St. Matthew Lutheran Church
Sunday, May 3, 2020
Fourth Sunday after Easter
Welcome and Announcements
Gathering Song
“The King of Love My Shepherd” – LBW # 456, vs 1,
5 & 6
Confession & Forgiveness
Greeting & Kyrie
Canticle of Praise “Glory to God…”
Prayer of the Day
First Reading, Acts 2:42-47
Psalm # 23
Second Reading, 1 Peter 2:19-25
Holy Gospel, John 10:1-10
Sermon
Hymn of the Day “Blest Be The Tie That
Binds” – LBW # 370, vs 1, 2 & 4
Nicene Creed
Prayers of the Church
The Lord’s Prayer
Blessing & Response
Dismissal
Sending Song “All
People on Earth Do Dwell” - LBW # 245, vs 1, 3 & 5
Service Supplement
(Congregational
responses are in bold print)
Welcome and Announcements Pastor John
Gathering Song “The King of Love…” LBW # 456, vs 1, 5 & 6
The King of love my shepherd is, Whose goodness faileth never; I
nothing lack if I am his And he is mine forever.
Thou spreadst
a table in my sight; Thine unction grace bestoweth;
And, oh, what transport of delight From thy pure
chalice floweth!
And so, through all the length of
days, Thy goodness faileth never. Good Shepherd, may
I sing thy praise Within thy house forever.
Confession & Forgiveness
Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, who
forgives all our sin, whose mercy endures forever. Amen.
God of all mercy and consolation, come to
the help of your people, turning us from our sin to live for you alone. Give us
the power of your Holy Spirit that we may confess our sin, receive your
forgiveness, and grow into the fullness of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Let us confess our sin in the presence of
God and of one another. Gracious God, have mercy on us. We confess that we
have turned from you and given ourselves into the power of sin. We are truly sorry and humbly repent. In your compassion forgive us
our sins, known and unknown, things we have done and things we have failed to do.
Turn us again to you, and uphold us by your Spirit, so that we may live and
serve you in newness of life through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
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. In the name of Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. Almighty
God strengthen you with power through the Holy Spirit, that Christ may live in
your hearts through faith. Amen.
Greeting
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.
Kyrie
In peace, let us pray to the Lord. Lord,
have mercy. For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us
pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. For the peace of the whole world, for the
well-being of the church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the
Lord. Lord, have mercy. For this holy house, and for all who offer
here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
Amen.
Canticle
of Praise “Glory to God…”
Glory to God in
the highest, and peace to God’s people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for
your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the
right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus
Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Prayer of
the Day
Let us pray… Almighty God, you show those in error the light of your truth
that they may return into the way of righteousness. Grant to all that are
admitted into fellowship with Christ the power to avoid all things that are
contrary to the faith and to follow you according to the will of your Son,
Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and forever. Amen.
First Reading: Acts 2:42-47
The newly baptized Christians who were being added to
the community of believers were ones who held everything in common. Whoever had
a need among them was taken care of by the others. Even food was distributed
evenly, and all existed with joy and thrived together as one body.
42The believers devoted themselves to the apostles’
teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43And
awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through
the apostles. 44And all who believed were together and had all
things in common. 45And they were selling their possessions and
belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46And
day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes,
they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47praising
God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number
day by day those who were being saved. This is the word of the Lord, thanks be to
God.
Psalm: Psalm # 23
God’s providence in our lives is like that of a
shepherd who watches over the sheep, keeping them from harm, grazing them in
fertile pastures, protecting them when they rest. The Shepherd King takes care
of all our needs, no matter how small.
The Lord is my
shepherd; I shall not be in want.
He makes me
lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters.
He revives my
soul and guides me along right pathways for his name’s sake.
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.
You spread a
table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; you have anointed my
head with oil, and my cup is running over.
Surely your
goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in
the house of the Lord forever.
