in harmony with one another. Serve the LORD with gladness. The LORD bless you and keep you.