Second
Reading: 1
Peter 2:19-25
As those who are devoted to Christ, we are bound to
experience suffering for our faith. Jesus experienced all sorts of unjust
suffering and never once sought to retaliate. Following his example, when we
are abused, we refrain from abusing; when we are threatened, we do not return
threats. We are freed from sin and healed by his wounds even as we are called
to emulate his suffering in patience.
19For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God,
one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20For what credit is
it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good
and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing
in the sight of God. 21For to this you have been called,
because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that
you might follow in his steps. 22He committed no sin, neither was
deceit found in his mouth. 23When he was reviled, he did not revile
in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting
himself to him who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his
body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his
wounds you have been healed. 25For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of
your souls. This is the Word of God, word of life, thanks be to God.
Holy Gospel: The
Holy Gospel according to St. John, the 10th Chapter. Glory to
you, O Lord. John 10:1-10: The shepherd knows his sheep by
name, and his sheep know him. He will protect them and lead them, and they will
not run from him, because they know his voice and trust his leadership. This
Good Shepherd came so that all the sheep may have abundant life; he ensures
this by offering his own life in their stead.
1Jesus said to the Jews, “Truly, truly, I say to you,
he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way,
that man is a thief and a robber. 2But he who enters by the door is
the shepherd of the sheep. 3To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep
hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When
he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him,
for they know his voice. 5A stranger they will not follow, but they
will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6This
figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was
saying to them. 7So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say
to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8All who came before me are
thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the
door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and 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.” This is the gospel of the
Lord, praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon Pastor
John
Hymn of the Day “Blest Be the Tie…” ELW # 370,
vs 1, 2 & 4
Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love; The unity of
heart and mind Is like to that above.
Before our Father’s throne We pour our ardent prayers; Our fears, our
hopes, our aims are one, Our comforts and our cares.
From sorrow, toil, and pain, And sin we shall
be free; And perfect love and friendship reign Through all eternity.
We
believe in one God, the Father, the
Almighty, maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We
believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God
from God, Light from Light, true God from
true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and
the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We
believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and
glorified. He has spoken through the
prophets. We believe in one holy catholic
and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one
Baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We
look for the resurrection of the dead, and
the life of the world to come. Amen.
Prayers of the Church:
(P): With a new heart
and new life, let us pray for the church, the world, and all those who are in
need. A
brief silence.
(W): Lord God, you are our Good Shepherd
and you know our every need. May we slow down to hear your voice in our lives
as you lead us into green pastures and beside still waters. May our trust in
your goodness and mercy never wane, even when the trials of life seem to
overtake us. Lord
in your mercy, hear our prayer.
(W): Holy
Lord, your Son Jesus suffered at the hands of persecutors and warned his
followers that there would be those who would hate them because of him. When
that happens to us, give us grace to suffer for the sake of our faith, knowing
and trusting that we are in good company with our Savior. Give us strength to
stand firm as we cling to you in hope. Lord
in your mercy, hear our prayer.
(W): Gracious Father, you know our
deepest needs even before we speak them aloud. Pour out your healing power on
all those who are suffering from illness, disease, isolation or loneliness.
Give them hope in the face of their struggles and bring them the peace that
only you can provide. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
(W): Your Word is
holy, O Lord, and it refreshes us in our daily walk in this world. Meet us in
your Holy Scriptures. Make your Word come alive to us that we might be
bolstered in our discipleship efforts and put our confidence solely in you.
Draw us closer in prayer and speak to us your Word of life. Lord in your mercy, hear
our prayer.
(P): Passing from
darkness to light, from bondage to freedom, from death to life, we commend you,
gracious and ever-living God, all for whom we pray. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and
teach us to pray…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.
Blessing:
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy. The Lord look upon you with
favor and give you peace. Amen.
Dismissal: (WA)
Go in peace. Christ is with you. Thanks
be to God.
Sending Song “All People On Earth…” LBW # 245, vs 1, 3
& 5
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.
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.
To Father, Son,
and Holy Ghost, The God whom heaven and earth adore, From
us and from the angel host Be praise and glory evermore.